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, Guyana, 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, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Statia (St. Eustatius), St. Barts, 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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Why Dominica is the Caribbean´s quintessential "Nature Isle"

David Stanley No megaresorts, no swim-up bars three deep with cocktails, no overrun tourist attractions, no pushy touts. This 290-square-mile bit of lush real estate wedged between Guadeloupe and Martinique is all rainforest, river, and volcano, with just enough sea and sand to satisfy beach lovers. But while Dominica is just 29 miles tip to tip and 16 across, don't let the size fool you into thinking you can zip around in an hour. The interior is all steep, forested mountains, so even the…

Started by Ed Wetschler

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The French-flavored icon of low-key luxury that Is St. Barts, and its top highlights

David Stanley The small French Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy has with a population of roughly 11,000 people, yet it has developed an outsized reputation as one of the world’s most exclusive destinations. Located in the northeastern Caribbean near St. Martin, it´s just ten square miles in size—small enough to cross in about twenty minutes—yet rich in atmosphere and variety.Its history reflects a mix of influences. Originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib peoples, in 1648 it became a…

Started by Jordan Simon

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What definitely not to miss in Havana

Eric Marshall Deteriorated though much of it is, what might be the most surprising thing to travelers about Cuba´s capital - still the most beautiful in the Caribbean - is how well-rounded it also is. Especially culturally, with restaurants, cafés, shops and ubiquitous music joined by high-quality museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts, with international as well as Cuban works, divided between a modern facility and the magnificent late-19th-century Centro Asturiano (Asturian social club);…

Started by Tripatini

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Visiting Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas: experiences, tips, and essentials

Don Ramey Logan First opened in 1968 just offshore from Nassau, Atlantis Paradise Island is one of the Caribbean's most iconic resort destinations, which with its world-famous water park, marine habitats, luxury towers, and stunning beaches spread out over 154 acres attracts millions of visitors every year. Whether you're planning a family vacation, a honeymoon, or simply a subtropical getaway, this guide will help you plan the perfect trip—covering the best time to visit, must-do…

Started by Tripatini

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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.
Ed Wetschler November 23, 2010 at 9:49pm

Blue Horizons in Grenada, one of my favorite islands, is offering 30% off plus perks for travel through Dec. 20. Blue Horizons is affiliated with (and just behind) Spice Island Beach Resort, so guests can use the costlier resort's beach.
FYI, Caribbean Airlines has new flights between JFK and Grenada.
Tripatini November 9, 2010 at 11:34pm

Now on the Tripatini blog: get the, um, naked truth about Hedonism II in Negril, Jamaica.