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!

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A quick peek at the best of Bonaire

Matt KiefferOne of the “ABC” islands* of the Dutch Antilles, just 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela, this 111-square-mile island is a welcoming and tranquil trove of eco-adventure (which they play up with the tourism tagline “It´s in Our Nature”), and it´s known especially for its diving and snorkeling. For a nice, laid-back slice of the old Caribbean (albeit a pretty arid one, so please don´t go expecting luxuriant greenery), many travelers in the know very much appreciate this…

Started by Jordan Simon

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11 of the best experiences in Haiti

SPC Gibran Torres Haiti, really? You´re no doubt wondering. Well, yes, the Americas´ most impoverished country has been an abject basket case for many years, and its current tragic vicissitudes with violence and instability make it seem unlikely to recover any time soon. But here´s a reminder of what a fundamentally beautiful country this is, how rich is its history, how vibrant its culture, and how friendly its people – as I can attest when I visited way back in 26 years ago. This, then, is…

Started by David Paul Appell

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St. John, the USA´s dreamiest Caribbean island paradise

Josh Duncan The smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands – just seven miles long and three miles wide (roughly 11 by five kilometers) and with a permanent population just under 99,000 – is the favorite of some because it´s less developed and more pristine-feeling than St. Croix and St. Thomas. Some of its highlights include...read post

Started by Jordan Simon

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The jewel in Puerto Rico's eco crown: El Yunque rainforest

Javier_Art_Photography The "Isle of Enchantment" offers an amazingly diverse menu of options to visitors, in capital San Juan and well beyond - history and culture, for sure, but also tasty eating, drinking, and beaching, along with memorable partying and much much more. But one side of Puerto Rico you should definitely not miss is its wealth of eco opportunities, from glowing "bioluminescent" bays to spectacular waterfalls, and most especially a large swath about an hour's drive from San Juan:…

Started by Iberia Airlines

1 Reply · Reply by José Balido Feb 5

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David Lawrence September 2, 2010 at 8:26pm

Good Q, Northeast, 2 good answers. Also as an American, I don't want to stay at a Hyatt or Hilton, especially in another country. Would we go all the way to Japan to stay at a dude ranch?
Tony King September 2, 2010 at 6:16pm

Just to add another thought to Patricia's, there is a tendency to forget that much of the Caribbean i.e. St. Martin, St. Barth, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Cuba, St. Vincent, the Grenadines caters almost exclusively to European visitors who do not visit the Ritz Carlton's, Hyatt's and Hilton's of this world.
Patricia Borns September 2, 2010 at 4:59pm

Are you referring to "U.S. Hotel Brands in the Caribbean: Over-Supplied or Under-Represented?" (www.hvs.com/Library/Articles/?cat=11). The data looks to be two years old, and the authors' main business is stimulating foreign investment. Not to discount their conclusions, but those two things raise cautionary flags for me.
Northeast News September 2, 2010 at 4:27pm

U.S. HOTEL BRANDS IN THE CARIBBEAN:
UNDERREPRESENTED OR UNDER DELIVERING:

The largest hotel consultant in the Caribbean, MacLellan & Associates, reports:

"A recent article by Parris Jordan and La Baik of HVS provided interesting data on the apparent low volume of US-branded hotels in the Caribbean, when compared to the hospitality scene in North America. The conclusion reached was that there may be an opportunity for significant growth by brands in the region in the near future."

Is this, in fact, the right conclusion?
Tripatini August 27, 2010 at 6:24pm

Please CLICK HERE to help a Tripatino with a question on a three Caribbean islands. Thanks!
David Lawrence August 25, 2010 at 1:25am

I'm with Ed and Rebecca. Don't know what all the fuss is about.
Rebecca Thompson August 25, 2010 at 12:43am

Answering Ed, both Barbados and Grenada are safe islands to visit in the Caribbean. I live in Grenada and have travelled many times alone in Barbados by hire car, just like Grenada I'll stop ask for directions safe and sound. My car broke down there in the middle of the night, I was travelling with a female friend. We had no probelm getting a 'push' from a chivalrous bus driver. Just take the normal precautions you would at home, don't leave your stuff lying around and lock up your car when you leave it. Otherwise in these 2 English speaking islands you'll make friends and feel at home.
Ed Wetschler August 24, 2010 at 6:46pm

The Barbados hotel-tourism association is campaigning to ramp up safety and security in the tourism sector. Truth is, I've never viewed Barbados as a country where I needed to worry much about that sort of thing. Comments?
Tony King August 17, 2010 at 8:49pm

Excellent question from Northeast News. I think all the islands would be affected, especially in this post-recession era - but perhaps not equally. I suppose it will also depend on whether the Cruise Ships will be allowed in or not. I think St. Thomas would be on the hurt list. Maybe overall vacation costs would come down too. Nice thought.
Northeast News August 17, 2010 at 8:37pm

Travel Restrictions to Cuba Easing?

A few days ago the Miami Herald reported, ""The Obama administration will soon ease some restrictions on US travel to Cuba and other sanctions following Havana's promise to free political prisoners, according to growing but unconfirmed reports."
I wonder: Which other Caribbean islands would be hurt the most if the U.S. eased travel to Cuba?