Caribbean (Plus) Corner

This fabled sea, covering more than a million square miles and 7,000 islands with diverse languages, cultures, and ecosystems, has become probably the planet's premier vacation playground. Here it's all about its regional issues and allures. And yes, the (Plus) means we're including the Bahamas and Bermuda along with the Caribbean coasts of Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guayana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Suriname, and Panama.

For other individual island forums, check out Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Statia (St. Eustatius), St. Barth, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten/Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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The top 8 musts in gracious, beautiful Bermuda

Craig Stanfill A British Overseas Territory with a land area of just 21 square miles – the size of a middling city anywhere in the world – and a population of 73,000, Bermuda is named after its original discoverer, Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez. It has been settled for 412 years and has been a popular tourist destination – especially for those in the United States, for whom it´s a flight of just over two hours from the East Coast – since the 1880´s, when the Hamilton Hotel (now the…

Started by David Paul Appell

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The Island of Tobago Is a Sweet Little Slice of Old-Time Caribbean

VisitTobago.gov.ttThe smaller of the two main islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago lies 22 miles northeast of larger Trinidad (a 20-minute flight away, as well as with direct service to/from Barbados, the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany). It´s known for its unspoiled natural beauty, rich history (dating back to 1654, and vibrant culture (which besides numerous current ways to experience it is particularly on display during events such as the Tobago Heritage…

Started by Helen Brown

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3 of the Caribbean´s best Sandals resorts for honeymoons

Sandals Grande St. Lucian Based in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the famous Caribbean resort chain founded in 1981 by legendary Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon "Butch" Stewart was instrumental in pioneering the "all-inclusive" concept - paying one (usually very attractive) rate to cover all food and drink as well as many activities and amenities, in addition to just a room. Sandals properties now number 18 on eight islands, and they´re especially popular with (and indeed, marketed to) couples and…

Started by Tripatini

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Martinique, c´est magnifique!

David Stanley One of the four islands of the Antilles Françaises, with around 370,000 inhabitants, Martinique was settled by the French beginning in 1635 and today is an overseas département (meaning an integral part) of France. It’s packed with a vibrant blend of French and West Indian cultures; stunning landscapes, nature, and beaches; rich historical sites; fantastic rum; and a chill, laid back vibe. I visited here around 15 years ago and still remember it fondly and fairly vividly.…

Started by David Paul Appell

1 Reply · Reply by Jordan Simon Oct 15

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Hal Peat January 23, 2011 at 2:09am

@Lynne - if you're still reading this, a belated thank you to you also for that time we were on a press trip together in the USVI and you gave me such helpful insights on compiling a travel book during my early days in travel writing. I've used your books as a reference guide since and that day and your kindness are remembered with gratitude.
Lynne Sullivan January 21, 2011 at 2:18am

David and Hal, thanks for the interesting chat on Cuba and tourism. I understand both points of view and both totally make sense. It will be interesting to watch the impact on Cuba when US citizens have "full freedom" to vacation there.
David Paul Appell January 20, 2011 at 8:55pm

Well, my point is partly that all that is not going to happen for another bit of a while. Barring a Tunisia- or Romania-style revolution, it's clear that true free enterprise is not going to be fully unleashed in Cuba as long as the Castros are around, and that is compounded by the fact that as long as the Miami mafia lobby keeps its the larger embargo going, it will just be a matter of a larger trickle of US travelers, but still a relative trickle. And the infrastructure issue on the island itself will in the near and possibly medium term still not be equipped to handle a much bigger influx anyway.
Hal Peat January 20, 2011 at 8:32pm

@David - I think once the freedom to travel is totally there as far as both U.S. and Cuban citizens going in and out, then you may see some phenomenal changes. Cubana for instance could really become a regional Caribbean airline, and Havana itself a real airline hub alternative to San Juan. I think costs geographically make it a little cheaper to fly in/out and that will stay - but the ground incidental expenses - transport, food, hotels, activities - a traveler faces will shoot up, up up as soon as free enterprise arrives there.
David Paul Appell January 20, 2011 at 6:44pm

Interesting piece in today's Miami Herald from astute Latin America (and especially Cuba) pundit Andrés Oppenheimer on how increased U.S. travel to the island may or may not affect the rest of the Caribbean. Some say it will be a hard hit, others say not so much -- and may even grow the overall pie. Yes, there will be novelty value and some pent-up demand, but on the other hand this is not exactly an unprecedented opening. And I can tell you first off that it's hardly going to be a flood, at least for the foreseeable future, at least in part because capacity is still pretty limited, and what capacity there is, is being amply used by Europeans, Latin Americans, and the other visitors Cuba already gets. So we'll see how big a move this actually turns out to be...
David Lawrence December 28, 2010 at 4:19pm

Hey Victor this video is a lot of fun. Where'd you find that lighthouse that's smiling.
Victor Balbin December 28, 2010 at 12:25pm

Hell "visitors to the Caribbean".

Throughout the years one song has become like a symbol for the islands.

We just created a promotional link with that song. Hope you like it.

Do you know which one it is??????

any guesses????

okay here it is, from COUNTRYSIDE TOUR . Dont worry be happy>
Victor Balbin December 13, 2010 at 2:22pm

If you are visiting San Juan Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, ask me about anything.

I have the answer
Tony King December 8, 2010 at 5:06pm

There's a nice little villa on Virgin Gorda in the BVI that is owned by a friend of mine, if you're interested please contact me.
Buzzy Gordon December 8, 2010 at 5:49am

Looking for a reasonable winter rental

We are looking for a place to spend Jan.-Feb. Expat community or typically local environment. Ideally, a property we can take care of in exchange for reduced rent, but all offers welcome.