Private Island Privileges

Since you're already shelling out around $50,000 per night for your vacay on ultra-luxe Necker Island in the BVI, you might as well pony up another $25,000 to check out Branson's newest toy: the Necker Nymph, a three-man, fully submersible aero-submarine. The winged...um, thing...functions as both an aircraft and sub, cruising along the surface of the ocean until you – and the certified Necker Nymph pilot at the helm – decide to take a dive. The vessel is capable of staying underwater for up to two hours as you explore the reefs and wrecks of the surrounding isles and cays, and the price tag buys you a full week to use it. Hey, it's cheaper than going to space.

Private Island Privileges

Editors Inflight

It's the first day of February, the Caribbean's high season is in full swing, and CT+L 's editors are getting ready to jet off to the region's balmy shores. At this point were not sure exactly where our assignments will take us – although our intrepid photographer Zach Stovall is already happily snapping his way around St. Croix – but we sure do know where we'd like to go in 2010.

Editor at Large Dave Herndon picks St John. "I'm dying to find out what all the love is about," he says of the idyllic US Virgin that attracts a back-to-nature bohemian crowd. (One of our favorite writers even considered packing up and moving to the USVI. Check out her story here.)

Online Editor Reagan Johnson just got back from Barbuda (above right), but she's already got her eye on The Grenadines. "I love sailing and I've always wanted to island-hop around the chain, checking out Bequia, Carraicou, Young Island and some of the smaller islets and cays," says our webby wonder woman. "Moonsplash on Anguilla is a close second, though!"

Managing Editor Becky Strauss has Bonaire on the brain. "I've been certified for 13 years now, and I'm desperate to check out one of the world's premiere diving destinations," she says. (If going deep also tops your to-do list, check out Provo, too.)

Executive Editor Matt Phenix is prepping for 4x4 safari through Belize later this month (read all about it in our upcoming May issue) and will put his driving skills to work again later in the year as he tours Barbados (left) by Mini moke for an upcoming feature.

As for me: Like Reagan, I'm hoping to set sail on my maiden voyage to The Grenadines, and I'm curious about the French Caribbean, particularly Martinique and Guadeloupe. It'd be a great opportunity to see somewhere new and to brush up on my Francais. Of course, I'm always up for a trip back to my beloved Jamaica, and I'm excited about the ever-increasing lineup of luxury hotels along Mexico's Riviera Maya (We'll be featuring one of the best in our annual all-inclusive feature, coming up in April).

Now over to you: Which destinations are on your Caribbean wish-list this year?

Editors Inflight

Sarah's 2009 Caribbean Highlights

The new year is just around the corner, but before it arrives I'm taking a moment to reminisce about some of my favorite Caribbean adventures in 2009.

In January, I rode the rails – and enjoyed a killer rum punch – on the Sugar Train in St Kitts.


In April, I spent four days in San Juan munching my way through the Saborea Puerto Rico food festival and getting up close and personal with giant avocados.


In May, I did a six-day Jamaican road trip that took me from Port Antonio to Ochi, Mo'Bay and Negril, where the cliff divers at Rick's Cafe demonstrated their prowess.


Come June, I discovered the bohemian pleasures of Tulum for the first time - and passed this this gargantuan furniture store display along the way.


Then in August I made my maiden voyage on crewed yacht charter through the BVIs, where we shot an episode of our TV show, CT+L's Affordable Caribbean.


I squeezed in a whistle-stop trip back to Jamaica in November, staying just long enough to enjoy a heaping plate of ackee and saltfish, the island's national dish.



My final jaunt of 2009 was to Provo in the Turks and Caicos Islands in December. Beautiful beaches, luxury resorts: what's not to love?



Where did your Caribbean travels take you in 2009?

Sarah's 2009 Caribbean Highlights

Holiday Savings in the BVI

The Deal: Book a five-night stay at Peter Island Resort & Spa between December 20 and December 27 and you'll only pay for four – a savings of at least $952 – plus you'll get a ton of sweet stocking stuffers for your stay.

Why We Love It: The holiday package lets you save 20 percent on oceanview rooms and beachfront junior suites during the holidays – and let's face it, we could all use a break this year. Included in your rate, you'll enjoy the full American meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner for two each day. Plus, you'll get a little holiday cheer with perks like complimentary turndown surprises, hand-painted signature ornaments, a Peter Island tote bag and a special stocking filled with chocolates and other goodies. Bonus: if you plan your trip to arrive on either December 20 or 21, you'll also enjoy a $150 resort credit.

How to Book It: Book your five-night minimum stay between December 20 and December 27, 2009 by calling 800-346-4451 or by surfing over to peterisland.com.

Holiday Savings in the BVI

Captured on Film

Our photographer Zach and editor at large Bob just returned from a two-week sailing jaunt around the British Virgin Islands ("for work") and they were kind enough to capture some of the trip highlights on video. I took a look at some of the clips this morning, and never mind that most of it is unusable here on the PG site (let's just say the guys had a few rum punches along the way)...there are still quite a few hidden gems among the footage, so stay tuned. I'll be adding new videos to the blog and our new YouTube channel soon!

In the mean time, you can watch full webisodes from our hit Travel Channel show Affordable Caribbean at caribbeantravelmag.com/affordablecaribbean.

Captured on Film

Affordable BVI

In case you missed the latest episode of Affordable Caribbean showcasing one of my personal favorites, the British Virgin Islands, just surf over to the series web site to watch full webisodes like this one for free...

Affordable BVI

Caribbean Escapes to Crave

I just posted the November 2009 feature "Your Heart's Desire" to our Scribd page, and man...what a way to spend a Monday afternoon: gazing at Tulum's picture perfect beaches, drooling over spa treatments at chic resorts on Anguilla and the BVI, and daydreaming of retreats à deux in the Turks & Caicos. It's amazing I can even stay focused long enough to post this blog.

To see what I mean, check out the full feature on Scribd – then let me know: when it comes to Caribbean vacations, what's your heart's desire?

 

Your Heart's Desire: 16 Caribbean Escapes to Crave

Caribbean Escapes to Crave

Affordable Caribbean Updates

The latest episode of our hit TV show Affordable Caribbean is scheduled to air this Saturday at 8 AM EST on the Travel Channel, so stay tuned for insider tips on the best places to stay, eat and save a buck in the British Virgin Islands.

As we mentioned in a previous post, some viewers have reported occasional scheduling issues with their cable providers, so to help we've just created a programming widget on the Affordable Caribbean web site...just enter your zip code and you'll find all of the show's upcoming air times in your area.

Hope you enjoy the next episode, and as always we'd love to hear your feedback here on the blog or on our Facebook fan page!

Affordable Caribbean Updates

Indulge in the BVI

You don't have to hang around our blog for very long to notice that I love the British Virgin Islands. With pristine beaches, non-stop boating action, and some of the best beach bars in the world, the BVI's are my own little slice of Caribbean heaven. And on my list of must-see spots whenever I visit, Peter Island ranks pretty much at the top. Right now, the private island resort is offering a New Us, New You promotion through October 31 that's pretty tough to beat: Just book a five night stay in an ocean view room or beachfront junior suite and you'll only pay for four nights – a savings of 20 percent – plus you'll enjoy an Ayurvedic lifestyle and wellness experience at the spa, which includes a 75-minute treatment for two in the spa's exclusive beachfront couples' suite; a private yoga class for two; and the full American meal plan of breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. The package starts at $2,780 double occupancy for ocean view rooms, or $4,020 for the beachfront junior suites. Just log on to Peter Island's site to book your trip before the end of the month.

Indulge in the BVI

My Own BVI

Last week, I had the chance to vacation in the British Virgin Islands at the height of its transitional season – that ephemeral time of year when the Caribbean's low-season winds down, tourists make their mass exodus back home, and the islands take a moment to breathe and reboot before the surge of high-season travel begins. Stationed in my quiet corner of Virgin Gorda's North Sound all week, an area that all but hibernates for the full month of September, I found myself in the totally unfamiliar position of having more free time than places to go.

While I was in the BVI, I received a ton of emails and messages from friends and even Caribbean Travel + Life readers via our Facebook page asking if I'd made it to this beach or that bar: Willy T's, Bitter End Yacht Club, White Bay, and on and on. And for the most part, no...I didn't hit the usual hot spots on this visit, didn't sip (chug?) a Soggy Dollar painkiller, and didn't leave any of my undergarments behind at Bomba Shack (hey, it's tradition). On that note, I do want to give a special thanks to Tropical Storm Erika for thwarting my long-standing plans to finally check out Bomba's infamous Full Moon Party last Friday. But instead of all the usual, I enjoyed a week of the exceptional; With the throngs of summer vacationers gone, I found myself with seven days, a boat, and a string of spectacular islands and cays all to myself. And other than Erika's 24-hour damper of a visit, I enjoyed sunny skies and blissful weather the whole trip.

So what do you think? Would you trade all of the BVI's celebrated beach bar hopping for a little R&R like I did, or would you rather wait until high season and really turn it up?

My Own BVI

True Confessions of a Travel Junkie

It’s been about a month since I was last in the Caribbean (swanning along Mexico’s Riviera Maya reporting a variety of stories for upcoming issues) and I gotta say, I’m already itching to go back. My carry-on sized toiletries have been replenished, I’ve had the wonky wheel on my rollaboard suitcase replaced, and while it’s been great sleeping in my own bed for the last few weeks, jetting off to somewhere exciting and new sounds pretty good right about now.

Now the only question is, where to go?

Truth is, the decision belongs to our ed-in-chief, Dave, who gives all the editors marching orders according to our (many) individual talents and the magazine’s editorial schedule. I’m not sure where he plans to deploy me next, but on the off chance that he’s reading, here are some of the destinations at the top of my Caribbean wish list:

The British Virgin Islands
I’ve not yet been to this English territory, but I’m dying to experience the pleasure of wending my way through its 60-something isles and islets. I want to swim at The Baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkel off Cooper Island, and drop anchor for a cocktail (or two) at Foxy’s and The Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke. (We’ll be featuring the BVI on an upcoming episode of our Affordable Caribbean TV show, so tune in and see for yourself what makes them so special.)

The Grenadines
One of the first articles I edited when I joined CT+L was a Day Trip (June/July 2007) about a day sail through the Grenadines. Baz Dreisinger’s account of her idyllic voyage from Union Island through the 600-islet chain that runs between St. Vincent and Grenada was instantly captivating, and her description of the Tobago Cays’ ocean floor being tiled with starfish is an image that has stayed with me ever since. Must. Go. Soon.

The Out Islands of the Bahamas
Unlike the rest of the CT+L team, I’m based in sunny South Florida, so you’d think I’d have been to this paradise that’s less than an hour’s flight away a million times, right? Wrong. For years I’ve had a vague idea that I wanted to one day tour the tiny outposts where deserted white- and pink-sand beaches seem to go on forever, but when our online editor Reagan returned and blogged about swimming with pigs off Big Majors Cay in the Exumas, I was sold.

I don’t know if I’ll make it to any of these places anytime soon, but I’m keeping hope alive. (Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, Dave.)

What about you? Which Caribbean destinations are you eyeing for your next trip?

True Confessions of a Travel Junkie

Affordable Luxury in the BVI

I had the chance to escape to Virgin Gorda's luxury all-inclusive Biras Creek Resort recently and I couldn't have had a more indulgent week...gorgeous oceanfront accommodations, quiet walking trails, a secluded private beach, three yummy meals per day and seven long days to relax and take it all in.

But at some point while sipping on a glass of cabernet over a romantic dinner for one, it definitely hit me that it would have been amazing to share the experience with friends and family. That's why the resort's latest promotion caught my attention today. For vacations through August 31, you'll get 50-percent off your second room on minimum three night stays, and you'll still enjoy all of the dining and amenities that come with the full room rate. Rooms start at $700 for a garden suite in low season, so the savings are at least $350 per night.

Just log on to the Biras web site or call 877-883-0756 to book your stay.

Affordable Luxury in the BVI

It Might Be Addiction

It's a balmy 87 degrees on this beautiful BVI morning, but insistent trade winds are sweeping through the palm-fringed beaches and cooling the warm sandy paths that weave throughout Biras Creek. The sun is out, the water is calm, and it's just about the prettiest day I've seen yet during my week here on Virgin Gorda. It's also T-minus 24 hours till the flight that will take me away from this slice of heaven, which all means only one thing for me: Early-onset post-tripum depression. It's my technical term for that unmistakable collection of emotions that follows any truly amazing Caribbean escape...there's the fond reflection on a week well spent, and the sadness of knowing that another travel chapter is coming to a close.

I'm not sure how most people cope with the bittersweet feeling of leaving a tropical paradise, but as a travel addict myself, I find that the only cure is to plan another trip. Immediately. So along with my travel companion and friend Jayanthi from CT+L's sister magazine, Saveur, I've just cooked up a four-day Labor Day vacation right back here in the BVI. Is it wrong to return somewhere familiar when there are still so many new places left to explore? Take a look at some of my snapshots from the week and see for yourself...

It Might Be Addiction

Necker Island: The Good Life

The first of this year's Winemakers Dinners kicked off last night at Necker Island, the private BVI estate of billionaire Virgin magnate Sir Richard Branson. While Branson takes residence on Necker throughout the year, the private island also functions as an ultra-exclusive resort and can be experienced for around $51,000 per night - a price tag that includes accommodations for up to 28 people as well as private chefs, personal butlers and whatever food, wine and activities you can dream up for the day. But even splitting that cost with my closest friends, I stand pretty much zero chance of ever staying on Necker Island on my own dime, so I was thrilled to have the chance to check it out before the dinner yesterday!

I'm no professional photographer, but here are a few snapshots from our day at Necker Island yesterday, in case you don't have the $51,000 saved up just yet either...

Necker Island: The Good Life

BVI Escape

Despite the proximity to my home in Florida, the British Virgin Islands are about a 12-hour expedition by commercial air. I learned this the hard way as I zigzagged my way through four airports, two car shuttles and a ferry yesterday trying to get here. But after the long, delay-ridden travel day, I finally arrived in Tortola last night and hopped a 30-minute charter boat over to my home-away-from-home for the week, Biras Creek Resort - a sprawling luxury resort that unfolds across a narrow strip of land on Virgin Gorda's quiet northeastern side, and is only accessible by boat or helicopter. To say all of my travel stresses melted away when I set foot on the property would be an understatement, if not a cliché. This place is so blissfully peaceful, I really don't even remember having a tedious travel day yesterday. And as an unexpected bonus, my blackberry doesn't seem to work in many spots here either. No work emails - score!

As I found last night while settling into my room, the seclusion of the property isn't the only reason I feel far removed from everything here...at check-in, guests are golf-carted over to their own private villa without any room keys. Out here, no one bothers with door locks. Which is handy because I always lose my keys anyway. And there are no TVs in most of the rooms - one surefire way to disconnect from the world. And of course, there's the fact that my shower is outside - which took a moment of getting used to this morning, but now I'm totally on board with it. What better way to connect with Mother Nature than by showing her what you've got?

And so this afternoon I'm sitting in Biras Creek's hilltop, open-air Arawak lounge for just long enough to score some free wifi - just for a minute! - to post this blog. But you see the jaw-dropping view I'm dealing with right now? It's time to sign off and enjoy it.

BVI Escape

A Week In the BVI: Someone Has To Do It

I'm off to the British Virgin Islands tomorrow to check out the 2009 Winemakers Dinners event - a series of six- and seven-course food and wine pairings prepared by award-winning chefs and winemakers from around the world. I know, it sounds dreadful, right? But I'm a professional, and I'll suffer my way through a week of delicately sampling (i.e. stuffing my face with) gourmet food and vino knowing that proceeds from the event will benefit local charities and organizations like the BVI Red Cross, St. George's School on Tortola, St. Mary's School on Virgin Gorda, and the Youth Empowerment Project on Tortola.

Also while in the islands, I'll be checking out the latest and greatest hotels, restaurants and beach bars, as well as charting a course around all of the best beaches so I can report back here on the blog and update our destination pages with tons of info to help you plan your next trip.

So what do you want to know about the BVI? Let me know your questions here - or on our Facebook page - and I'll get the scoop.


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A Week In the BVI: Someone Has To Do It