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, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, 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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5 highlights of Dutch Sint Maarten

Dave Senior Taking up 40 percent of the island of St. Martin and with a population of around 58,000, this territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands packs a whole lot of fun, flavor, and personality into a petite package. Whereas French St. Martin leans elegant and relaxed, the multicultural, largely English-speaking Dutch side offers its share of quiet corners, but also a livelier menu of casinos, nightlife, beach bars, waterfront dining – along some of the most photographed aircraft landings…

Started by Helen Brown

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Chilling on Tortola and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands

Victor Block My husband Victor and I are travel writers. Which means when we get to a destination, we explore every aspect, constantly seeking out stories. Until we got to Tortola, capital of the British Virgin Islands, with a population around 15,000. That didn’t happen. And it was almost like — dare I say the word? — a vacation. But let’s back up a bit. We are a lot older than our last trip here 30 years ago when my husband had the temerity to actually hazard driving. To put the roads in…

Started by Tripatini

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Rum and much more in Barbados

Victor Block Most travelers know that most Caribbean islands are soaked in rum, but Barbados goes the rest one better because here, locals say, is where rum was discovered. In capital Bridgetown one early-17th-century day, the story goes, a tavern owner was searching for an empty shipping barrel when he inadvertently stumbled across one filled with a concoction worth selling -- a barrel of sugar cane fermented over time. Well, Mr. Rumball -- the tavern owner -- knew a good thing when he…

Started by Tripatini

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In the British Virgin Islands, Anegada and its Lobster Festival

Photos: Victor Block Most travelers have heard of the U.S. Virgin Islands; some of the British Virgin Islands. Those familiar with the BVI usually know Tortola, and maybe even Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. But it seems that few have ever heard of Anegada. Which is a shame because it has so much to recommend it.

Started by Tripatini

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Tony King July 29, 2010 at 6:04pm

I would venture to say that it's the right course for them since they have other important revenue sources.
Ed Wetschler July 29, 2010 at 5:35pm

eTurboNews reports that other tourist destinations may strive for mass tourism in these tough times, but the British Virgin Islands are determined to "stay the course," with small-scale, upscale, quality resorts. Is that the right course?
Tony King July 24, 2010 at 12:16am

I have lived in St. Thomas on two separate occasions and St. Thomas has always had a violence problem. Most of this violence is between rival families and gangs. It is unusual that visitors would be attached or even involved. This last unfortunate incident was accidental (not a justification) and a case of somebody being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hesitate to condemn the the Virgin Islands as a whole, The British Virgin Islands territory has a history of low crime rates and respect for outsiders.
Julie July 23, 2010 at 8:19pm

Having just returned from St. Thomas less than a month ago, I would have to say I felt safe there. From the destinations I have visited, it seems that there are always areas that you would want to avoid but don't reflect upon the entire island. What are everyone else's thoughts?
Patricia Borns July 16, 2010 at 3:45am

I would go in May when most visitors leave. In May I like sailing between the islands, French Town, Water Island, hiking on Jost, visiting friends in Coral Bay, snorkeling on Anegada, and I would like to see Culebra. In May, I even like the grittiness of Road Town and Charlotte Amalie. It was on a winter trip that I came to actively dislike the VIs, and on a spring trip that I rediscovered them.
Vincent Russo July 16, 2010 at 3:21am

First an innocent kid gets killed in the Virgin islands and now the news says homicide rates are up there. This is why I wont go to the Virgin islands. Who would?
Richard Schecher June 25, 2010 at 1:39am

Caribbean Vacation Properties is a privately held company specializing in three key areas of Real Estate on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic; Luxury Villa Rentals, General Real Estate Sales, and Property Development.
Its principals have successfully owned, operated, and managed hotels and condominium hotels for over 20 years in the South Florida area.
This group of professionals has maintained a single focus on condominium resorts disbursing over $15,000,000 in unit owner’s annual rental revenue. This same group of professionals has expanded their target market to include the north coast of the Dominican Republic where they soon became one of the most recognized resort managers and developers on the north coast. With their expansion into the Caribbean, this group has become successful in cross marketing their Caribbean properties with their international marketing program for their Florida hotel operations.

In 2003, CVP’s principles made the corporate decision to invest heavily on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. In five short years CVP was able to establish themselves as the leading authority in luxury villa rentals catering to very select clients. Bringing true professionalism to the North Coast real estate industry, CVP quickly earned the respect and reputation it enjoys in this industry today. Currently, Caribbean Vacation Properties enjoys the reputation as one of the largest luxury property developers on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic and offers a unique selection of exclusive properties and real estate developments.
David Paul Appell June 22, 2010 at 9:48pm

Love shopping? Check out the recently posted Part 2 of the Tripatini blog's survey of best off-the-beaten-path s....

blog.TRIPATINI.COM
David Paul Appell June 17, 2010 at 11:58pm

Please help a member seeking advice on a Caribbean cruise.

What's the best Caribbean cruise for January?

We moved to Florida last October and are interested in taking a cruise in January to the Caribbean (not Mexico) to experience the diverse tropical is…
Anil June 15, 2010 at 6:48am

Caribbean ? Did they mean Islands ? or the caribbean sea ? Spanish or the English Islands ? The former Dutch or the French colonies ? It is indeed true that some islands cater to mass volume, and some are quite inaccessible (i.e direct flights from US)

The character and attitude of island/town where cruise ships make a port of call are much different than say, Saba, or Martinique, or take your pick. So the proposition that "Caribbean is Chuck E. Cheese." is unsustainable.

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