Comments

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  Ed Wetschler December 15, 2009 at 10:11pm

  Funny thing is, Max, when I was a young high school teacher, we taught that all things being relative, the English handled their colonies better than the French or Spanish. Maybe so, yet as you know, the French islands (perhaps with the exception of Martinique) seem to indicate otherwise. That said, there's a lot to love in Grenada, the BVI, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, Anguilla....Just have to watch your back in some spots. And the governments of T/T, Jamaica, and Spanish-speaking DR, among other places, really must do a better job training cops to respond. That said, a murder rate that increases 38% may not be as bad as it sounds, given its foundation on such a small population (and, ergo, murder rate) in the first place. But thanks for posting this.
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  Max Pesling December 15, 2009 at 9:00pm

  Wow, so now it looks like when it comes to security problems, Trinidad/Tobago may soon outstrip Jamaica! Another reason I'm not wild about the English Caribbean. Anybody care to comment?
  
  15 December, 2009
  Trinidad, Tobago emerge as murder capitals
  http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1140001.php
  
  Trinidad and Tobago have overtaken Jamaica in a dubious distinction: the “murder capital of the Caribbean.”
  
  “Although much of the violence is gang-related, in recent years tourists have increasingly become targets for robbery, sexual assault and murder,” says CDNN. INFO.
  
  While homicides increased two percent in Jamaica in 2008, murders were up 38 percent in Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  The US and the UK issued travel advisories warning travelers about increasing violence and the failure of police in Tobago to apprehend and prosecute criminals.
  
  A US travel advisory warns travelers that armed robbers have been trailing tourists as they depart international airports in Trinidad and Tobago. It said:
  
  “Violent crimes, including assault, kidnapping for ransom, sexual assault and murder, have involved foreign residents and tourists (and) incidents have been reported involving armed robbers trailing arriving passengers from the airport and accosting them in remote areas…the perpetrators of many of these crimes have not been arrested.”
  
  The English-speaking Caribbean, which extends from the Bahamas in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south, averages 30 murders per 100,000 inhabitants per year, one of the highest rates in the world, according to the Economist.
  
  With 550 homicides in 2008, Trinidad and Tobago has a rate of about 55 murders per 100,000 making it the most dangerous country in the Caribbean and one of the most dangerous in the world, according to press reports.
  
  The rate of assaults, robbery, kidnapping and rape in Trinidad and Tobago is also among the highest in the world.
  
  According to a report issued by the United States State Department, gang-related homicides and other crimes will continue to increase in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009 and 2010.
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  José Balido December 5, 2009 at 11:31pm

  Great news: Both Airlines and the Hotel Resorts of the Caribbean are Slashing T...
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  David Paul Appell December 1, 2009 at 11:51pm

  What's one of the oddest sights in the Caribbean, and the DR's most popular? Get the details on Altos de Chavón in this week's Spotlight (you can find it after this week in our Spotlights archive).
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  David Paul Appell October 27, 2009 at 5:45pm

  Interesting item I just read in the DR Travel News e-letter re the Dominican's Casa de Campo:
  
  "Guests booking into Casa de Campo this winter season will be staying in totally new surroundings. Parent company Central Romana Corporation is investing US$25 million into the transformation of the main areas of the hotel and about a third of the rooms in time for high season.
  
  Designers Mayra Gonzalez and Patricia Reid are working on the major changes with architect Rafael Selman of Selman & Asociados Arquitectura, reported in Casa de Campo News October-November issue. According to the publication, the new look blends in with the minimalist approach and use of Caribbean materials that Gonzalez has already used at Minitas Beach and at the Cygalle Spa. Natural materials such as marble, coral stone and oak wood are being used to create an impression of extreme simplicity.
  
  Designer Gonzalez describes it as "bringing the Casa de Campo hotel up to date in a warm contemporary style."
  
  The design involves dramatic changes, from the gardens near the entrance to the lobby, gym, pool area, restaurant and offices that are being relocated. The lobby is being doubled in size. The Tropicana Restaurant has been transformed into a terrace overlooking the pool. The new restaurant is being located at La Cana Bar's former site, with an indoor air-conditioned area, al fresco dining tables and a glassed-in show-kitchen.
  
  The rooms located at the far end of the driving range are will all be new. Patricia Reid designed the rooms to luxury hotel standards in soft, neutral tones. Only remaining are the old mahogany doors to the terraces, which are being restored."
  
  I've long felt the place could use some refreshing...looking forward to checking it out one of these days soon!
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  Chelle Koster Walton October 7, 2009 at 10:41pm

  They speak mostly English in Curacao, fyi. There's very little Dutch spoken, mostly Papiamentu, which is a form of the West Indian-based dialect spoken on most of the islands. For a truly foreign feeling experience try one of the French islands or St. Martin - both French and Dutch.
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  Wendy Capra October 7, 2009 at 10:32pm

  thanks guys, your advice is great and has cetrainly opened up a lot of possibilities. personally i've been to jamaica and thought it was nice but they speak english like we do (with ap rettier accent!!) so i think a more foreign island like curacao will be fun, tho i'm still up in the air!! i was readin gabout that keshi yena and that sounds YUMMMMMY!
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  Cathy A. Preece October 7, 2009 at 6:06pm

  One of St. Kitts' newest attractions is Sky Safari's ziplining, which lets you soar above the rainforest canopy on a variety of lines at different speeds. I tried it on my most recent trip to the island and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
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  Cathy A. Preece October 7, 2009 at 6:03pm

  Wendy, have you been to St. Kitts? It also fits the "all-around" bill, yet it has only recently been focusing on tourism so it's relatively uncrowded. Among the things to see and do are touring historic Brimstone Hill fortress, rainforest hikes, riding the Caribbean's only scenic passenger train, visiting charming plantation inns, enjoying authentic and cool beach bars, and more. Another plus is that Nevis (see Cheryl's comment) is the sister island to St. Kitts, separated by only a 2-mile channel, so you can do a day trip or even a twin-island getaway.
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  Chelle Koster Walton October 7, 2009 at 2:07am

  That said, Jamaica is my favorite island. SO much culture, SO much variety. And one of the Caribbean's most affordable.