Any travel agent worth their salt can provide you with a dream itinerary in the form of an all inclusive vacation package. You tell the travel agent where you want to go and how much money you’re willing to spend. The travel agent takes it from there.

Getting a travel agent is the best you can do for they know their job well. They know what you want and how to give it to you. From the best airfares, to the most reputable hotels, and everything that you could ask for in a vacation.

Shop around for a travel agent with a good track record. If you have friends who have booked their vacation packages with an agent who lived up to the claims, go visit that agent. Look online for travel agents who specialize in the all inclusive vacation packages. Visit travel message boards and chat with other travelers who have used this vacation option. You can pick up valuable leads here.

The all inclusive vacation package covers everything, from airfare to accommodation, right on through to a guided tour to the Colosseum or a scuba diving excursion.

Be sure to check on insurance and eventualities, such as what to do should you find your hotel room is unacceptable or overbooked. While all inclusive vacation packages cost more than self booking, you gain recourse in the event of a snafu. Ask your travel agent just what backup is available should you find yourself stranded. Again, a reputable travel agent has the answers and can handle any problems, should they arise.

Your travel agent won’t let you down and can even give you great ideas and pointers with other details depending on where your destination is.

So, are you ready to party?

When it comes to travel, there are many individuals who only are concerned with how they will get to St. Thomas.

While it is important to know how you will get to the island, you will also need to know what you will do once you arrive there. Even if you are staying at a beach resort that offers a large number of onsite activities, services, and facilities, it is still likely that you will want to get out and see what St. Thomas has to offer.

Before you can do that, you will need to develop a travel plan.

As with many other popular vacation destinations, St. Thomas has a wide range of travel methods. Many of these travel options you can do yourself, but others may require the assistance of others. To determine which method of travel will be best for you while on vacation in St. Thomas, you are encouraged to fully examine each method of travel.

Once you have familiarized yourself the advantages and disadvantage of each, you can make an informed decision.

One of the most popular ways to get around the St. Thomas island is to drive yourself. Since you flew into the area, you will have to arrange a car rental. Car rentals are available all around St. Thomas. When renting a vehicle, you may have to obtain a new auto insurance policy.

This auto insurance policy is only temporarily, but it is needed in St. Thomas. You will find that most United States insurance companies do not cover driving in foreign counties.

The biggest advantage of driving yourself around is that you will have complete freedom with where you can go. Driving is also nice in St. Thomas because of the size of the island.

During your vacation stay, you can easily drive the whole length of the island. You may find this exciting because it may enable you to get a chance to view the whole island.

While driving in St. Thomas is popular, there are many individuals who are uncomfortable driving or they are unable to altogether.

An alternative to driving yourself is taking a bus. Buses departure and arrive at popular vacation destinations in St. Thomas on a daily basis. In addition to transporting vacationers from the airport to their destination, bus route can often take you right into the most popular shopping centers.

For the most part, bus travel is the most cost effective way to travel in St. Thomas.

In addition to taking a bus, it is also possible to travel around the island in a cab. Taxi cabs are a great way to see St. Thomas; however, they can be a costly way to travel. Apparently, in St. Thomas a number of taxi cab drivers do not monitor the distance that they travel.

Unlike taxi cabs in the Untied States, meters are not used. This means that you will need to be careful when taking a cab. It may be best to request the cost of travel before you even step inside the vehicle.

The above mentioned methods of travel are the most popular in St. Thomas; however, they are not the only ways that you can get around. When making travel arrangements, many vacationers do not even consider traveling around St. Thomas by foot or bicycle.

If you are in a popular area of St. Thomas you may find everything you need located close to your hotel or resort.

If this is the case, you may want to consider walking to your destination or renting a bicycle. You can easily rent a bicycle for the day or for your whole stay. Get more on all inclusive cruises that is also helpful.

Whether chose to travel around St. Thomas by foot, bike, bus, taxi cab, or car rental, you are sure to get where you need to go. Each method of travel is effective. The best method for you will all depend on where you want to go and how much you want to pay to travel.

But let’s try to put this into perspective. With over 200 island territories, the Caribbean is actually home to millions of people too! And as a traveler, or even simply as an interested observer, it would be extremely beneficial to understand at least a little of the geography, history, diversity, and economy of the region, as well as what it offers the average tourist. This can only enhance your experience as a visitor.

The Caribbean as a region is defined collectively as the Bahamas and the Antilles. The Antilles are further divided into the Greater Antilles, consisting of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and The Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico; and the Lesser Antilles – essentially all the other smaller islands. Keep in mind that this region encompasses the area stretching from Barbados in the East, Trinidad and Tobago in the South, to the Bahamas in the North and Cuba in the West and everything in between.

You may, sooner or later be faced with a debate as to whether countries with simply a Caribbean coastline, such as Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and others in Central America, should be included in the definition. For the purposes of this article, these will be omitted.

Many of the Caribbean islands’ earliest inhabitants were members of one or other of the two indigenous tribes – the Caribs and the Arawaks (also known as the Tainos). The Arawaks originally inhabited the Leeward and Windward islands (those islands of the Lesser Antilles that lie between Puerto Rico in the North and South America in the South) but in time spread even as far as the Greater Antilles.

The warlike Caribs originated in the South American mainland, and migrated northward throughout the Lesser Antilles, displacing the more peaceful Arawaks in the process. However, it was not until the appearance of the Spaniards much later that the extinction of the Arawaks was made certain. Their demise was accelerated as a result of battles, forced labor, and ultimately disease. There are very few members of these indigenous tribes surviving today. One such place is Trinidad and Tobago, where the local population of people with direct Carib ancestry is said to number in the thousands.

The Spaniards were the first to colonize the area, following the discovery of the West Indies by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Hot on their heels, though, were other Europeans – the Portuguese, English, French, and Dutch. Throw a good measure of piracy into this mix and you’ve got a description of the power-players in the region for the next several hundred years.

Power and control changed hands in the various islands over the years, depending on the desirability of the particular location, and a given nation’s ability to defend it. But except for the few larger members of the Greater Antilles and much smaller French and Dutch territories, it was the English who endured, and their heritage is seen far and wide, especially in the smaller islands.

A notable exception is the South American mainland territory of Guyana (formerly British Guiana), which has been historically associated with the West Indies; other English-speaking countries with a British Commonwealth heritage.

With the growing realization of the economic value of the region as a whole, and the extremely poor results of the attempts to enslave the local tribes, the Europeans eventually turned to the Slave Trade, and this brought the first Africans to the New World. This is the major factor accounting for the population of the region being predominantly of African descent.

Many years later, after the abolishment of slavery, indentured laborers were attracted by the promise of a better life. These more willing workers came from as far away as India, Syria, Lebanon, China, and even included free Africans. As a result of this indentured laborer program, in some territories the number of persons of East Indian descent are almost as numerous as those of African ancestry. Refer to Mako sharks for more information.

Of course, the Europeans – the original landowners and government authorities during colonial times – were far fewer in number. But their widespread influence can be seen in the tell-tale names of streets in the various capital cities throughout the islands and territories of the region.

The Caribbean region’s economies are as varied as the countries themselves. They range from those largely based on subsistence agriculture, farming and fishing, supplemented by revenue derived from Tourism, to the more fully industrialized nations; those for which Tourism is but a revenue ‘bonus’. Regional populations range in size from a high of 11 million plus in Cuba, to tiny islands with populations numbering in the thousands.

Not all territories are independent, and justifiably so. In this age of skyrocketing energy prices and national deficits, full independence is unrealistic for many of the smaller islands. Some benefit immensely and likely would never dream of full independence. Imagine using the Euro in the French island territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe!

For obvious reasons, the smaller the island, the more dependent they are likely to be on Tourism as a significant source of national revenue. Some of the larger islands have also had the benefit of valuable natural resources; most notably Jamaica with Bauxite (used to manufacture Aluminum) and Trinidad and Tobago with significant Natural Gas and Offshore Oil reserves. It is worth noting that Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of just over 1 million manages to supply the United States with some 70 percent of its natural gas requirements!

Cuba can legitimately be viewed as the ’sleeping giant’ of the region. What with a well-educated population of over 11 million, it is likely just a matter of time before they take their rightful place at the lead of the pack.

For years Cuba has been operating on the fringe of acceptability in the Western world. However, many countries in the region and elsewhere in the world have gone to great lengths to include in trade and development plans. As a result of the downfall of the Soviet Union, Cuba has been forced to seek foreign currency other than the Communist subsidy. The outcome has been a thriving Tourist industry, with the Europeans being the main beneficiary.

As a visitor, if you’re interested in the history of the region, your best bet would be the larger islands or territories; those whose history of European occupation is longest. A good example would be the Dominican Republic, where you can see where Columbus first landed on his maiden voyage to the New World in 1492.

However, sanctions aside, if you can make it to Cuba you will not be disappointed by the Spanish architecture in Old Havana. With the Cubans’ understandable economic priorities and pressures, if the ravages of time allow the buildings to survive, this will be a treat for generations of visitors to come.

To be sure, each of the islands and territories has its own place in the history of the region, but simply with a greater or lesser story to tell. The really small islands offer great scenery, mostly great weather in the dry season, and a sheer brilliance in tropical color that is a welcome shock to the senses. And yes, great beaches for you to enjoy. This stuff is so commonplace in the region that local inhabitants take it for granted.

As for nightlife; any resort will necessarily have its fill. However, if you enjoy things ‘closer to the edge’, the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is hard to beat. This occurs officially on the Monday and Tuesday just prior to Ash Wednesday.

Wherever your summer vacation takes you, do not forget to bring the sunscreen and your sense of adventure.

Popular sports when visiting the Caribbean include Shark cage diving which is a must for tourists to experience.

But if you truly want to experience the Caribbean and all it has to offer, the absolute best advice is to befriend one or more local families. That is when you will experience true Caribbean hospitality. And a better ‘tour guide’ you will never find.

Swaying Palms
One example of these exciting opportunities is the Swaying Palms resort being developed in the Dominican Republic.

Swaying Palms is situated in the exclusive Punta Cana area a hot spot for top quality Dominican Republic property resorts and is therefore set to become its premier residential resort providing investors unrivalled owner benefits, excellent capital appreciation and very strong rental demand all year round.

The architectural design is of the finest quality, strategically and thoughtfully planned and all built to European standards with imported German bathrooms and Italian kitchens.

Property in Dominican Republic is very attractive as the island is perfectly situated in the heart of the Caribbean and is a mostly undiscovered tropical paradise and now increasing in popularity. As a result the property prices are set to rise and rental potential will rise in line with the country’s ever-growing popularity.

Swaying Palms offers a holiday home with state-of-the-art facilities, several recreational, sports and dining zones for the enjoyment and convenience of the residents and guests, all surrounded within a stunning location.

Resort facilities

24 Hour Security in a gated community allows complete peace of mind

Clubhouse with Bar, Administration and Sales Office
On-site Bavaro-Punta Cana Tennis Club

2 supervised children’s areas

Total of sixteen swimming pools on site

Very large tropical gardens

Regular Gazebo areas ideal for family and friends to enjoy alfresco dining

On-site Wi-Fi Facilities

Satellite and cable TV

The resort will offer a superb and relaxed lifestyle combining Beach, Golf and Shopping. Swaying Palms is an excellent investment opportunity that will offer both a fun leisure experience and well as good potential financial returns.

Grenada has very good infrastructure and strong government targets showing a clear path to generate an upmarket tourism destination with top quality Grenada property resorts for residential and tourist guests.

To ensure Grenada remains a high quality destination, the government are using lessons learnt by other islands in the Caribbean and employing careful planning restrictions to ensure the properties are low rise, low density but not over-supplied.

Capital growth is currently predicted at 10% annually over the medium term. Mainly due to the currently low amount of quality accommodation ensuring high levels of demand for both holiday home buyers and property investors pushing up prices and yields in this sector.

Bacolet Bay Beach & Spa Resort
Bacolet Bay is set in a luxurious oasis surrounded by spectacular views of the sea, sand and rainforest.

Bacolet Bay will provide 5 star lifestyle and state-of-the-art facilities in a spectacular location, as well as an a very attractive investment opportunity.

This luxurious, low density resort offers a mix of apartments, villas and hotel cottages situated across 41 acres of tropical gardens.

Bacolet Bay Facilities include:

The management of the Resort will be world class

Bars – located all around the resort

The restaurants will offer top quality cuisine from local Creole cooking to international 5-star A La Carte menus and wine

The Spa & Gym will be the perfect place to exercise and relax

The resort will even have its own Wedding Chapel a perfect location for the most important day of your life

Swimming pools with beach club area

Tennis Courts

Conference facilities are available

there is a private beach for guests and residents to relax and enjoy

Location
There are few locations on the planet that can surpass the setting and views offered by Bacolet Bay.

This perfect location, outside the hurricane belt and is set in the private bay setting with fantastic views of the warm seas with white sandy beaches on a green lush tropical background and mountains.

The airport is only 20 minutes away with a number of flight operators flying to Grenada’s Point Salines International Airport.

The resort will leave you wanting for nothing more during your stay.

This Caribbean development is an excellent overseas investment property opportunity for both lifestyle enjoyment and financial returns. Bacolot Bay is situated on one of the less development islands in the Caribbean with a shortage of good quality accommodation in the region therefore the development is well positioned to benefit from both rental returns and capital gains.

The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica stretches 212 km from its border north with Nicaragua south to Panama, and is home to some of the most gorgeous national parks in the country. Cahuita National Park is located between Cahuita and Puerto Vargas, Tortuguero National Park in the Northern Caribbean, and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is located between the towns of Manzanillo and Gandoca. The area offers something for everyone – be it adventure, nature, or just the laid-back living of the Caribbean towns and the beaches.

Downtown Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo , located just south of Cahuita, boasts a rich, Afro-Caribbean influence. The vibrant town is home to people from all over the globe, and has an excellent choice of both local and international cuisine, gift shops, nightclubs and art galleries. The majority of people opt for bicycles as their main form of transportation. As the sun sets, the sound of reggae, calypso and reggeaton can be heard as the locals gather in small groups to enjoy a drink, conversation or even a game of dominoes outside of one of the liquor stores or bars.

The beaches to the south of Puerto Viejo are some of the best in the country, with Playa Cocles offering the only lifeguard tower on the coast – marking the safe areas to swim with green flags. The beach is also known as Beach Break, and has a good, consistent surf – perfect for surf lessons. A few kilometers down from Cocles is Playa Chiquita, which has many natural pools on secluded beaches protecting you from the currents. It is ideal for families and is home to a sizable expat community. Punta Uva is arguably the most gorgeous beach on the coast, if not the country, and has become very popular with the scuba diving world and with snorkelers exploring the various species of coral and fish found on the reef. The town at the end of the road is Manzanillo – a small Caribbean fishing village which lies at the entrance of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.

Adventure on the Caribbean

White water rafting on the Río Pacuare is an adventurer’s dream, with its class II-IV rapids and picturesque setting, surrounded by the thick, primary forest. The Río Pacuare is located half way between San Jose and Puerto Viejo in a town called Siquirres, and makes a great stop on your way to the Caribbean coast. The raft company offers transportation to and from the South Caribbean, San Jose and La Fortuna (Arenal).

The Canopy Tour is located just outside of Puerto Viejo in Bribri, stretching over 2560 meters of cable and is made up of 9 aerial platforms and 14 land platforms – with the most spectacular cable stretching 285 meters at a 80 meters altitude.

For sightseeing, you can enjoy a quad tour through the forested mountains of Talamanca as you maneuver over the natural terrain of the area towards the Río Carbón, where you can relax in the natural pools before making our way to the indigenous reserve.

Rio la Estrella Kayaking and Sloth Sanctuary is a combination of adventure and learning as you kayak through the class I rapids, surrounded by rain forest before visiting the Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary to learn about the recovery project and interact with the sloths.

Whitewater Rafting Costa Rica

Nature in the Caribbean

The lagoons of Tortuguero, mangroves of Gandoca, the mountains of Talamanca, waterfalls and the hundreds of species of marine and wildlife make this area of Cost Rica a paradise for nature lovers.

Overnight trips to Tortuguero leave daily from San Jose, La Fortuna and the South Caribbean and is the best area in Costa Rica to encounter wildlife due to its remote location the rain forest has been left untouched.
white faced capuchin

It is necessary to use a guide to snorkel in the Cahuita National Park. The law was enforced to stop people from damaging the reef and to protect the fragile coral. The reef is the largest on the Caribbean coast and marine life is plentiful. The park is full of wildlife along the well manicured trails. Some of the most visible are the white faced capuchins and the howler monkeys. A great way to see both sections of the park is to take the Snorkel and Hike Tour which involves a twenty minute boat ride to the reef, one hour of snorkeling and a hike from the point of Cahuita to the town of Cahuita.

The hike in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is a little more adventurous. The trail has been well kept and flows up and down the terrain between the lookout points, then down to secluded beaches and then into the deep jungle as the trail follows the coast down towards Gandoca. The Bushmaster, our local Bronze Badge guide, leads a guided hike daily, explaining the flora and fauna you pass along the trail, and educating you on the various forms of wildlife and their habitat.

To get to the lagoon and the only mangrove on the coast, you can take a boat down to the Gandoca Lagoon from Manzanillo, where we take out the kayaks and paddle through the lagoon and its estuaries, observing nature and its most wild eco-system.
Costa Rica Transportation

Puerto Viejo Costa Rica
Costa Rica Accommodations
Get yourself a luxury vacation home.

When selecting a cruise ship to vacation on, you will want to examine where that ship will be going. Almost all vacation cruises, in the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean offer stops at various ports along the way. These stops are often referred to by the cruise ship industry as ports of call. With cruise ships operating all around the world, you may be wondering which ports of call are the best.

If you are taking a Caribbean cruise, you will want to look for cruises that make a stop in St. Thomas.A St Thomas vacations spots is located in the Virgin Islands. This Caribbean island is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. St. Thomas is most famous for its beautiful, relaxing, and tropical beaches. Whether you are on a family cruise or a romantic cruise, you may find enjoyment aboard a cruise ship that docks in St. Thomas.

When selecting a cruise ship that offers a stop in St. Thomas, you are also encouraged to determine how long you will be there. Each cruise ship is likely to vary. To determine the exact amount of time, you are encouraged to closely examine the cruise ships that you are mostly likely to make reservations for. The amount of time you will spend in St. Thomas is important because it will determine what you will be able to do and see.

If you find a cruise ship that docks in St. Thomas for an extended period of time, you may want to considered familiarizing yourself with everything that St. Thomas to offer. The island is full of activities, services, and facilities that are designed for individuals of all ages. In fact, you will find so much in St. Thomas that it is likely that you will not have time to do everything that you want to do.

To familiarize yourself with the island of St. Thomas, you can easily find information online. A large number of travel websites offer ideas and activities that could be completed while staying in St. Thomas. You may find that many of these activities are rated by past vacationers. Viewing feedback from previously vacationers is one of the best ways to narrow down your choices. In away, feedback will provide you insight as to which places and activities are worth your time.

In addition to researching St Thomas island vacations online, you should be able to obtain more information for your local travel agent. Many travel agents have St. Thomas travel brochures or vacations packets. If your local travel agent does not have brochures on visiting St. Thomas, they should be able to order them for your or give you instructions on how to order your own.

When researching St. Thomas and all that the island has to offer, it is likely you will see that there are an unlimited number of on and offshore activities for tourists. Popular activities include swimming, boating, horseback riding, sunbathing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The foresaid activities are just a few of the many that can be found on the island. Whether you prefer the water, the sand, or dry land, you will always find something for you to do in St. Thomas.