Caribbean Vacation Travel

Some people consider a caribbean vacation is an expensive proposition. Well, it could be if you consider that you have to pay for airfare to Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia or another Caribbean island. On top of that you have to find somewhere to stay, because you can’t hop on a plane and get to the islands and live on the beach. Believe it not, some people have this idea in their mind. First, it is not safe and second the government officials might not like it, and you could find yourself escorted to a plane for a return flight before your prearranged time of departure.

With accommodation you also have to think about food. I reduce my intake of solid food during my stay in the Caribbean, but I still get hungry. So you need food and other personal items like water or sweet drinks during the day and night. Depending on where you are staying you might need to rent a small car or scooter to get by. But if you stay at an all-inclusive resort your total price includes everything. You get accommodation and food for one price. Of course, you still have to come up with a budget and some real cash before you travel. You would normally put the cost of your airline ticket on your credit card. You would do the same for your accommodation. This will leave you to carry cash for small expenses. If you stay a week or two weeks you will run up a sizable hotel bill unless you get a travel package deal. So accommodation will be your main expense with airfare.

However, you could still get around the high cost of lodging if you know someone on the island who can put you up for the time you are there. In this case, you will still have to find money for food and personal effects. But if you can swing this deal you will be ahead of most tourists to the islands. You will most likely have to forgo the planned events that come with staying at a resort. But you can also make your own arrangements for tours or visits to local attractions like zoos, museums, calypso tents, nightclubs and so on.

If you are traveling with kids, your hosts can use makeshift beds to sleep your children. Sometimes this is a big deal with residents of first world countries but children on the islands normally give their rooms to their guests. Most times the host family offers their beds to the guests, or arrange that almost everyone will sacrifice a little while the guests are in town. However, you have to understand the cultural tradition here and not complain about inferior lodging. After all it is not your home.

On a recent trip to the Caribbean, I saw four kids sleeping on an air mattress in the living room of my cousin’s. The kids slept while the adults talked the night away. Again, you have to want to do this because it can seem hard to people who normally don’t share their bed, far more their bedroom or bedsheets with other people.

There’s a saying in the Caribbean that’s September is a time to remember. It refers to the hurricane season and the destruction that strong winds can bring to bear on these tropical islands. And if one catches you during your caribbean vacation travel, it can ruin your entire holiday.

But this year September, for me, means reflecting on the time I spent in Trinidad this summer. I met many friends and family who I have never seen, or haven’t seen in many years. Each day was perfect. You didn’t have to struggle to find something to entertain you, or challenge your physical and mental abilities. This does not mean that all the days included doing something exciting. But ole’ talk and camaraderie added something of value to each day.

And of course, playing with the children (nieces, nephews, and so on) was a delight. It was even more frolic when we visited the beach and had some friendly competition while in the water. The young kids loved every minute of riding the older children and adults’ back before diving into the salty water of the Caribbean Sea. Most of them could swim but it didn’t matter because wrestling and other horseplay made many young men and women swim without formal lessons.

On the islands you learn the hard way. Sometimes a lack of money forces you to become creative and you survive by your smarts. Many of the casual events we had while on vacation were instructional for the kids. Even when we had to punish them for something they did wrong, we tried to frame it as a lesson in hard knocks.

Most parents plan vacations itinerary around their kids, and rightly so. Kids need adventure to let off some steam. Sitting around in front of a computer playing video games is not what growing up is about. Kids also need to play in an encouraging atmosphere so they can grow healthy and naturally. And you know kids get it when you hear them talking about their experience while the adults go about their business.

If a kid enjoyed himself, you would hear about it. If they enjoyed what they do on vacation, they would be happy to report it to their classmates when they go back to school after the long summer break. Some of the children in our vacation party reported that their teacher expected a written report when they returned from their holiday.

This is great when you consider the children on vacation with their parents came from England, Canada, and the United States. They bonded well with their cousins and other relatives living in Trinidad.

Until the next vacation, we can use September to remember the one we just had. See you next year, kid!

The summer is winding down and if these are your last days of a caribbean vacation we hope you have had a wonderful time. Pretty soon everyone in North America and Europe will be back at school and work in earnest, and you might have to start counting your bills. However, the summer is not over and you can still catch a few major attractions at your vacation hideout.

If you have not yet reached a destination, you might want to give Grenada a look. It is good for tourists and can get you some good fun before you return to your busy lives.

The time is fast approaching when I will get on a plane and fly to the Caribbean for a family reunion. You can call it a caribbean vacation with many family members reliving the gold ole days.

This is my first family reunion and I look forward to it with mixed blessings.

First, I look forward to seeing all my old and new family members, some I have never seen, or didn’t know they existed.

Last month we had a brief reunion when a few of us met at one of my nephew’s wedding.

It was a fun time and old talk was the order of the weekend when we met. The scene was enjoyable and the couple seemed happy and hopeful.

On the other hand, I am leaving when I am deep in many projects, and I am afraid I will lose momentum when I get back home. But such is the life, once in a while you need to take a break from your routine and hustle, and go enjoy a delightful Caribbean holiday. It is especially important to have one when you will be in the company of good people out for a lime.

I don’t expect many surprises, but you know the odd one will happen whether we are on cavorting on the beach, or liming under the shade of a coconut tree.

Some will cry and all will laugh. Some will sing while the rest will hum. I expect many will dance and jump up in true West Indian style.

And of course there are the ones who will eat and drink as though there is no tomorrow. I don’t expect to find alcoholic drinks, but there will always be the ones who can’t stop hitting the bottle.

I, for one don’t look forward to the cooking or the eating because I am a vegetarian and can stand the smell of meat. I plan to walk with a few vegetarian ingredients to cook or to snack on. But mostly I would go hungry rather than eat anything that comes from the cruelty of animals.

All in all, I look forward to sunny days, cool nights, and much old talk among the folks.

Summer is here and many happy folks are looking forward to their caribbean vacation. If you haven’t booked your airline tickets yet, then you are in for a rude awakening as the fares keep going up faster than you can open your wallet.

This is the time when kids will be off school and concerned parents look for ways to keep their young ones busy and out of trouble. There is always television, video games, and sports, but getting away to an exotic island in the sun is a great family adventure. This is also the time when you can bond with your kids and make up for those days when you had to work late, or get out of town for a meeting with an important client.

Most kids love water and two weeks spent at an all inclusive resort in Barbados, St. Lucia, or Jamiaca will give them much to do. You need to remember to pack the suntan lotion in your suitcase and take precaution against the sun and its potentially harmful rays. Take along a good pair of sunglasses for you and the kids to help protect your precious eyesight. But it is always safer to allow your kids only so much time in the sun. You also want to schedule for activities for times when the suns rays are not as hot. Avoid the hours around midday and onwards to around 3 pm. Stay at the pool or indoor during these times to avoid sunburn and other harmful sun effects.

Make the best use of the summer by planning your activities before you go. However, do not overplan because you might create a stress-filled vacation for your family, and you might return home tired and annoyed.

Summer is a great time for beach activities and other fun-filled days, but you have to do things in moderation.

Follow these guidelines and you will end your summer vacation feeling relaxed and happy. Afterall, it is much better in the Caribbean!

Dear Traveler,

It’s time for a caribbean vacation! The weather is getting warmer and the clothes are coming off gradually. When you visit Antigua you just need to bring a few pieces of clothing and some sandals. You may want to pack a sweater for your late evening and early morning rendevous.

During the day, you can wade in the refreshing water of the Caribbean Sea or bask in the sun for as long as you need. You might also want to visit the local market to get fresh mangoes, oranges, and more. Or take a stroll along the beach with your favorite person.

Oh, it’s so lovely in Antigua.

Yours in spicy travel,

Sunny Dey

So when was the last time you got some entertainment? I suppose that this why you decide on a caribbean vacation. Of course, vacations mean relaxing by the pool or snorkeling among fauna, but many visitors to the islands come for the fun. The people in the Caribbean have a natural way of making people feel comfortable and will go a long way to do it.

Just recently a friend sent me a link to a You Tube video. In this video a male flight attendant with Southwest Airline found a creative way to entertain his passengers. He made a rapper’s rendition of the stale preflight instructions. You know the one where they talk about your safety and other flight details.

Well, this rapping flight attendant impressed his passengers by the improvisation, some claimed that it was the first time they ever listened to the emergency instructions aboard a plane.

It is a scary thought, but it’s a wake-up call to the airlines to Entertain! Enlighten! Excite!

Here’s the video:

Savvy travelers have much going for themselves when it comes to appreciating different cultures. After all, why would anyone want to travel on a caribbean vacation, for example, if they don’t want to know how the islanders work, play, and live. Of course, you can plan a holiday to Jamaica or Barbados to soak up the sun. Some vacationers will tell you they go for the rum or the food, or possibly, the nightlife. Others may claim the laid-back way of life gets their attention. But no matter what you do when you get to the islands, undoubtedly, you will want to know the people. Staying at your all-inclusive resort for 7 nights and not venturing out might seem like paradise but some travelers need more than that. The people in the Caribbean are friendly and fun loving. They are hospitable and will extend themselves to show you a great time if you just treat them with respect.

That goes for all people wherever they live. No one likes you to treat them as a doormat so you can walk all over them. Most cultures despise culture-phobes who are insensitive to the history and value attached to their artifacts, heritage, and traditions. You might call some practices superstitious but even in North American cultures there are many irrational goings-on.

Another thing is that most peoples of many nations can only meet through travel, and you can see this in the many friends North Americans have made while traveling to the West Indies over the years. We sometimes take our interdependence on one another for granted because we may not look like the natives in another country.

Most North Americans have a “better” lifestyle than that of many of these Caribbeannites. But even Americans lament about the toll on their nerves and body their lifestyle plays when compared to that of the islanders. At your vacation resort you may hear and repeat the mantra of “don’t worry, be happy.” However, as soon as you settle in your seat on your flight back to Chicago or New York, you repeat a different mantra. Possibly it is “how am I going to pay those damn bills.”

So it with this philosophy in mind that a friend referred me to an article in the American Chronicle about a spiritual teacher who holds meditation sessions for her devotees in Menton, France. The details of the article tickled my funny bone. I even think I grew a few more pleasure- bones while reading this story. The amusement didn’t come from the teacher but from her neighbors who frown on her buying property in their backyard. Well, some savvy travelers often say, “It is better in the Bahamas.” Perhaps it is. To see what all the fuss is about you can read the article here.

Most people enjoy going on a vacation, especially when it is a caribbean vacation. The hot tropical days make for fun and delight as you soothe away your cares and frustrations of working for a living. The dilemma for some people is the exposure of their skin to the sun and other elements in the islands.

We know that wearing sunglasses is a good preventive measure for protecting the eyes, and sunscreen lotions make you look tanned, while protecting your skin from the sun. But too much of a good thing is always a problem so smart vacationers try to mix their activities.

Instead of staying in the sun for most of the day, they also enjoy indoor activities, like swimming in the indoor pool, or visiting museums and other places of cultural interest. So it is really important to pack your suitcases and other travel bags with plenty of natural-based lotions and oils to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

It is also important to remember that too much sun can lead to skin problems that will need the attention of a skin specialist. If you carry with you these skin essentials, then you would preserve your youthful appearance. Better still, you may be able to look as young and healthy as the natives in the Caribbean. Do have a sun-filled and safe journey!

I often wonder how people got along before inventing spectacles, glasses, reading glasses, and even binoculars. You probably take for granted the sunglasses that shield your eyes from the sun during your caribbean vacation.

Today you hear so many concerns about overexposing your skin and eyes to the sun that you would be better off staying in the shade for most of your life. Of course, other people have suggested the sun provides natural vitamins for your health and well-being.

You cannot dismiss these arguments without proper thought, but the main point here is that over the past hundred years we have seen many gadgets and devices that make our lives more comfortable and convenient.

Glasses make us see up close or at long distances birds and other wildlife that live in tropical terrain like St. Lucia’s tropical island rain forest. Binoculars give us that close feeling with the object in our sight. Imagine how difficult it would be to get close to a blue iguana or a scampering agouti in the forests of Trinidad and Tobago. And, of course, deep-sea diving enthusiasts know how important goggles are to staying alive underwater in the Bahamas or in Belize. Also, many vacationers use goggles while swimming in the freshwater pools on the islands to protect their eyes from chlorine.

You can name many more gadgets and devices which make a quick getaway to the Caribbean delightful. But one device in particular has been making the rounds and opening a whole new way of how we get information. Most of us have seen the audio boxes that deliver loud and sometimes grating sounds on the beach. We also use CDs, mp3s, ipods, smartphones, to receive information while we bask in the drenching sunlight.

While holiday goers enjoy these inventions, a wide gap did exist for bookworms and multitaskers. If you had to enjoy a good book on the beautiful Grand Anse beach in Grenada, you had to pack it with several other travel items. If you wanted to read more than one book, this proved challenging especially with airlines limiting the pieces of luggage you can fly with.

Well, Amazon.com solved this problem by introducing the Kindle more than a year ago. The Kindle 2 is its new release of wireless reading devices that lets you store over 1,500 books for your reading pleasure. This device is as slim as an empty wallet and light as a paperback. It comes with a wireless feature that allows you to read magazines, newspapers, and blogs as you sip a glass of orange juice on the sand.

You can read on the sandy beaches or you can take your Kindle to your room at the all-inclusive beach resort. You don’t need a PC or untidy cables to get in the way of enjoying your favorite books and periodicals.

I like the Kindle because it is portable. At home, I regularly use Text-to-Speech software to get most of my reading done on the computer. But I can’t lug the PC with me on a plane. Imagine the scene at the airport when the TSA security personnel see me approaching their station with a strange device. Of course, I can travel with a laptop, but I can only use it in the hotel room, but can’t use it on the sandy beaches.