Honeymoon & Travel | Caribbean

Love Butlers

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:00:00 AM

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood ResortLas Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood ResortSet between the rugged Mexican desert and the mighty Pacific Ocean, this enormous property of whitewashed walls and open-air spaces has the art of romantic pampering down to a science. In fact, Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort was among the first hotels to offer a department of romance services. Led by María José García, the team arranges everything from seductive torchlit dinners and aromatherapy-drawn baths to old-fashioned carriage rides and couple’s massages under the stars. Cooking classes and tequila tastings for two are also on the romance menu. There’s even a culinary class for the guys: Imagine your husband creating a meal under the tutelage of a chef while you watch and sip champagne! The two of you are then served the dinner, beachside, by a private waiter (rosewoodhotels.com). Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & CasinoA picnic on the beach at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & CasinoOn an island where the trees lean sideways and the coins are square, you’d expect to find the unexpected, and that is what Tita Iglesias, romance planner at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino, promises guests. She’s flown in violinists from Venezuela, arranged special-permission horseback rides on the beach and hand-fashioned “tulips” from fresh lily petals when real tulips weren’t in season. She can arrange the usual romantic amenities too: All you need to do is ask (aruba.hyatt.com). Paradisus Playa Conchal ResortParadisus Playa Conchal ResortAlthough the all-inclusive Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast may be family friendly and megasized (it stretches over 2,400 tropical acres), there’s an intimate adults-only 122-room enclave offering such services as pillow and in-room aromatherapy menus, plus in-house “romance specialists.” These consultants can arrange options like breakfast in bed with mimosas, a welcome bottle of bubbly and rose-petal turndown service. Book a massage, and you’ll enjoy the treatment in a private cabin set amid the resort’s tropical gardens. Guests of the exclusive adults-only area also enjoy a private pool with comfy waterfront Bali beds and dedicated beach butlers, who bring drinks and anything else you may request to your special spot in the sand (paradisus-playa-conchal.com).

Make a Splash

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:00:00 AM

With water, water everywhere, you have every opportunity in the world to make a splash in the Caribbean. If you love to sail, surf or scuba, we’ve got the best places for you. Beginner bonus: Even if you’ve never worn a pair of goggles before, the novice-friendly activities listed here will have you more than ready to get your feet wet. Create your own itinerary with The Moorings company.Come Sail AwayThe Caribbean’s calm waters, easily accessible islands and secluded bays for private anchorages have given it a global reputation as a first-rate sailing destination. For pure romance, consider a cruise through the Grenadines, a necklace of islands and tiny cays stretching between St. Vincent and Grenada. Sailors love this 75-mile expanse for its ideal conditions: unspoiled reefs for snorkeling and scuba and miles of pristine beaches. Among the sights are the celeb isle, Mustique, and the privately owned PSV (Petit St. Vincent), where you can drop in for lunch. Snorkelers score at Tobago Cays marine park, where the protected waters boast a variety of colorful fish and a reef in hues of gold, brown, blue, turquoise and green. With locations across the Caribbean, The Moorings, the region’s oldest yacht-charter company, can set you up with anything from a bareboat, for experienced sailors who want to rely on their own skills, to a skippered and crewed yacht for those who just want to chill while experts do the sailing and the cooking (moorings.com). Where To StayWhen you’ve had enough sailing, jump ship at Canouan Island and head straight for the five-star Raffles Resort Canouan, where you’ll luxuriate in a lavishly appointed suite with drop-dead gorgeous sea views from an oversize terrace. For world-class pampering, try the resort’s Balinese-style Amrita Spa, with two suites set on stilts out over the sea. There’s also a Trump International Golf Club and course, with an enormous casino, four restaurants, three bars and a string of beaches. They include the famous Godahl Beach, voted by the Travel Channel as one of “The World’s Sexiest Beaches,” thanks to its serene location and private coves (rafflescanouan.com). Raffles Resort Canouan is the sleepy Grenadine Islands.And While You Are ThereAlthough star-studded and security-heavy Mustique discourages drop-by visitors, Basil’s Bar, the island’s famous pub, warmly welcomes vacationing sailors. Located on the island’s west coast, this funky spot is famous for great West Indian food, free-flowing tropical drinks and hot island music. Stay on the lookout for Prince William and Kate or maybe Mick Jagger and any of the other celebs who own villas on this ultrachic hideaway(basilsmustique.com). Sailing Tips• Chart your ideal course. Before setting sail, ask local experts and the charter company to help A romantic sunset sail in the Caribbeanyou develop an itinerary that includes room for impromptu anchoring for swimming and snorkeling. • Know your limits. Bareboating (hiring a boat without a crew) may sound romantic—nobody else around, complete privacy and so on—but think it through carefully. Even if you’re an expert, do you really want to have to do all the navigating on your honeymoon? • Pack like a pro. Onboard space is limited and, besides, you won’t need many clothes. Do remember to include essentials like any prescription meds, sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, wide-brimmed hats and hooded sweatshirts for cool nights on deck. Sea-ing Is BelievingThe great man of the sea, Jacques Cousteau, once said, “The best way to observe fish is to become a fish.” To which we add that snorkeling is the easiest way to become a fish. There’s no heavy gear to lug around and no scuba air bubbles to scare away the underwater creatures. You float quietly just below the surface as the underwater population reveals itself to you. The Cayman Islands are prime snorkeling territory: Off Grand Cayman you can mingle with people-friendly rays that swoop and swim around Stingray City. You’ll also spot sea turtles galore and an abundance of rainbow fish and other colorful critters on the coral reef near West Bay Cemetery. Be sure to make the short hop to little-sister island, Cayman Brac, to see something you won’t see anywhere else in the world—a manmade version of the Lost City of Atlantis. The project of a local sculptor named Foots, the work in progress features an underwater world of lifesize people, archways, temples and streets of the mythical city (divester.com). Where to Stay The beach that fronts The Reef on Grand Cayman’s “undiscovered” East End is as beautiful as its famous Seven Mile Beach. Unlike the island’s west shore sister, this stretch of sand is quiet, secluded and never crowded. The snorkeling here is excellent (one guest likened it to swimming in an aquarium). And lazy snorkelers can “become fishes,” drifting from one end of the beach to the other. The Reef’s suites are romantic and spacious, and every one of them faces the beach. The honeymoon-perfect deluxe studios have four-poster beds and Jacuzzis (thereef.com). And While You’re ThereStock up on Tortuga Rum Cakes for everyone back home. These unbelievably delicious treats are liberally drenched in five-year-old Tortuga Gold Rum. Yum! Exploring the sea around the Cayman IslandsSnorkeling Tips:• Bring your own gear. We recommend carefully selecting and purchasing your own equipment beforehand; remember, a leaky rental mask can ruin the whole experience. • Glide silently. Fish don’t kick and splash, and neither should you. Keep your fins below the water and try not to dog paddle with your arms.• Vested interest. Because a snorkel flotation vest can help you relax, it will enhance your experience. Even the pros use them. The Windy CityArguably the most extreme of all water sports, windsurfing and kiteboarding (also called kitesailing and kitesurfing) require specific wind and water conditions. Waves need to be at least waist high in shallow water, and wind speed is ideally 20-25 knots. You’ll find all the desired elements at Cabarete Bay on the Atlantic northern coast of the Dominican Republic, known as the windsurfing capital of the Caribbean. Beginners need have no fears here. Cabarete Bay’s easterly trade winds blow gently in the mornings—ideal for novices. For experts, the winds kick up the waves every afternoon, creating satisfyingly challenging conditions or extreme thrills. And just 500 yards offshore, swells and wind-driven waves hit the reef, churning up some of the best wave sailing outside Hawaii. Rental shops line the beach, as do dozens of schools, which offer some pretty high-tech instruction: You get your coach’s immediate feedback through your helmet radio while you’re in the water.Life’s a beach at Velero Beach Resort in the Dominican Republic.Where to stay Cabarete is wildly popular with Europeans, most of whom flock to the dozens of large all-inclusive hotels that line the Bay. Romantic couples can lose the crowds and still grab plenty of beachfront living at the Velero Beach Resort, a boutiquey hideaway comprised of 58 privately owned rooms and suites. Tranquil and refined, this resort has a small infinity pool right on the beach, as well as a series of sexy little beach beds, draped in gauze to shelter you from the sun and prying eyes (velerobeachresort.com). And while you’re there Shop for amber. The D.R.’s north coast is one of the world’s richest sources of the ancient resin, and you can find these unusual gems in unmounted “stones” or crafted into jewelry. Just beware of street vendor “bargains.” Your amber needs to pass two authenticity tests: The real thing will float in a glass of water or club soda; the plastic fakes sink....

Water World

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:00:00 AM

If romance is the universal language, then a Caribbean cruise with a potpourri of accents is sure to spice it up: a dose of “Yeah, mon” Jamaican hospitality one day, a Dutch treat on St. Maarten on another, a dash of joie de vivre on St. Bart’s on a third. You could go properly British on Grand Cayman, or all-American with a Spanish twist in Puerto Rico. Stir in the Caribbean’s trademark turquoise waters, soft breezes, palm-fringed beaches, steel-drum beats and alluring tropical ambience and you have the recipe for an unforgettable voyage.The Old Moro Fort in Puerto RicoCaribbean cruises are as varied as the islands themselves, so you’ll need to make some decisions. First, the itinerary. The islands are strung like pearls across a million square miles of sea, with dozens of cruise-ship ports beckoning. Most standard weeklong cruises cover one of three regions—the western, eastern or southern Caribbean, though, in some cases, the trips may overlap. The weather is a key factor in making your selection. While the Caribbean is generally warm year-round, the farther north you go in winter the chillier and windier it tends to get. If you’re considering the southern region, keep in mind these isles are less hurricane-prone in the fall. Next, choose your ship. With so many cruise lines sailing the Caribbean, this decision can be more challenging. The largest vessels are like floating resort cities with enough onboard activities to keep you going day and night. They’re also apt to offer great bargain rates. However, because of their size, these ships can often only visit the biggest and most crowded ports. Smaller ships, with greater maneuverability, can dock at more remote isles. Nonetheless, small-ship lines generally fall into the luxury price category, offering guests more individual space and service, and include extra perks. And regardless of the cruise line, meals are always included in the price. Some more good news: Since cruises to the Caribbean tend to cost less than those to other destinations, upgrading to higher-class cabins or ships is usually more affordable. These five top-rated Caribbean cruises serve up a range of itineraries, styles, sizes and rates.WindstarEastern CaribbeanWindstar’s tall-mastered shipOne of the most romantic ships afloat, Windstar’s sleek, yacht-like Wind Spirit is propelled by six computer-operated sails. Holding just 148 passengers, the four-mast ship is compact enough to sail into the harbor at little Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, one of the many memorable stops on its weeklong Eastern Caribbean trip.Embarking from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Wind Spirit visits six nearby island ports (an impressive roster for a one-week cruise). After a stop on neighboring St. John, the ship makes its way to the chic French islands of St. Martin and St. Bart’s before sailing on to Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, where the diving, snorkeling, beaches and beach bars are among the best in the Caribbean. Since the port stops last much of the day, you’ll have plenty of time to explore and savor each island. One temptation is a picnic for two on a beach, offered as an option with Windstar’s Romance Under Sail package. At times, though, you’ll want to linger onboard at the saltwater pool or take advantage of the complimentary water sports. Waterskiing, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling off the ship are all included in the rate. All staterooms have ocean views, and open seating for dinner in the restaurant. Plus, there’s 24-hour room service. Windstar’s Eastern Caribbean cruise sails 16 times in 2009 (windstarcruises.com; 800-258-7245). Royal CaribbeanSouthern Caribbean Forget the Lido Deck, this waterfall in Puerto Rico is where all the excitement is.Sailing round-trip out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas provides an entirely different experience. The 15-deck ship holds more than 3,100 passengers and packs almost nonstop action into this one-week voyage. A five-story theater stages extravagant musical shows and the four-story Royal Promenade, lined with bars and shops, is open 24 hours. There’s an indoor/outdoor pool area, a day spa and fitness center, a rock-climbing wall, an in-line skating track, a nine-hole golf course and even an ice skating rink. A wedding chapel holding 40 people occupies the ship’s highest point. An Italian restaurant and a ’50s-style diner add spark to mealtimes. The voyage’s five port stops (of at least nine hours each)—Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Croix—are all at hubs of activity, where you can sightsee, shop, dine and visit the beach. The Adventure of the Seas sails this route 18 times throughout 2009 and another 9 times in 2010 (royalcaribbean.com; 866-562-7625). PrincessWestern CaribbeanExploring somewhere in the depths below St. MaartenWestern Caribbean itineraries, with their emphasis on water sports, are tailor made for couples who love getting wet. The brand-new Ruby Princess takes a seven-day round-trip sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with visits to Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico, before stopping at Princess Cays, the cruise line’s private Bahamian island that’s equipped for water sports galore. Grand Cayman and Cozumel are both known for exceptional snorkeling and scuba diving (in Grand Cayman, you won’t want to miss snorkeling with friendly stingrays). The 3,070-passenger Ruby Princess is a seaborne palace with more than 900 balcony staterooms, four swimming pools (two for adults only), a spa with gym, movies shown under the stars, specialized coffee and wine bars and a wedding chapel. With their Personal Choice Dining options, you can select the traditional plan—taking meals at a set time and place—or anytime dining, which allows you to eat when and where you choose. You might even opt for breakfast in bed, offered in the line’s special honeymoon packages (along with spa treatments, roses, and champagne). The Ruby Princess sails this route 23 times through mid-April 2009 (princess.com; 800-774-6237).Star Clipper Windward Islands It’s all laid back and luxe aboard Windstar Cruises.During its seven-night cruise from Bridgetown, Barbados, in the southern Caribbean, Star Clipper’s magnificent Royal Clipper sails north, to the beautiful English-speaking islands of St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts, and then heads south, to Iles des Saintes and Martinique in the French Caribbean, finally ending up in Barbados once again. It’s a journey that delivers spectacular scenery, gorgeous beaches and an intriguing cultural mix. With its billowing 42 sails and nearly 200-foot-tall mast, the Royal Clipper—the largest sailing ship of its kind—is as fascinating as its ports of call. Onboard, you can be as active or as relaxed as you want. From its marina platform, you’ll have access to scuba diving, snorkeling, waterskiing and windsurfing equipment. If you wish, you can even climb the mast or lend a hand hoisting the sails. Or you may just choose to refresh yourself at any of the three swimming pools, the spa or the lounge, with its awesome underwater views.With room for just 227 passengers, the Royal Clipper offers plenty of deck space for kicking back. And dining policies are casual, with open seating and a no-tie dress code. Most cabins are outside doubles that sport dark woods and brass accessories. The Royal Clipper sails this route 22 times, from late 2008 through April 2010 (starclippers.com; 800-442-0556). Disney:Eastern CaribbeanMovie time on the deck of Disney Cruise is a fairy-tale ending to a perfect day.If you relish the romance of spending lots of time at sea, the Disney Cruise Line’s seven night Eastern Caribbean cruises aboard the Disney Magic may be your best choice. You get to enjoy three full days of sailing, and you can choose among the ports offered on three itineraries. All sail round-trip from Port Canaveral,...

Destination: Bliss

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 AM

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands—clocking in at 28 miles long and 7 miles wide—yet it retains a relaxed, intimate vibe. Abandoned stone sugar mills dot the lush hillsides that border the shimmering patchwork of blue, turquoise and aquamarine ocean waters. The sun shines all year, and with average daytime temps of just 80 degrees, plus the cool trade winds, there’s really no bad time to visit. Beachy KeenA bird's eye view of the perfect love nest—the Carambola Beach Resort.Each of St. Croix’s 34 beaches has its own feel and appeal. For the quintessential Caribbean experience, settle beneath the swaying palm trees on the powdery sands of Davis Bay at Carambola Beach Resort. If you’re a nature lover, head out to Point Udall on the east end of the island. Pack a lunch and follow the winding hiking path to secluded Isaac’s Bay for some private snorkeling. Both beaches are open year-round, but as nesting areas for endangered turtles, they are protected by the Nature Conservancy—so be careful of this spot’s littlest inhabitants! If you want to kick back and while away the hours, visit Beauregard Bay at The Buccaneer resort, which has a relaxed open-air restaurant that offers a simple lunch menu—think burgers and salads—plenty of shady palm trees and comfy chaises for lounging. For live music, ice-cold beer and a game of volleyball, check out Rainbow Beach, just north of the town of Frederiksted.The ultimate don’t-miss is Turtle Beach on Buck Island, less than two miles offshore and accessible by boat from the town of Christiansted. The sparkling water and white sand are only two of the reasons this spot has consistently been rated among the top ten prettiest beaches in the world. (It also made our Bridal Guide Top Beaches list!) You can swim, snorkel and lounge here, or you can take the island’s only footpath from the beach to the reef overlook. The 700 acres of the federally protected Buck Island Reef National Monument is home to more than 250 different species of fish. Big Beards Adventure Tours offers day trips from Christiansted on their 42-foot catamaran; snorkeling equipment, guides and lessons for first-timers are included (bigbeards.com). Water WorldA blue haven in Frederiksted.Is scuba diving your passion? If so, St. Croix has more than 50 dive sites located along its northern and western shores. The water here is so teeming with vibrant coral, sponges and tropical fish that even a novice diver can usually get quite a spectacular eyeful. If you want to give it a try, an ideal spot for beginners is the Frederiksted Pier; the waters are clear and brimming with colorful marine specimens. For experienced divers, the spectacular Cane Bay Wall off the north shore is a good bet. Here, a natural sea wall descends more than 13,000 feet, and you can follow along its gentle slopes and sudden nail-biting 180-degree drops. On the west shore, you’ll find five shipwrecks all within a hundred yards of each other. But the real show is at night off Frederiksted Pier, when more elusive critters come out to play. Go with a guide who can point out the little guys—the seahorses, octopuses and comical-looking batfish that all give off an awesome bioluminescent glow (diversvirgin.com). If you’d rather be on the water than in it, try deep-sea fishing, for which St. Croix is famous. A number of charter companies offer excursions from Christiansted and, depending on your skill level, can help you wrangle marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo or mahi mahi (fishwithcarl.com).The sweet life indeed—an insider's view of Carambola Beach Resort.Happy TogetherFancy a romantic couple’s massage? Go on and treat yourselves to a memorable experience. Ambrosia Body Care, based in Christiansted, offers treatments right in your hotel room or even on the beach, beneath a shady palm tree of your choice (treatments start at $75; massagestcroix.com). More active types can get into the swing of things at the 72-par Carambola Golf Course, built in 1966 by Laurence Rockefeller and ideal for players at all levels (golfcarambola.com). Town TimeThe historic harbor town of Christiansted boasts colonial architecture in vibrant shades of pink, blue, purple and green. For an overview of the island’s rich history, explore a few of the area’s museums, such as Christiansvaern, an imposing fort built by the Danes in the 18th century to guard them from pirates. Or stroll among the town’s boutiques and chat with local artisans. Be sure to pick up the popular St. Croix hook bracelet—you wear the hook facing your heart to indicate you’re taken. Then have some lunch at RumRunners, a fun local spot overlooking the harbor that serves up deep-fried conch fritters, ice-cold beers and views of fishermen bringing in the daily catch. Do leave room for dessert! The homemade St. Croix rum cake is sticky, yummy and delicious (lrumrunnersstcroix.com). Road TripMotoring past the pretty pastels along Christiansted Harbor.For a great island experience, take a tour of the St. Croix Heritage Trail, a 72-mile route that crisscrosses the island. This easy-to-follow road takes you past more than 200 popular historical and cultural sites that date from the 17th and 18th centuries, when cotton was king, to the present day. Check out abandoned sugar plantations and mills ruins, the Cruzan Rum Distillery, historical forts, Mt. Eagle—the highest spot on the island—and Point Udall, the easternmost bit of land in the United States.Or you can drive yourselves if you’re comfortable navigating on the left side of the road. But be aware that you may have a hard time judging distance from the median strip, since not only are you driving on the left, but your steering wheel is also on the left—just as it is in the States.You can also have someone else do the driving. Tan Tan will take you off the beaten track to areas accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles. You’ll get unobstructed views of pristine Jack’s Bay from Goat Hill in the east and a leisurely look at the lush forest on Mount Victory. There’s time, too, for refreshing dips in tidal pools along the way. All itineraries start from Christiansted and may be personalized (stxtantantours.com). Pedal PowerSightseeing by bike is guaranteed to get your heart pumping. As you cycle around the island, you’ll notice the diversity of the landscape: The eastern side is arid and dry, while the interior is mainly fertile farmland. The farther west you go, the lusher the vegetation and the denser the forests. If you do take to the hills, beware “The Beast”—a grueling 600-foot climb near Carambola that challenges even the most serious cyclists. Just don’t forget that cars are on the left here, and you should be too. Horsing AroundThe grotto pool area at The Buccaneer.If you’re ready to saddle up, arrange for a guided horseback tour at Paul and Jill’s Equestrian Stables, located just outside Frederiksted. The tour takes you across gorgeous beaches, to historic ruins and into the Rain Forest, (not to be confused with “rain forest”) a woodsy area is filled with Rain Trees, whose leaves fold up when the sun disappears. Along the way, you’ll learn about local flora and fauna as well as something about the history of the island. Sunset and moonlight rides can also be arranged (paulandjills.com). Local FlavorsSt. Croix’s restaurants feature cuisine from all over the world. At Tutu Bene, for example, it’s Italian, while a slew of French-fusion eateries serve up fresh-caught fish dishes that blend Provencal herbs and wine-based reductions with spicy Caribbean sauces. At Harvey’s in Christiansted, local cuisine rules, with a menu featuring callaloo, a stew of meat, seafood and vegetables; fungi, a cornmeal dish similar to polenta; johnny cakes, unleavened, deep-fried bread; and patés, spicy, meat-filled pastries (340-773-3433). Sunset StripFor a truly magical experience, consider Caribbean Sea Adventures’ two-hour sunset cruise. As you watch the sun set in a blaze of glory, you’ll enjoy small-plate...

Caribbean Music Festivals

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:00:00 AM

Everyone knows that the islands of the Caribbean rock with music, in styles that include everything from reggae and calypso to salsa, rock and jazz. Even better, music festivals abound all across this beautiful region. For a honeymoon that strikes just the right note, get ready to listen to these suggestions. (And remember to pack your dancing shoes.) Turks & Caicos"Beautiful Flower" India Aire performs in Turks & Caicos.On Provodenciales (Provo), the main isle of this 40-island archipelago in the eastern Caribbean, the sonic spotlight shines on the Music and Cultural Festival, held every summer. The weeklong extravaganza highlights a combination of international music stars and local favorites, plus popular cultural happenings. Past performers have included recording superstar Alicia Keys, five-time Grammy award-winner John Legend, multiple award-winner Michael Bolton and the American soul artist India.Arie. The celebration also highlights soca, a calypso-type dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. Big-name rap acts (think LL Cool J and Ne-Yo) have also stopped by the festivities. Other local happenings: the Miss Turks & Caicos pageant, a regatta to the Turtle Cove Marina area on Provo’s north coast and a golf classic hosted by the country’s chief minister (musicfestival.tc). Where to stay: The 12-mile stretch of powder-soft white sand known as Grace Bay Beach, on Provo, is a pristine paradise. At The Sands at Grace Bay, an all-suite, oceanfront resort, guest rooms are housed in a series of low buildings surrounded by gorgeous gardens, three swimming pools and, of course, the postcard-perfect beach. There are water sports galore, the ultimate in pampering at the resort’s full-service Spa Tropique and unbeatable Caribbean cuisine at Hemmingway’s, the beachfront restaurant (thesandstc.com; 877-777-2637).ArubaBeauty, the beach and the beat in ArubaLife is a little different on Aruba. The trees lean to one side, the coins are square and the casinos are open all night long. Fantastic beaches, warm waters and friendly folks are also easily found year-round on this western Caribbean island. And every October the windy isle hosts a series of outdoor rock concerts in the open-air Entertainment Center, which has featured such international headliners as John Mayer, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Pat Benatar, the Doobie Brothers, Lionel Richie, Peter Frampton and other favorites (aruba.com). For R&B fans, Aruba’s five-day Soul Beach Music Festival, which was on hiatus until recently, is back with such fantastic talents as Erykah Badu and Wyclef Jean. Festivities shift from Aruba’s hottest discos to the coolest beaches, and from main stage concerts to all-night parties. Brand-name DJs and stateside radio hosts keep the action speeding along (soulbeach.net). Where to stay: Bucuti Beach, a charming low-rise resort, is a pleasant respite from the towering hotels that dominate the island’s other beaches. Bucuti’s luxurious new Tara Wing features large, airy suites set right on the property’s Dream Beach, an enormous expanse of golden sand lined with palms and cozy thatched-roof palapas. Resort amenities include a full fitness center and spa, an innovative dine-around meal plan and on-site entertainment (bucuti.com). Photography: (from top) Turks & Caicos Tourist Board; Aruba Tourism Authority.JamaicaRound Hill's Great House in JamaicaA villa suite fit for rock royalty at Round Hill in Jamaica.Jamaica, home of the legendary Rastamen Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, hosts the wildly popular Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay, on the north side of the island every July. Living up to its motto, “Promoting Music, the Universal Force,” the festival always features impressive lineups of reggae artists while also showcasing classics of rock and roots (folk song and dance). Recent celebrations have spotlighted such headliners as Caribbean-born Rihanna, R&B queen Mary J. Blige and rappers Missy Elliott, 50-Cent and LL Cool J (reggaesumfest.com). Sumfest’s jams aren’t the only ones you’ll hear on the island. Up in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, jazz spills into the streets from open-air cafés and nightclubs. In Montego Bay the three-day Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is held in January. And the popular tourist spot, Ocho Rios, hosts the Port Royal’s Music Festival in June (airjamaicajazzandblues.com; portroyalmusicfestival.com). Where to stay: Even hard-rocking musicians need a place to kick back and chill. Montego Bay’s premier resort, Round Hill Hotel and Villas, is a cozy, upscale hideaway that has long been a private paradise to the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Christina Aguilera and Kenny Rogers. It’s equally ideal for romance-seeking couples. Stay in one of the 74 private villa suites and you’ll enjoy your own swimming pool, veranda and tropical garden, all of which afford sparkling views of the sea and the property’s golden beach. As the sun sets, try a couple’s massage poolside, with your favorite music playing in the background (roundhilljamaica.com; 800-972-2159). Photography: Round Hill Hotel & Villas.TobagoEvery April, a weeklong musical celebration infuses excitement into this sleepy island off the coast of Venezuela. The small sister isle of Trinidad, which welcomes a litany of marquee names to its annual fest, celebrates musical genres from salsa and reggae to R&B, contemporary sounds and jazz. This year’s main stage performers fell into two categories: divas, including Whitney, Shakira and Diana Ross, and smooth vocalists like Smokey Robinson, Rod Stewart and James Ingram. The festival also invites local artists to share the stage. Even with all the hubbub, you can still enjoy the serenity on which Tobago prides itself. Linger on the beach, lounge by the resort pool, explore a lush rain forest and mingle with friendly people all on your own laid-back island time (tobagojazzfest.com). Trinidad and Tobago just wouldn’t be the same without the hauntingly mellow sounds of steel drums, or pans. These iconic Caribbean instruments were invented on these isles, so it stands to reason that you can find the Pan Jazz in da Yard Festival here each spring. This uniquely Caribbean party features local and regional hit makers such as Liam Teague, Tony “Pan Jumbie” Williams and the Kariwak Players. Pantrinbago, a cultural organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the steel drum, hosts the event (visittobago.gov.tt). Where to stay: Tobago’s Coco Reef Resort is a traditional West Indian beauty, decked out in cool terra-cotta tile floors, bright florals and miles of gingerbread trim. The resort has 135 guest rooms, suites and villas, spread across 10 acres that overlook a dazzling white sand beach dotted with towering palm trees. In addition to the usual amenities—multiple restaurants, a full-service spa and tons of beach activities—you can also be chauffeured around in one of the resort’s two Rolls Royces, one of which used to belong to Errol Flynn (cocoreef.com). BarbadosA dolled up in traditional West Indian wear in BarbadosDancing in the streets of BarbadosThis large eastern Caribbean island hosts the king of Caribbean jazz fests, the annual Barbados Jazz Festival. Not only does the spectacular event spotlight the field’s top musicians, but it also introduces concertgoers to some of the island’s most memorable and diverse venues. Such picturesque sites include the historic Sunbury Plantation House, a sprawling colonial mansion estate, Heritage Park at the Foursquare Rum Refinery, the site of restored sugar mills, and the beachside Crane Resort. At Farley Hill National Park, fans spread blankets on the hillside and enjoy picnic meals while taking in the panoramic views of the sea and grooving to the sounds of the world’s top jazz artists. Held in January, the festival kicks off the Caribbean music calendar every year and boasts such performers as Grammy award-winner Erykah Badu and the Cuban All Star Jazz Band (barbadosjazzfestival.com). Where to stay:...

Best Caribbean Beaches

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:00:00 AM

Even with all the gorgeous beaches in the Caribbean islands, some stand out from the rest. Whether it’s for bars, scuba or sunsets, each one of these spots has a special quality that we treasure as much as pirates’ gold. Here, our raves and faves. Best Sunrise... Dawn Beach, St. MaartenThe name is no coincidence. Situated on the Dutch side of the island of St. Maarten, this beach boasts morning shows in amazing hues. Stay for a day of snorkeling and body surfing. Bonus: The beach is located far from the big resorts and crowded beaches on the French side of the island, so secluded bliss is virtually guaranteed.Best Sunset...Laluna, GrenadaThe beach at Laluna, a 16-room hideaway on Grenada, faces west onto the Caribbean. As the sun slips into the sea, watch the colors swirl and paint the sky. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive green flash that signals the exact moment the sun sets. At the hotel’s pool area, which sits above the sandy strand, comfy built-for-two daybeds make the perfect perch for taking in the evening spectacular. Or settle into sofas at the hotel’s Sunset Bar and enjoy cocktails, Italian appetizers and the view (laluna.com). Best at Night... Mosquito Bay, ViequesThe delights of the beaches on Vieques, a small island just off the coast of Puerto Rico, are actually best enjoyed after the sun has set. At Mosquito Bay, you can board a boat for an unforgettable show: The waters glow with millions of bioluminescent organisms, leaving behind phosphorescent trails of light as they move.Best Beach Bars...The Soggy Dollar Bar, Jost Van Dyke, B.V. I.What’s a tropical vacation without a tropical drink in hand? This bar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is the home of the original “painkiller” cocktail. The potent mix of rum, fresh island juices and spices feels all the more refreshing after a swim—the only way to get here. The Soggy Dollar has no dock, so you must jump from your boat into the warm Caribbean. It’s a great day trip from St. John, U.S.V.I. And the sunsets are spectacular. Bonus: There’s often live calypso music in the evenings. Pelican Bar, JamaicaTechnically speaking, the Pelican Bar in Jamaica is actually on a sandbar. The jerry-built shack sits on a strip of supersoft sand just off the coast of Parottee Point. Patrons arrive by boat and sip Red Stripe (Jamaica’s national beer) while standing knee-deep in the crystal-clear seawater. Fresh-caught fish is sometimes available; radio ahead to place your order. Best Lunch... Fish Pot, BarbadosEscape the clamor of the large resorts with an afternoon at Little Good Harbour on the northwest coast of Barbados. Work up an appetite swimming and boogie boarding in the deep blue sea, then treat yourself to the delicious cuisine at the beachside Fish Pot. Housed in a converted fort, the eatery offers gourmet seafood meals served on an open-air terrace. Favorite dishes include a blackened flying-fish panini, stuffed with tomatoes and port-marinated onion, and lobster pasta served with asparagus and baby corn.Photography: (top) Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism; (bottom) CuisinArt Resort & Spa. Meet Our ExpertsGenevieve BrownAn avid traveler and respected industry expert, Genevieve Brown is a senior editor at Travelocity.com. She writes regularly for Travelocity’s blog, "The Window Seat," where she breaks down the latest travel news and its impact on consumers, and gives travel tips and advice. She has also served as a travel resource for the LA Times, CNN, Marketwatch.com, Martha Stewart Sirius Satellite Radio and countless regional radio programs and newspapers. In addition, her work has appeared in many outlets including MSN.com, MSNBC.com and AOL.com. Brenda FineAlthough freelance travel writer Brenda Fine has visited a host of exotic locales around the world, the Caribbean holds a special place in her heart. During her 30-year career, Brenda has been a contributing editor specializing in the Caribbean for Travel Holiday, Bridal Guide and the New York Law Journal. Her work has also appeared in Caribbean Travel & Life, Islands, Endless Vacation, Rodale’s Scuba Diving, Newsweek, the New York Daily News, New York Post and The New York Times. Clark NortonClark Norton, whose jaunts have taken him to countless beaches and more than 100 countries, is an award-winning travel writer. His work has appeared in Outside, The Washington Post Magazine, Hemispheres and Parenting among many other publications. Clark’s most recent books include the Dominican Republic Adventure Guide and Dominican Republic Pocket Adventures. He’s also an expert cruiser, who writes about his experiences at the website Smarter Cruising with Clark Norton (smartercruising.blogspot.com). Jenna MahoneyWhen Bridal Guide’s travel editor was in middle school, her teachers refused to believe her stories about spending weekends in the Caribbean. But as the daughter of an airline worker, Jenna had lots of opportunities to hop on down to the islands with regular frequency, and her childhood travel bug has seriously stuck. Jenna continues to explore different cities and sights across the world, but by far her favorite destinations are those with fantastic beaches. Her work regularly appears in Bridal Guide. Check out Jenna’s new blog “A Traveler’s Tales” at bridalguide.com. Best for Foodies... The CuisinArt Resort & Spa, AnguillaThe resort’s French-Caribbean fusion cuisine draws from the natural bounty of the island, as well as its on-site hydroponic farm. After you’ve sunned yourself to perfection, enjoy a hands-on cooking class and feast on the award-winning food. The property’s ultraluxe spa also highlights the hotel’s homegrown organic ingredients (cuisinartrestort.com).Best Party...Turtle Beach, St. KittsTurtle Beach on St. Kitts, near Anguilla, boasts a typical Caribbean beach bar scene, where everyone becomes instant best friends. Expect loud music (frequently live), plenty of ice-cold local beer and lots of freshly grilled fish. On Sundays there’s a large West Indian buffet, offering island favorites like lobster salad, conch chowder, rice and peas and johnnycakes. Best to Laze in the Shade...Big Bamboo, Anegada, B.V.I.Loblolly Bay, on Anegada in the B.V.I., is an unspoiled lagoon, with an array of snorkeling spots: coral formations, underwater caves and an offshore shipwreck. But the real draw is Big Bamboo, a thatched-roof hut offering some of the freshest seafood around. Check out the chalkboard menu and place your order before your swim. Later on, when you’re ready to eat, your crab cakes, conch and grilled lobster will be ready too. Local beer and fresh fruity drinks are served to patrons all afternoon.Best Snorkeling...Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S.V.I.It’s the most photographed cove on St. John for a good reason. Trunk Bay, a U.S. National Park, is a sparkling jewel of a cove with striking white sand bordered by coconut palms, mangrove and sea grape trees and tropical blooms. An offshore coral reef is home to small, darting silver fish called fry, colorful parrot fish and bottom-dwelling stingrays, among others. An underwater trail, marked by red, white and blue signs, weaves near the shoreline, indicating marine life to watch for. On the beach, the park service maintains a picnic area with outdoor grills, a gift shop that rents snorkel equipment, a snack bar, restrooms and showers (nps.gov/state/vi). Turtle Beach, St. Croix, U.S.V.I.This golden spot can be found on Buck Island, located just five and a half miles off St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The tiny isle is uninhabited except for wildlife, including leatherback and green sea turtles, hawksbill birds and brown pelicans. The beach’s shallow swimming and snorkeling area is protected by a coral reef. Marine gardens and an underwater snorkeling trail make it a very...

Find a Caribbean Resort for You

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 AM

After planning the perfect wedding, you may not have the energy or inclination to manage every minute of your honeymoon. Thank goodness for all-inclusive resorts, where you generally pay one price up front and then stow your wallet for the duration of your stay. It’s all so blissfully simple, but there’s always more to know: Each resort has its own vibe and personality, and some may be better for you than others. To help you out, we got the goods on six properties across the Caribbean.For seclusion seekers:Petit St. Vincent is the name of the intimate resort and the private isle on which it sits in the Grenadines, a group of West Indies islands. The property’s 22 stone-and-wood cottages are tucked around the island’s 113 unspoiled acres. Some perch high atop windswept hills, and others are snuggled under the sea grape trees along the beach. And they all afford complete privacy. If you desire room service, fresh towels or piña coladas, simply raise the yellow flag outside your cottage. And when you want to be alone, flying the red flag gives the do not disturb signal. PSV has a version of an all-inclusive program that offers nearly everything from meals and afternoon tea to unlimited room service, entertainment and water sports. Also part of the package are a couple’s massage and the use of the tennis facilities. Alcoholic beverages are the only extra (800-654-9326; psvresort.com). A private cottage (left) and a romantic sunset dinner (right) at Petit St. Vincent. Photography: Neil Selkirk Photography.For sophisticated travelers:If you’d like to stay in an elegant property without having to worry about extra meal costs, look no further than Little Dix Bay, a Rosewood Resort on Virgin Gorda in the B.V.I. Long regarded as a grande dame resort by discerning international travelers, the 100-room hideaway recently completed a large-scale renovation and the results are dazzling. The property’s 16 new spacious Junior Suites have oversize beds, large soaking tubs, outdoor garden showers and huge shaded terraces located just a shell’s toss from the resort’s private beach. Each room is hospitably stocked with a bottle of rum and some cocktail mixer. Complimentary activities range from non-motorized water sports and lessons to use of the fitness center and tennis courts, plus beginner clinics. Daily offerings such as guided garden tours, nightly movies and afternoon tea are also included. For a truly inclusive experience, add one of the resort’s meal plans. The American includes hot breakfast, lunch and dinner, or choose the second plan, the breakfast and dinner option. Don’t forget to add the Robinson Crusoe Day Excursion. After a private boat ride to a nearby deserted islet, you’ll enjoy each other’s company at a delicious picnic lunch in a gorgeous natural setting (888-ROSEWOOD; littledixbay.com). From left: A private outdoor shower, an inviting panorama and a recently remodeled room at Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda. Photography: Courtesy of Little Dix Bay.*BRIDAL GUIDE EXCLUSIVE! Mention Bridal Guide and enjoy a romantic afternoon with a gourmet picnic lunch at a secluded private beach. Go to bridalguide.com/deals for more information.For luxe lovers:While many all-inclusive resorts regularly attempt to raise the bar with extravagant perks, Sandals’ newest concept, Luxury Included, offers guests just about anything they’d ever desire in a vacation resort. At the new Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, on the southern coast of Jamaica, every room is located just steps from a private beach and has an expansive ocean view and private balcony or terrace. The 360-room property is spread across a tropical reserve and features three different “villages” (French, Dutch and Italian), with beachfront pools, whirlpools and lush gardens. All guests have access to the resort’s seven different restaurants, which range from white-gloved fine dining to a casual open-air beach bar. There are also six other bars, including a piano lounge, a swim-up bar and a late-night cabaret, all serving premium liquor. Airport transfers, hurricane guarantees and all water sports—yes, even scuba—are included in the package price. Stay in one of the 32 Butler Suites and you’ll have a dedicated staff member at your beck and call, 24/7. Don’t feel like unpacking your suitcase? No problem, just call your butler. Want chilled hibiscus tea served on your patio when you return from tennis? It’s yours. The resort’s 87 Concierge Suites provide similar personal service (888-SANDALS; sandals.com). The beach (left) and a private butler serves dinner (right) at Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa in Jamaica. Photography: Courtesy of Sandals Resorts.Travel Tip: At true all-inclusive resorts, tips are included in the single tariff.For sports fans: Play your favorite sports and learn some new ones at the Club Med Turkoise, located in the pristine Turks & Caicos islands, where free snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing and boogie boarding are offered in an adults-only environment. The low-rise property, which is set on famous Grace Bay Beach, has a staff of water-sports guides and instructors. The use of the resort’s numerous basketball courts, tennis courts, beach volleyball areas and grassy areas for soccer and softball are complimentary to all guests, as are group classes and on-site snorkeling excursions. In addition, there’s a circus school where you can learn the art of trapeze flying and experience the joy of jumping on a trampoline. Active off-site excursions, like hiking, diving and kayaking, are also available.Other amenities: Two restaurants and bars and a spa. The resort’s guest rooms are simple, comfortable and decorated in brightly colored island-inspired fabrics (800-CLUBMED; clubmed.com). For history lovers: St. Lucia’s delightful East Winds Inn has a mere 30 guest rooms, so you’ll never have to worry about crowds. Here, individual West Indian-style cottages are scattered over seven acres of tropical gardens shaded by old-growth mango, casurina and other flamboyant trees. The deluxe rooms have sexy open-air showers in large bathrooms and spacious private terraces. Plush linens and top-notch Rivolta Carmignani bath amenities add a lavish touch.The inn’s colonial architecture gives it the sense of a bygone era. Spend the day strolling the grounds and stop at the wooden gazebo. Keep your eyes peeled for the St. Lucian hummingbirds, colorful mangrove cuckoos and other beautiful birds that live among the property’s tropical trees. Then enjoy a glass of champagne or a rum cocktail in the cozy Bamboo Lounge with its overstuffed sofas and board games. Evenings are perfect for listening to the sounds of the inn’s Steinway grand piano in the Flamboyant Room or stargazing on the beach. As with other all-inclusive properties, meals and drinks are part of the package. In addition to taking your meals at the inn, you can utilize the Dine Around Plan, which allows you to sample the local fare at area restaurants (rates start at $670 for two; 800-347-9154; eastwinds.com). For scuba specialists: Sunset House, founded by divers for divers, is Grand Cayman’s most popular scuba resort. Its waterfront location allows guests to shore-dive any time they want. And needless to say, there is fabulous snorkeling here as well. Note: The beach is a bit rocky, so you’ll have to jump rather than wade into the water. Sunset House offers packages that include accommodations, breakfast, airport transfers and taxes, plus six boat dives. Spend the morning on self-guided dives around the property, then hop into one of the hotel’s five boats for an exciting underwater adventure. On land, chill out at the resort’s My Bar, an island favorite for sunset watching. And while the accommodations are far from fancy, they are spacious and comfortable; stay in an ocean-view room and you’ll enjoy sweeping vistas from your private balcony (800-854-4767; sunsethouse.com).Travel Tip: Some smaller resorts offer all-inclusive packages;...

Couples Share their Caribbean Experiences

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:00:00 AM

As far as honeymoon destinations go, there’s no doubt that the Caribbean offers a little something for everyone: tropical sunshine, miles of unspoiled beaches, romantic resorts and plenty of activities to keep you busy. Take it from these real couples, whose Caribbean honeymoons took them to the Dominican Republic, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.St. John, U.S.V.I.: Ellen and Charles Charles and EllenShortly after they got engaged, New Yorkers Ellen and Charles Kreps vacationed on the lush island of St. John, and ultimately decided to return there to get married and spend their 10-day honeymoon. “We wanted a peaceful, secluded spot—somewhere away from our busy city lives,” explains Ellen, a grad-school student majoring in speech-language pathology. She and Charles, a software developer, chose Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, which, like 75 percent of the island, lies within the unspoiled Virgin Islands National Park. The land was acquired in the 1950s by environmentalist Laurance Rockefeller, whose goal was to preserve its natural beauty. “You won’t find any high-rise hotels in the area,” says Ellen. The resort has an open-air feel that blends well with the lush landscape, and the rooms have no phones, radios or TVs to distract you, she adds. The property was built from native woods and stones, and guest rooms feature locally handcrafted armoires, tables, chairs and four-poster beds. Ellen and Charles stayed in a room with a large living area, a patio and a lovely view of the gardens. Because there are no airports on St. John, the smallest of the three main islands of the U.S.V.I. (the others are St. Thomas and St. Croix), the couple flew into St. Thomas, where they rented a Jeep, since they knew it would make navigation over the occasionally rough roads easier. Then they took a 30-minute trip on the car ferry to their final destination (you can also use the resort’s private shuttle boat). After the wedding, held at the resort’s Turtle Bay Estate House, the couple spent a day exploring some of the property’s seven gorgeous beaches. “Usually there were just a few people on the beach,” says Ellen. On another afternoon, the honeymooners visited Trunk Bay, a nearby cove that has some of the best snorkeling in the world. They swam along its famed snorkel trail, following the underwater signs that describe the different kinds of coral and marine life. And that evening, the couple enjoyed a memorable dining experience at Asolare, a restaurant located in the island’s main town of Cruz Bay, which offers a fusion of Asian and French cuisine. The restaurant sits on a cliff that provides a gorgeous view of the harbor. “We would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the island!” says Ellen. Another favorite dining spot: Tage, also in Cruz Bay. The couple feasted on seared scallops, a calamari salad, pan-roasted yellowfin tuna in a champagne truffle vinaigrette—and shared a tasty molten chocolate cake for dessert. “The French-inspired food was amazing,” says Ellen, “and the intimate bistro-style dining room reminded us of New York.” The gentle surf of Caneel Bay's Hawksnest Beach. Photography: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.The next morning, Ellen and Charles bought souvenirs in Cruz Bay and then returned to Caneel Bay for a wine-tasting in the Estate House’s wine room, hosted by the resort’s sommelier. They sampled a fumé blanc, a chardonnay, a pinot noir, a merlot and a cabernet sauvignon. “We learned a lot,” says Ellen, “and got a little tipsy toward the end.” They also took a 20-minute hike to one of Caneel Bay’s more remote beaches, Honeymoon Beach. “There isn’t a lounge chair or staff member in sight,” says Ellen. Later, they drove to the town of Coral Bay on the east side of the island. “St. John is so small, it only takes about a half hour to drive from one end to the other,” notes Ellen. They stopped to admire the town from a lookout point at the Chateau Bordeaux restaurant and had mahi mahi sandwiches for lunch at the Skinny Legs Bar & Grill. Then they headed back to the resort to watch the sun set from Scott Beach. With exceptional views of St. Thomas, Tortola and other islands, the adults-only beach is one of the most romantic spots to experience at dusk. “We had the whole beach to ourselves practically every night,” recalls Ellen. The couple tapped into their creative sides by signing up for a watercolor class taught by a local artist. “The paintings made for a nice souvenir from our trip,” says Ellen. Charles painted mangrove trees by the sea, and Ellen’s piece depicted Turtle Point, the grassy spot where she and Charles exchanged vows—and where their honeymoon paradise began (888-767-3966; caneelbay.com). * Bridal Guide Exclusive! Mention Bridal Guide and receive complimentary round-trip ferry transfers from St. Thomas airport and an upgrade to the next room category. Go to bridalguide.com/deals for more information.Peter Island, B.V.I.: Gina and GeoffRelaxation was a top priority for Gina and Geoff Campbell when they were searching for their ideal honeymoon spot. “We were literally looking for the type of destination that did not have a Hard Rock Cafe,” says Geoff, a TV station sales manager. Their pick: tranquil Peter Island, the largest private island in the British Virgin Islands, which has 1,800 acres of mountainous terrain and five sugar-white beaches. The couple stayed at The Peter Island Resort, the island’s only property. It comprises about five percent of the island; the rest is completely untouched. With just 52 rooms and 3 villas—and given the fact that they’d be there in October, the low season—the resort offered just the type of solitude the Houston-based couple were seeking. Gina and GeoffGina and Geoff flew from their hometown to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then to the island of Tortola, where they were transported via private shuttle ferry to the resort. Their ocean-view room had bright yellow and blue walls and upholstery, and French doors opened to a private patio. From there, they could look out at the perfectly landscaped gardens and distant sea; just a few steps away, a hammock was suspended between a pair of palms. Their room was located near the resort’s Tradewinds Restaurant, where they usually ordered a breakfast of coconut-crusted French toast with bananas. For dinner, options included plantain-covered grouper, oven-roasted yellowtail and shrimp curry. The menu at the Deadman’s Beach Bar & Grill, within a few minutes’ walking distance, also featured plenty of seafood, in addition to salads, sandwiches and, says Gina, a delicious Jamaican jerk chicken pizza. “There were a wide variety of dishes, so we weren’t eating the same thing every day,” she adds. A shuttle van was available to take them to different parts of the resort, such as the spa, tennis courts and White Bay Beach, on the opposite side of the island. Geoff windsurfs off Deadman's Beach. Photography: Courtesy of Gina and Geoff Campbell.The newlyweds had purchased a seven-night honeymoon package, which included a group wine-pairing dinner, a 90-minute couple’s massage, a snorkeling trip off the coasts of Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke and a scenic drive to The Loop (a five-mile stretch of road along the southwestern end of Peter Island) to watch the sun set. About 12 guests gathered at the Tradewinds Wine Room for the scheduled vintner’s dinner, where multiple courses were paired with wine, champagne and port. It was a great opportunity for the group of mostly honeymooners to get acquainted, and the couple enjoyed chatting and sharing experiences. The trip to the resort’s spa, which sits...

Spectacular Caribbean Sunsets

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:00:00 AM

Late afternoons in the Caribbean are gilded with a special magic. Breezes soften and the sea turns a shimmering silver, reminding your inner romantic that it’s time to cozy up in a special spot and get ready to watch nature’s daily extravaganza—the sunset. Relax as vivid pinks and reds splash across the tropical horizon. And who knows? This evening you might just be lucky enough to spot the elusive flash of green that happens just as the sun slips into the sea. We scouted the best sunset-spotting places across the islands, from the U.S.V.I. to Barbados. Here’s your guide to the top ten. View your own private sunset in St. Lucia A sensational view in St. Lucia. Photography: karaymedia.com. If you were to design the ultimate romantic hideaway in the Caribbean, you might create Ti Kaye Village, an intimate collection of secluded cottages, each tucked into a tangle of hot pink bougainvillea and golden allamanda on a hillside overlooking the ocean. Late afternoon, when the turquoise sea takes on a pewter sheen and the birds begin cooing and twittering their good nights, is the perfect time to snuggle together in your hammock and gaze out across the valley of shaggy-headed palms to watch the sun turn the tropical sky vibrant orange and deep scarlet. Ti Kaye means small house in the island’s Creole patois, and your own West Indian-style small house here has an outdoor garden shower, a gauze-draped four-poster bed and an inviting hammock for two swaying on your private sea-view veranda. Other resort amenities include an open-air restaurant with gorgeous ocean views, a beachside grill, a tropical bar and a swimming pool perched high above the ocean. Descend the 166 steps down to beach level and you’ll discover some of the island’s best snorkeling and diving (tikaye.com). Rise above it all in MartiniquePoolside at Buccaneer's Creek, Club Med in Martinique. Photography: Courtesy of Club Med. Martinique is the classic tropical paradise. It showcases miles of white sand and black sand beaches and a lush mountainous interior. Since the island is a French territory, you’ll also find haute cuisine, chic designer boutiques and joie de vivre everywhere you go. Although the sunsets are beautifully dramatic all along the island’s southwest coast, you’ll get the best view from the hilltop cemetery above Sainte-Anne, where the peaceful evening stillness is broken only by the sibilant breezes rustling through ancient trees. From here, the panoramic vista stretches across picture-perfect beaches to the nearby Club Med village and the jumble of tin rooftops of the small fishing village of Sainte-Anne. You can also see the sparkling Caribbean water and the voluptuous outline of the island’s famous La Femme Couchée, a mountain whose curves resemble a reclining woman. Stay at the newly refurbished Buccaneer’s Creek, Club Med, and you’ll have access to two restaurants, three private beaches, an infinity pool and water sports and other fitness activities galore. Plus, you can watch spectacular sunsets from the property. Simply wander along the resort’s long, wooden pier that curves into the bay (per seven-night stay; 800-CLUB-MED; clubmed.com).Say “Ciao, Bella” in Grenada An inviting spot to snuggle at Laluna, in Grenada. Photography: Courtesy of Laluna. Since Laluna is located at Morne Rouge Beach on Grenada’s western coast, virtually every room faces west, which is absolutely perfect for sunset-watching. One day, you can sink into a daybed for two that sits under the thatched umbrella near the pool. On another, you may watch the sun slip into the horizon from the comfy double chaise in your villa’s indoor-outdoor living room, where fragrant frangipani scents the breezes. Although it’s quite rare to find Italian influences in the Caribbean, this chic hideaway owned by a Northern Italian native, boasts Mediterranean-style architecture, cuisine, décor and herb-scented beauty products. But the airy design of Laluna’s 16 color-drenched cottages keeps with Caribbean traditions as it melds interiors with the tropical outdoors. Even the property’s thatch-roofed restaurant is open to the sea (866-4-LALUNA; laluna.com).Indulge at the spa in AnguillaThe electric mix of color on Anguilla's West End. Photography: Courtesy of Malliouhana Hotel & Spa. Anguilla’s shores are scalloped with some of the most glorious beaches in the entire Caribbean, including Meads Bay, a stretch of silky, talcum-soft sand along the island’s West End. And every afternoon, the sunset that blazes across Anguilla’s horizon infuses this special beach with a rosy glow, creating a magical carpet of pink, offset by the turquoise waters of the sea. The primo place for watching this afternoon transformation is the aptly named Tranquility Suite at the luxurious new spa at Malliouhana Resort, where you can soak in a Jacuzzi for two on your private terrace. Then indulge in the Honeymoon Sweet, a three and one half-hour couples spa package, which includes facials, a dual hot-stone treatment, champagne and a hydrotherapy bath infused with essential oils. Malliouhana is one of the Caribbean’s premier resorts, a tropical grande dame that successfully blends the breezy charms of the West Indies islands with top-notch service (800-835-0796; malliouhana.com). Sail the sea of love in Grand Cayman It’s hard to imagine a scene more outrageously romantic than a sunset and dinner cruise across Grand Cayman’s North Sound. Your sailboat leaves the dock in time to reach a perfect viewing spot just as the sun makes its daily dive into the sea. And there you’ll be relaxing in deck chairs and enjoying every Technicolor moment as crew members pass hors d’oeuvres and keep your glasses filled with “sundowners”—local speak for cocktails. Later, as darkness falls and a million stars light up the tropical sky, you’ll join the other passengers for a three-course dinner on deck. Cruising near Grand Cayman. Photography: Courtesy of Red Sail Sports. There are many excellent resorts to choose from on this popular island. For great views as well as beach accessibility, stay at the Beach Suites at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, which is set on the sands of the island’s famous Seven Mile Beach. Each of the resort’s suites has a private balcony or patio and wireless Internet access. The property’s dock is the launch point for the sunset cruise (For cruise information call 877-RED SAIL or visit redsail.com. For hotel information call 800-233-1234 or visit grandcayman.hyatt.com). Get a view from the top in Barbados For a panoramic sunset view, head up 700 feet over Bridgetown to Gun Hill Signal Station, a monument that was one of the island’s original communications points. At this time of the day, most visitors have left, so it’s quiet on the hilltop and you’ll have the 1818 historic landmark to yourselves. As darkness descends, you can watch the lights of Bridgetown flicker on.Let the magic continue at Treasure Beach in the exclusive Gold Coast area. This intimate hideaway’s rooms are tucked amid tropical gardens that extend all the way to the dazzling beach. For a honeymoon-perfect splurge, book one of the new deluxe suites, which features a private plunge pool on a deck that sits right above the beach. For more information visit treasurebeachhotel.com.The Blues have it on Curaçao There’s no contest: Blues is the sunset-watching place to be on this Dutch island. The open-air Blues Bar is located at the end of a pier by the Avila Hotel beach. In the early evening, the sky blushes pink, sea breezes ruffle your hair and the air smells salty and somehow yummy. Settle into comfy chairs, sip a blue-tinted tropical drink and listen to cool island jazz as the sun rides low on the horizon. (Oh yes, Curaçao is also the name of the island’s blue liqueur, which explains all those azure-colored drinks.) Later, as velvety darkness drapes the sky, wander along the sand to your own torch-lit table on the beach to feast on some grilled lobster and the favorite local stuffed...

Amazing Caribbean Adventures

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:00:00 AM

Everyone knows that all that sun, sand and sea make the Caribbean the ultimate warm weather escape. Just find a bit of beach, get your daily dose of rays and cool off in the turquoise waters. But there's more to these islands than maxin' and relaxin'. With options like hiking through a natural preserve on St. John in the U.S.V.I. and cycling in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, the region is experiencing an increase in active travelers—and honeymooners. Whether you and your husband prefer golfing, or trying your hand at bone fishing, we found the best island activities out there. Windsurf in MargaritaJust north of Venezuela, Margarita Island has steady trade winds and waist-deep ocean water—the perfect combination for windsurfing. Stay at the El Yaque BeachHotel, home base of Vela Windsurf, and you won't be far from the island's best conditions. Vela Windsurf, which has been specializing in windsurfing vacations for more than 18 years, offers instruction in the morning, when breezes are light and gentle. By afternoon, when you get the hang of the sport, you can jibe in the stiff late-day winds. When you're feeling really adventurous, ask about a private, guided day trip to Los Roques National Marine Park, and you'll explore the area's more than 40 pristine islands (velawindsurf.com).Mountain Bike in the Dominican RepublicThe two highest mountain peaks in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte (10,128 feet) and La Pelona (10,151 feet), are in the Dominican Republic, which makes the island a mountain-biking paradise. On Iguana Mama's Dominican Alps Tour, you zip through the lush countryside past coffee plantations and cabbage fields. On this intermediate-level trip (bikers travel at least 20 miles a day), you'll cross gentle rivers, pass towering waterfalls and climb to heights of 5,500 feet while catching glimpses of the sparkling Caribbean in the distance. On breaks, you'll stop at fruit stands and sample the local passionfruit, red mangos and guanabana. Nights are spent in small hotels across the countryside. Oh, and the best part: Your bags are schlepped for you ( iguanamama.com).Sea Kayak in the BahamasWith crystalline water and uninhabited islands to picnic on, the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas are the place to venture to if you want to say bye-bye to the rest of the world. The best way to explore the Exumas (some of the least developed isles in the Bahamian chain) is by sea kayak on an eight-day tour with Ibis Tours. You'll spend your days paddling along the edges of half-moon stretches of sand and kayaking in the open, pale jade waters of the Great Bahama Bank. Go ahead: Jump overboard and snorkel amid a kaleidoscope of colorful fish. At night, set up camp on a deserted beach and feast on the food of the tropics, like French toast in coconut milk, crab Benedict and rum-soaked cheesecake (ibistours.com/bahamas.html). Hike, Kayak and Bike in St. JohnVirgin Islands National Park comprises more than 60 percent of the island of St. John U.S.V.I. and its surrounding waters, making it a mecca for active travelers. Hiking trails weave through the arid and semitropical terrain, past some 800 species of plants like the Turk's head cactus, tyre palm and mangrove. On the shore, white sand beaches lead to coral coves, where snorkelers drift for hours, mesmerized by the neon-hued fish. To take full advantage of this locale, book Arawak Expeditions St. John Inn-to-Inn Adventure Week. By day, you'll hike, snorkel, sea kayak and mountain bike across the island; at night, you'll stay at intimate B&Bs and inns, like the Sandcastle Villas & Seaside Cottages in White Bay, which features six cottages on the beach, a restaurant serving fresh seafood and a small bar (800-238-8687; arawakexp.com).Dive and Snorkel in BonaireA mere decade ago, only serious scuba diving enthusiasts seemed to know about Bonaire. Now all kinds of visitors are experiencing the island's magic, both above and below the water. Novice divers and snorkelers, who want to experience the show of a lifetime, can swim with blue and yellow queen angelfish and orange trumpetfish in waters that have a visibility of 100 feet or more. The reef's proximity to the island's shore is ideal for expert divers too. On terra firma, the island's semiarid landscape is home to some 200 types of birds, including one of the world's largest colonies of pink flamingoes. Stroll along the southern tip of Bonaire at sunset, near the Willemstoren Lighthouse, and you'll no doubt see a small flock of these amazing creatures. Stay at the nearby Harbour Village Beach Resort, and you'll have a spacious suite with private terrace overlooking the white sand beach. Though Heineken beer and Gouda cheese are the sustenance of choice in this Dutch colony, you can enjoy more upscale cuisine at dinner in the sand at the hotel's La Balandra Bar and Grill—the menu features local tuna and shrimp (harbourvillage.com). Sail...

All-Inclusive Caribbean

Sun, 22 May 2005 12:00:00 AM

I needed a vacation, and a trip to a Caribbean resort sounded incredibly seductive: I could relax on the beach and sip cocktails until the sun set over the ocean, and enjoy fabulous meals of fresh fish. After doing some research, I chose the luxurious-looking Curtain Bluff, 72-room resort on the island of Antigua. But I hesitated when I learned that Curtain Bluff is an all-inclusive resort. While I liked the idea of paying one price up front—for the room, meals, drinks, activities, even gratuities—I wondered if some of the stereotypes I’d heard about these properties were true: Would it have a summer-camp-for-adults atmosphere, with bad food and corny group activities? Would the unlimited drinks be watered down and the buffets picked-over? There was only one way to find out—so I booked a ticket to Antigua and set off to see for myself what this particular all-inclusive was all about.I needed a vacation, and a trip to a Caribbean resort sounded incredibly seductive: I could relax on the beach and sip cocktails until the sun set over the ocean, and enjoy fabulous meals of fresh fish. After doing some research, I chose the luxurious-looking Curtain Bluff, 72-room resort on the island of Antigua. But I hesitated when I learned that Curtain Bluff is an all-inclusive resort. While I liked the idea of paying one price up front—for the room, meals, drinks, activities, even gratuities—I wondered if some of the stereotypes I’d heard about these properties were true: Would it have a summer-camp-for-adults atmosphere, with bad food and corny group activities? Would the unlimited drinks be watered down and the buffets picked-over? There was only one way to find out—so I booked a ticket to Antigua and set off to see for myself what this particular all-inclusive was all about.Warm WelcomeMy first impressions of the resort immediately calmed some of my concerns. In the open-air check-in cottage, a waiter presented me with a rum punch served in a sleek highball glass, the fruit juices blended to perfection. This was no summer camp.The walk to my room was a steep climb up a white stone staircase where red hibiscus and vines spilled over the latticework railing. My suite, the Terrace Room, was as luxurious as any I’d ever seen: It featured a four-poster bed and a marble-trimmed bathroom with a huge tub. Elegant as the digs were, they were eclipsed by the room’s semicircular terrace, furnished with a massive Jacuzzi. I threw down my bags, rushed outside and let the warm ocean breezes awaken my airplane-dulled senses. Life’s a BeachKnow Before You GoThere are all sorts of all-inclusive resorts, from quiet, luxurious hideaways to around-the-clock party places. Which is right for you?Determine the resort’s style. You’ll want to make sure that the resort will be a good fit for your personalities, so be sure to ask for sample activity schedules and read the brochures carefully for clues. For example, extroverted couples who like to make new friends will enjoy a resort that offers lots of games during the day and plenty of late-night entertainment (such as bars, dance clubs and comedy acts), whereas a couple who prefers quiet and privacy may not appreciate the same property. One tip: Pay attention to the number of guest rooms, as large resorts tend to be more crowded and bustling than smaller boutique hotels, which tend to be more sedate, with low-key atmospheres.Evaluate the food. All hotel companies describe their food as fabulous, but to see if you will think so, be sure to ask more questions. Are meals served buffet-style? May a couple sit alone, or must they mingle with other guests at big, round tables of 10? What type of cuisine is served? Are mealtime dress codes designated as casual or formal? If you ask all these questions and you’re still not getting a clear picture, request that the property fax or e-mail you some sample menus.Check out the guest rooms. Many hotel websites contain prominent pictures of their best suites. Not booking one of these? Make sure you get to see a pictureof your room type. —Sherri Eisenberg The next morning, I opted against having breakfast in the main dining room, choosing instead to have thin, crêpe-like pancakes with fresh pineapple brought to my room and set up on the terrace. It was wonderful to sip my coffee and look out at the ocean as the sun emerged from the clouds. Like the majority of the other guests, I spent my days quietly at the beach. The surf was calm enough for some serious swimming, but most couples I saw were content to cling to each other, swishing and swirling about. Not once did I see any silly group games. Of course, instead of sunbathing, I could have spent the day kayaking, scuba diving or snorkeling—activities that add a lot of value to the all-inclusive rates. (Spa services, tennis lessons and private yacht rides cost extra.) But the beach was so beautiful that I never felt the urge to leave. Frankly, I never felt the desire to “do” much of anything except drink, daydream and dive, mermaid-like, into the cool water once in a while.When I got hungry, I would duck into the adjacent Beach Club for some tangy baby-back ribs, or grilled butterfish. I always made room for dessert, which I’d pluck from a bountiful buffet in the center of the pavilion, shamelessly reaching first for pecan pie, then berries with cream. I’d easily have paid $10 a pop for each of these indulgent treats at an à la carte resort. Who knew this buffet thing could be so appealing?Starry NightsEach evening, before dinner, hotel guests gathered on the veranda for cocktails. Some of the tanned and glowing couples had gotten to know one another on the beach and, at another all-inclusive resort, might have been inviting one another to do shots at this point. But Curtain Bluff is too genteel for that kind of activity. After a couple of Caribbean Fantasy cocktails (the hotel’s signature blend of fruit juice and rum), each couple retreated to a private table for a candlelit dinner. I’d quickly grown used to the resort’s kind staff and impeccable service, but dinner was in a class of its own. Every day culminated with an elegant, five-course meal served in the alfresco dining room. The maître d’ showed me to the same table every night; by the third evening, the waiters knew to bring me a glass of Sauvignon Blanc as I took my seat. Dinner selections blended traditional French-Continental cuisine with indigenous Caribbean flavors. I dined on wahoo (a type of Caribbean mackerel) served with a tropical fruit salsa one night, and duck breast with passion fruit sauce on another evening. Live music played all through dinner. Sometimes we listened to a lady soloist croon pretty covers of classic reggae songs, including Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain” and “Three Little Birds” on other nights a jazz band performed Frank Sinatra standards. Best of all, no one forced me into a conga line. After dinner, most guests spent the night chatting and laughing at the bar or dancing beneath the stars. As for me, I could not bear to be away from my terrace. I’d have a Grand Marnier (okay, maybe two) brought to my room and then I’d soak in the bubbling Jacuzzi, listening to the wind and surf. This, I’d think to myself, is a vacation.

English Accent

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 12:00:00 AM

You want a destination with afternoon tea, a wee bit of culture and locals who speak your language, albeit with a different accent. He wants fruity rum drinks on the beach. For a locale sure to satisfy you both, choose an island with gorgeous strands and tropical flair—minus the jet lag and fog. On these Caribbean dots, you and your groom will discover sparkling blue waters, Carnival-dressed fish and charming English customs. Each isle provides perfect settings for adventure, partying and beach strolls. BermudaWith its pink-sand strands, pastel-hued houses and lily-trimmed roadways, Bermuda seems like something from a fairy tale. The island is an overseas territory of Great Britain, so English accents are commonplace, cricket is the sport of choice and afternoon tea is a treasured ritual. Why Go: Honeymooners love Bermuda because it's so close to the U.S.; it sits off the coast of North Carolina and is just a two-hour flight from the East Coast. Other reasons: The weather is sunny year-round (temperatures are warmest in summer, Bermuda's peak season), and the sailing and snorkeling are superb. Must-do: Keep your eyes peeled for the island's many circular Chinese moon gates, often used as landscaping ornaments. A walk through one of these Asian imports reputedly ensures lasting marital bliss. Play and Party: By day, shopping, water sports, golf and a variety of historic and natural attractions entice couples out of their rooms. Rent a two-seater moped—there are no rental cars on Bermuda—and head west to the Royal Naval Dockyard, or east to the Town of St. George, for shops, museums and entertainment. In between, tour the fragrant Botanical Gardens, visit the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo and make a pit stop at the Swizzle Inn for a rum swizzle (rum punch) or Bermuda Triangle beer. After dark, the liveliest nightclubs can be found along the streets of Hamilton, the island's capital city. Best bets include Oasis—hit the Back Room Bar for local bands and "laser karaoke"—and The Club.Eat: For a thoroughly British dining experience, take afternoon tea at The Lighthouse Restaurant & Tearoom, a rustic and romantic setting overlooking the sea at the base of Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. Besides the usual scones, clotted cream and teas, it serves up soups, sandwiches, salads and such. In the evening, head for the harbor views and wonderfully creative French provincial cuisine at La Coquille, a favorite of love-struck couples, located just outside of Hamilton. Sleep: The beachfront Sonesta Beach Resort Bermuda offers plenty of places to splash about, including three sandy coves plus an outdoor and domed indoor swimming pool. Facilities include a world-class spa, three restaurants and a scuba shop. Call 800-766-3782. With cliffside rooms and cottages overlooking a private beach, The Reefs pretty well defines the phrase "romantic retreat." This small (65-room) property offers three restaurants, including Coconuts, which is located on the beach and features tasty Bermudian fish chowder and broiled rock lobster tail. And don't miss a visit to the sexy, new La Serena spa for a pampering massage or facial. Call 800-742-2008. The BahamasDespite its independent-nation status and close proximity to the U.S. (about a 35-minute plane hop from Miami), The Bahamas proudly celebrates its British heritage—though each of its 13 or so most-frequented islands possesses its own unique charms. Most visitors head directly to New Providence Island, home to the bust- ling capital city of Nassau. Attached to New Providence by a tiny bridge is Paradise Island, where The Bahamas' glitziest casino action can be found at the Atlantis resort. To provide a nice balance to all the nightlife and big resort fun, be sure to catch a fast boat or shuttle flight from Nassau to the old-island romance and breezy solitude of quaint out (smaller) islands such as Cat Island, Green Turtle Cay and San Salvador. Why Go: Teeming coral reefs are reason enough for divers and snorkelers to visit, while the countless miles of beaches that seem to stretch on forever appeal to sun lovers. At night, clubs and casinos keep your adrenaline pumping.Play and Party: Splash all day in the water. Frolic with dolphins. Dive with sharks. Kayak into estuaries that teem with birds. Escape the mid-day sear at a cavernous, 18th-century fort or peaceful art gallery. Take in a zoo where flamingos daintily march. Sample conch salad and cold Kalik beer by the beach or pool. Sail into the sunset on a catamaran cruise. Enjoy all the Bahama Mama libations you desire at a local beach club bonfire party. Dance 'til the wee hours at one of the casino resorts. Whew! Eat: Reserve a pair of seats at Nassau's classically romantic Graycliff restaurant. There, lace tablecloths and antique sideboards set the stage for Bahamian food with a creative flair. Sip cocktails in the comfy living room, and then indulge in a five-course meal in the open-air dining room. For a more casual, upbeat vibe, visit Nassau's fun Café Johnny Canoe on Friday nights. This eatery re-creates the bells, whistles and flamboyant costumery of a mini-Junkanoo (a spirited local festival); the menu features Bahamian and American specialties. Sleep: Nassau is known for its high-rise beach resorts and bastions of fantasy. To escape the crowds and kids, sneak off to charming Compass Point, near Cable Beach, a lollipop-colored collection of upscale beach cottages minutes from the ocean and just far enough from Nassau's hoopla. Call 800-688-7678. On Grand Bahama, the sprawling Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort includes two hotels—a Westin and a kids-friendly Sheraton. Together, the properties offer 14 restaurants and lounges, a pair of golf courses, a spa, and three elaborate pools, two perched at the ocean's edge. Book a room in the Westin's tranquil Lighthouse Pointe section or more active Breakers Cay area to avoid hordes of adorable screaming children. Call 877-687-5822. British Virgin IslandsGreat Britain's robust maritime traditions took hold most firmly in the British Virgin Islands (B.V.I.). This cluster of more than 30 islands attracts sailors with the magnetic pull of a compass. Most visitors station themselves at one of the "big" islands—Tortola or Virgin Gorda—and boat-hop to the smaller gems. Why Go: The B.V.I. entices lovers with lots of secluded beaches (many accessible only by boat), funky party places, scenic mountain drives, Technicolor reefs and alone-at-last isolation. Play and Party: The most romantic spot to don your snorkel gear is at the Baths on Virgin Gorda. There, massive boulders create a labyrinth of secret grottoes and cozy coves where kisses are easily stolen. On Tortola, hike Sage Mountain National Park to take in spectacular views, or hop a bike and careen 1,400 feet down the steep, windy road that ends at Bomba's Shack. (You can rent bikes from local outfitters who'll drive you to the top of the mountain.) At this legendary party spot, surfers shred the island's gnarliest waves by day and guzzle Bomba's rum punch by night. Other island-wide hot spots for dancing—or just limin' (the tropical version of "chillin'")—are Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke, and Pusser's on Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Eat: Tortola is the island of choice for serious foodies. Particularly toothsome: the delicious fare served at the Sugar Mill restaurant, housed within the dramatic stone walls of a 17th-century rum distillery. The restaurant is owned by two Bon Appetit columnists who prepare delicious Caribbean specialties, such as spicy Jamaican jerk pork, and ginger-lime scallops with pasta. For authentic West Indian cuisine, the place to dine is Mrs. Scatliffe's restaurant. Not only are dishes such as conch soup and curried goat delicious, but the Scatliffe family also often entertains guests with dancing and music. For fun British pub food such as fish 'n' chips and shepherd's pie, the aforementioned Pusser's fits the bill. Sleep: The stunning, all-inclusive Biras Creek resort appeals...

Romantic Caribbean Cruises

Mon, 31 May 2004 12:00:00 AM

Love the idea of a cruise—but not the crowds, casinos and formal nights? Everyone knows about the mega-ships that carry thousands of passengers, but smaller, more casual ships ply the warm waters of the Caribbean, too. Book a cruise on a sailing yacht with Windstar Cruises, Star Clippers or Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and you’ll not only escape the crowds onboard, you’ll get to visit more out-of-the-way islands, many of which are barely more than a band of sand and some palm trees. Back on deck, the highlight of any sailing trip is watching as the ship comes under sail: The wide white sheets rise majestically above the gleaming teak deck, with its brass fittings and portholes. It’s as close as you’ll get to sailing on a large yacht, without actually chartering your own. Heck, these “love boats” are romantic without even trying. Bon Voyage!Luxury at SeaSuperposh Windstar Cruises sails two ships in the Caribbean: the 148-passenger Wind Spirit and the 308-passenger Wind Surf. From evening entertainment to predinner cocktail hours and onboard lectures, Windstar comes the closest to mimicking large-ship activities on a smaller scale. Plus, cabins are unusually roomy for such diminutive vessels, and come stocked with all the standard hotel amenities you may have expected to give up on a sailboat, including flat-screen TVs, CD players, robes, fresh flowers and (most important for honeymooners) queen-size beds. Meals onboard are equally impressive for a craft with such a small galley: International dishes include shrimp satay, and grilled veal chops with crushed Yucatán potatoes, embellished with fresh finds from the local markets. (Twenty-four-hour room service is also available.) Both vessels have tiny pools and retractable marinas that offer easy access to kayaking, snorkeling and windsurfing. On the Spirit you’ll also find a masseuse, a hairdresser and a small gym; since the Surf is larger, it has a more extensive workout room, an Internet cafe and an impressive spa.Both ships offer seven-night round-trip cruises out of St. Thomas between November and April, with six different itineraries that include stops at beautiful, less-visited islands like Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and St. John. Request a complimentary picnic basket filled with fresh fruit, tasty sandwiches and champagne, for any of your land jaunts and it will be delivered to your cabin. Visit Plage de Pompierre on the island of Terre-de-Haut, for example, and you’ll carry your lunch past pastel-colored houses, pelicans and quiet country roads. At the beach, you’re likely to have this secluded stretch of sand to yourself, save for a few mountain goats and an old Frenchman selling baguettes and Gruyère (800-258-7245; windstarcruises.com).The Captain’s ChoiceStar Clippers’ two ships, the 228-passenger Royal Clipper and the 170-passenger Star Clipper, have a more laid-back feel than Windstar’s vessels, but they’re still class acts that cater to an international crowd. While Windstar’s ships are akin to sleek yachts, Star Clippers’ vessels attempt to re-create the traditional tall ship sailing experience for passengers. On deck, the rigging, winches, brass bells and chunky anchor chains create a nautical atmosphere, and you can expect hands-on activities you wouldn’t get a chance to do on the more “hands-off” Windstar Cruises: Passengers are invited to have a go at the outdoor wheel, climb the masts or crawl into the bowsprit netting for an exhilarating ride over the surf. The captain and crew, all muscles and smiles, are happy to chat as they pull, crank and climb the rigging. You can heave the ropes, too, if you’d like to join in. But it’s not all sweat and toil on these cushy clippers. Take the newest and largest, the Royal Clipper, for instance. This five-masted, fully rigged tall ship was inspired by the great 1902-built German clipper Preussen, and even has a period-style restaurant with plush red-velvet banquettes, white, fluted columns and frilly ironwork. Continental cuisine is served every night, but it’s the impressive “Welcome Aboard” buffet, with its champagne cocktails, mountain of jumbo shrimp and table piled high with desserts that you won’t want to miss.After dinner, retire to your dark wood-paneled cabin. On the Royal Clipper, staterooms are exceedingly comfortable, with marble bathrooms and TVs. (Looking to splurge? The Royal Clipper’s 14 luxurious suites, each with a private veranda, are the nicest sailing cruise cabins at sea.) Staterooms on the Star Clipper, however, are generally small unless you upgrade to one of the eight deluxe rooms with whirlpool tubs and room service. Fortunately, cabins on both ships have twin beds that can be converted into doubles, so the two of you can cuddle up together and let the waves rock you to sleep. Like those in the Windstar fleet, these ships call on the Caribbean’s best islands. In winter, the Star Clipper sails from St. Maarten and the Royal Clipper cruises out of Barbados; both ships offer two excellent, alternating itineraries with highlights including Dominica, St. Vincent and Virgin Gorda. Hike through the thick green rain forests on St. Kitts and St. Lucia, and board a wooden canoe in Dominica to glide past the giant palms and mango trees that shade the Indian River. Or, just lull about on the excellent beaches of Anguilla and Grenada. You can also cool off in the ships’ small dipping pools, or sign up for a massage. Both ships have e-mail access and a library, as well as more adventurous entertainment: Complimentary water sports include kayaking, snorkeling and banana boat rides, so be sure to pack several bathing suits—you will get wet (800-442-0551; starclippers.com).Easy Does ItIf you care more about making sure your honeymoon feels like a party than being cosseted with gourmet cuisine and fine linens, then the eccentric 64- to 126-passenger tall ships of Windjammer Barefoot Cruises are the right choice for you. The five-ship fleet cruises the Caribbean year-round, offering a laid-back, elbows-on-the-table getaway, without any pretensions. (At less than $1,000 per person per week, they’re also by far the most low-priced of the three lines.) They’re great for the young, and the young at heart: Passengers spend most of the week barefoot in their bathing suits, and the ships’ playfully irreverent routine includes a pirate-theme costume party, complete with a keg of rum on deck. But there are some trade-offs. Forget e-mail and deluxe cabins: Most of the dorm-simple staterooms have bunk beds and tiny bathrooms, and there are no TVs anywhere on board. It’s no surprise, then, that Windjammer attracts a quirky crowd of freethinking nonconformists who relish an escape from the real world. There are few rules on these ships: Dive off the railing and swim with the fish, or try your hand at the ship’s wheel. You can sleep out on deck under the stars whenever you wish, and need never change out of your bathing suit—not even for dinner.Mornings start off with complimentary Bloody Marys and freshly baked donuts (you can also order richer dishes, such as eggs Benedict, to help nurse your hangover). Most of the ships in the fleet offer six-night itineraries that leave plenty of time for soaking up the sun on deck or exploring yet another fabulous, nearly deserted island. On some itineraries, guests can snorkel over underwater trails that snake through the fish-filled reefs off tiny Buck Island, and enjoy the beach barbecue the crew sets up on Jost Van Dyke.After an afternoon on shore, everyone congregates on deck for happy hour. The gang is then summoned to dinner with the clang of a bell; the meal itself is nothing fancy, though it is enlivened with Caribbean flavors. (Think curried shrimp or lobster pizza, served up with all the free wine you can drink.)Unlike on other ships, which sail before dinner regardless of proximity to the next port, these stay anchored at some islands until the wee hours so that passengers can enjoy the nightlife ashore....

Tiny Islands Worth Checking Out

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

They say good things come in small packages. In the sultry Caribbean, these packages are tiny islands, “wrapped” in gentle waves of blue and green water and “tied” with long, curvy, baby-powder-soft strands of sand. Some of these isles are not too developed and have only a handful of secluded resorts—perfect if you’re looking to spend long days just sunbathing, splashing in the sea and sipping tropical drinks. Others seduce couples with fancy trimmings, like hotels with lagoon pools, gauze-draped four-poster beds and sexy, pampering spas. On all of them, less is more: You won’t find casinos, activity directors, parasailing concessions, buffet dinners or tour groups at these honeymoon hideaways. Let’s unwrap them and take a peek. Bequia, The GrenadinesThe scene Known as a haven for scuba divers, Bequia lies nine miles south of The Grenadines’ main isle, St. Vincent. It covers only seven square miles and has a history deeply rooted in fishing and boat-building. The island is dotted with coconut-palm-lined beaches, old sugar mills and small inns, and has a pretty, yacht-studded harbor. It’s a place where life goes on with the blinding speed of a hermit crab. Turn-ons: quiet, romantic walks through green-clad valleys, where the only sounds you hear might be mooing cows and lilting birdsong; unspoiled, Survivor-style beaches Gotta do it: Catch the sunset from Hamilton Fort (its original structure no longer exists, but it’s graced by French and English cannons, retrieved from the waters around the island); try yummy lobster pizza at Mac’s Pizzeria; snorkel in teeming-with-fish Princess Margaret Bay; stroll on Belmont Walkway along Admiralty Bay, where many impressive and pricey yachts are moored.Where to stay: Spring on Bequia is located on an oceanfront 200-year-old working plantation producing mangos, guavas and coconuts. The property has nine rooms; hillside bungalows boast fabulous stone-garden showers. There’s also a pool and tennis court. Call 784-458-3414. The Frangipani Hotel is a West Indian home-turned-inn with bay-view balconies. It offers 15 accommodations, spread throughout the main house and garden cottages.Call 784-458-3255. The lovely Gingerbread Hotel, on Admiralty Bay, features suites with private porches overlooking the harbor.Call 784-458-3800.Info: Go to bequiatourism.com, or call the St. Vincent & The Grenadines Tourist Board at 800-729-1726.CarriacouThe scene Many visitors from its sister isle, Grenada, pop over for the day to explore this 13-square-mile island and stroll through the main town, with its handful of art boutiques, bakeries and restaurants. Turn-ons the slow and easy pace; a stay here is extremely affordable. Gotta do it Visit the in-town museum and gallery of Canute Caliste, a popular local folk artist; go whale-watching or reef-snorkeling; picnic on secluded Sandy Island. Where to stay The views of the sea from the 10-room Caribbee Inn are simply spectacular. DCall 473-443-7380. The Silver Beach Hotel offers 16 rooms and cottages, and is a seashell's throw from the beach. Call 473-443-7337. For more information visit grenadagrenadines.com, or call the Grenada Board of Tourism at 800-927-9554. DominicaThe scene Located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, this 29-mile-long island is a head turner. More than two-thirds of it is covered by rain forests, waterfalls and rivers. Craggy mountain peaks soar to 4,747 feet and underwater reefs provide superb scuba diving. Turn-on the sense of adventure this volcanic island inspires Gotta do it Hike to Boiling Lake, a water-filled crater heated by magma from below the earth's surface; try every sport offered, from mountain-biking to sea-kayaking to horseback-riding to scuba diving to whale-watching; head to Morne Trois Pitons National Park to see Emerald Pool, a gorgeous waterfall. Where to stay There are more than 40 small inns, private cottages and resorts on Dominica. One of our favorites: the Zandoli Inn, which is set amid six acres of gardens and features five rooms, perched on a cliff, that have spellbinding views of the sea. To get to the beach, where you can swim and snorkel, simply walk down stairs cut through massive boulders. Double room rates begin at $140 per night. Call 767-446-3161. The property of the 11-room Papillote Wilderness Retreat is dotted with lovely waterfalls. Relax in one of several hot mineral pools. Double room rates begin at $95 per night. Call 767-448-2287. In the 18th century, the stately 33-room Fort Young Hotel was a fort. It is located high above the sea on the edge of a coastal cliff. Call 767-448-5000. For more information visit ndcdominica.dm, or call the Dominica Tourist Office at 718-261-9615.Elbow Cay, The Abacos, The BahamasThe scene Picture Cape Cod in the tropics. The island's 19th-century fishing settlement, Hope Town, boasts clapboard buildings painted pink, blue, yellow and green. Exuberant gardens of hibiscus, oleander and feathery casuarina trees flourish there, and a candy-striped lighthouse makes an especially sweet landmark. Turn-ons the powdery white sands of Tahiti Beach, which can be reached only on foot or by boat; a carefree, barefoot- is-best attitude Gotta do it Meander Hope Town's narrow streets, stopping at nautically-themed stores and fueling up on conch fritters at Cap'n Jacks, on the harbor. Charter a boat to Treasure Cay Beach, an incredible three-and-one-half-mile-wide crescent of white sand. Visit Little Harbour, an artist's colony, and buy a souvenir. Hang out at Great Guana Cay, a five-and-one-half-mile beach with adorable waterfront pubs, like Nipper's.Where to stay Straddling White Sound and the Sea of Abaco, the Abaco Inn has an excellent beach, pool and clubhouse and boasts 22 cottages overlooking the sea. Call 800-468-8799. Sea Spray Resort, Villas and Marina has six rooms and six two-bedroom villas. Call 242-366-0065. For total privacy, check into the isolated, six-room, Spanish-style Club Soleil Resort. Call 888-291-5428. The gingerbread-trimmed Hope Town Hideaways has eight rooms but isn’t on the mainland—a boat takes you to and from. Call 242-366-0224. Info Go to bahamasoutislands.com, or call 800-OUT-ISLANDS.Harbour Island, The BahamasThink blushing-pink sand, a lovely little fishing village of pastel gingerbread-trimmed houses with white picket fences and intimate hotels hugging the beach. Harbour Island, a five-minute boat ride off the coast of Eleuthera, is magic for escape-from-it-all couples.Turn-ons Brilliant sunsets over rose-hued beaches; a honkless, road-rageless island where traffic moves at a speedy 15 mph tops.Gotta do it Visit Titus Hole, a cave that’s said to have been the island’s first jail; dive The Plateau and the Arch, giant coral formations teeming with marine life.Where to stay Each of the Pink Sands’ 25 cottages is a knockout, but the icing on the cake at this plush resort is the beach, thanks to its—you guessed it—pretty pink sand. Double room rates begin at $525 per night, including breakfast and dinner. Call 800-OUTPOST. Dunmore Beach Club typifies quiet sophistication with a formal dining room and library. Its 14 cottages come with whirlpool tubs. Call 877-891-3100. Info Go to bahamasoutislands.com, or call 800-OUT-ISLANDS.Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin IslandsThe scene Located just five miles off the northwestern coast of the BVI’s main island, Tortola, this volcanic isle has a mere 175 residents. Many yachties come ashore to its well-known watering holes, like Foxy’s, a fun, funky beach bar. Crystalline turquoise waters wash up on White Bay’s dazzler of a beach, which is shaded by coconut palms—the perfect landing pad for escapists.Turn-ons The island’s signature drink: a Painkiller (rum punch); just sacking out in a hammock.Gotta do it Hang out on the beach under a coconut palm; snorkel, sail and kayak off one of the handful of gorgeous beaches; visit the Baths (tidal pools formed around huge boulders) on the nearby island of Virgin Gorda. Where to stay Located smack on White...

Dutch Treat

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

There's no denying that the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao—which are known as the ABC islands—remain true to their Dutch heritage. On these windswept outposts, which were settled by the Dutch in the 1600s, and are still part of the Netherlands 400 years later, Dutch is the official language, Gouda cheese is a table staple and there are even a few working windmills. Here, how to explore the colonial aspect of these islands. ArubaAmericans' Favorite This is the Dutch Caribbean's most popular destination for U.S. visitors, and it's also the most Americanized. Chain resorts and fast-food places crop up around Palm Beach's strip of high-rise hotels and casinos, as well as in bustling downtown Oranjestad, so you'll find the island familiar…even if you've never been there before.Play Time The Dutch built Fort Zoutman in 1796 to protect the island, and it remains the oldest original Dutch building on the isle. In 1868, the Willem III Tower was built nearby to serve as a lighthouse; it was a birthday present to the king of the Netherlands. Today, you can visit these historic landmarks, which currently house the Aruba Historical Museum. Go on a Tuesday afternoon, and stay on for the Bon Bini Festival, a weekly showcase of the local culture and folklore, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The music changes with the season; in December you'll find Caribbean Christmas music as well as a steel-drum band. You can also sample typical island cuisine, including pan bati, triangular meat- or fish-topped breads; a goat stew called bestia chikito; and pastechis, pastries filled with cheese or ground beef (they're similar to Mexican empan-adas, only smaller). Wash your dinner down with some cool coconut water, and finish off with a dessert of cocada, a coconut-filled sweet that's similar to a Rice Krispy Treat. Made with brightly colored food dye, these desserts have a festive appearance (011-297-5826099). Shop Talk Stores all over the island carry plenty of delft pottery, that earthenware with the signature cobalt-blue glaze that hails from the town of Delft in the Netherlands. (It was made primarily for Dutch royalty.) At Vibes, a boutique, you can choose from pitchers, tea sets, vases and candlesticks. The shop has one of the best selections on the isle—and the best prices (visitaruba.com/vibes). If you're looking for European linens, such as intricately embroidered place mats, tablecloths and napkins, head to Little Holland. This shop is also popular with the island's residents (011-297-5838-494). Dig In Aruba's restaurants are more Continental than Dutch, but you can enjoy the ambience of a colonial-style home if you book a table at La Trattoria el Faro Blanco. Order an antipasto such as baby octopus cooked in garlic and olive oil, then choose a pasta dish such as linguine with lobster and tuna, or try a savory seafood pizza. Ask for a table on the lovely terrace, and dine by candlelight as you watch the sun set behind the nearby California Lighthouse (011-297-586-0786; aruba-latrattoria.com). Sleep Tight The 72-room Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is as Dutch-looking as can be—think bright-ochre stucco, a peaked tile roof, fanciful cutout balconies and ornate shutters. Check in, and then go right to the bar for some perfectly chilled Amstel Bright beer. You won't soon forget how good it tastes in the sunshine (011- 297-5871-492; amsterdammanor.com).BonaireAn Unspoiled Delight The quietest and least developed of the ABC islands, with only two casinos, Bonaire has remarkable wildlife features and adventure sports to keep you busy. Perhaps its greatest treasures dwell not in its very Dutch shops and restaurants, but in the well-protected coral reef that rims the island. You don't have to be a seasoned scuba diver or snorkeler to appreciate it, either, since most sites are accessible from the shore, and a brief scuba course will have you ogling the bottom of the sea in no time. Play Time Head out to the salt mountains in the southern part of the island. Here, modern-day windmills—that Dutch symbol of resource and industry—spin in stark contrast to the desolate landscape, which is made up of mountains of salt from the area's mine, a nature preserve full of shockingly pink flamingoes and 400-year-old stone huts. It's a world away from the swaying palm trees and sandy beaches you expect to find in the Caribbean. Shop Talk The capital city of Kralendijk, within walking distance of most resorts, is home to a seaside strip of restaurants and souvenir shops. They're mostly vacant during the day, when everyone on the island seems to be underwater, but they come alive at night. Spend your guilders at the Maharaj Gift House, where you can buy kitschy souvenirs such as Dutch girl dolls, beer steins and wooden shoes. It's a good place to stock up on gifts for friends (011-599-717-4402). Dig In Kralendijk's restaurants are more European than Aruba's, and, like the Dutch, favor fish and cheese. Stop by Zeezicht for keshi yena, a Dutch-Antillean dish consisting of a hollowed-out wheel of Gouda that's filled with chicken stew and baked until it's gooey. It's a warm and savory treat (011-599-717-8434). For more upscale Continental-Dutch cuisine, make a reservation at Mona Lisa, where you can order fish soup and fresh lobster (011-599-717-8718). Sleep Tight If you're looking for colonial-plantation-style digs, the 30-room Harbour Village is your best bet. Brightly painted stucco walls, rounded windows and barrel-tile roofs replicate the era's architecture on the outside, while wicker furnishings, teakwood and French doors characterize the comfortable interior design. Book one of the large suites, with a kitchenette and a private garden with a hammock (800-424-0004; harbourvillage.com). CuracaoCocktails and DreamsThis cosmopolitan isle is the most sophisticated spot in the Netherlands Antilles. It's the largest of the ABCs, and also the most urban, with a thriving downtown area, tony beach clubs, museums galore and top-notch cuisine. Play Time Head to Landhuis Chobolobo, an old Dutch plantation manor that's now home to the Curaçao liqueur distillery. This orange-flavored liqueur comes in many colors—orange, clear, red, green, blue—plus, the distillery sells interesting flavors, such as chocolate and coffee (011-599-9-461-3526; curacaoliqueur.com). Or tour Amstel, the only brewery to use 100 percent seawater—desalinated, of course. This is also where the local concoction Amstel Bright is brewed, and it's a good place to pick up some beer to drink back in your hotel room (011-599-9-434-1500; amstelcuracao.com). Shop Talk Downtown Willemstad, with its Dutch-style waterfront, is a great place to buy souvenirs. Visit the floating market on Waaigat Canal, where you can shop for exotic tropical fruit, such as mangos, papayas and plantains, and Caribbean spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg and spicy jerk seasoning. Boats sail in weekly from Venezuela and the far reaches of the West Indies, and vendors assemble along the waterfront to show off their bounty.Dig In One of the most amusing ways to dine in the Netherlands is to go to an Indonesian restaurant and order a traditional rijsttafel, or "rice table," which involves at least a dozen miniature dishes, such as chicken satay (strips of chicken served with peanut sauce) and beef rendang (beef cooked in coconut milk, chilies and spices), all served with rice. You can eat this way in Curaçao, too: Stop by Rijsttafel Restaurant Indonesia to try the cuisine of this other former Dutch possession—it's a refreshingly different use of coconut milk (011-5999-461-2606). Sleep Tight The newest hot spot in town is the 80-room Hotel Kurá Hulanda , a Dutch-owned boutique hotel that's housed in restored 18th- and 19th-century colonial buildings and is part of the posh Leading Hotels of the World group. The complex oozes style, from the fashionable eateries to the spa. Don't miss the cultural museum, where you can see pre-Columbian gold, Mesopotamian relics...

Bermuda's Cottage Colony" Hotels"

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Bermuda conjures up images of British formalities and for good reason. A self governing English colony, it retains traditions set in place more than a century ago: Afternoon tea is served between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., and the chief justice and other officers of the Supreme Court don powdered wigs. Bermuda has its own flavor, too, from the traditional pastel-colored houses to the absence of high-rises and neon signs. But over the past few years, the island's proudly proper style has loosened up a bit, and nowhere is this more evident than at its cottage-colony hotels. At these clusters of villas—some featuring individual cottages, others with buildings that house two or three suites—formal dinner dress was once required, but now a country-club-casual look is the new standard. Modern spas are as common today as croquet courts. And the cottages themselves are just as likely to have a hot tub and an Internet connection as they are to have sea views and whitewashed porches. Read on for some of our favorite honeymoon-worthy spots. The Fine Lady Of the cottage colonies, the 94-room Cambridge Beaches resort is one of the oldest, and the most traditional. This cluster of little villas—converted in the 1920s from guest houses—looks and feels like a private estate, with nary a blade of grass out of place. The hotel grounds are spread out over a small, palm-filled peninsula, complete with a putting green, a croquet court and a moped rental shop, which is convenient, since vacationers aren't allowed to rent cars on the island. Stay here, and you'll be surrounded on all sides by ocean views and beach.Guest rooms are housed in beachside cottages, each with a beveled roof (the traditional way of catching rain water for drinking) and a private porch. The original cottages are furnished with elegant colonial reproductions, such as Queen Anne-style chairs and mahogany dressers, and have working brick fireplaces, which make them warm and cozy on cool nights. Well-chosen original works of art, such as the antique Chinese vases that sit on the mantels, make you feel as if you're staying in the summer home of a well-heeled cousin.Three years ago, however, a series of new cottages with a more modern, island-influenced style was built. These cottages have two levels, with a bedroom upstairs, and a sitting area downstairs that's decorated with rattan armchairs and comfy, overstuffed couches. The bathrooms are lined with marble and fitted with deep whirlpool tubs (bathtubs in the older cottages are standard-size). A direct Internet connection is available in the rooms. The one drawback: The new cottages are clustered close together, so if privacy is more important to you than an indulgent bath, consider booking one of the older cottages.Other recent additions to the resort include a spa, a health club and an indoor pool. The spa offers everything from couples' massages to custom facials with a "prescription" for your skin. In fact, you can pretty much hang out there all day, taking steam baths and sunning in a lounge chair under the solarium-style roof. And the resort s indoor pool is heated—a real bonus if you're visiting in winter, when the local temperature cools down to about 60°F.Meals still feel entirely traditional. Afternoon tea is served in a central villa overlooking Mangrove Bay's pretty harbor, and guests gather at 6 p.m. each evening for cocktails in the Port of Call room, then move downstairs for dinner. And what a dinner it is: Evenings here are social events that recall the days of dancing and place cards. Although the dress code is "smart casual" (which means collared, button-down shirts and pants or Bermuda shorts for men; blouses with slacks or skirts for women), men often wear coats and ties, and many of the female guests seem to float by in light, floral sundresses. The five-course menu changes each night and offes a variety of simple, international dishes, such as Bermuda rockfish with sun-dried tomato risotto. There's one don't-miss dish:the soufflé, a puffed-up, heady extravaganza of vanilla and Grand Marnier. Take one bite and you'll agree: This is one old-fashioned treat that needs no update (30 Kings Point Road, Sandys; doubles start at $255; 800-468-7300; cambridgebeaches.com ).Sunny Days Like Cambridge Beaches, the 14-acre, 46-room Ariel Sands hotel is a historic property whose public rooms were recently renovated. Marble was installed in the lobbies, and the restaurant was refurbished with traditional-style furniture, such as leather club chairs and casual plaid sofas. The result: a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.All 46 cottages are pink, and have private patios that look out on rolling hills and the ocean beyond. Sisal rugs cover the floors and tropical prints grace the beds. Ask for cottage #2, which is right on the water, or cottage #17, which is on a private hilltop and has two bedrooms, a fireplace, and a washer and dryer.The resort's restaurant, Aqua, serves fresh, light international fusion dishes, such as tandoori-spiced lamb and pan-fried snapper with soba noodles, which are a refreshing change from the island's blander British fare. Ask for a table on the recently expanded oceanfront porch, and you'll get one of the best seats in the house. Then, order a Dark 'n' Stormy—the island's signature rum and ginger beer cocktail—and dine with your new hubby in the moonlight (34 Shore Road, Devonshire; 441-236-1010; doubles start at $225; arielsands.com ).Flip-Flops Required The two-month-old Nine Beaches resort may be a cottage colony, but it's worlds away from those described elsewhere in this article. The newly built cottages are actually individual canvas cabanas with a clean, modern design. Many extend out over the water, and have glass panels in the floor—similar to those in a Tahitian bungalow—so that you can see the fish swimming beneath you. Inside, there are lots of throw pillows and rattan furniture. In fact, the whole feel of this resort is playful, ultracasual and laid-back—a real novelty in Bermuda, where formal hotels, such as the Relais & Châteaux hotel group's elegant Horizons and Cottages resort, are the norm.Other modern treats include free cell phones for use on the property, as well as iPods that are loaded with music. In addition, a golf cart stocked with snacks and drinks roams the pathways. Just raise the flag on your cabana and a grilled tuna burger can be delivered to your doorstep. The casual bar, Dark 'n' Stormy's Beach Bar, is set up on one of the—you guessed it—nine beaches, and it's designed to look like those Caribbean spots where you drink a rum punch and dive in for a swim afterwards. Tiki torches burn after sunset.The dining room is in the center of the grounds, and features the same casual, Ikea-influenced décor. And there's virtually no dress code: Guests can sport flip-flops at dinner, and wearing a bathing suit for lunch is not just fine but encouraged. Most meals are served outside, on the deck, and the staff will even prepare a private steak dinner for you on the beach. Nine Beaches is more relaxed than Bermuda's more traditional hotels, and it's a lot of fun (4 Daniels Head Lane, Sandys; doubles start at $125; 441-232-6655; 9Beaches.com ).An Old Favorite The Reefs, which has been around for over 50 years, is a blend of cottage colony and traditional hotel: Half of the guest quarters are hotel-style rooms, and half are private cottages. The cottages, with names like Windy Brae and Sandpiper, have a traditional feel, with two bedrooms, a living room and a private deck-side hot tub.Although the cottages are charming, consider booking one of the hotel rooms in the sprawling stucco complex, which is built on terraces that meander down jagged, rocky ledges. Each room has views of the beach. These split-level rooms contain a raised bedroom area, a small living area...

Caribbean Island Hopping

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

So you and your fiancé don't have identical ideas about the perfect Caribbean honeymoon? No need to worry—it's a common dilemma. Here's a typical example: She wants a top-floor suite in a luxury hotel, a pool butler to fetch her piña coladas, plenty of nightlife and sophisticated restaurants. He dreams of living a tropical idyll, with lots of time on deserted beaches, a low-key cottage at the edge of the sea, casual Creole dishes at local mom-and-pop restaurants and dancing barefoot under the stars at an open-air beach bar. What should they do? Simple: Go for the combo! Find a high-profile island with all the trendy attractions that's close to a smaller and more laid-back "little sister" isle. Then, divide their time between them. Presto—two great honeymoons in one!For: A Sophisticated Getaway plus an Island HideawayStart with: Puerto RicoSuper-sized Puerto Rico has it all—its 3,500 square miles includes a fringe of gorgeous beaches, an interior of jungle-blanketed mountains, a 500-year colonial history, an abundance of resorts, and El Yunque, a 28,000-acre tropical rain forest networked with hiking trails. The island's crown jewel, San Juan, is a sophisticated capital city, home to some of the Caribbean's hottest restaurants, nightclubs and resorts. In its trendy-yet-historical city-within-a-city, Old San Juan, you can walk along cobbled streets in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus, past landmark cathedrals and convents neighboring on hip, modern boutiques and cafés. You can even stay in a 17th-century Carmelite convent: the luxurious El Convento hotel (doubles from $235; 800-468-2779; elconvento.com). No matter where you venture along the beachy coastline, you'll find luxury resorts, as well as attractions like golf courses, casinos and restaurants. However, because Puerto Rico is a straight-shot, direct flight from many American cities, you'll also find plenty of fellow travelers.Add: Vieques or CulebraAbout 13 miles east of the island are Puerto Rico's lovely little sisters, Vieques and Culebra. Until recently, both isles were delightfully slow-lane, but Vieques is no longer quite as laid-back—in fact, it has become so popular with solitude-seekers that it is morphing into a tourist hot spot. When the Bravo Beach resort opened there last year, it quickly became an A-list magnet (doubles from $175; 787-741-1128). Before Vieques gets too popular, hop over for some memorable, after-dark romance: On moonless nights at Bioluminescent Bay, the water glows a magical blue-green when it's disturbed, creating a glittering wake behind swimmers and boaters. Culebra, which, at a mere four-by-seven miles, is even smaller than Vieques, remains well under the radar. Nearly one-third of the island (and the 23 tiny cays that surround it) is a designated National Wildlife Refuge, so even the notoriously skittish leatherback sea turtles feel safe on its protected Brava Beach. There are also plenty of public beaches, so head over for the day, or stay at a small guest house. One favorite is Mamacita's (doubles from $89; 787-742-0090; mamacitasguesthouse.com). Rent a jeep, grab a picnic lunch, and explore. The most popular beaches are Flamenco, which has a smattering of food kiosks, and Zoni, with spectacular views of offshore islands. All of Culebra's beaches have sugar-white sand, unspoiled reefs for snorkeling or diving—and, best of all, no crowds.Getting Around: Daily ferries and inter-island flights connect Culebra and Vieques to San Juan and Fajardo, on the main island of Puerto Rico. Several also connect Culebra and Vieques. Call 787-863-0705 for schedules and reservations.For: Modern Euro-Style plus a Step Back in TimeStart with: St. Martin/St. MaartenBecause this island is part French and part Dutch, you can count on enjoying European-style perks wherever you go. And because there is no official border separating the two nations, you’re free to travel the island’s 38 square miles at will. On the French side you can feast on haute cuisine in the restaurants of Grand Case village, linger over fresh-baked croissants and café au lait at an outdoor café along the Marigot waterfront, and browse the chic boutiques that showcase French fragrances and fashions. Head over to the Dutch side to shop for electronics and other duty-free bargains, and to gamble at a glitzy casino. Or explore a coastline scalloped with soft beaches, including renowned Maho Beach.Both the French and the Dutch sides boast a bevy of upscale resorts, many of which, like the posh La Samanna (doubles from $700; 800-237-1236; lasamanna.com), provide lots of high-style pampering and luxuries. But along with all this international chic and glamour comes the not-so-glamorous downside: noisy crowds and traffic jams. For a more secluded Caribbean getaway, seek out the island’s smaller siblings.Add: Anguilla, Saba or StatiaThe intriguing island of Anguilla lies just a 20-minute ferry ride from St. Martin’s Marigot port. Until recently, Anguilla was a classic slow-lane isle, with only one road, one traffic light and miles of virtually deserted white-sand beaches. Then the glitterati “discovered” it, and now parts of the island are studded with butlered villas and expensive restaurants catering to the Hollywood elite. Happily, though, much of the charm of the “old” Anguilla can still be found—if you know where to look. You might stay at Lloyd’s Bed and Breakfast, a family-run inn that still has a laid-back feel and an old-fashioned sense of welcome (doubles from $105; 264-497-2351; lloyds.ai). Many of the dazzling beaches are still remarkably crowd-free and secluded as well. As for bars and restaurants, you can still enjoy some genuine island life at most of the original Anguillan favorites—casual places like Scilly Cay, Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve and the Pumphouse.Or visit Saba. Unique for the Caribbean, this cone-shaped island has no beaches (it’s the peak of a volcanic mountain that rises from the ocean floor). Saba’s tranquil time warp envelopes four tiny villages, each with immaculate white cottages roofed in red tile and trimmed with lacy gingerbread; flowers flourish in every front garden. Sabans, who speak Dutch as well as English, seem delighted to engage in leisurely chats with visitors. You can unwind at your own pace here, gazing out over the bucolic countryside to the sea, as your stresses evaporate into the mountain mists. Or go for the adrenaline rush: Scuba divers rank its submerged slopes as some of the world’s best dive sites, and above the waves, Saba offers more than 20 challenging trails, one of which winds 3,000 feet to the top of the aptly named Mount Scenery. A high-speed ferry covers the 28 miles between St. Martin and Saba in an hour, so you can come for the day, or stay in one of the island’s B&Bs, such as The Gate House (doubles from $135; 599-416-2416; sabagatehouse.com).Another little sibling is tiny Statia (St. Eustatius), which is even more laid-back than Saba. Other than diving, hiking “The Quill” (an extinct volcano), or beach-combing, there’s little to do—and therein lies its charm. Of the handful of guest houses on Statia, the Old Gin House provides the just-right mix of slow-lane comfort and traditional West Indian hospitality (doubles from $135; 599-318-2319; oldginhouse.com).Getting Around: Daily flights connect St. Maarten to Anguilla, Saba and Statia. For rates and reservations, contact Winair (fly-winair.com). For ferries to Anguilla, contact Link Ferries (264-497-2231; link.ai). For ferries to Saba, contact Saba C-Transport (599-416-3671; info@sabactransport.com).For: Tropical Beauty by Land plus a Glimpse of Yachtie LifeStart with: St. LuciaFrom St. Lucia, island-hopping isn’t strictly necessary. This place is blessed with enough tropical beauty, including...

Luxurious Caribbean Eco-Resorts

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Travelers have long been impressed by the beauty of the Caribbean islands, from the rain forests and cloud-shrouded volcanic peaks to the abundance of wildlife, both on land and in the sea. For those who crave the great outdoors, the islands are a living treasure. And now you don't have to rough it to stay in the wilderness. A growing number of upscale eco-lodges throughout the region offer true comfort and honeymoon-worthy service. All of them employ various types of alternative energy and recycled materials, but you'll also get luxury-hotel perks: Several of these tony lodges offer gourmet room service, high-thread-count sheets and posh bath products. They have varying degrees of modern technology—some have wireless Internet access; others don't even have phones. But all offer an immersion in their natural surroundings that you can't achieve at the average beach resort. Here, four incredible eco-lodges on four wildly different islands. They range from most rugged to most posh—and you'll know right away which one is best for your honeymoon escape. Campfire Girls 'n' GuysLocated on low-key St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 153-room Maho Bay resort was one of the first experiments in Caribbean eco-tourism in 1976. Today, it uses eco-sensitive technology, including rainwater-recycling systems and solar-heated showers. More important, it remains one of the most fun options on the island, with yoga classes and snorkeling excursions in the north shore's pretty harbors. Maho also provides a rare opportunity to stay on national parkland—in this case, the Virgin Islands National Park, one of the Caribbean's most pristine nature preserves.Maho Bay is made up of four "camps." Two have open-air tents, and the other two are enclosed buildings with actual guest rooms. It's no surprise that the two buildings—the 12-room Harmony Studios and nine-room Estate Concordia Studios—have the most luxurious accommodations. Don't call this camping: You'll find private baths, spacious bedrooms with queen- or king-size beds, living rooms decorated with wicker furniture, private decks and elaborate kitchens. How do you choose? Harmony Studios is in the park, while Estate Concordia Studios is just outside and has a swimming pool. Either way, these guest rooms are truly "unplugged"—there's no modern technology, such as TVs, DVD players or radios. (You'll have to use the house pay phone if you want to call home and, say, tell your parents how much fun you're having on your trip.)Stay at any of the four camps, and the park becomes your playground. Twenty-one trails wind across wooded hillsides alive with tree frogs and hummingbirds while, underwater, markers lead snorkelers past tropical fish. Guests can also take part in the resort's numerous outdoor classes (including sailing, kayaking and windsurfing) and indoor activities (including arts and crafts, such as ceramics, glassblowing and papermaking). The watercolor class is a great opportunity to take your beautiful surroundings home with you (Maho Bay, St. John; doubles start at $135 per couple per night at Estate Concordia Studios and $220 per couple per night at Harmony Studios; 800-392-9004; maho.org). Animal MagnetismLocated on a pristine peninsula in the southern part of Belize, surrounded by millions of acres of coral reef and rain forest, the 42-room Jaguar Reef Lodge is framed by stunning white-sand beaches, turquoise bays and coconut palms. Sure, the setting is lovely, but what really sets Jaguar Reef apart from other beach resorts is easy access to the country's awesome barrier reef and the jaguar-filled jungle of mainland Belize.Ten miles of golden sand—and seawater that averages 80ºF—are just footsteps away from the resort. Turtles, dolphins, barracuda and rays thrive near the reef, where visibility can reach 180 feet. After a quiet day of fishing, shift into high adventure on an Indiana Jones-type excursion into the Belize interior, where you can go rappelling or explore Maya pyramids. Back at the resort, sink into a beachfront hammock (woven locally, of course) and relax before dinner. Menus are surprisingly sophisticated for a resort located this far into the jungle, with dinners including Continental treats such as filet mignon topped with a proper béarnaise sauce and grilled lobster served with creamy coconut rice.When it's time to retire to your room, you'll be glad that the whitewashed cabanas and suites are air-conditioned and are protected from bugs by organic insecticides. Guest rooms don't have TVs or telephones, but the resort has wireless high-speed Internet access, so civilization is never too far away. You'd never know it to look at the place, though: The exteriors of the buildings are made from natural, local materials and topped with thatched roofs, and the interiors are decorated with Mexican tiles, colorful textiles and indigenous artwork—a little culture in the middle of the rain forest (Hopkins Village, Belize; doubles start at $175 per couple per night, with a three-night minimum; 800-289-5756; jaguarreef.com).Nature WinsThe British Virgin Islands is one of those rare Caribbean destinations where nature seems to trump civilization. That's especially true at the 16-room Guana Island resort, an all-inclusive eco-lodge located on its own private island off the north coast of Tortola. Although only a few minutes by motor boat from BVI's international airport, the resort feels truly remote. That's no surprise, considering the fact that it sits on 850 acres of pristine forest, with space for only 36 guests. As a result, chances are good that you'll be the only people on whichever beach you choose, and that you won't see another couple on your hike regardless of the trail you pick. It also means there's nobody around to disturb the animals: The entire island is a wildlife sanctuary, home to rare and endangered species like the masked booby and the Caribbean flamingo, as well as rare orchids. Life flourishes in the water around Guana, where the shallow bays prove perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling. Back on shore, crawl through caves or perfect your allover tan at secluded Bigelow Beach.Guana may feel remote—and it's true that there's no electricity in the guest rooms. But it's also the only wildlife sanctuary in the world with a daily cocktail hour and superb cuisine. At the end of a day of close encounters of the natural kind, retire to one of the resort's stylish stone cottages. The interiors are filled with simple yet elegant Caribbean rattan furniture; plantation shutters let in the breezes and terraces offer gorgeous ocean views. (The cottages also have wireless high-speed Internet access, in case you can't relax without reading your hometown paper before your morning coffee.)After sipping aperitifs on the Sunset Terrace, dine alfresco by candlelight at a table for two set with china and crystal. The fresh seafood is divine, and is served with fruit and vegetables grown on the island, as well as freshly baked bread. In the end, you may decide that you came for the nature but stayed for the nurturing (Guana Island; doubles start at $650 per couple per night including meals, wine, transfers and some activities; 800-544-8262; guana.com). Rasta LoveLocated in the legendary Blue Mountains, the 12-room Strawberry Hill resort is like nowhere else in Jamaica. It's a highland retreat rather than a beach property, an intimate getaway rather than a bustling all-inclusive, and it's low-key rather than an endless party. Once the family home of a reggae-music mogul, the resort started life as a strawberry farm; much of the food for its restaurant is harvested from small farms in the surrounding hills. The British colonial-style cottages have been transformed into luxury bungalows with locally made furnishings (including muslin-draped four-poster mahogany beds), louvered windows and balconies that seem to float...

The Castaways

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

When you stop to think of The Bahamas, you probably conjure up images of bustling Nassau on New Providence Island and touristy Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, both known for their duty-free shopping and sprawling resorts. But just north and south of these better-known parts, you’ll discover the other Bahamas—The Out Islands, a chain of approximately 700 smaller, mostly uninhabited islands and 2,500 cays strewn across 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike their bigger neighbors, the Out Islands have no skyscrapers, casinos or shopping malls. Instead, spectacular natural scenery, quaint little villages, friendly people and powdery pink- and white-sand beaches are the major draws.Not so long ago, the Out Islands weren’t very accessible—hence, the moniker. (Even today only 25 are inhabited.) Fortunately, a dozen airlines serve the three most developed areas: The Abacos, The Exumas and Long Island. Fly into one of these and settle into a hotel, using it as a jumping-off point to explore the region’s cays and islets. Here, what to do in paradise.The AbacosFlying time: Fifty minutes from Miami to Great AbacoBest for: Beach lovers, sailors and yachters. Also, anglophiles: Many of the locals on the two main islands (Great Abaco and Little Abaco) are descendants of the British Loyalists who originally settled in the area after the Revolutionary War, building New England-style clapboard houses to remind them of home.Check in: The 87 spacious rooms at Treasure Cay Hotel Resort and Marina, on Great Abaco, are decorated in festive island prints. The marina is filled with million-dollar yachts, but what earns this resort its rating as a romantic outpost is the four-mile-long beach, where the sand is so soft it makes confectioner’s sugar feel gritty (800-327-1584; treasurecay.com).Explore the area: For a taste of the old-time British ambience, take a taxi from Great Abaco to the town of New Plymouth, on nearby Green Turtle Cay, about $70 each way. Wander the streets, which are lined with pastel-colored shops. Thirsty? Head over to Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar and order a Goombay Smash, made with coconut rum, dark rum, apricot brandy and pineapple juice (Victoria Street; 242-365-4181).Night life: Nippers Beach Bar & Grill, on Great Guana Cay, sits on a bluff that overlooks the Great Abaco Barrier Reef, the island’s magnificent coral reef. On Sundays, this no-frills spot hosts a Wild Boar Pig Roast, which draws a festive and famished crowd (242-365-5143; nippersbar.com). The ExumasFlying time: One hour and 20 minutes from Miami to Great Exuma Best for: Sunbathers and marine-life enthusiasts. The 365 islands of the Exumas are heaven for snorkelers and divers; yachters consider these islands—and their smooth waters—the sailing capital of the world. Check in: You're in for a treat: The 250-room Four Seasons Resort on Great Exuma is the poshest hotel in the Out Islands. This resort has everything you wouldn't expect to find here: fitness and tennis centers, two pools, an 18-hole golf course and a spa (800-332-3442; fourseasons.com). Explore the area: Take Thunderball Express' guided boat tour from Great Exuma to some of the surrounding islets, including Staniel Cay, one of the most pristine spots around and the location for two James Bond movies. Swim into Thunderball Grotto, named for its "007" role, through a half-moon entrance that's flush with the water's surface. On sunny days, light gushes through an opening in the rocks, adding a shimmer to the immaculate blue-green water as reef fish nose about (242-357-0520; thunderballexpress.com). Or, charter a boat to Exuma Cays National Land and Sea Park. (Your hotel can hook you up with a local skipper and help you negotiate the price.) This 175-square-mile preserve teems with iguanas on land and marine life underwater, but its most unusual "marine" mammals don't even have fins. These water babies are a family of hogs who live on Big Major Cay and greet boats with enthusiasm—as long as their occupants bring them something to eat. Night life: Colonial George Town, on Great Exuma, looks best at sunset, when the sky is awash with crimson and gold. Sit down at Club Peace and Plenty Restaurant, where candlelight and ceiling fans set the scene for a romantic dinner. Be sure to try the conch salad (800-525-2210; peaceandplenty.com). Once sated, head down the street to The Sunshine Bar and Restaurant at Two Turtles Inn to hear live music. The band is local, and the bar is a favorite watering hole among yacht crews and charter air pilots (242-336-2545; exumabahamas.com/twoturtles.html). Long IslandFlying time: One hour and 37 minutes from Miami to Long Island Best for: Anyone who seeks a true escape. The quietest of the trio, Long Island attracts romantics, anglers and divers. This four-mile-wide island is a study in contrasts: The west side is made up of beaches, palms and shallow bays, while the east side is rugged and rocky, with stunning white cliffs. Check in: The Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort is straight out of central casting: luxurious and unpretentious. All 20 cottages face the resort's four-mile beach. The best touch: the screened-in porch, where you can cuddle up and survey the star-studded sky together (800-663-7090; capesantamaria.com). Explore the area: There's little land-based activity here—and that's the draw. Instead, the blue ocean serves as this island's playground. Ask Delbert Smith, the nature guide at the Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort, to "maroon" you on a deserted cove. Smith knows every snorkeling spot and uninhabited cay in the area, and he'll help you find one that you won't have to share (capesantamaria.com). Hankering to do some deep-sea fishing? This is the place. Test your patience—and your upper body strength—while hooking blue marlin on a trip with Deep Sea Fishing Charters (800-663-7090; capesantamaria.com). Night life: After a day of breathing in the salty air, what you really want is fresh fish. The Stella Maris Resort's restaurant dishes up local seafood, from grouper to wahoo. Go on a Wednesday, when the bar holds Rum Punch and BBQ specials, or on a Saturday, when there is live music (800-426-0466; stellamarisresort.com).

After Hours

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Naturally, if you've set your sights on a Caribbean honeymoon, you want to stay in a romantic oceanfront room, dine by candlelight and swim in that famously blue water. But there's no denying that a visit to this sun-worshippers' playground is not complete without a few nights out on the town. The islands have it all, from rustic beachfront shacks that serve up locally brewed beer to sleek cocktail lounges where patrons dress to impress. So, after a day of soaking up the sunshine, get ready to party. You can always sleep late the next morning.Sunshine's Beach Bar and Grill, NevisThis bar looks like just another ramshackle wooden hut on the beach. And while it's been blown away in numerous hurricanes and then rebuilt, that hasn't been much of a problem: It's really just a tiny bar with a few tables and a couple of tree stumps stuck in the sand. Yet, since it's located on a prime stretch of Pinney's Beach, right next door to the tony Four Seasons Resort, the bar attracts an unusually well-heeled crowd, including celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, in addition to the dreadlocked locals who come by to chat with the owner, Sunshine. Be sure to order up a couple of the house specialty cocktails: nutmeg-laced Killer Bees, made with rum, bitters and tangy-sweet passion fruit juice (Pinney's Beach, Nevis; 869-469-5817; sunshinenevis.com).Rick's Café, JamaicaThis party-hearty island has plenty of bars, yet its most popular spot—Rick's Café, in Negril's West End—may also be its best. Arrive at sunset and join fellow revelers sipping Red Stripes and dining on jerk chicken as Bob Marley tunes play on the sound system. Live reggae bands perform every night, but the main draw at Rick's is watching as daredevil Jamaicans climb the 25-foot cliffs that surround the bar, then dive majestically into the Caribbean Sea (West End Road, Negril; 876-957-0380). Foxy's Tamarind Bar, Jost Van DykeThe British Virgin Islands has plenty of well-known watering holes, including the rightfully popular Bomba's Surfside Shack, on Tortola. But we think Foxy's is the best. Located on tiny Jost Van Dyke (population: 200), it began as a small lunch shack catering to sailors, but word quickly spread of owner "Foxy" Callwood's calypso guitar playing. Now, this bi-level beachfront wooden building is a favorite of visitors from around the globe, as the business cards tacked up on all of the walls and the ceiling will attest. Sample Foxy's own delicious lager as you listen to him strum the night away (Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke; 284-495-9258; foxysbar.com). Boatyard, GrenadaGeorgetown tends to shut down early, so after-hours life is centered on the one place that stays open: the Boatyard. Housed in, yes, a boatyard, this night spot glows red hot on Fridays, when it seems like half the island shows up. You'll rub elbows with locals, tourists and students from Grenada's medical school. Arrive early enough to snag a table or a stool at the Tiki Bar, where you'll get a great view of the house band, Barracuda. The band plays reggae and soca, Trinidad's faster take on salsa, but just until 11 p.m., when the DJ takes over (Lance Aux Epines, Grenada; 473-444-4662; boatyardgrenada.com). Harbour Lights, Barbados This island's nightlife is centered around the St. Lawrence Gap neighborhood, where lively bars like Ship Inn and McBride's cater to travelers. But Bajans drink and dance at Harbour Lights, which is located in an old colonial-style home on St. Michael's beach, just outside the capital of Bridgetown. The most popular nights are Friday, when residents turn out to celebrate the weekend, and Monday, when dinner includes a live show of calypso music, acrobats and fire-eaters. The menu is terrific, featuring local dishes such as grilled flying fish and baked macaroni "pie," and roasted marshmallows for dessert. After 10 p.m., DJs spin a blend of American pop, salsa and West Indian hits. Order up a fruity rum cocktail—made with the local Cockspur Rum, of course—as you watch the contortionists twist into positions Mother Nature never intended (Bay Street, St. Michael; dinner costs $49 per person, including entertainment and drinks; 246-436-7225; harbourlightsbarbados.com). Duffy's Love Shack, St. ThomasLocated on the eastern end of the island near the ferry terminal, Duffy's is the place to be on St. Thomas. Though every night is busy, Wednesday is "Ladies Night," and the free drinks for women attract a large crowd. True, it's just a shack in a parking lot, but people flock here for the reggae music, decent pub grub (including coconut shrimp and conch fritters) and the Lime in Dee Coconut cocktail, an enormous, creamy rum-and-coconut milk concoction served in a fresh, hulled coconut. It's such a good time, visitors from nearby St. John have even been known to miss the last ferry back for the night (6500 Red Hook Plaza, St. Thomas; 340-779-2080; duffysloveshack.com). Basil's Bar, MustiqueThe island of Mustique, in the Grenadines, is known as an exclusive playground for royalty and celebrities, who hole up in posh villas. At some point, though, everyone comes out for a night at Basil's Bar, a thatch-roofed over-water shack jutting over Britannia Bay. Prince Charles, Mick Jagger and Billy Joel are just a few of the stars who have enjoyed the laid-back vibe, potent rum punch and French-West Indian cuisine. Don't miss the Wednesday night "jump up" parties, where bands play on the stage; the $39 per-person cover charge includes a feast of roasted suckling pig. Occasionally, there's even karaoke. You never know: You could end up singing with a prince (Britannia Bay, Mustique; 784-488-8350; basilsbar.com). Blues, CuraçaoThis hotel cocktail bar and restaurant is the best place in the Dutch Antilles—and possibly the Caribbean—to hear live jazz and blues. Located at the end of a pier in the capital of Willemstad, the entire place is a tribute to music; album covers decorate all the walls. On Thursdays, guests from nearby hotels arrive at sunset for happy hour, and then stay on for the grilled lobster dinners. Locals arrive later, to catch the bands. You'll sway to the sexy strains of the sax as you sip the house specialty, the Bon Bini cocktail, a refreshing mix of watermelon liqueur, melon rum and tart pineapple juice (130 Penstraat, Willemstad; 011-599-9-461-4377; avilahotel.com). Le Ti, St. BartsFashionistas from Paris, Rio and New York dispense plenty of air kisses at St. Barts' popular Le Ti, located on this stylish island's chic north coast. Dine on prime rib and foie gras with apples in the Moulin Rouge-influenced dining room (think red velvet curtains and crystal chandeliers). After 8 p.m., the lights are dimmed and the DJ starts spinning house and techno music. Cosmos flow freely, as does champagne. Just be sure to leave your Jimmy Choo stilettos in your hotel room—they'll surely get in the way if you decide to join the crowds for a dance on the tables (Pointe Milou, St. Barthélemy; 011-590-27-97-71). Pumphouse, Anguilla As you might expect on such a low-key island, nightlife is limited. Your one option? The Pumphouse. Located right on Sandy Ground beach, this former salt mill comes alive on Fridays and Saturdays with the sounds of reggae and calypso. Favorite area bands, such as the Reggae Groovers, entertain locals and visitors alike, while bartenders dispense Red Stripe and Carib beers (Sandy Ground, Anguilla; 264-497-5154). The Water Club, Puerto RicoIn San Juan, there's something for everyone, from sizzling salsa clubs to smoke-filled discos and dark, sultry martini bars. The island's hippest new hangouts are in the Water Club Hotel, located in the city's Isla Verde district on the outskirts of town. This stylish 84-room hotel seems like a South Beach transplant, so it's no surprise that Derek Jeter and Marc Anthony have discovered it. Order a mojito at Wet, the hotel's rooftop bar, and take in the awesome views of the city. Then, head downstairs...

Caribbean's Secret Islands

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Don't want other people stepping on your pedicured toes? We've got an exclusive collection of islands that will leave your footprints in the sand untouched. Secluded and sweet on comforts, this is the Caribbean at its most romantic.French Kisses: Terre de Haut Francophiles, rejoice! The petite French isle of Terre de Haut, seven miles off the shore of Guadeloupe, has few residents and even fewer cars. Zip around on rental scooters while visiting the island's various beaches, such as Anse Crawen, the famous nude beach whose nudisme interdit (nudity prohibited) signs are obviously ignored. Dine on just-caught fish, prepared Creole-style, at an open-air seafront café in Bourg, the island's only town. Nibble on tourment d'amour (agony of love), achingly sweet little coconut tarts traditionally baked by young island girls. Saturday night, dance at Cha-Cha, a party that's held once a week at the local cemetery (no joke!), which is transformed into an open-air disco. You might even become conversant in French by the time you leave—in fact, you'll have to, because very few islanders speak even a little bit of English. Hotel Bois Joli is the most visitor-friendly inn on the island. Unlike other hillside hotels, this one's smack at the water's edge. For optimum romance, decline one of the 24 standard rooms and nab one of the eight hibiscus-pink-and-white beachfront bungalows, two of which have small kitchenettes. All eight of these gingerbread-trimmed cottages have air-conditioning, phones and private patios facing Pain de Sucre Bay. Sweet! For more information call 011-590-99-50-38.For more information about visiting Terre de Haut, call the French West Indies Tourism Office at 212-838-7800.Carriacou CarouselIn the realm of laid-back islands, Carriacou is king. Despite being just a boat ride away from its big sister, Grenada, Carriacou is remarkably undeveloped; happily, tourism is a concept that has yet to make many inroads here. Although there is a scattering of charming guest houses and a few roadside restaurants that serve up local dishes, there's not much of anything else for visitors to do. But in Carriacou, "nothing to do" translates into some very enjoyable activities, like exploring deserted white-sand coves for very secluded snorkeling. The underwater site known as the "Mushroom Forest," on the western end of the island, is particularly brilliant. For more "nothing" boat over to Sandy Cay, a postcard-perfect "deserted" isle, complete with a single palm tree for shade. There are small guest houses, including the charmingly rustic Caribee Inn, which is perched on 12 jungle-y acres above the sea. Each of the inn"s half-dozen suites features shuttered windows that open wide to let in breezes, scents of fragrant flowers and spices, and the occasional macaw. Call 011-473-443-7380. For more information about visiting Carriacou, call the Carriacou/Grenada Tourism Office at 800-927-9554 or visit grenada.org. Dominica, Au NaturelWith a nickname like "The Nature Island," you know this spot is going to overflow with natural wonders. That"s Dominica, which has been blessed by Mother Nature in a big way. From its lofty 5,000-foot peak to its craggy coastlines, Dominica is the Caribbean as nature intended it to be. Its underwater walls and pinnacles make it a diver"s paradise. Migrating whales swim so close to shore that spotting a spouter is a sure thing. There are 365 rivers that cascade into countless waterfalls, a unique volcanic phenomenon known as Boiling Lake, rare Amazonian parrots and mountaintop rain forests.Something you won"t find anywhere else in the entire world is also here on Dominica: Carib Territory. This is the real thing. The world"s last remaining tribe of Carib Indians lives on a 3,700-acre reserve in Dominica. Buy a traditional basket woven of dyed larouma reeds and balzier leaves, and you"ll own an important link to pre-Columbian Caribbean history. Papillots Wilderness Retreat is Dominica"s original mountain inn, a group of cottages and rooms surrounded by natural mineral baths and hot springs. The accommodations are comfy and the gardens are almost as spectacular as the setting. Call 767-448-2287. For more information about visiting Dominica, call Dominica Tourism at 212-949-1711 or visit dominica.dm. Belize: Diving DivaAlthough not technically an island, the gorgeous Latin American country of Belize is blessed with 170 miles of Caribbean coastline—not to mention an offshore reef that is the longest in the Western Hemisphere. Its lush interior boasts dramatic Maya ruins, as well as untold acres of tropical rain forests teeming with toucans, scarlet macaws and other exotic birds, and ground-based critters like jaguars, tapirs and peccaries. Think Belize, think diving. Ambergris Caye is renowned as one of the world"s most astounding scuba sites. And if you"re looking for romance so intense you need to come up for air, you should head straight for Blancaneaux Lodge, owned by the filmaker Francis Ford Coppola. Bosomed within a jungle in western Belize, this inn amazes with its luxurious appointments as well as its wild surroundings—reminiscent of a movie set. The lodge even has a wood-burning brick pizza oven imported from Naples, and serves wines from Coppola"s Napa Valley vineyards. If you want to call it a wrap and leave your well-appointed bedroom long enough to explore the surrounding wonders of this verdant country, you won"t have to saunter far. Take a romantic horseback tour through a tropical rain forest. Or, venture out on a guided exploration of a moody jungle cave that is home to fruit bats and toucans. Call 800-746-3743. For more information about visiting Belize, call Belize Tourism at 800-624-0686 or visit belize.com.Caribbean Surprise: SabaSaba isn"t the kind of island you"d expect to find in the Caribbean. For one thing, there are no beaches anywhere on this steep, coneshaped island. There are, however, lots of world-class dive sites just offshore. And everything"s uphill, which means you can count on challenging hiking trails. Twenty-eight miles south of its Dutch sister island, Sint Maarten, Saba is a model of European sensibilities. The "local" cuisine is an eclectic mix of international favorites, and the tidy houses have gingerbread trim, red roofs, green shutters and flower gardens. The Cottage Club, one of the most honeymoon-friendly hotels on the island, has a collection of 10 small Saba-style houses, each with its own spacious bedroom, deck and complete kitchen. The mountaintop views from your bedroom include small villages, hills and the sea. Nearby, there"s a private natural stone pool. Call 800-786-2278. For more information about visiting Saba, call Saba Tourism at 011-599-416-2231 or visit sabatourism.com. Life's a Beach on AntiguaYou want beach? There are 365 strands on Antigua! Bonus: Many of the resorts on this pretty island snuggle right up to the beach. And this being a British island, traditions such as "formal" afternoon tea are adhered to—often served right on the sand to bikini-clad sun worshipers. Sailing is the sport of choice on Antigua. If your honeymoon happens to coincide with Race Week (held each spring), you"re in for some non-stop partying with the yachties and sailing enthusiasts who come from all over the world for this maritime Mardi Gras.If the two of you are true romantics, you"ll head for the hillside cottages of Cocos. Stepped up a steep hill rising above the beach, these chic "shacks" are painted in sherbet colors and lavished...

Sweet Dreams

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Colonial Brits coined the saying "rich as a Caribbean planter," a reference to the privileged lifestyles enjoyed by the European owners of West Indian plantations during the 17th and 18th centuries. These gentleman farmers claimed the most enviable island locations for their sumptuous great houses, which they built high up in the hills so as to catch the breezes and the views of lush, green land rolling down to the sea. Their extravagant lifestyle is long gone, but their legacy lives on in the handsome stone manses that remain. Throughout the West Indies, many of these historic houses have been preserved as attractions, restaurants and, in some cases, resorts. In their rooms, carved out of the past and brought up-to-date with modern amenities, a honeymoon couple can get a taste of that glamorous heyday—and feel like the lord and lady of the manor.Par for the CourseEven before you walk through the front gates of The Tryall Club, a 69-villa property on Jamaica, you're greeted by original 18th-century structures. Near the entrance, a waterwheel turns as it has for several centuries, powered by river water carried along an ancient stone aqueduct. One of Jamaica's most breathtaking golf courses stretches beneath it, past crumbling sugar mill chimneys and up into forested hills. In the middle of it all sits a Georgian great house, overlooking the stately royal palms and bougainvillea blossoms that now flourish where sugar once grew. Like most plantation houses, it was constructed of locally quarried coral rock. Thick walls and peaked roofs keep the interior cool; verandas, gingerbread trim, shuttered windows and exposed beams complete the look. The spectacular view of the property from the Great House Restaurant, where elegant versions of Jamaican dishes, such as jerk pork tenderloin, are served, imbues the dining experience with a sense of privilege. There's also the more casual Beach Café, which is the perfect spot to enjoy sunset cocktails together. Order up a couple of glasses of Planter's Punch, spiked with Jamaican overproof rum, or Bamuloos, a blend of Jamaican Tia Maria coffee liqueur, coconut cream, rum and bananas that tastes like a grown-up milk shake.Tryall's one-bedroom duplex villas may be its smallest accommodations, but they're the best choice for honeymooners. Each comes with a kitchen, a tiled veranda and lots of space. The villas' lavish details—including whirlpool baths with louvered shutters, lace-trimmed sheets and fresh blossoms strewn about in bowls—enhance the resort's old-world ambience.The property remains as sprawling as it was during its days as a working plantation, and you may want to rent a golf cart to get around all 2,200 acres. You'll find a beach, tennis courts, a spa, water sports (complimentary to guests), a small fitness center and a jogging trail. After a morning of snorkeling or running, you can take a reggae dance class on the beach, then try out your skills later at a club in Montego Bay. (The resort sponsors a Friday night trip to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, a favorite bar of the young and tanned.) Other resort excursions range from river rafting to deep-sea fishing. If you've caught plantation fever, ask the hotel to arrange a tour of Belvedere, a working plantation that dates back to the 17th century and still grows coffee, cocoa and sugarcane. Pick up some freshly roasted beans to perk up your mornings (800-361-9949; tryallclub.com).Wee OneTiny Nevis is home to more plantation resorts than any other island in the Caribbean. Which one should you choose? We suggest the 38-room Nisbet Plantation Beach Club because of its on-site beach and added conveniences, such as air-conditioning, which many of the island's other resorts lack. The hotel is so quiet you may be surprised to find that the dining room fills up each evening. But it does, and for good reason: Dinner, which is included in the meal plan (along with a breakfast of tropical fruit and heart-shaped banana pancakes, and a posh afternoon tea), features Caribbean dishes such as chicken curry and seared kingfish. The acclaimed restaurant occupies the 18th-century Great House, where you'll also find a piano bar, a lounge and a library that contains the resort's only TV. Order the local favorite cocktail, a "Ting with a Sting," which is a blend of the Caribbean's grapefruit-flavored Ting soda and Nevis' cane rum.Spread out among 30 acres of coconut palms, Nisbet has 12 cottages that offer sea views and 26 with garden views. Compared to those at Tryall, rooms at Nisbet are decorated simply—wicker and rattan furnishings, screened porches—though they, too, have peaked wood ceilings and louvered doors. Splurge for a premier junior suite, where you'll find a living room, a wet bar and plenty of space to stretch out.While the resort can feel sleepy, there's plenty to do here. During the day, guests can swim in the large pool, or snorkel right behind the property, where a reef keeps the current at bay. On Thursday nights, island residents head to the resort's seafood barbecue, and stay on to dance in the beach bar. Nevis itself is known more for its quiet style than nightlife or shopping. Nisbet can arrange for a variety of tours, from stargazing excursions to kayak rides. Be sure to visit the Hermitage Plantation Inn, where you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride, or the Golden Rock Plantation Inn, where you can hike through the rain forest on a quest for wild monkeys (800-742-6008; nisbetplantation.com).Sweet as SugarThe 138-room Buccaneer, located on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix, may be the oldest of the plantation resorts mentioned in this article, but it's also the most vital and youthful in spirit. A free shuttle takes you around to the 340-acre property's three beaches, which offer varying degrees of privacy. (Honeymooners tend to favor the secluded Whistle Beach.) You'll also find two pools, a golf course, nature trails, water sports, tennis courts and a spa. Every Tuesday, a resort-wide cocktail party features Mocko Jumbie stilt-dancers. (Yes, these performers actually do dance on 17-foot-tall stilts.) At the resort's hilltop Terrace Restaurant, in the Great House, you can look out over the lights of St. Croix's capital, Christiansted—but it's the cuisine that dazzles. (Don't leave without trying the sugarcane-skewered yellowfin tuna, or the roasted rack of lamb.) Guest rooms, which are also located in the Great House, feature thick stone walls and bonnet arches. Or, ask for a Beachside Doubloon Villa—each comes with a huge marble bath, a whirlpool tub and a porch that overlooks the sea.The Buccaneer can arrange trips into Christiansted, which is known for its art galleries and nightclubs, or a visit to a bar for dancing to a steel-drum band. For an added dose of history, tour the distillery that turns locally grown sugarcane into Cruzan Rum (800-255-3881; thebuccaneer.com).Tryall's one-bedroom duplex villas may be its smallest accommodations, but they're the best choice for honeymooners. Each comes with a kitchen, a tiled veranda and lots of space. The villas' lavish details—including whirlpool baths with louvered shutters, lace-trimmed sheets and fresh blossoms strewn about in bowls—enhance the resort's old-world ambience. The property remains as sprawling as it was during its days as a working plantation, and you may want to rent a golf cart to get around all 2,200 acres. You'll find a beach, tennis courts, a spa, water sports (complimentary to guests), a small fitness center and a jogging trail. After a morning of snorkeling or running, you can take a reggae dance class on the beach, then try out your skills later at a club in Montego Bay. (The resort sponsors a Friday night trip to Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, a favorite bar of the young and tanned.) Other resort excursions range from river rafting to deep-sea fishing. If you've caught plantation fever, ask the hotel to arrange a tour of Belvedere, a working plantation that dates back to...

Honeymoon Like a Star

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Celebrities have long flocked to the sun-drenched Caribbean isles to relax in lavish comfort. Want to honeymoon like a star yourself? Read on for a sampling of some of the well-known islands—as well as the up-and-coming hot spots—the swank set jets to in order to indulge in secluded beaches, barefoot bars and steamy nightlife. Then, pack your sexiest swimsuit, and don’t forget to bring your shades—these places add lots of sizzle to the sunshine.The BahamasYou may know that The Bahamas—a string of approximately 700 islands and 2,500 cays—offers miles of pristine beaches, flashy casinos and duty-free shops, but it’s also become a red-hot playground for celebrities. Its popularity is partly about convenience; the islands are a short flight from the East Coast. Plus, they offer plenty of luxurious resorts to choose from. Recently, even Hollywood movie studios have come calling. This winter, catch the movies After the Sunset, with Pierce Brosnan, and Into the Blue, with Jessica Alba, both of which were filmed here and show the islands at their best.Feel the Heat Ready to get wet? Swim and frolic with bottle-nosed dolphins at Dolphin Encounters, just as Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson recently did while in town to film their MTV television series, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. You’ll get to touch, feed and kiss these beautiful creatures from a platform, then hop in the water to swim right alongside them. They’re sure to show you a few pointers (dolphinswims.com).Tinsel Town Tastes Nicolas Cage and Brooke Shields have dined at Graycliff Restaurant, which is located in an elegant 18th-century mansion and houses one of the Caribbean’s most impressive wine cellars. Standout dishes include Bahamian lobster in cream sauce and grouper with mustard sauce (graycliff.com). Looking for something more casual? Actor Robert De Niro and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg have lunched at Sip Sip, a chic beachfront café in a cheery lime-green building on Harbour Island. Try the spicy conch chili or the lobster quesadillas, served up with a frosty Kalik beer, The Bahamas’ own brew (242-333-3316). Star Sleeps The 106-room Ocean Club is a plush hideaway whose British colonial-style rooms feature four-poster mahogany beds, ceiling fans and balconies. Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods have checked in; Cindy Crawford married Rande Gerber on the hotel’s beach. Celebs come for the posh amenities, such as butler service, luxurious treatments in the impressive spa villas and complementary afternoon sorbet (800-321-3000; oneandonlyresorts.com). Celebrity duo Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins enjoy Pink Sands, a tiny gem of a hotel where all 25 of the pastel-colored cottages are decked out in a bohemian Bahamian décor (think floral prints and ceiling fans) and are located on, yes, a stretch of pink-hued sand. There are a freshwater pool and an oceanfront bar, but just try to tear yourself away from the gorgeous—and fabulously empty—beach (800-688-7678; islandoutpost.com).St. BarthélemyThis chic island in theFrench West Indies has long been an exclusive playground for the rich and fabulous—think megawatt American movie and music stars, supermodels, business tycoons and European royalty. (They frequently arrive on sleek yachts, which you can see on display in Gustavia harbor.) These A-listers enjoy the island’s decadence, from the chic see-and-be-seen beach bars to the gourmet French restaurants.Feel the Heat Beyoncé Knowles and Uma Thurman have been spotted checking out the tony boutiques in Gustavia, where you can buy cool resort wear, including colorful sarongs and linen pants. Visit Lolita Jaca to stock up on pretty embroidered blouses and jewel-encrusted sandals (011-590-590-275-998; lolitajaca.com).Tinsel Town Tastes The premier spot on St Bart’s to watch the sunset is the terrace of the Hotel Carl Gustaf, where Bruce Willis and Jay-Z have tossed back a few. Its location on the hillside above the town of Gustavia makes it the perfect place to watch the sun sink into the sea. Order up some decadent appetizers, such as escargot and caviar, and the signature cocktail, a mix of champagne, cognac and raspberry pulp that’s sure to help you enjoy nature’s light show (Rue des Normands; 011-590-590-297-900; hotelcarlgustaf.com). If you’re looking for a wilder scene, set off for Nikki Beach, where you’ll find DJs spinning the latest pop and Caribbean hits and vacationers dancing in the sand until the wee hours of the morning—especially when Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is in the house (Plage de Saint Jean; 011-590-590-276-464; nikkibeach.com).Star Sleeps Privacy-seeking couples, such as honeymooners Alexandra Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos, make a beeline for the hilltop Le Toiny, which is located on the island’s less-developed southeastern coast. There are just 15 villas spread out on this expansive property, and each one has a muslin-draped four-poster bed topped with Frette linens, as well as a private pool, a deck furnished with teak loungers and a bougainvillea-filled garden. The resort’s French restaurant, Le Gaiac, whose tables overlook an infinity pool and the surf beyond, is considered one of the island’s most romantic dining rooms (011-590-590-278-888; hotelletoiny.com). Billy Zane has checked into the 33-room Hotel St. Barth Isle de France, which is located on Flamands Beach. The draw here is intimacy: The individually decorated guest rooms feature spacious decks, and you can spend your whole vacation swimming in the freshwater pool and feasting on French fare at La Case de l’Isle restaurant (011-590-590-276-181; isle-de-france.com).AnguillaCelebs flock to tiny Anguilla more for what it doesn’t have than what it does. There are no high-rise resorts, casinos, boutiques or even historical sites, which means the 16-mile-long island doesn’t have crowds, either. Sure, the scenery isn’t as lush as that on other Caribbean islands, but you will find lovely beaches (such as Shoal and Mead’s Bay), as well as exclusive beachfront resorts. And while there isn’t any nightlife, there are rustic reggae bars where the boldfaced names can let their hair down, away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.Feel the Heat Book a full-day cruise aboard the Chocolat Catamaran, and spend the afternoon visiting deserted beaches and prime snorkeling spots. With four private cabins and a large deck area for sunbathing, it’s no wonder Denzel Washington and Mariah Carey have chartered this comfortable boat for day trips (skyviews.com/anguilla/).TinselTown Tastes Famous pairs, such as Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, and Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, have enjoyed the casual vibe at Straw Hat. This seafood restaurant’s whimsical décor (think straw-hat light fixtures) complements the stunning sea views. Be sure to try the red snapper ceviche and grilled crayfish with ginger vinaigrette (strawhat.com). For a truly memorable lunch, make the trip (as Richard Gere and Meg Ryan have done) to Scilly Cay, a private island that can be reached by water taxi from Island Harbour. Go on a Sunday, and sit under the thatched roof, sipping rum punch and dining on grilled local lobster while a calypso band keeps things lively. Dancing barefoot is encouraged (scillycay.com).Star Sleeps Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette, and Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger have all holed up in the whitewashed domed-and-turreted villas at the 98-room Cap Juluca. This place is decadent, with decks overlooking the beach and marble baths. Ask for a villa with no television if you want to indulge in blissful quiet (888-858-5822; capjuluca.com). The 93-room Cuisinart Resort offers Mykonos-inspired villas in an oceanfront setting, and its stylish luxury has drawn movie stars like Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates. Check out your room’s spacious waterfront terrace and the marble bath, which has a tub big enough for two, then indulge in a his-and-hers Caribbean sea stone massage in the Venus Spa (800-943-3210; cuisinartresort.com).Puerto RicoFor vacationers...

Best Caribbean Bargains

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

A honeymoon in the islands is right up there with a white wedding cake—it's a classic. Imagine sunning on the beach, hand in hand, and cooling off together with a splash in the ocean. If you're worried that you'll need to max out your credit cards to pay for those days under the palm trees, though, don't fret; you just need to be a little savvy. Here are some tips for snagging a great week of sun, surf and sand—for less than you'd expect.Look for less-developed islands. Traveling to a lesser-known destination may not be effortless, but it can save you money—and get you off the beaten path. For example, it'll take you at least two plane changes—probably three—and a ferry ride to reach tiny Bequia, but it's worth the trouble (and the extra flight costs). Just seven square miles in all, this small island has pretty beaches lined with palm trees and homey waterfront hotels that cost a fraction of what you'd pay for comparable digs on other islands—and there's not a high-rise hotel or cruise ship dock in sight. Check out the tiny, nine-room Gingerbread Hotel, where you can get an ocean-view room with a four-poster bed and exposed wood beams. It's within walking distance of Admiralty Bay, the island's picturesque yacht-filled harbor, as well as two of Bequia's best beaches, Princess Margaret and Lower Bay. Best of all, you'll have the whole place to yourself, and you won't need a wristband to get a cocktail (784-458-3800; gingerbreadhotel.com).Choose your destination wisely. There are expensive places to vacation in the Caribbean, such as St. Bart and St. Vincent, but there are other, equally beachy and warm destinations that are a true bargain. "In Mexico you get so much value for your money," says Mike Coldesina of Apple Vacations, who estimates that you'll pay a fourth, even a third, less than you would in other parts of the Caribbean. Cancun, for example, offers great beaches, plenty of beachfront hotels and sizzling nightlife. Check into the 372-room four-month-old, all-inclusive RIU Palace Las Americas and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the elegant setting, the pool's swim-up bar and the cheap suites. Who knew you could get a hotel fitted with so much mahogany and marble at such a low price? Plus, you won't be far from some of Mexico's most interesting historical sites, including Chichen Itza (888-666-8816; riu.com).Another inexpensive choice: the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Hotels in Puerto Plata, along the mountainous northern coast, routinely cost $200 to $300 less per week than their counterparts in the more heavily traveled southern and eastern edges of the island, according to Heather Leisman of Vacation Outlet. And there's plenty to do here: The 18-hole Robert Trent Jones–designed Playa Dorada golf course and an impressive 16th-century Spanish fort will keep you busy when you're not on the beach. Consider booking a room at Iberostar's all-inclusive 498-room Costa Dorada resort, an airy colonial-style retreat in a thicket of tropical foliage between the mountains and the sea (888-923-2722; iberostar.com).Don't stay in one place. In the past few years, cruise lines have started adding Caribbean cruises from a variety of American ports. This service is called "homeporting," and it will save you the expense of airfare and transfers. In addition to the Florida hubs (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral), you can cruise from New York, Charleston, Mobile, New Orleans or Galveston. Hop on Norwegian Cruise Line's three-year-old, 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn in the Big Apple for an 11-night sailing that includes visits to Tortola, St. Martin, Antigua and St. Thomas in the wintertime (800-327-7030; ncl.com).Or, consider booking a trip on Carnival Cruises' 1,452-passenger Carnival Holiday. It doesn't have all the latest amenities, since it's 20 years old (compared to the three-year-old Norwegian Dawn), but it offers five-night party cruises to the western Caribbean from Mobile, Alabama, year-round. Ports include Playa Del Carmen and Costa Maya—and you'll have plenty of money left over for souvenirs for your family and friends, as well as onboard splurges for yourselves (carnival.com).Book charter tickets. It may not sound especially romantic to board a plane with a big group of other travelers, all with the same luggage tags, then follow the pack onto a bus for a shared transfer to a resort. But, if you can put up with the crowd, you'll reap the rewards when you arrive. Apple Vacations, a charter-travel company, packages airfare, transfers and hotel stays in bulk, and passes the savings on to travelers around the country. You'll pay hundreds less than if you booked your air and hotel à la carte. The catch: There's often less flexibility with departure dates and flight times (applevacations.com). Another company, Vacation Express, specializes in trips from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast to the Caribbean (800-309-4717; vacationexpress.com).Choose your departure time carefully. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the most popular departure days, so you can save money on both airfare and hotels if you plan your trip to start on a weekday instead. For example, if your wedding is on a Saturday (as so many are), consider taking Sunday to recuperate before jetting off to your vacation locale on Monday. At the Atlantis Resort and Paradise Island Casino in The Bahamas, you can save $30 per night just by starting your vacation during the week (888-528-7155; atlantis.com). Airfare to the Caribbean is generally cheaper Monday through Thursday than on weekends, when demand is higher. "Flying on a weekday will generally save you $50 to $70 per person," says Mervyn Winston, president of the New York City-based travel agency Zena Travel Ltd. Fly out of a major airport. Airlines tend to charge the lowest prices from their hubs, the points from which they offer the most flights. At these spots, you are more likely to get a less expensive nonstop flight to the islands than you would at a non-hub airport. American Airlines uses New York's JFK Airport, Chicago's O'Hare and Dallas' Love Field as hubs, while Continental uses Newark and Houston, US Airways uses Philadelphia and Charlotte, and Delta uses Atlanta. So, consider driving a bit further to snag those savings. Along those same lines, if you honeymoon on an island with lots of air service, you'll eliminate the cost of puddle-jumping to remote islands. "You'll generally find that the cheapest flights from the States are to the Dominican Republic, Cancún, Puerto Rico and Nassau," says Winston. "Jamaica and St. Thomas are close seconds."Use a travel agent with clout. Travel agencies specializing in high-end trips tend to offer more personalized service and better perks than other agencies, since clients are spending more and expect the best service. Take Largay Travel in Connecticut, for example, a member of Virtuoso, a network of agencies that specialize in upscale travel. Virtuoso negotiates discounted rates for members, and passes on extras like room upgrades, free tours and vouchers for the hotel spa and gift shop. Book a honeymoon through Largay at the brand-new 156-room Raffles Resort on gorgeous Canouan Island, in the Grenadines, where the villas have private terraces, and the agency will throw in continental breakfasts and a complimentary massage or greens fees. Plus, during low season, Largay can practically guarantee an upgrade to an ocean-view guest room (800-322-9481; largaytravel.com). Price small hotels against large resorts. If you don't need the facilities and amenities of a big, bustling resort, such as a spa and fitness center, you can save money by booking a room at a boutique hotel or an inn. The 52-room Sandals Inn in Montego Bay, for example, is the chain's smallest and most low-key hotel. Here, you'll find a tiny stretch of beach, two restaurants and two bars—and not much else. The payoff: The inn often goes for $100 less a night than Sandals' other Jamaica resorts. If you're looking...

Honeymoon Unplugged

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Crave casinos, night-life and duty-free shopping? You'll have no trouble finding them in the Caribbean. But that doesn't mean there aren't also quiet, low-key hideaways, with no telephones, televisions or Internet access, where you can leave the world (and the virtual world) behind. We've found six resorts, set on six beautiful Caribbean islands, where you can relax and enjoy each other without any distractions. Barefoot and casual are the watchwords at some, while others are posh and formal. A few are located miles from a major city, and several have an entire island all to themselves. Whichever you choose, you'll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of a vacation steeped in solitude, sand and a whole lot of private time. Welcome to the unplugged honeymoon—a trip you'll never forget. Jake's, JamaicaNegril and Montego Bay may be Jamaica's top beach resort areas, but for real escapism head to Treasure Beach, a small fishing village on the island's southwest coast. Get ready for adventure: It's a two-hour taxi drive on pockmarked roads from Mo Bay's airport. Once you've arrived, however, it won't take long to relax in the bohemian setting of Jake'sresort. Each of the 15 rustic cottages, scattered along the white-sand beach, is decorated with a massive bed, folksy artwork, scented candles and mosaic-tiled floors. There's no air-conditioning, but ceiling fans keep rooms cool. This is the kind of place where you'll live in your bathing suit and shorts all week, so leave your stilettos at home. Daytime options include kayaking and snorkeling or boat trips to crocodile-filled Black River. At night, slip off your flip-flops, order a cold Red Stripe beer by the saltwater pool and listen to the sound of reggae echoing out of the bar. Later, dine on classic Jamaican fare, including pepper pot soup, jerk chicken and barbecued lobster. Of course, no one will hold it against you if you simply stay put all evening, snuggling in a hammock until the sun surrenders to the stars (islandoutpost.com).Caneel Bay, St. JohnLaurance Rockefeller knew paradise when he saw it. In 1956 the American industrialist and philanthropist bought up most of the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John and created a 5,000-acre national park. He then began building a resort for his rich and famous friends so they would have a place to go and leave the harried world behind. Today, you don't have to be an FOR (Friend of a Rockefeller) to visit luxurious Caneel Bay resort. Guests fly into St. Thomas and catch a ferry for the 45-minute transfer to St. John. The luxurious hotel has 166 colonial-style rooms adorned with comfortable rattan furnishings, plantation shutters and air-conditioning—but no phones or TVs. Since the mammoth property has seven beaches, you can visit a different stretch of sand every day. When you're tired of lying about, book a Jeep tour of the island, a nature hike on one of 22 trails or an afternoon snorkeling trip. Be sure to pay a visit to the resort's new meditation center for a partner yoga class—full of useful techniques for when you rejoin the rat race (888-767-3966; caneelbay.com) Ladera, St. LuciaFrom way up at Ladera, a luscious hilltop resort set amid a mango grove, the view of the verdant volcanic peaks called The Pitons is awe-inspiring. The resort's 25 colonial-style rooms are constructed to look like luxury tree houses for grown-ups. There's no air-conditioning, but then there's really no need—mountain breezes circulate through the rooms. Each beamed-ceiling hideaway comes with a mahogany bed draped in madras, sisal rugs, fresh flowers and, best of all, a landscaped deck with a plunge pool. During the day, Ladera offers guided rain forest hikes and a visit to Soufrière, the island's famed volcano, as well as shuttles down the mountain to the beach. At sunset, join the other guests for champagne at the bar, then feast on banana-fish cakes with sweet potato fries or rack of lamb marinated in coconut rum at the resort's swanky restaurant, Dasheene. Or, drive into town and sample West Indian cuisine at one of the local restaurants instead (800-738-4752; ladera.com). Horned Dorset, Puerto RicoSkip Puerto Rico's busy Condado and Old San Juan neighborhoods, and set out for the charming village of Rincon instead. Located on the island's quiet western edge, Rincon is home to the Horned Dorset Primavera, a luxurious resort housed in a beachfront mansion. The 53 Spanish colonial rooms are tastefully decorated with four-poster mahogany beds covered in down duvets, antique armoires, ceiling fans and marble baths; all have air-conditioning. Some of the separate villas, strewn about the property, even have private pools. In the main building, French doors lead to ocean-view balconies where you can hear the waves crashing on the beach below. Activities are purposely low-key. You can borrow a book from the library, doze by the large pool or visit a nearby coffee plantation. Foodies from San Juan make the trip out on Saturday nights to dine in the elegant black-and-white restaurant, and it's no wonder: The French-Caribbean fare is phenomenal. Try favorites such as grilled yellowfin tuna with black truffles and roasted duck with caramelized pineapple. You won't be disappointed (800-633-1857; horneddorset.com). Guana Island, British Virgin IslandsThe British Virgin Islands have plenty of private-island resorts, but the 850-acre Guana Island, located off the northeast coast of Tortola, stands out from the crowd. The resort is located on a former sugar plantation. Its 15 whitewashed stone cottages are furnished with rattan furniture and have roomy terraces. There's no air-conditioning, but the cottages are positioned for maximum exposure to soothing trade winds. With seven beaches, two of which are accessible only by boat, the chances of running into another couple are slim. In fact, once the staff drops you off, you can expect to share your morning swim with red-legged tortoises and Anegada rock iguanas. The resort also offers tennis and croquet, as well as afternoon tea. As dusk descends, join the other well-heeled, well-dressed guests in linen and sundresses for cocktails on the Sunset Terrace. Dinner consists of West Indian-style fare, with regional delicacies such as spicy ginger soup and fresh poached mahimahi. Meals are included in the rate, as is wine with dinner—and an open bar all day long (800-544-8262; guana.com). Petit St. Vincent, The GrenadinesSince this 113-acre private islet has just 22 stone cottages, honeymooners at Petit St. Vincent can truly escape the crowds—and the modern world, including telephones. Want room service, or a bottle of bubbly? Raise the yellow flag on your bamboo flagpole. Want privacy? Raise the red flag. To get there, guests fly to Barbados and then pick up a puddle jumper for the one-hour flight to Union Island. From there, the resort's boat ferries you the last half-hour to the stunning property. At Petit St. Vincent, the cottages are spaced out across the island and shaded by casuarina trees. Each ceiling-fan-cooled cottage comes with an outdoor shower, which is big enough for both of you. Head over to the Main House for dinner, and try the lobster cocktail and the grilled mahimahi in dill sauce. The highlight of the week: the Saturday night beach barbecue, where a calypso band and potent piña coladas get guests dancing (800-654-9326; psvresort.com).

Suite Stays in the Caribbean

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Make no mistake—each Caribbean island is vastly different from all the others. Thanks to hundreds of years of complex historical and cultural influences, you'll find that every island has its unique sights, sounds and tastes. No matter which one entices you, though, there are numerous options for that most extravagant of newlywed splurges: the honeymoon suite. If your idea of a blissful getaway includes an abundance of space, privacy, fantastic views and all the niceties, check out this sampling of some of the Caribbean's most desirable accommodations.French Twist; La Samanna, St. Martin St. Martin's perfect blend of elegant French style and gorgeous Caribbean beaches creates an idyllic haven for honeymooners. La Samanna, a jet-setter favorite that's frequently featured on travel magazine "best of" lists, offers this same grandeur in its new Baie Royale suite. Perched in a corner atop the resort, the suite boasts a spectacular view of Baie Longue, the crescent-shaped white sand beach known for its peaceful atmosphere. You'll have plenty of room to roam in the 1,200-square-foot aerie, which features a bedroom, a kitchen, a living room and an oversized marble bathroom stocked with L'Occitane products. Simple but sophisticated décor includes white marble floors, crisp white overstuffed upholstery and original paintings by local artist Roland Richardson. Among the amenities are an entertainment center with a plasma TV and a DVD collection of Oscar-winning romantic films and a daily supply of fresh flowers, fruit and champagne. The suite opens onto three private outdoor terraces, one off the living room and two off the bedroom. Outside, you'll find a private plunge pool, an al fresco dining area and a lounging cabana. After a few days' rest and relaxation, check out the resort's Elysee Spa, which has indoor/outdoor tropical-garden treatment rooms—perfect for a couple's massage—and a Pilates studio. And when you're ready to venture out and explore the island, you can take a short drive to St. Martin's capital city of Marigot, where you'll find elegant shops and an open-air market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. (lasamanna.com; 800-854-2252)Hot Fun in the City; Hotel El Convento, San Juan, Puerto Rico The Caribbean offers much more than perfect beaches and sweeping ocean views, so your ideal suite may even be something different from the typical seaside resort. For a more vibrant urban scene, consider a stay at El Convento, an architectural landmark in the historic capital of San Juan. Built three-and-a-half centuries ago, this former Carmelite convent is now a beautifully preserved boutique hotel known for its charm and comfort. Opt for one of the two most popular offerings: the Vanderbilt Suite, named for Gloria Vanderbilt, a frequent visitor when the hotel first opened in the 1960s; or the Casals Suite, named for famed cellist and conductor Pablo Casals, who lived in Puerto Rico for 17 years before his death in 1973. Casals was fond of El Convento and practiced his cello in the open-air courtyard that is now the restaurant Patio Del Nispero. The Vanderbilt Suite, the largest in the hotel, consists of a full living room, a dining room and two bedrooms. The Casals Suite with one bedroom and a combination living room/dining room, boasts the hotel's only view of Cristo Street and the famed 16th-century San Juan Cathedral—a landmark that houses the tomb of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. (elconvento.com; 800-468-2779).Peace & Love Bucuti Beach Resort, Aruba Aruba is teeming with glamour and glitz—casinos, nightclubs and high-rise hotels. But if calm and quiet is more your style, head for the Eagle Beach area, home to the Bucuti Beach Resort, where romantic retreats are the main focus. Honeymooners favor the minimalist aesthetic of the four stylish and sizeable Tara Penthouse suites, with full living rooms, dining areas, kitchens and double balconies, as well as their panoramic views of Eagle Beach. Notable extras include pillow-top mattresses, four-poster beds, modern versions of the claw-foot tub and large plasma flat-screen TVs that double as computer monitors. Outside the suite, guests enjoy the same understated elegance. A beach butler will bring you food and drinks as you soak up the rays in peace and quiet (you won't hear the roar of jet skis or speedboats here—just the lapping of the ocean and the occasional seaside breeze). (bucuti.com; 297-583-1100).Living in Luxury; Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, St. John's, Antigua Pure powdery sand, clear aqua-blue water and a winding coastline of hardly explored coves and inlets make Antigua a romantic paradise. For honeymooners who also expect top-notch amenities and sophisticated design, the brand new Mediterranean Village at the Sandals Grande Antigua provides 180 suites located on the longest stretch of Dickenson Bay beach. Inspired by the splendor of the Mediterranean, rooms feature marble columns, Italian tile flooring, custom-designed mahogany furniture, and marble bathrooms with his and her vanities. You'll also find domed hand-painted ceilings and custom wall mosaics. The ultimate honeymoon treat, however, may be the 1,400-square-foot ocean villa one-bedroom suites that win raves for an expansive outdoor setting, sunset views and a private plunge pool and whirlpool. Plus, your very own personal butler (trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers) will unpack and pack your luggage, draw rose-petal bubble baths, prepare and serve meals in suite and provide 24-hour room service. Outside, the Mediterranean Village offers what Sandals says is the largest freshwater pool in the eastern Caribbean, complete with a tower (for viewing sunsets), a swim-up bar and private cabanas equipped with plasma TVs and wireless Internet access. (sandals.com; 888-726-32571).Affordable Opulence Almond Beach Village, St. Peter, Barbados Known for its ultraposh resorts, such as the Sandy Lane Hotel & Golf Club, where Tiger Woods had his 2004 wedding, Barbados has other options for newlyweds who want to splurge on a suite. The Almond Beach Village, one of two Almond resorts on the island (a third will open this year), provides upscale comforts in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. The property, built on the site of an 18th-century sugar plantation, has 400 rooms, but the top choice for couples yearning for space and privacy is the presidential suite. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms and large living and dining areas, the suite offers plenty of space to kick back and relax while you admire a knockout view of the Caribbean, the resort's lush gardens and the sprawling pool area. A wide array of onsite dining choices range from a casual beachfront bar and grill to restaurants that offer Continental, Bajan and Italian cuisine. After a few days of lounging, head out to explore Barbados' stunning scenery and many historically and culturally significant sites, like Farley Hill National Park and the Morgan Lewis windmill, which dates to the early 18th century. For a little pampering, take the complimentary shuttle to the tranquil spa at the Almond Beach Club & Spa in St. James parish. Indulge in the spa's couples package, which includes a body wrap, massage and manicure for you and your partner. (almondresorts.com, 407-872-2220).

22 Top Caribbean Honeymoon Spots

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

1. AnguillaThis British West Indies island has beautiful, uncrowded beaches and rivals St. Barts as a vacation mecca for the rich and famous.Best for: Food enthusiasts. There are 100 places to eat in Anguilla's 35 square miles. Cuisine ranges from roadside bistros serving local specialties to pristine seaside restaurants catering to passionate gourmands. Not for: Serious shoppers. Unlike islands with slews of duty-free shops, Anguilla's retail offerings are basically limited to galleries showing the work of local artists and hotel gift shops.Highlight: Water-taxi to tiny Scilly Cay for a barbecued lobster curry lunch. Grab a waterside table at the islet's restaurant, place an order, and snorkel while you await your meal (264-497-5123).Sweet Dreams: Cap Juluca is a luxurious hotel on a sweeping strip of beach. White villas topped with Moorish domes house guest rooms, which have massive, shuttered windows and balconies overlooking the Caribbean (888-858-5822; capjuluca.com). Kú, a new hotel, appeals to a chic but slightly less-moneyed set. This 27-room spot on Shoal Bay East takes inspiration from Miami's South Beach in its pastel décor. And its white-sand beach is lovely (800-869-5827; kuanguilla.com).—Nicole Sprinkle2. AntiguaAntigua is a water world, with beautiful beaches for sunbathers and perfect anchorages for sailors. Even its most historic attraction—Nelson's Dockyard, once home to the British fleet in the Caribbean—is thoroughly nautical.Best for: Canoodling and skinny-dipping on serene, secluded beaches. Another plus: The atmosphere at most of the resorts is decidedly romantic and sophisticated—not too "kiddie" and not too commercial.Not for: Couples who hope to browse for luxury goods at duty-free shops.Highlight: The Home Restaurant. Make time to enjoy an authentic West Indian feast at this top-rated gem (thehomerestaurant.com; 268-461-7651).Sweet Dreams: For laid-back elegance, the Curtain Bluff Resort is a sure thing—especially because all of its 72 rooms have stunning views of an unspoiled beach and the blue Atlantic. Room 75 has a balcony with a Jacuzzi (888-289-9898; curtainbluff.com). A more affordable option: The 19-room Coco's Antigua, an intimate all-inclusive property, is chic and romantic (cocoshotel.com; 268-460-2626). —Amy Elliott3. ArubaQuiet lounging isn't Aruba's big draw—instead, people visit this desert island for near-perfect weather year-round and for the opportunity to fill their itineraries with activities.Best for: Honeymooners who want a party scene, shopping, scuba diving, kitesurfing and windsurfing.Not for: Couples who dream of tropical jungles and majestic mountains (Aruba is dry and flat). However, its beaches are spectacular, with powdery sand and crystal-clear water.Highlight: The ultimate must-do for honeymooners: a private sunset sail via catamaran. Your concierge can help you arrange one.Sweet Dreams: The 104-room Bucuti Beach Resort Aruba is a favorite for honeymooners who crave seclusion and luxury, in part because it's set on Eagle Beach, the largest and prettiest on the island. Rooms feature king-size beds, private terraces and chic, contemporary furnishings (888-4-BUCUTI; bucuti.com). Meanwhile, the more affordable 119-room Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort is revamping the décor of its suites with punched-up colors and wicker furnishings (dividutchvillage.com; 297-583-5000).—AE4. British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islanders could drape the terminal at Beef Island Airport in a giant banner that reads, "Welcome to the Sailing Capital of the World"—although they'd never actually do anything so crass. But that's essentially what the BVI has become over the past 30 years: the globe's number-one spot for summer (and honeymoon) sailors.Best for: Couples who want to learn the basics of sailing and spend their nights at a private-island resort. Or newlyweds with enough experience beneath the mast to sail off on their own bareboat charter honeymoon.Not for: Anyone who prefers the self-serve piña colada machines and 24/7 party scene at a mega-resort. These islands are really for those who want peace and quiet with their tropical paradise.Highlight: Spending a day alone on Anegada, a coral atoll, where there's always an empty beach and an offshore wreck waiting to be explored by scuba divers or snorkelers.Sweet Dreams: The BVI is famous for posh resorts. But one of the archipelago's most romantic digs is the almost legendary Sandcastle Hotel, on secluded Jost Van Dyke island. This is the Caribbean straight out of Jimmy Buffett—hammocks strung between coconut palms, cool breezes and cold beer, cottages draped in bougainvillea and hibiscus, and a bar packed with people from all around the world telling seafaring yarns (sandcastle-bvi.com; 284-495-9888). Want that super-indulgent, posh resort experience? BVI also has a half-dozen private-island resorts, including the renowned Peter Island (peterisland.com; 800-346-4451).—JY5. Cayman IslandsThe islands that make up the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac) are surrounded by gorgeous, clear water, making them a diving hot spot. They also have a culture of politesse, which makes visitors feel safe and at home.Best for: Couples who appreciate high-end resorts and the high-stakes adventure of wall diving.Not for: Those who want to explore local villages for exotic cultural experiences. The Caymans have an American standard (and style) of living.Highlight: Scuba divers love the Sunken City of Atlantis, where a local artist is constructing a below-the-surface city with sculptures cast from rock, sand and cement—all of which are fostering the growth of a brand-new reef (800-594-0843; bracreef.com/dive_atlantis.html).Sweet Dreams: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman opened in December on Grand Cayman's famous Seven-Mile Beach. It has a La Prairie spa, a Greg Norman golf course and a restaurant overseen by the chef of Le Bernardin, the New York City French food palace. Rooms have private terraces, and there are also secluded oceanfront condos (ritzcarlton.com; 345-943-9000). A more moderately priced choice are the accommodations at the Rocky Shore Villas. It has charming rooms—some in private cottages—and offers classes on traditional island cooking and fishing (866-845-6945; getaway.ky).—Leigh Newman6. BarbadosLocals are proud that Barbados retains more British flavor than any other Caribbean landfall: Afternoon tea, driv- ing on the left and cricket are a few of the customs the Brits left behind. And unlike islands where traditions are fading, Bajans (as the islanders call themselves) embrace these customs as part of their national character. Best for: Pretending that you're in a tropical England. Dig into a champagne-and-caviar picnic while watching a match at the Barbados Polo Club (246-432-1802), or attend a garden party hosted by the Barbados Horticulture Society (246-428-5889). Not for: Spring-break party scenes. The club-and-café area around the Careenage yacht basin in downtown Bridgetown can get pretty rowdy on weekends, but this isn't a place for party animals. Highlight: Walking hand-in-hand down the wildly romantic Bathsheba Beach, knowing that a young Queen Elizabeth II once strolled here, too. Sweet Dreams: With a recent $200 million ultra-extreme makeover, the legendary Sandy Lane is back among the Caribbean's best hotels. From the palatial guest rooms and luxury spa to the 18-hole golf course, everything has been upgraded and outfitted with the best that money can buy. And they really do treat you like royalty (246-444-2000; sandylane.com). The St. Lawrence Gap area is full of less-expensive alternatives, including the nifty little Southern Palms Beach Club, which features brightly decorated rooms along a lovely beach (southernpalms.net; 246-428-7171). —Joe Yogerst7. Curaçao This little Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela is a melting pot of people from all around the globe: More than 50 different nationalities and ethnic groups are represented...

Island by Island

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 12:00:00 AM

Who knew a tropical honeymoon could be so worldly? Islands in the Caribbean—aside from being superlatively romantic—are a mini-United Nations; each has its own mix of cultures blended into the island traditions. Immerse yourselves in Dutch, Spanish, English, Scandinavian or French customs and food while you enjoy the bliss of a tropical paradise—the best of both worlds. Anguilla (Ann-GWILL-a) Language: English Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar; U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Passport: Not necessary, but you do need proof of citizenship such as an original birth certificate and a photo ID. For more info: 800-553-4939, anguilla-vacation.com This pretty island used to be an "insider's secret"—a small, undeveloped bit of paradise so close to St. Martin that savvy vacationers to that island would boat over for a day of relaxation on one of Anguilla's dozens of deserted sugar-sand beaches. These days, Anguilla has not only been "discovered," it has become the hot place to be—and home to some of the chicest resorts in the Caribbean.Best Resort Rendezvous Bay Hotel was Anguilla's first beach resort, and it remains one of the all-around best. And because it was the first, it quite naturally occupies one of the island's very best beaches. The 30 rooms range from charmingly modest to wow! Call 800-274-4893.Best Beach Bar Head to Junk's Hole Bay (lots more appealing than its name suggests!) and chill out at the funky Palm Grove Bar and Grill. Order a grilled local lobster or fresh-caught fish, grab a Red Stripe beer and watch for the legendary green flash as the sun melts into the horizon.Best Dive Sure, you'll spy lots of Crayola-colored fish in Anguilla's turquoise waters, but there is much more: The wreck of El Buen Consejo, a 1772 Spanish Crown vessel, lies just 100 yards offshore in a shallow 30 feet of water. The centerpiece of the newly formed Stoney Bay Marine Park, this sunken treasure is a brand-new underwater discovery; be among the first to dive or snorkel it! Antigua (Ann-TEE-ga)Language: English Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar; U.S. dollars widely accepted. Passport: Not necessary, but you do need proof of citizenship such as an original birth certificate and photo ID. For more info: 888-268-4227, antigua-barbuda.org As British as tea and watercress sandwiches, and as water-obsessed as a fleet admiral, this island underscores its fun-in-the-sun attractions with 365 different beaches—almost every one of which is crowned by a wonderful hotel or two. British war hero Admiral Lord Nelson loved to anchor here. Today, everyone heads to historic Nelson's Dockyard for rum drinks and parties. Best Dining On a breezy hilltop, Harmony Hall is one of the most romantic spots on Antigua. This former plantation great house and sugar mill now exhibits and sells the best of Caribbean art and crafts. It also serves first-rate, authentic Italian cuisine at tables set under gigantic trees overlooking gorgeous Nonsuch Bay. Reservations are required. Call 268-460-4120. Best Deserted Beach Reclusive Green Island. Ask the friendly owners of Harmony Hall, Ricardo and Marilisa Parisi, to boat you over (in the spiffy cruiser they imported from Italy) to this nearby island for some serious seclusion and excellent snorkeling. Funkiest Beach Hangout Love to party? Lashings, an on-the-beach motel that hosts the liveliest open-air bar scene on the island, is where you'll want to hang. There's no way anyone's falling asleep here - the partying's way too intense. So join locals (and a stray cow or two) at the motel's Chickie Disco, for some top-decibel reggae and steel bands, tubs of icy Wadadli (the local lager) and miles of deserted beach. On Sundays there are lively cricket matches, also on the beach. Call 268-462-4438. ArubaLanguage: English, Spanish, Dutch, and Papiamento (the local dialect) Currency: Aruba florin; U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Passport: Not necessary, but you do need proof of citizenship such as original birth certificate and photo ID. For more info: 800-TO ARUBA, aruba.com Along with her sister islands, Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba is delightfully Dutch; its gabled pastel houses are a reflection of colonial days. But, thanks to its next-door neighbor, Venezuela, you'll also notice a big Spanish influence in the local language and in such culinary treats as pastechis (spicy filled pastries) and scabechi (pickled fish). Unlike other lush, mountainous Caribbean islands, Aruba is windy and desert-like, with lots of cacti. Don't expect to see a profusion of tropical flora here; the wind-bent divi-divi trees are about as green as it gets. But Aruba's western coast is lavished with some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in all the islands, and the eastern coast (on the windward side) is a dramatic moonscape of jagged boulders and rocks battered by crashing waves. Best Exploring Rent a Jeep or other four-wheel-drive vehicle and head out to explore the island's rough-road interior. Skip the crowds on popular but beautiful Eagle or Palm Beach, and head southeast to the beaches near Boca Grandi. Most Romantic Meal Spend a romantic evening at Papiamento, a family-owned restaurant in an old manor house. Dine in the shaded garden, or snuggle indoors on one of the heirloom loveseats before a table draped in an antique lace cloth. Order the house specialty: a clay pot. Filled with delicious seafood stew, this entrée is served with a wooden hammer—you smash the pot to smithereens to get at your meal! Breeziest Fun Aruba's constant trade winds are perfect for board-sailing—in fact, the international championships are held here. Fisherman's Hut, a beach area north of the tourist strip, is the favorite surfer hangout. BarbadosLanguage: English Currency: Barbados dollar; U.S. dollars widely accepted. Passport: Not necessary, but you do need proof of citizenship such as an original birth certificate and photo ID. For more info: Call 888-BARBADOS or visit barbados.org. You'll love the contrasts of this island—a combination of pursed-lips-proper Great Britian and Caribbean-style Bajan charm. Super-luxurious resorts are sandwiched in between roadside rum shops (1,600 of these little wooden shacks are scattered throughout the island). Formal afternoon tea is served—often on the beach to bikini-clad guests. Festivals celebrate everything from international jazz to the traditional harvesting of sugarcane (from which Barbados' world-famous rums are made). Folks speak the Queen's English, but with a West Indian lilt. Most of the hotels are on the calm Caribbean coast, in parishes such as St. James and St. Michael (a parish is similar to a county). Best Beach Bar Join fun-loving Bajans at the beachfront Barclays Park Rum Punch Beach Bar and Restaurant in St. Andrew Parish. Part of the popular picnic grounds that front dramatic Cattlewash Beach (on the wild Atlantic coast), this is an on-going party. Trendiest Splurge Hot and hip, The Lone Star is the place to be—if you're willing to shell out serious bucks for the privilege of living large in beachfront luxury. There are just four oversized suites and they're super-deluxe.Call 246-419-0599. Jazziest Hang Out Barbados loves its blue notes. But don't fret if you've missed the annual Jazz Festival celebrations—you can still catch great sounds at the bar at Time Out At The Gap, the swingingest late-night spot on the island. BonaireLanguage: Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento (the local dialect) Currency: Netherlands Antilles florin or guilder (NAF or Afl); U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Passport: Not necessary, but you'll need proof of citizenship, such as original birth certificate and photo ID. For more info: Call 800-266-2473 or visit infobonaire.com. Bonaire is a water-lover's heaven; everything on this island celebrates the gifts of the sea. In fact, Bonaire boasts the oldest and most successful marine preservation...

The Bahamas Wedding & Honeymoon Center

Wed, 31 Mar 1993 12:00:00 AM

Nassau & Paradise IslandLuxury resorts, top-notch recreation, sizzling nightlife and fabulous wedding facilities. Read More >>Grand Bahama IslandA memorable mix of historic charm, modern attractions and ecological wonders.Read More >> The AbacosUnique 120-mile-long stretch of cays and islands separated by the turquoise Sea of Abaco.Read More >>Eleuthera & Harbour IslandIdyllic pink- and white-sand beaches, colonial villages and pineapple fields await.Read More >> The ExumasPopular for its tropical greenery that stretches out to meet pink-hued sand beaches. Read More >> Other Islands of InterestOff-beat hidden gems boasting stunning beaches, diving and fishing sites.Read More >>