Dive, Stay and Dine at Nisbet Plantation Beach Club on Nevis

The top-rated Caribbean resort has partnered with Scuba Safaris, a PADI five-star dive center, to offer a week-long dive vacation full of underwater discoveries, gourmet cuisine and spacious accommodations under the attentive care of Nisbet Plantation’s dedicated staff.

Available through December 19, 2012, Nisbet Plantation’s Ultimate Luxury Dive Vacation includes:

·          A free night on a seven-night stay in spacious cottage-style accommodations for two

·          Daily full-service breakfast served poolside at Coconuts

·          Daily lunch either served on the beach at Sea Breeze or boxed up to enjoy on the dive boat

·          Nightly three-course gourmet dinner at the Great House, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant

·          Five two-tank dives in the crystal clear waters of St. Kitts and Nevis

·          Round-trip airport transportation from St. Kitts (SKB) or Nevis (NEV)

Package rates begin at $3,102 for two divers or $2,724 for one diver. Rates are subject to tax and service charge. The package is not combinable with other offers and subject to availability.

During the week-long vacation, divers will have the chance to explore some of the more than 40 dive sites surrounding St. Kitts and Nevis. From gently sloping coral reefs to caverns, ledges and wrecks, the dive sites are home to snapper, barracuda, southern stingrays, eagle rays, turtles and more.

Nevis and Nisbet Plantation offer plenty for land lovers as well. Guests can lounge on the white sand beach or oceanfront pool, get pampered at The Palms Spa, dance under the stars to live music at the weekly Beach Barbeque, cycle around the island or hike through a rainforest.

The 36-square-mile island of Nevis is just a short water taxi ride away from sister-island St. Kitts. Direct flights into St. Kitts (SKB) are available from many gateway cities in the US, Canada and UK. Connecting flights into Nevis (NEV) are available from San Juan (SJU), St. Maarten (SXM) and Antigua (ANU), all cities easily served by American Airlines.

{Contact the Caribbean Travel Specialists at Caribbean Journey if you are interested in booking a dive vacation to Nevis!}

A New Tour Company Comes to the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Treasures are a set of 11 unique, off-the-beaten path experiences run by small local enterprises in the Dominican Republic. From secluded eco-lodges to organic farming to culture and nature walks, the Dominican Treasures network truly has something to appeal to any interest. If you are looking for a travel experience in the DR that gives you a deep connection to the local culture and environment while supporting small community enterprises, then the Dominican Treasures is right for you. As we like to say, when in the Dominican Republic, do more than travel…discover! 

La Caleta Aquatic Center: While the DR has a number of dive sites, La Caleta is unique in its location just a half hour outside of Santo Domingo. Offering all sort of water sports, including some unique wreck dives in the crystal clear waters of the Caleta marine park, your fun in the sun will also be helping the local community. Funds from the enterprise go towards grants for neighborhood community groups. 

Fair Trade Chocolate Tour: About an hour and half outside of Santo Domingo, tourists can satisfy both their sweet tooth and their conscience with a fascinating hands-on experience on a local cocoa farm that culminates with a cocoa-licious feast that includes everything from chocolate marmalade to chocolate wine. 

Salto de Aguas Blanca Ecotrail: It’s the classic experience of pristine nature: bathing under a secluded tropical waterfall. So why not do it at the largest waterfall in the Caribbean?  At Salto Aguas Blancas, a local guide will pick you up from Costanza in Jarabacoa and take you on this stunning trail, all while teaching you about the local flora and fauna. This is truly an experience not to be missed.

For more details on how to book your Dominican Treasures adventure, please visit their website for more information at http://dominicantreasures.com or call (809) 227-0370 or email info@dominicantreasures.com.

Meet Matachica Belize

Located only a "stones throw" from Belize's Great Barrier Reef and 5 miles north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is Matachica. An award winning, small luxury hotel offering everything one needs for a successful tropical vacation in Belize.

A delightful pool:

A pristine, secluded beach:

Open aired traditional dining...

Cuisine & cocktails as colorful as the natural surroundings...

Matachica has many great accommodation options, most with a chic, off-the-beaten feel...

Sea Breeze Bungalows:

Beachfront Casitas:

Luxury Caribbean Villas:

A Beach Mansion:

Just to name a few! 

To get to Matachica, you will need to book a flight to Belize City, the country's only international airport. American Airlines, and all major airlines service this airport. Then, arrange a small plane transfer with a domestic carrier or arrange a ferry. We assist our clients in every step of the booking process. Drop us a line if you are interested in hearing more about Matachica.

Cheers,

Grand Cayman Hotel Deals starting at $399/per person

Even thought it is high season in the Caribbean, and one of the busiest high seasons in recent history, there are still deals to be found and here's a great one: Hotel packages including roundtrip airport transfers and 3 night hotel stays on Grand Cayman starting at only $399/per person.

Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach 

Grand Cayman Beach Suites 

Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort (All-inclusive available) Sunshine Suites Resort

The Grandview 

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman 

The Reef Resort (All-inclusive available) 

Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa

BOOK AND TRAVEL BY NOVEMBER, 2011.


Compare one of these great Cayman Island hotel deals with cheap tickets on flights to the island. Cayman has their own airline - Cayman Airways so here's a tip: price your flight on major airlines such as American Air or United into Miami and then check for deals on Cayman Airways.

Price and book online : www.caribbeanjourney.com

As with all promos, restrictions apply! 

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Enjoy,

Every 5th Night free at BREEZES Resorts!

Every 5th Night is FREE at Breezes Resorts in Jamaica, Curacao, Panama, and Brazil! Plus, every 4th night is free in Breezes Bahamas! 

Book by February 17th for travel between now and August 31, 2011!**

Breezes is a great value package all-inclusive collection of hotels managed by SuperClubs. We have discounted packages at every Breezes Resort and will combine our low rates with this current promotion and cheap airfare for a super vacation deal! (American Airlines has great rates to all of the locations where a Breezes Resort can be found!)

**As with all promotions, restrictions apply. Please inquire.

Cheers,

Dive into the Turks & Caicos

Enjoy this colorful article all about diving in the Turks & Caicos...


Not far ahead of the dive boat I can see the occasional head pop up, breaking the surface for a sniff of warm, tropical air. Sea turtles. The sighting is enough to send the snorkelers on board scrambling to prepare their gear. People spit into their masks, quickly rubbing it onto the glass to prevent fogging once in the water. Our boat captain unpacks the waterproof spotting charts and deals them around. The dog-earred pages are filled with coloured pictures of sponges, corals, tropical fish, intimidating looking sharks and, of course, sea turtles.


“These waters are part of the marine sanctuary,” explains Brent Forbes, a guide with eco-outfitter Big Blue Unlimited. “This zone is protected against anchoring and fishing, conching and lobstering. When you get in you’ll see the turtles, but watch for spotted eagle rays, stingrays, parrotfish and nurse sharks.”


Turks and Caicos, a chain of 41 small islands, straddles the seam between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Incredible water in shades of blue that defy description — turquoise, navy, marine, aqua, teal — and the marine life below the surface draws visitors to these island pedestals of coral limestone.


According to Forbes, the gin-clear water and bountiful coral reefs have long been magnets for experienced divers. “It varies by season — in the busy season we see more divers than snorkelers, but people still come to snorkel all year round.”



Read the rest of the article here... from the Toronto Star via the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board. {photo from here}

Ku, Anguilla - Casual Cool

I spent last week touring Anguilla & inspecting hotels with the Anguilla Tourist Board. The island is home to so many fine luxury resorts that it became impossible to not compare the smaller, more quaint resorts to those of grandeur. I kept reminding myself that the luxury resorts are over budget for many travelers, and in that regard, the smaller, more basic properties serve a great purpose. Anyone can afford Anguilla because there really are plenty of mid-range hotels. One of my favorites is the KU Hotel....

Relaxing color palettes...

Welcoming & charming reception area:

Plenty of room at the pool...

Located on Shoal Bay East, one of the prettiest beaches... amazing!

Ready to go? Ku Anguilla is offering the 4th night FREE this summer & fall! Book by August 22 for travel through August 29. Or book by October 24 for travel during the month of October.

Book Ku, Anguilla with Caribbean Journey! 

PS. Check out this beautiful wedding held at the Ku, Anguilla on my Destination Wedding Blog.

Cancun's Underwater Sculpture Museum

Cancun's Underwater Museum gives divers and snorkelers the opportunity to admire more than 400 original sculptures in depths ranging from 9 to 20 feet. 

The amazing sculptures are by the artist Jason de Caires Taylor. {be sure and check his other projects to read about the installment in Grenada.}

Enjoy!

{Creepy} Dive a Plane Wreck in Curacao

You can do this and more on the fun and exciting island of Curacao!

Pictures of Bonaire

I smile every time a client asks me if I am based in the Caribbean. I reply that no, my office is a sunny space in suburban Atlanta, but my mind drifts to the dream office I created in my head over 11 years ago when I started selling Caribbean vacations. While the furniture and location have slightly changed over the years, for the most part my vision is still the same... dark mahogany floors, fresh tropical flowers in large ornate vases, a huge whitewashed desk placed directly in front of french doors thrown open to take in a wide view of the Caribbean sea... While my daily view is not yet the Caribbean Sea in real form, I am very appreciative that many of my clients share their vacation pictures with me and allow me to spend the bulk of my day staring at pictures of the region I love so much. I never tire of the turquoise seascapes, iridescent reflections of tropical fish, bright pastel paint splashed on quaint cottages. Sometimes, pictures cross my desk that take my breath away and make me want to BE THERE NOW! Such was the case with the pictures the Bidwells shared with me after their recent vacation in Bonaire. Enjoy!


The clarity of the water is legendary!

More Arizona than Caribbean? I agree!

The deep sea is a welcome respite to days spent exploring the dry, arid landscape. Bonaire is often ranked one of the top dive destinations in the world!

The wildlife extends above the water.

Amazing contrast found on every Caribbean island.

The nighttime is just as dramatic.

Nothing ends a Caribbean day better than a perfect sunset...