Close User Name Password
Login Register
Travel alerts straight to your inbox:
 

Tag: Caribbean Travel View All Tags

Tags: / / / / / / /

A Beach, A Banana, And A Flight From Britain: Plane Spotting In St. Lucia

November 5, 2009 at 5:44 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Seeing as how it's been a little bit since last we focused on the lovely pastime of plane spotting, we decided to turn our recent Saint Lucia island experience into some useful (not to mention scenic) plane spotting advice for when you too are on the island.

Whether you're heading down on the new Jetblue flight from New York-JFK like we did, or coming all the way from London-Gatwick on the direct Virgin Atlantic flight, you'll want to get a load of the air traffic that sporadically makes its way into St. Lucia's Hewanorra airport at the very southernmost tip of the island, and here's how...

more ›

Tags: / / / / / / / / /

WestJet Launches Cuba And St. Maarten, Non-Stops Away From Canadian Winter

November 3, 2009 at 4:54 PM | by Omri | 0 Comments

Starting from last Sunday, Toronto travelers in search of warmth have had two new options courtesy of Canadian low cost carrier WestJet. Last week the airline announced they were launching nonstops to Varadero, Cuba and St Maarten, and the first flights duly took off over the weekend.

The company issued separate press releases for the St Maarten and Cuba routes, each identical except for the obviously made up location-specific quotes from Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Planning. That doesn't make WestJet's announcement any less exciting. It just kind of made us giggle.

Both new routes have flights three times per week, and both last only until April 29, 2010. Presumably that's the date they expect Toronto to thaw, with all the consequences for demand that would portend. They're promising more "sun destination" announcements in the coming days though, so maybe those will last past the winter months.

more ›

Tags: / / / / / / / /

Investigating The Sexually Suggestive Plant Life Of Saint Lucia

October 29, 2009 at 9:29 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

In case you haven't yet noticed from our last few stories, we're kind of stuck on a tropical island right now. You see, the inaugural Jetblue flight to the island dropped us off here back on Monday, and it won't return until later today, since they're only running flights between JFK and St. Lucia's UVF airport on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

With the time we've had on this lush island, we've done what any castaway would: stare at the horizon and space out, go barefoot, snoop around an active volcano, and befriend the locals. But yesterday's trekking not only had us foraging for food—fresh soursap or blackcurrant cheesecake, anyone?—but also we began to take notice of exactly how lush the foliage, fruit and flowers are...and how suggestive.

Mother Nature has a dirty mind down here...The Top Three Sexually Suggestive Plants Of Saint Lucia are after the jump. It's a weird idea, we know, but just wait until you see number one!

more ›

Tags: / / / / / / / / /

How To Scuba Free And Easy In Saint Lucia

October 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

Now that all the hubbub surround Jetblue's inaugural flight to Saint Lucia is over, we're free to focus on the important things, like getting on the beach and into the warm Caribbean waters, and that's exactly what we did yesterday afternoon during a scuba dive at the northern tip of the island, from the Cariblue Beach at the BodyHoliday LeSPORT resort.

It's weird to think that we've been diving for over 11 years now, and yet we learn new things each time we let out all the air and sink beneath the surface. And so for all you seasoned and wannabe divers, we'll let you in on a few things you've just got to know about diving here in the southern Caribbean, but specifically Saint Lucia because duh—we've got the recent firsthand experience.

Our top tips for free and easy SCUBA in Saint Lucia, after the jump.

more ›

Tags: / / / / /

Saint Lucia's Skies Got A Little Jetbluer, And We Were On Board

October 27, 2009 at 9:39 AM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

Yesterday morning while the majority of New York still slumbered soundly in their beds, we were already swilling coffee at Jetblue's Terminal 5 at JFK, prepping for the LCC's inaugural flight to the Southern Caribbean island paradise of Saint Lucia.

As we already said (in a story published from the airport at 6:30am), the beginning of Jetblue flights is a huge deal for both the airline and the island. In the past, airlines like American and Delta owned these routes and as a result, could charge through the nose for them. Those planes might also still land at Saint Lucia's Hewanorra Airport (UVF), but their passengers are paying more for the flights and not getting the seatback TVs, unlimited free snacks, and je ne sais quoi that Jetblue brings to the party. Oh, and did we mention that the Jetblue flight arrives before the others? Yea, so we felt a little superior going through passport control yesterday.

Full photo gallery after the jump!

more ›

Tags: / / / / / /

Live From Jetblue's Inaugural Flight To St. Lucia

Where: JFK International Airport [map], New York, NY, United States
October 26, 2009 at 6:31 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Good morning! We're coming at you live from Terminal 5 at JFK International Airport, where Jetblue's inaugural direct flight to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia is about to take off...with us on board. And aww—they got us a cake!

You may have already noticed, but we love us some first flights, and so we'll be bringing you all the details from this game-changing flight.

And how is it game-changing, you ask? Well, in two ways: it's a triumph for an LCC like Jetblue to take this route usually owned by legacy carriers like American, but also because it means a huge influx of American (and New Yorker) visitors to the island of St. Lucia, which up until now has been the paradise of mainly British and French travelers.

Oh, and St. Lucia flights one-way will be on sale for $129. Since the pricing is way cheaper than American has been charging to date, can we expect a fare ware on this route? Probably.

more ›

Tags: / / / / /

It's Crab Racing Season in the Caribbean

October 24, 2009 at 12:50 PM | by Victor Ozols | 2 Comments

True story: in 1979, I went on a vacation with my parents and sister to the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, and our timing couldn't have been worse. The day after we landed, Hurricane Frederic began lashing the island with rain, and we spent three long, boring days playing charades in our darkened hotel room as water leaked from the ceiling. By the time the storm had passed, our vacation was over, and we made arrangements to fly back home. A rush of people doing the exact same thing, however, necessitated one more night in a hotel near the airport, and while killing time there I noticed a sign advertising crab races at a certain time and place in the hotel. My eight-year-old mind thought that nothing could be cooler than a crab race, and I insisted that we all gather to witness the spectacle. Sadly, the appointed time came and went with nary a crab in sight. The hurricane had ruined the last hope I had to have fun in St. Maarten.

more ›

Tags: / / /

Barbados Tries To Sell You On Its Five Big Festivals For 2010

Where: Barbados
October 22, 2009 at 12:45 PM | by Jennifer Kester | 0 Comments


The Crop Over Festival is a non-stop party that lasts for almost two months.

As the year comes to a close and you start thinking about vacations for 2010, the Barbados Tourism Authority wants travelers to know that Barbados isn't just a Caribbean beach destination. Sure, the sand and ocean make for sexy scenery, but the island doesn't want to rest on its beauty. The Tourism Authority released a schedule of events for '10 to show it's got some substance, or at least some cool festivals and events.

Check out some of the upcoming year's highlights after the jump.

more ›

Tags: / / / / /

Haiti Welcomes Bill Clinton, But Is It Ready To Welcome Hordes Of Tourists?

October 5, 2009 at 2:00 PM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

Last time we tried to visit Haiti, we were turned around on account of safety concerns surrounding a presidential election in the country, and it probably doesn't help that a friend's entire family fled the country years ago. These are the type of negative views on Haiti that former president Bill Clinton seeks to reverse in his position as a special envoy to Haiti. He made another visit to the struggling country and specifically addressed the need for tourism. So, are you ready to head to Port-au-Prince for a weekend away? But what we really should be asking is if Haiti is ready for you.

In his goodwill trip to encourage tourism, Clinton didn't exactly take the most tourist-friendly route:

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Roman Abramovitch Lives The Perfect Vacation On A $90 Million Dollar Chunk Of St. Bart's

Where: St. Barts
September 22, 2009 at 11:43 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Why is it that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich consistently steals our hopes and dreams and lives them out? The man purchased a $500 million property in the south of France, built himself two mega-yachts with innovative anti-pirate defenses, and he's even got another yacht on the way. That's why, with all these playthings already and the fact there's not enough time in a year to enjoy them, we're a bit miffed that he would go snatch up a prime chunk of the ritzy Caribbean island of St. Barts for himself.

Roman bought the 70-acre property, with a full beach and Balinese bungalows, for a cool $90 million. If he only spent one weekend in one of his two Colorado ski-in, ski-out properties (um, in July) last year, then when will he find the time to vacation in the Caribbean? Perhaps it's just a parking space for his three-plus boats?

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Caribbean Airlines Hires Hotties To Build Their Brand

September 17, 2009 at 8:48 AM | by kjb | 0 Comments

When we think of heading down to the islands of the Caribbean, we usually look for cheap airfare on a low cost carrier or one of the country’s big boy airlines. For whatever reason, Caribbean Airlines never seems to be an option, nor do we even give the airline a second thought. Maybe that’s why the marketing gurus at the airline got together to give their company a fighting chance against all the competition.

The airline launched a contest to find 30 people to show off the spirit of the airline, the islands, and all things paradise. Apparently, they want you to feel on vacation as soon as you step aboard the plane—doubtful. These new brand ambassadors are made up of 20 good looking ladies and 10 handsome fellas, and will be out and about promoting the company that signs their paychecks. The Faces of Caribbean Airlines will make their first debut at Miami Carnival on October 10—probably in skimpy clothing.

more ›

Tags: / / / /

Hurricane Bill Huffs And Puffs, But Doesn't Blow Much Down

August 24, 2009 at 8:37 AM | by kjb | 0 Comments

We were finishing off some time on the Outer Banks of North Carolina when Hurricane Bill decided to blow by the beaches these last few days. Although it definitely stirred things up and limited our sun intake over the weekend, we didn’t see any direct damage overall. However, we did notice some lifeguards downing a couple cheeseburgers now that the no swimming flags were doing their jobs for them.

A trip into the waves on Thursday evening off Cape Hatteras resulted in an immediate face plant into the sand. Friday brought out the riptide warnings and the surfers, and by Saturday we knew better than to venture out into the water. We didn't have our tape measures with us, but we'd say the waves approached ten feet. Instead we spent most of the afternoon on the land, perusing shops perfectly suited for grandparents.

more ›