Living with the Dolphins

It's all mosaics these days, especially of you're Ashley Saunders, historian, builder, artist, Biminite and entrepreneur. Hey, sometimes you gotta multitask in the islands. He built this funky little spread in North Bimini's Alice Town from recycled materials - excess tile from construction projects, coral rock, and flotsam and jetsam. He's painstakingly assembled it shard by shard into The Dolphin House, an artistic home, free Bimini museum and quirky inn. Ashley lives downstairs and rents the two room second story (pictured here). When he's not practicing his craft, he's hunting for Bimini history, which sometimes doubles as his next mosaic.

(242) 347-3201; ashleysaunders2@yahoo.com

Barbados for the Gourmands

Good news for the foodies out there...Barbados' premier Sandy Lane resort just completed a multi-million dollar renovation that includes a new culinary facility and a gourmet cooking and tasting program for guests. With the Gourmet Challenge package, guests get a personalized cooking demo with one of the resort's culinary artists, a customized tasting menu at l'Acajou, a sommelier-guided wine tasting, and the chance to prepare hors d'oeuvres and cocktails right alongside Sandy Lane's top chefs and bartenders. Guests will leave with a special culinary amenity like a cookbook or embroidered chef's apron, plus the recipe to a new signature cocktail created and named just for you.

Out of the kitchen, the Gourmet Challenge also comes with an upgrade to Luxury Ocean Room accommodations - a savings of $300 per night over the standard Ocean Room rate - and the fifth night of the package is free. The full six-day/five-night program is $4,800 per room through October 31 and includes daily breakfast and round trip airport transfers.

If you're thinking of traveling late in the promotion, JetBlue just announced new daily non-stop flights between New York (JFK) and Barbados (BGI) beginning October 1, making it easy to reach the island with a few welcome perks, like free seatback televisions, unlimited snacks and more room to stretch out your legs than on any other U.S. airline - all standard.

And if you can't make it to Sandy Lane before the promotion ends this fall, try this yummy recipe straight from their kitchen to get you through the summer back home...


Sandy Lane Low-Fat Granola Wild Berry Parfait

- 1 cup fresh vanilla yogurt
- 1/2 cup homemade cherry granola (dried whole cherries & fresh granola of choice)
- 4 sliced strawberries
- a handful each of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries
- 2 tablespoons candied pecans
- 1 sprig mint leaf

Mix fresh granola and dried whole cherries in mixing bowl. Pour a quarter of the granola mixture into a glass mason jar along with the blackberries and blueberries. Pour 1/2 cup fresh vanilla yogurt into jar, then layer sliced strawberries and whole raspberries on top. Pour remaining 1/2 cup yogurt into the jar, then continue to layer the remaining fruit and pecans on top. Finish with mint leaf.

Mexico Cruises

A quick update on traveling to Mexico: At least three cruise lines have just suspended operations at Mexican ports, with some ship itineraries diverted to other ports through the end of the week and others, indefinitely. Carnival plans to divert all ships away from the country through at least May 4, while Holland America has canceled its calls to Mazatlan, and Princess Cruises has canceled its stops at both Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Check with your specific travel agent or cruise line for the latest information about Mexican ports of call if you have an upcoming sail planned. I also just came across this article on USA Today's site detailing specific cruise itineraries and changes.

We'll continue to keep you posted on the situation as it develops.

Swine Flu Update

The situation with this month's swine flu outbreak continues to be fluid, with new information and travel advisories coming out by the hour. At the time of this posting, the epicenter of the outbreak appears to still be in Mexico City, though the Mexican government has temporarily closed schools across the entire country to try to contain the spread of the virus, and at least 64 cases have been already confirmed here in the United States.

While President Obama has issued a statement saying that the spread of swine flu is a "cause for concern, not for alarm," a travel advisory has just come out suggesting that non-essential travel to Mexico be avoided, and the Center for Disease Control is already at work distributing informational cards about the virus and its symptoms to travelers.

Several airlines including Continental, United and US Airways have responded in kind by waiving change fees and penalties for travelers who need to change their upcoming itineraries. There are date restrictions with each policy so be sure to check with your individual airline if this applies to you. Meanwhile, Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines have announced that they are watching the situation as it continues to develop, but they will continue all of their Baja and Mexican Caribbean itineraries as scheduled with no diversions.

We'll continue to monitor the situation with the CDC and the U.S. Department of State, and we'll keep you posted on any new travel advisories here on the blog.

Editor Down

It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to surf. I was in South Africa a few years ago and finally got the chance to ride the waves like Kelly Slater. Okay, fine, not quite like Kelly Slater. But I did stand up on the board. That’s why I was super-excited about the chance to surf again in Barbados with none other than the Action Man himself, Brian Talma, who peppers each sentence with liberal applications of the word “action,” and whom we profiled in our September 2008 issue (Surf’s Up on Rum Island). First came Talma’s lesson: “Lie down on the board. Do a push up. Pop up and stand sideways. Action.” Well, for a pro like me, a short lesson like that would surely suffice, right? We paddled out; I attempted to stand, got to my knees and promptly fell sideways off the board. No sweat, I thought, I’ll surely get up next time. Again we paddled out, I turned the board around, saw the wave coming and — Action! I was standing! Sort of. Then, as before, I tumbled off the side of the board. And then it happened — the board decided it wasn’t quite through with me and swung around for one final encounter, with the fin underneath giving me a solid slice to the side of the nose. As I stood up with my hands on my face, little trickles of blood running through my fingers, I knew that the surfboard had won that day. But I’d be back. No permanent injuries were sustained and now the shiner I had gave me mad street cred I’d been craving. Action.

Faithful readers may recall my massage injury from Aruba — a pattern, unfortunately, seems to be emerging. And I’ve been told these things happen in threes. But, it’s just another example of the beating I’m willing to take for the story. It’s gonzo journalism at its best. Or something like that.

Grenada Seafaris Raises its Eco-Consciousness

Anyone headed to the southernmost of the Windward Islands will be interested to note that things have changed at little at tour operator Grenada Seafaris since our own Baz Dreisinger took a ride on the wild side last September. The company, which offers wind-in-the-hair excursions up and down Grenada's western coast for snorkelers and divers (although landlubbers are always welcome) has become a whole lot more ecologically focused of late. In addition to offering tour-goers a high-speed lesson in the island's history and geography, Grenada Seafaris is newly keen to impress upon tourists and cruise-shippers the value and fragility of Grenada's eco-system, explore ways they can make a positive impact on the environment, and discuss initiatives to protect and rebuild natural assets.

Says Suzanne Clarke, who launched Grenada Seafaris with her husband Howard in November 2007, "We would hope to raise their awareness of the environmental issues that affect the island and the impact that each one of us has on our environment, i.e. negative – pollution, damage to our reef and our natural environment." Seafaris is also working with local schools to draw focus to environmental issues in Grenada and the rest of the Caribbean.

Rest assured, however, that Grenada Seafaris' enhanced earth-consciousness hasn't lessened the thrill factor of its tours: The 30-foot-long Grenada Explorer is as fast and furious as ever, with motorcycle-style seating for 12 passengers. Tours leave Grenada's capital of St. George's and charge up the coast, hitting a variety of secluded beaches, including Black Bay, and taking in a host of must-see underwater sites — including, of course, artist Jason de Caires Taylor's astonishing underwater sculpture park at Moliniere Point. Tour prices start at US$65.

La Boca Grill

Take a chance on the unmarked road east of Cabarete at Isla Bon. The winding path is tough on the tires but easy on the eyes, and the end-of-the-road hideaway of La Boca Grill that fringes the mouth of the Rio Yesica is the payoff: friendly local chefs, a pristine and authentically Dominican beachfront locale untouched by mass tourism, and the freshest seafood around. Our feast of today's catch - parrotfish, lobster, blue crab and shrimp - just came off the grill, so I'm off to enjoy the meal and soak up every second of this off-the-beaten-path oasis.

For the curious, I just posted a photo gallery from Cabarete on our Facebook page...check it out to see more about La Boca and other island hot spots.

Tuning Up for the 2009 St. Kitts Music Fest

Sure, it's got picture-perfect beaches and crystalline waters, but St. Kitts isn't all about serene natural beauty. This island knows how to groove, too. Kittitians are gearing up for their annual music festival, one of the Caribbean's hottest events, and with Grammy-winner Regina Belle headlining, this year promises to be a knockout. Scheduled for June 25-27, the festival celebrates its 13th straight year with a cornucopia of musical styles — everything from R&B, jazz and hip-hop to reggae, calypso, and even Gospel — drawing performers and bands from all over the Caribbean and the world. (Singer John Legend is pictured here, from last year's fest). In addition to Ms. Belle, 2009's lineup includes King Konris, Nu Vybes, The Grand Masters, Mavado, Biggie Irie, Edwin Yearwood, Lord Nelson, Burning Spear, Beres Hammond, T-Pain, the Odisi Band, and Stephen Marley. Tickets will run you US$50 per person, per night; snag them through the festival's excellent web site, stkittsmusicfestival.com. And for more info about St. Kitts itself, check out the island's tourism site, stkittstourism.kn.

It's Easy Being Green

Here’s a fitting bit of news for Earth Day: Jalousie Plantation on St. Lucia is going to make it guilt-free for golfers to ride in carts, rather than hoofing it from hole to hole, with the island’s first environmentally friendly hybrid solar-powered golf cart. The zero-emissions cart is the first in what the hotel hopes will be an entire fleet of green carts and mini-buses. Guilty admission: My favorite part of any golf game is riding the cart. Feeling better about it already.

CT+L Exclusive Deal at AQUA Cancun

Our friends at AQUA Cancun have just put together a special Stay for Breakfast package exclusively for CT+L readers, so I wanted to share the deal right away. Between now and December 23, the promotional nightly rate of $223 buys you:

- Deluxe Ocean View accommodations, double occupancy
- Daily breakfast buffet for two at Siete Restaurant, including gratuities
- Late check out

Rates for that room category start around $220 in low season anyway, so this exclusive offer is a great way to squeeze a little added value out of your next vacation. Just use promotion code PROMFB0075 when booking online.

To learn more about AQUA Cancun, check out our Editor's Pick feature from March...

Gary Bogdon Rules

One of our favorite photographers, Gary Bogdon, has a new blog cookin', and his first posting is a great take on Anguilla: garybogdon.blogspot.com. He's got a crush on the place, and some good advice for visitors. Gary also just unveiled his new website, designed by his wife Santa, who used to be our art director. Hot stuff!

This One's For the Girls

Whether you're single, married, or floating in some hazy gray area in between (and this isn't really the blog to get into that) - all of you ladies out there can cash in on some huge savings at resorts around the Caribbean. Recent findings from a AAA Girlfriend Travel Research Project have shown that women accounted for nearly 32 million trips in 2008 - spending a pretty penny (around $200 million) in the process. And as it turns out, we like to shop (74%), dine out (86%), lay by the beach or pool (70%) and check out the spas (73%) while we're at it. Not really surprising, but thank you, research.

So what's all this mean for you? The findings have struck a chord with a lot of Caribbean resorts, and in turn they've dreamed up tailored vacation packages - with big savings - just for the ladies.

At Jamaica's super-inclusive Grand Lido Braco resort, gals can grab their friends and enjoy the Girlfriend Getaway for $916 per person, which includes four nights of Royal Beachfront accommodations, all meals and drinks, complimentary mani-pedis, a choice of 30-minute spa treatments at the Blue Maho Spa, a welcome basket stocked with beauty products, and a bottle of champagne. For the active set, you'll also get complimentary windsurfing and scuba lessons, personal golf instruction, and cooking and pastry classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Over in the Grenadines, the 35-acre private island resort Young Island is offering its own Girlfriend Getaway for $900 per person, which includes five-nights in Superior Cottage accommodations, a three-meal-per-day plan plus a voucher for their exclusive waterfront French Verandah Restaurant, a 60-minute massage at Spa Kalina, a scuba diving course, use of the resort's watersports and tennis amenities, and a welcome bottle of wine in your room.

These are just two of my favorite promotions that have come our way recently, but a ton of other Caribbean resorts are offering similar Girlfriend Getaways, so here's the perfect excuse to start shopping.

Next Stop: Cabarete

I'm off to Cabarete next week to explore the active side of the Dominican Republic - from hiking around Isabela Mountain in nearby Puerto Plata to surfing at Encuentro beach. (I'm pretty sure that my surf report will be a comedy piece.) And because I'm dedicated to bringing you the full scoop on this lively destination, I'll be taking in a bit of the local nightlife each night, too. It's all in the line of duty.

There's definitely no shortage of things to do in the adventure capital of the island, and I already have a packed itinerary full of sights and stops planned for the week...But as someone who's never been to the DR before, I'd love to hear your questions and suggestions as well. Tell me what you'd love to know about Cabarete, and I'll report back here after the trip.

Cuba Libre?

CT+L's group publisher, Sue Gilman, just posted a few observations on her own blog about President Obama's recent decision to ease restrictions on visiting Cuba. Though mass tourism to the country is still limited, the new policy essentially opens the door to Cuban-Americans wishing to visit the island or send money back to their families - a small step for foreign policy, but definitely a giant leap for future engagement with the country. So for those of us who make Caribbean travel our business, the obvious questions now are: How long until Cuba finds itself the next "it" destination for tourism, and will the country be ready for the American masses?

Check out Sue's blog on the topic and let us know your thoughts...do you want to visit Cuba?

Helping the Earth One Spa Treatment at a Time

Call me devoted to my job, but I'm pretty amenable to getting spa treatments. The stark reality is, a number of Caribbean resorts are home to world-class spas, and someone needs to try them out. Sometimes I'll play hard to get at first, pretending I'll skip it...but I always give in and sample the spa menu in the end, and rarely do I need a pep talk before going in there. It's just what professionals do.

But for those of you who need just a little bit more convincing, Elite Island Resorts has come up with a spa incentive you can really feel good about. To celebrate Earth Day - as well as the company's one year anniversary of being green-certified - the hospitality group will make a $5 donation to Sustainable Travel International (STI) for each spa treatment you purchase at select resorts in April. As a global organization, STI promotes sustainable solutions for travel and tourism, helping to shelter the Caribbean from some of the not-so-great effects of mass tourism.

The resorts include Galley Bay Resort & Spa, The Verandah Resort & Spa, and St. James' Club & Villas - all on Antigua - as well as Palm Island on the Grenadines. So I guess now the real question isn't whether to check out the spa...it's how many treatments can you squeeze in?

PS - Galley Bay's Indulge is our Featured Spa this week...click here to check it out.

Jump Ship in the BVIs

View Untitled in a larger map

If you ever find yourself cruising around the BVIs, you probably won't be in a hurry to get off the boat. But the latest promotion from the five-star Biras Creek Resort on Virgin Gorda makes a pretty good argument for dry land: When chartering a sail with Horizon Yacht Charters, you can Jump Ship for a night and get a taste of the luxury resort's offerings - including Garden Suite accommodations with a private outdoor shower, gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner, and use of the spa, pool, tennis courts and other amenities - all for the discounted rate of $575 double occupancy per night. The same rooms go for $700 in low season - $950 in high - so it's a pretty convincing reason to dock for a night or two and check it out.

Contact Horizon Yacht Charters or Biras Creek to set up your trip between now and December 17, then check out our other recent blog about mooring at Royal Plantation in the Bahamas.

Salud!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting San Juan for the second annual Saborea Puerto Rico food festival, and after a full day of gorging on a mouthwatering assortment of local specialties, you’d think I wouldn’t have room to sample the city’s beverages, too. But you’d be wrong.

On Sunday, our group of roving reporters went sightseeing in Old San Juan, then descended upon Aguaviva, a chic Latino Seafood restaurant, for a late lunch. We gathered at the bar, where bartender Antonio welcomed us with the house specialty, a light and refreshing watermelon sangria, that drew rave reviews from our thirsty throng and awakened our appetite for the amazing truffle tuna ceviche that followed.

Antonio was kind enough to give me his recipe, and I’m paying the favor forward by sharing it with you, too...

Aguaviva’s Watermelon Sangria

- 1 bottle Reisling wine
- pulp of half a large watermelon
- 3 ounces brandy
- 3 ounces triple sec
- 1 can Sprite
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher with ice. Pour into a tall glass and garnish with a watermelon wedge or orange slice. Enjoy.

And if you’re looking for more of our favorite tropical drink recipes, just click here.

Doing What it Takes to Get You There

This is your Co-pilot speaking. Please put your tray tables up, close that emergency thingy, and for the love of all things good and holy, stop the screaming. Everything's cool. And as soon as the guy next to me wakes up, I'm sure he'll land this thing.

By boat (Anguilla), by plane (Bimini), by speeding golf cart (Bimini) or Philippine Tuk-tuk (Anguilla), you can bet I'm riding shotgun, hanging out of or off of something to get the shot. All so you can be part of the action. Just don't ask me to demonstrate the safety features.

Check out my Viewfinder gallery to see more photos from our travels.

Dreaming of Curacao?

There's still time to enter Curacao's Hidden Treasure contest, recently featured here on our blog. The island is giving away trips for two each day, plus the chance for ten lucky island-hoppers to take part in a real treasure hunt on the island later this year. A half million dollars is on the line, so it's worth checking out.

Even if you're not feeling lucky, you can still make it to Curacao on the cheap. Check out our recent Editor's Pick of the Curacao Now promotion and you could enjoy a $100 airline credit, free nights, free excursions and more.

Hidden Treasure

Curacao Now

Good News for Film Buffs

This week, JetBlue announced a sweet perk for island-hoppers: Now when you travel to any of the airline's Caribbean destinations, they'll waive the usual $5 in-flight movie fee so you can watch your choice of three films for free.

The destinations offering complimentary "JetBlue Features" include: Aruba; Nassau, Bahamas; Bermuda; Cancun; San Jose, Costa Rica; Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Maarten.

Now if only they served popcorn.

Delta Service to Bonaire

With non-stop flights out of Delta's hubs in Atlanta (ATL) and New York (JFK), traveling to Bonaire is already a breeze - And starting October 2 of this year, the airline is making it even easier to check out this diving haven by adding a new non-stop, round trip itinerary on weekends.

The new direct flights are scheduled to depart Atlanta on Fridays at 4:00 PM, arriving into Bonaire's Flamingo Airport at 8:05 PM; and for the return, flights will depart Bonaire on Saturdays at 9:00 AM, arriving into Atlanta at 12:25 PM - leaving plenty of time to catch a connection back home.

Before you book your trip, check out the Bonaire destination page and our feature on the Top 10 Snorkeling Parks that explores the island's underwater world.

Barbados Bound

I'm a Barbados virgin, and one of the things I'm most excited about when I go later this month is gorging myself at the weekly Oistins Friday night fish fry (shown at left). Being a Wisconsin girl originally, I know from fish fries, so we'll see how this one stacks up.

The Best of Barbados promo from the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) gives you a chance to check it yourself and save some serious cash. Book between June 8 and July 3 for travel between September 1 and December 18 and get the following perks:

• Air credit of up to $300 per person (for travel during September)
• Your first night of accommodation free (5-night minimum at all-inclusives, 7 nights at other participating properties)
• Buy one get one half-off for lots of island activities
• A $100 pre-loaded debit card for spending on the island
• A gourmet card, which offers 25 percent off at participating restaurants
• A voucher worth $25 off at the Oistins Fish fry

To book, surf over to the official site (visitbarbados.org), go to the ‘visiting us’ tab and click on ‘latest promotions,’ or call the BTA directly at 800-221-9831.

Been to Barbados already? I’d love to hear any must-do tips, or better yet, must-eat locales before I go!

Getting to Martinique

You may have heard about the general strike in Martinique last month, which caused weeks of social unrest among the locals and a bit of tension for visitors...But thankfully the strikes have been peacefully resolved, and the island is eager to open its shores to travelers again. So American Eagle Airlines' latest announcement of increased service to Fort-de-France from its hub in San Juan couldn't have come at a better time. Starting May 1, the airline will begin running daily service to and from the island - up from four flights per week, previously - making it easier than ever to visit the French Antilles beauty. Just bring your appetite...with its fusion of French, Caribbean and Creole flavors, Martinique is a gourmand's paradise.