The Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio, Jamaica

I've been to the Blue Lagoon before. The first time was 2001. Back then, the Jamaica Tourist Board took a more active role in marketing Port Antonio. We flew into the small airport just outside of town. We stayed at a hotel that is not currently operating called Dragon Bay. {If you saw the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise, you know the beach and the famous beach bar.} But that was then. In the years since, I've been lucky enough to spend about 5 Easters in Port Antonio and I make it a point with each visit, to return to the Blue Lagoon.

And this is why...

It is simply MAGICAL...

I'll visit any way I can... usually by rising early to walk down the long and winding hill from our home-away-from-home at Goblin Hill Villas. This year, we succumbed to the offers to take a bamboo raft into the lagoon and swim.

 

The ride was relaxing to the point I almost dozed off - that was, until my husband decided to add a little adventure to the trip and jump in the shallow flats in front of the lagoon and capture a sea creature for our son:

Success and oh so spiny....

Fascination with hands on nature is.... better than any classroom...

The Blue Lagoon is adjacent to some of the prized real estate in the Caribbean. These waterfront villas sell for millions but rent for pretty reasonable rates - ask me about renting one for your next villa vacation.

Then we finally reached the lagoon and took a swim in the cool water. The lagoon is reportedly 186 feet deep. I figure that must be 15-16 stories - right? That's DEEP and the reason behind the water's amazing hue - not quite blue, not quite green - truly the closest thing to turquoise I've even seen...

After an hour swimming, our raft guides returned to pick us up... 

Priceless...

a trip to remember

Cheers,

The Dominican Republic launches a new website!

This beautiful website is a long time coming! As a modern travel consultant, we depend on online resources to help us showcase a destination to a client and the most trusted source is always the websites of the Tourist Boards of the Caribbean. So have look, spend a while day dreaming... and then come back to us to book your dream vacation to the Dominican Republic! 

{GO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC} 

There are some really cool tools on this website. Your can learn all about Carnival, an interactive map, a 'click by photo' process to plan your own adventure. Enjoy! 


Did you know the Dominican Republic has 9 international airports? You can book international flights on any major airline. American Airlines seems to have the most airlift.

Make a Difference - Coral Reef Alliance

Originally founded in 1994 to galvanize the dive community for conservation, CORAL has grown from a small, grassroots alliance into the only international nonprofit organization that works exclusively to unite communities to protect our planet's coral reefs.





The Coral Reef Alliance: Who We Are from The Coral Reef Alliance on Vimeo.





The Coral Reef Alliance: What We Do from The Coral Reef Alliance on Vimeo.


Take action and help save the our coral reefs! Make a Difference and see what you can do right here.


Peace-

Kid's Stay & Eat Free in GRENADA!

Grenada's Blue Horizons Garden Resort is offering families a Kid’s Stay & Eat Free plan offering free stays for children under age 16 plus free stays and meals for children 12 and under (maximum two kids per room). Off-season rates for a deluxe one-bedroom suite start at $165 per room, based on double occupancy.

For families seeking an adjoining suite, Blue Horizons is also offering a 50 percent discount off a second room for kids 16 years and under. The 32-room property also provides free babysitting for two hours per stay. The free stays and meals for children are valid for travel through Dec. 15, 2011.

{As with all promos, restrictions apply.}


While Grenada might not have as many options for flights as other islands, there are still deals to be found on most major airlines, most importantly American Airlines.

Our Caribbean Travel Agents are standing by... waiting to help you plan your vacation to Grenada! Call us - 866-236-1924 to get started today! 

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.

Paradisus Playa Conchal is now the Westin Playa Conchal

The popular Paradisus Playa Conchal, in Costa Rica, has been rebranded as the Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal. This marks Starwoods first EVER all-inclusive property! We are super excited for the brand to enter into the all-inclusive market. 

This all-inclusive, eco-friendly retreat is just 45 minutes from the Liberia International Airport (LIR). Conchal Beach is located near intriguing national parks and ecological reserves for exploration. A perfect balance between unrivaled luxury and local culture, the  resort offers you an unforgettable vacation experience.

Included are all meals, drinks and use of our fitness center and kids club, as well as entertainment options such as non-motorized water sports, daily activities and nightly events. The resort also features an adults-only, exclusive experience at the Royal Beach Club, where guests have access to a private pool with butler service.

All accommodations have private outside areas or balconies with beautiful garden views.

The Westin Playa Conchal is offering low introductory rates. Contact us for a customized quote on a Costa Rica Vacation Package.

My Visit to Ladera, St. Lucia

On my recent Babymoon Vacation to St. Lucia, I had the pleasure of stopping by Ladera. At Ladera, its all about the view... stunning at every turn. Ladera is a luxury eco experience delicately located between the Twin Pitons on St. Lucia's southern coast...

The rooms are constructed of local woods and help the resort blend into the natural landscape. Open-aired and cooled by the constant sea breeze, each suite comes with its own private pool...

Some of the pools are both indoor/outdoor...

Plenty of wide open spaces to take in the view...

The cozy bedroom lofts also share the sweeping view...

The property is lush, green, and manicured to perfection...

Complimentary shuttle service delivers guests to the beach below anytime they want to stick their toes in the sand...

Ladera is home to the award winning restaurant, Dasheene. We shared a 3 hour meal with the famous Chef Orlando, referred to as the top ambassador of Ladera and creator of the most innovative and fresh cuisine on the island. This was one of the best meals I've ever had and certainly worthy of its own blog post - stay tuned! 

To view more photos of my visit to Ladera, jump over here.

Ladera is currently offering the 7th night free. Book and travel by December 20, 2011. Contact me for a customized quote on your vacation package to Ladera! 

See you there!

Bon Appetit: The Caribbean Goes Organic

My January Bon Appetit was waiting in my mailbox today and I did a little dance when I read on the cover that they were featuring the Caribbean's expanding organic food scene. The article is excellent and really details the surprising challenges facing the organic food market in the Caribbean the astronomical cost of imported food to the region. But the best part of the article has to be the feature on Jakes in Treasure Beach Jamaica. The off-the-beaten-path gem of a beach hotel is such a special place so throwing in home grown local ingredients and a health minded chef and I've almost reached nirvana. You can read the article here, but take my advice and buy the magazine so you can droll over all the photos. 

Enjoy,

Azul Sensatori Hotel

Welcome to the Azul Sensatori Hotel. This is check-in:

Complete with easy access for the little ones to check in too... all located in a super chic lobby:

The hotel was completely full during my visit... and it was October - LOW season! This alone speaks volumes about the hotel but also meant I wasn't able to see any rooms. Having seen the rooms at the other two Azul Hotels, I'm confident the Azul Sensatori rooms will not disappoint. 

We did have some time to relax on the super chic roof-top lounge:

This is the view - beautiful pools, clear ocean, and a cruise ship in the distance:

The grounds were lush and green yet still very open and spacious.

We ended our night with a lovely dinner on the beach. Jump over here and see the photos... 

Vacation like a Survivor in Nicaragua

During my 6 month tour of Central America, I fell for Nicaragua's raw charm and ended up staying a month. This was 1997 and there wasn't a decent resort to be found. That's all changed in the past 12 years and there are a handful of great eco-friendly resorts. 

Nicaragua hosted the most recent season of Surviver and to commemorate the event, many of the hotels are offering "Surviver Packages". 

AQUA Nicaragua is pleased to offer the following SURVIVOR PACKAGE which includes:

A 3-night stay in an Eco-Luxury TreeTop Suite with:

• Daily breakfasts
• A daily one-hour massage
• A daily Yoga class
• One excursion - kayaking, paddle board, surfing lesson or horse back riding
• Your round-trip transportation to and from the Managua, Nicaragua International Airport (We'll make it easy and comfortable for you to get here and back)

Cost: $675 per person, based on double-occupancy, excluding 15% tax & gratuities.
This special offer is valid from December 1, 2010 to January 7, 2011.

Rooms at Aqua Nicaragua:

We'd be happy to book a Surviver Package for you! info @ caribbeanjourney.com or 866-236-1924

Enjoy?