Caribbean Vacation Travel

Many people often ask me what they can get as a Christmas gift for someone on their list. Well, since this is a travel blog I can give you some ideas about what someone who spends time traveling will want. Further, I can even break that down to include holidaymakers on a caribbean vacation, or specifically a Caribbean cruise.

It is not that difficult to buy for the traveler because there are many online and off-line stores that cater to this market. You can also find prices in many ranges from low to high, and quality from not so good to high quality.

Recently, I spoke about how travelers can use the Apple iPod or other electronic information devices to listen to their favorite music while on vacation. Listening to talking books while basking in the sun, or relaxing by the swimming pool is also a great way to spend a vacation.

Travelers who have children who just thank you many times if you give them toys and games their children can play with while they ride a car or stay in hotel room.

Two tickets to a sunny island like Jamaica would make an ideal Christmas gift for people on a budget. They will thank you for a long time after the trip because they can use the discount coupons they collected to pay for local attractions.

Some people have more air miles than they need and can spare a few, while others do not travel often and would love a few to travel. If you are one of the lucky ones, then you can buy a set of luggage for the travelers as a Christmas present. Or if you are wealthy enough, you can rent a beach house or apartment on the beach in the Turks and Caicos islands.

Of course, you cannot forget that while sunshine is a good source of vitamin D, you still need to protect your skin from overexposure to the bright, stinging Caribbean sunshine. So you may want to buy a good skin care product that includes expensive ingredients. I say expensive because the less expensive ones would likely contain parabens and other harmful chemicals. With the pricey ones you normally get natural ingredients in the products.

Another great gift is sunglasses . Not only can the sun damage your skin, it can also damage your eyes. So you need to protect them while you are sunbathing or shopping, or even riding a boat during your stay.

These are some of the more natural gifts that come with traveling to the Caribbean. You can, however, find a few more selections by visiting an online Christmas store.

Christmas is fast approaching and no doubt you are thinking about spending your holidays on a caribbean vacation. You are not alone because many people try to get away from the hustle of dropping kids off at the baby-sitter, climbing behind the wheel of an SUV, or trying to make it looks like you like your coworker.

A vacation in the Caribbean comes as a means to getting back at those who for the past year thought that you were selfish, stubborn, lazy, or whatever. You are about to show them you can do without them.

At least, you can do without them for the Christmas week but you will think of hanging out your bikinis to dry while you wrap up plans to return to the place you dread.

Christmas does bring out the best in most of us. But it can also mean you have to be too nice to Joe because he only got one Christmas gift, while you had more gifts than the local Salvation Army Toy bank.

But you are not alone when it comes to boarding a plane and flying to your favorite Caribbean destination. St. Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, and all the other sunspots get many tourists during the Christmas week.

Of course, spending time on a Caribbean island, sipping martinis does not always mean you want to run away and hide yourself. It also can mean that you have a grand opportunity to sit at the beach, sucking up the sun for a few days while your business is slow, or circumstances have delayed your projects until the new year.

Booking a hotel during this time could pose a problem if you wait too long. However, you can get huge deals on travel, accommodation, rental cars, and so on if you shop around, or wait until the last minute to book.

So if you decide to spend Christmas on the islands, prepare for some sun and plenty of saltwater!

Sarah Kramer latest vegetarian book is a good bet for taking with you on your caribbean vacation. Yes, Kramer launched her fourth book, “Vegan a Go-Go” last week in Toronto. It was a simple launch attended by mostly friends and well wishes from the Toronto vegetarian community.

“Vegan a Go-Go” includes various meatless recipes for the traveler who finds it difficult to get good vegetarian or vegan food while on vacation. From the time you start your holiday, first boarding the plane to go to your island destination, in your hotel cafeteria, or on the beach, you meet a stinking smell. The odor comes from dead animals sacrificed to feed a hungry mob of tourists and other visitors.

I must admit the large resorts do have an assortment of dishes that will satisfy the typical vegan traveler, but most of them just serve up the same fare that makes you sick. Also, when you are traveling from island to island, you run the risk of not eating properly because you have to say “no” to most dishes you find in your travels.

Since the Caribbean islands is logically a part of a grand scheme of seas and rivers, naturally you would expect that most of the cuisine include fish cooked in many ways. Of course, this is not appetizing for the vegan holiday goer, though.

Yes, you need to get your proteins to preserve your health while you cavort the beaches and dance your nights away at the nightclubs on many of these islands. But as a vegan or vegetarian you want to ensure you get them in an ethical way.

So Sarah Kramer’s new book “Vegan a Go-Go” will always find a spot in your luggage. It is compact and comes with a sturdy cover that will withstand the harsh conditions of traveling in the Caribbean.

You can visit Arsenal Pulp Press, her publisher, to get a copy of “Vegan a Go-Go” before they sell out.

My friend just got a new ipod shuffle. She decided it was just what she needs to keep her mind occupied while she is on her caribbean vacation. You got to feel for her because she wanted to go on a holiday for some time now. Every time the idea runs through her mind she goes through the motion of calling her travel agent asking what hot in travel business.

One or two times she even went so far as booking an all inclusive trip to Jamaica. The travel agency booked everything including car rental, hotel, and food at one of the most classy resorts in Kingston. In the end she canceled citing unavoidable pressure to keep her business going.

Another time she got to the airport in Barbados and made the biggest mistake most travelers make when on a vacation. She called her office to check on the progress of an important project. Of course, all hell broke loose while she was gone and her staff did not think they could fix it.

You guessed it, she got on the next flight home. Fortunately for her, she couldn’t get out of Bridgetown until the next day, so she had to spend the night in her room at the inn where she was staying. She did not sleep much that night but had several servings of a mouthwatering dish native to Barbados.

So this time she is going to try to get away and stay at least one week soaking up the sun and drinking some martinis on the beach or at the poolside. She has loaded several music clips on to her ipod, so it should make for some good listening all week.

We have to wish her well on the decision to get away from the hussle and bustle of running a small business. We hope she takes many more vacations, especially to the sun-drenched islands in the Caribbean.

“We have the lowest prices you will find anywhere. If you find a price for your caribbean vacation that is lower than our advertised price, we will beat it. Don’t delay because we only have a few seats left to your favorite Caribbean destination.”

How often do you hear similar claims from sellers who want to persuade you to come into their store and buy their selected goods. How many of these claims are true and how many times do the savvy marketers fulfill their part of the bargain.

Obviously, if a travel agent told me I will get a huge discount if I book my holiday plans with them for my trip to Barbados, I will hope that they come through for me. If they backpedal I would assume they just wanted to get me to buy from them but did not have my best interests at heart.

I called a seller’s bluff on a claim something like this recently. The marketer in his sales copy made a bold claim. He said he would give me the stuff he was selling without charge if I found anyone online that was offering the same or better deal as he was offering.

I immediately knew it was just sales hype and wrote him telling him I know of such a great deal. I also included the website address for his attention. Lo and behold, he responded to me in quick time asking a hypothetical question, which he answered himself and offered that as satisfaction to refute my challenge.

I wrote again asking why he included something different from what his claim was about as justification. He responded the sales copy had several inclusions of the item that concerned me. In other words, you are wrong and I am right.

I immediately dropped my concern and did not buy from him even though I could use the product he offers.

So when you decide to plan your next trip to the islands pay attention to the hype your travel agency may throw at you. Call their bluff on the vague claims they make.

This time of the year many North Americans celebrate Thanksgiving and take part in many family activities including a caribbean vacation cruise. Canadians celebrate their brand of thanksgiving this weekend while those in the U.S.A. have to wait a few more weeks before they can give thanks for all the things they take for granted.

Some of you may decide to stay close to where you live or entertain your friends or families at home with an extravagant dinner of vegetable delights. Others may head to a local attraction or restaurant to celebrate a meal with close ones. Yet others may decide that going on a cruise will give them the time to share their thoughts with loved ones or recharge their batteries for a tough few months ahead.

No matter what you decide to do on Thanksgiving you will have many other people doing the same thing. The recent financial meltdown in the U.S. has put a damper on some plans for vacations. But I would argue that in tough times you need to first plan a vacation to St. Lucia or another holiday island to get your thoughts in focus. A clear head is essential to dealing with troubled circumstances.

Of course, the price of fuel these days would put anyone off from doing something that is fun and inspiring. After all, you can only spend so much money (the amount you earn) unless you decide to use your plastic card and hope for the best.

But buying anything other than your vacation expenses with your credit card is not a good idea now. Pay cash for your airline ticket, car rental, hotel, and those expenses which require you to use a major credit card for assurance. This means you should take cash out of the bank to pay for meals and attractions at your holiday destination.

Paying cash means you have to prepare a budget and stick to it for the time you are beach hopping in the tropical islands. Having a budget will let you know before you travel how much you can afford to spend so you don’t overextend your financial reach.

If you are just returning from your caribbean vacation you may not have heard that Republican Representative Jeb Hensarling thinks the financial bailout bill is tantamount to hypocrisy.

The practical representative further asked, “How can we have capitalism on the way up and socialism on the way down?”

Well, perhaps you think enough is enough and will book another holiday to Barbados where the cost of living is expensive but everyone pays for their own lunch. After all, you did leave home thinking you lived in a capitalistic society where some people believe that welfare recipients should find a real job.

For some people the bailout of American banks will mean long-term unemployment. Some financial executives will lose their jobs. Of course, this also means that other people lower in the totem pole will also have to find a new way to earn a living.

However, don’t cry for the executives because they are likely planning to spend some of the severance they receive on a long sabbatical in the Bahamas. This is a time for them to lick their wounds and prepare to rebound into another well-paid benefit package.

It is true that some of these islands spend in a year less than one percent of this total rescue package. It is also true that some Americans have labeled some of them as socialist states because of their generous giving of basic needs to their people for doing little or no work.

But in hard times everyone becomes vulnerable and looks to someone else to accept their responsibility. During tough times a capitalist becomes a diehard socialist. The United States is a great empire, but no greater than the small Caribbean islands that dot the map in the Caribbean Sea. Eventually, we have to suppress our ego and recognize our interdependence.

The world, the planet, is at a critical stage right now because many people do not believe that methane gas emissions threaten to wipe us off the face of the earth. Just as Bush and Paulson heeded the hurry call of their friends, so too will all of us when we realize it is too late to save the world.

The greatest financial handout in America’s history may give our people some time to think about the larger view than just the economy. Will it save the United States and the rest of the world from the real cause of financial reversals?

The Caribbean resort, Galley Bay Resort & Spa, is now offering a “Triple Upgrade” during the winter months beginning January and ending around mid April 2009. While this is the busy time for a caribbean vacation, the added value this package includes makes up for crowded places you may meet.

But you should hurry if you wish to take advantage of this winter all-inclusive special before the seasoned travelers find out. Booking way in advance to popular destinations like Antigua is a must if you want to avoid disappointment. Of course this sometimes means putting out money long before you travel, but it also means the resort operators can carefully plan their costs. Planned costs mean you don’t have to pay for rash buying decisions when the operators run out of goods during the busy season.

When you book a Caribbean holiday in a Gauguin Cottage you can choose to upgrade to the resort’s new Premium beachfront Apartments. The “Triple Upgrade” is a comprehensive nightly rate of $483 per person (based mainly on double occupancy). It includes everything you would expect from a top Caribbean holiday resort including meals, water sports, fun and games, entertainment, tax, and service charges.

Many savvy travelers have stayed at this Antigua Resort and have expressed much adoration for its romantic atmosphere. The “Triple Upgrade” means you and your loved one can enjoy the wonders of one of Antigua’s most eye-catching areas lined with white powdery sand beaches that will compel you beyond your imagination.

You can enjoy the facilities of this resort as a vacationer looking to escape the harsh winters of North America or Europe. But eco-friendly travelers will also enjoy the elegant tree house that overlooks a tropical bird sanctuary.

In addition, recently married couples could delight in the exquisite gazebo set up at the resort. And if romance and fine cuisine strikes your fancy, you can savor a wonderful variety of West Indian dishes set along the white sand beach.

So book your winter vacation now and save big on a wonderful Caribbean resort!

Yesterday, I met a longtime friend who I haven’t seen for more than ten years. We chatted for awhile as she was on her way to the doctor. She inspired me to solve a problem I had been working on for a few days.

It is an aside but after talking with her for more than twenty minutes I rushed to the office and immediately began working on my challenge. After two hours of self-analysis, everything about the problem was then clear to me. I had a chance to carry out many of the ideas during an evening meeting with some colleagues.

But getting back to my long-lost friend, I found out she had opted for early retirement and was having a time of her life. She had just come back from a caribbean vacation where she met singles like herself who were whooping it up on the sunny holiday islands.

Actually, my friend had gone on a cruise with one of the luxury liners that sail the Caribbean Sea with packed decks of vacationers searching for mystery, romance, splendid cuisine and more. She had a lot to say about the cruise as I awed and wowed her on to finish her stories.

The interesting thing is she didn’t have some great adventure like a wild party of social animals would normally have on a boat. What intrigued me was the passion she had for the simple happenings on her cruise. Events we forget as we get older and make excuses for not keeping active with fun and games we shared when we were younger.

Health issues are always a problem for many older people, and my friend does have diabetes so she has to travel with her own food. She also has to learn how to help herself if her health condition worsens while traveling. But older people should refuse to let changing times prevent them from enjoying life wonderful moments. Many health conditions are mild enough to allow you to continue to enjoy good food, wine, music and the Caribbean mystique.

Taking a Caribbean cruise like my friend will allow you to enjoy life’s benefits no matter your age. Go call your travel agent now!

Today, I want to talk about happenings around the Caribbean scene. You may not want to hear what I want to say but bear with me anyway.

My longtime friend just came back from a caribbean vacation looking like a wilted flower. Of course, I didn’t ask why he looked so drawn and tired, but I can see in his eyes he wanted to tell me. So he did. And boy did he say a lot as I fanned the flames of curiosity. But you know what, I wouldn’t tell you what he had to say because you may not believe me. So I will hold things in check until I feel you are ready for such a sordid tale.

Fred is no great looking guy but he has one trait that I like. He is a go-getter. Fred fired his lawyer recently because the lawyer was late for his divorce proceedings. Well, that is another thing that makes Fred the person he is. He can be spontaneous and get rid of the people he needs. As if I had a crystal ball, Fred did exactly as I predicted when his wife found out he was having a grand time in the Bahamas with a beautiful woman. This was all right except he had custody of the kids for that time.

In other breaking news, the Caribbean saw the devastation that Gustav left. And they also had to deal with Ike as it continued to wreck havoc in the tropical isles. Climatologist have said the hurricanes will happen more often and will be stronger. Much rain will fall over the next few days as Ike winds down. Heavy rains do cause flooding and they can displace people from their home.

The Caribbean is a great place to party and take the family on vacation but the weather is getting weird these days.