What's so great about Tobago?

Ask this question to most people in the US and you'll get a blank stare. For this reason, I've had success selling this island to many clients who seek the last of the exotics. They haven't heard of the island so the thought process is, it must be a gem. 

You've surely heard of Trinidad, home to the second most fabulous Carnival outside of Rio, correct? Well Tobago is just a hop, skip, and a jump to the Northeast.

Most of the hotels on the island are small and intimate, cozy and private, like the Half Moon Blue. At only 10 rooms, the epitome of a cozy Caribbean cottage:

 

Two of my favorite larger hotels, are Coco Reef Resort & Spa:

And Blue Haven Hotel complete with some of the chicest rooms on the island:

Tobago is also easy to get to from Europe with cheap flights daily and nonstop flights from London.

Enjoy,

Trinidad & Tobago Carnival!!!

While New Orleans fetes Mardi Gras and Rio puts on quite a show, Trinidad & Tobago plays host to a party all their own...

Not as large as Rio, but also not as crowded. Plenty of room for endless smiles.

Want a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful costumes of Carnival Trinidad? Check out the Trinidad Carnival Diary.

Trinidad is serviced by many international airlines from the US and Europe. Check for cheap flights to Trinidad!

To-bago or not?

Wanna know if you should go visit this secret paradise?

Day 1 Caribbean Christmas Gifts~ Liz Mannette Jewelry

Ms. Liz Mannette is a Caribbean artist generating quite a buzz these days. You absolutely must check out her website and online catalog for a luxuriously unique Caribbean gift. Her jewelry is created to honor and cherish the love for steel pan music.
Her bio just about sums up why this jewelry is oh-so-special...

Born into the pan family, the Mannettes, in St. James, Trinidad, Liz is educated at Mucurapo Girls R.C. School and the Bishop Anstey Girls High School. In 1983, she first begins to play the steel pan with Pandemonium Junior Groove, a steel band of high school students from Bishop Anstey Girls, Holy Name Convent and Belmont Boys Secondary School. She tries out the bass pan, but finds the pan sticks a bit too heavy and is moved to the tenor pan. She is a skinny teenage, after all. Liz participates in the first Junior Steelband Music Festival in 1984, playing Moods, composed by the maestro of pan, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe.

Liz migrates to New York to join her mother and sisters in 1984 and begins her university career at Brooklyn College, of the City University of New York. She joins her church steel band, Calvary Steel Orchestra (http://www.calvarysteelband.com/) and plays the triple guitar pan. Elizabeth is part of the band and church group that travels to England and Scotland in 1985.

After attaining a degree in Chemistry, Liz starts at Harvard Law School in 1988. A memorable experience for her occurs in 1990 when she invites a few friends to see the play Steel by Derek Walcott, which depicts the experience of life in Trinidad in the 1930s with a main character portraying Ellie Mannette. Her friends are impressed that she is from steel pan royalty.

Caribbean Airlines

Small isn't necessarily a bad thing in the travel industry. In fact, for years I have seen a growing trend in my clients requesting smaller, more intimate hotels, namely boutique hotels. Whether or not Caribbean Airlines wants this title, I feel they do qualify as a boutique airline. The beauty of smaller companies is often more attention to detail, a lower staff to guest ratio, and overall more personalized service. Well, the Trinidad based Caribbean Airlines offers all of the above.

I don't usually take a stand on recommending one airline over another - honestly, at this point in time all the major players have disappointed me and my clients with last minute inconvenient schedule changes, fare hikes, and commission cuts. I am loyal to Air Jamaica - primarily from my own wonderful experiences of flying with them on over 50 occasions. But, the smaller Caribbean Airlines deserves attention too! Caribbean Airlines is available to book directly or through many wholesalers, including one of my favorites, Travel Impressions. Caribbean Airlines service the following islands: Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Caracas, Guyana, and Surinam from Fort. Laurderale, Toronto, Miami, London, or New York.
Let me know if I can arrange your next vacation with Caribbean Airlines!