Tag: Island Travel

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Enjoying the 333 Islands of Fiji: How to Get There

Where: Fiji
March 25, 2013 at 11:16 AM | by | Comments (0)

Last week, we dished on Air Pacific's brand new airplane, new look as Fiji Airways, and even mentioned how to test out the fresh bird.

Just the thought of Fiji seems exotic, pretty far away, and difficult to get to. Exotic, yes. Far away, sure. Hard to get to, not at all. With major airline routes and cruise ship itineraries, you too can set your watches to Fiji-time soon. If you just can't wait and feel the need to wiggle your toes in the sand while enjoying a sunset like the one above, here are our recommendations to get yourself to the middle of paradise:

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How To Get Tickets To The St. Croix Food & Wine Experience

March 19, 2013 at 2:53 PM | by | Comments (0)

The annual St. Croix Food & Wine Experience recently announced its line-up for 2013, including several events hosted by celebrity chefs and wine makers.

Taking place between April 14-20, 2013, the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience raises funds to support the educational, community, and economic development programs of the St. Croix Foundation.

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Wish You Were Here: The 333 Islands of Fiji

Where: Fiji
March 18, 2013 at 2:32 PM | by | Comments (0)

You guys, we're in Fiji! Yes, the islands in the South Pacific which are home to some of the happiest people on earth, according to a Gallup poll and the islands' official slogan ("where happiness finds you").

We've been here for a few days, and we're kinda getting into that overwhelming positivity despite our cynical city selves. Surrounded with lush tropical surrounds and warm weather, beautiful views and the sound of the ocean, you can't blame anyone for loving life and enjoying every second. We might be drinking Kool-aid Fiji water, but we think this place is pretty magical.

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Hawaii, Duh.

March 12, 2013 at 10:36 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

You’ve always dreamed about heading to Hawaii. It’s been close to happening a couple of times, but we know how it is—something else has always gets in the way. Well thankfully you just got a decent tax refund—the internet says the average should be around $2800—so we say it’s time to head off to the paradise.

It’s not as expensive as you might think, but it is far away. At least that’s the case for those of you heading to the Aloha State from the eastern side of North America. Thankfully the new nonstop flight between New York-JFK and Honolulu from Hawaiian Airlines has made things seem a little bit closer, and the new nonstop service has added a little bit of competition to that market.

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Where to Go with Your Tax Refund: The Eastern Caribbean

March 5, 2013 at 9:27 PM | by | Comment (1)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

Newsflash. This is actually the best time to take a Caribbean cruise. It's not the holidays (with their premium prices), nor is it hurricane season. A ship is not a Florida beach full of spring breakers, and the temperatures are just right for tanning and swimming without sweating your face off.

Our mind immediately jumps to the newest ship plying the waves, the Celebrity Reflection. We've been on it ourselves and we recently spotted it pulling into St. Maarten, another destination that's definitely tops for a Tax Refund Vacation.

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Making a Weekend on St. Maarten Happen: What To Do

February 28, 2013 at 5:28 PM | by | Comments (0)

Wondering when is the right time to jet down for a long weekend on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten? Right now, that's when. We did it and you can too, easily. All this week we'll be sharing the details on making the dream of sunning, sipping cocktails and spotting St. Maarten's notoriously low-flying planes a reality.

Everyone knows Maho Beach, where the airplanes land within a few hundred feet of the SPF-slathered bodies of gawking tourists, but there's more to St. Maarten than that. Rest assured that we'll bring you an entire guide to making the most of Maho tomorrow, but we can't forget the food and frolicking of other nooks of the island.

Here's four long weekend activities on St. Maarten (aside from plane spotting):

Clothing optional sunbathing

Look, St. Maarten is a tropical island split into French and Dutch sides, so prude land this is not. The most famous of the "clothing optional" beaches is Orient Bay, though it's quite a long drive which can be a challenge if you're only planning to spend a long weekend on St. Maarten. Still, the is very welcoming for ladies who prefer to tan au naturale, and Maho Beach's Sunset Bar & Grill famously lets topless ladies drink for free.

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Making a Weekend on St. Maarten Happen: Where to Stay

February 26, 2013 at 6:48 PM | by | Comments (0)


One of the Sonesta's two pools has this awesome view of Maho beach & the end of the runway

Wondering when is the right time to jet down for a long weekend on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten? Right now, that's when. We did it and you can too, easily. All this week we'll be sharing the details on making the dream of sunning, sipping cocktails and spotting St. Maarten's notoriously low-flying planes a reality.

We're going to give it to you straight: the toughest bit of a planning travel to St. Maarten is figuring out a hotel that won't break the bank and isn't too far away from the good plane spotting at Maho Beach. The high season of winter takes hotels near sold-out levels, prime properties that look like hotels are actually condos or time-shares, and the island doesn't have an abundance of nice hotels as it is.

All that being said, there are a few to consider:

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Making a Weekend on St. Maarten Happen: How to Get There

February 25, 2013 at 11:38 AM | by | Comments (0)

Wondering when is the right time to jet down for a long weekend on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten? Right now, that's when. We did it and you can too, easily. All this week we'll be sharing the details on making the dream of sunning, sipping cocktails and spotting St. Maarten's notoriously low-flying planes a reality.

First off, you gotta get to St. Maarten. It's an island, by the way, so access options are limited to air and sea. Believe it or not, a nonstop flight from the US east coast to St. Maarten takes just over four hours; that's less than flying coast-to-coast and just a little less than going to Ireland. We know where we'd rather be.

For your reference, here's the Four Ways to Reach St. Maarten:

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Snap a Plane Photo That's Not so Plain, and Win $2,500

February 18, 2013 at 9:09 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you happen to be traveling to the Caribbean island of St. Maarten near the end of March from the 18th to the 23rd, you might be able to earn some cash from all the pictures you'll be snapping. $2,500, to be exact.

We've told you before about the infamous Maho Beach at Princess Juliana Airport—perhaps the most intimate airport in the world for those who aren't catching a flight. The St. Maarten Tourist Office is hosting an aviation photography contest for both amateurs and professionals to see who can capture the best "aviation action" over the island. First place will win $2,500, and judges will select six photos to be put on display in the arrival hall at Princess Juliana.

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Wish You Were Here: Plane Spotting at Maho Beach, St. Maarten

February 5, 2013 at 8:46 PM | by | Comments (0)


Tease! A group of guys in town from a cruise ship pose before an American flight from MIA zips into SXM

A huge hello from the Dutch/French Caribbean island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, perhaps better known as aviation geek paradise. Taking a little of our own sage advice, we pounced on one of the 80% off JetBlue #NYCFlightWeek airfare specials released last week, to find ourselves now transported 3.5 flying hours south of New York City. It may be 34 degrees on the East Coast, but it's 84 where we stand—which just happens to be right underneath arriving aircraft, at the famous planespotting destination of Maho Beach.

Joining us on Maho Beach? Oh, just about 1,000 others on this extremely busy day. We'd say about 90% are here for the adrenaline rush of having a Boeing 747 charge you straight-on, only to zoom some 100 feet overhead as it lands at the island's Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM).

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Hop an Airbus A380 for a One-Time-Only Flight to Mauritius

Where: Mauritius
January 22, 2013 at 10:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you’re feeling a little chilly this week may we suggest catching a flight to somewhere warmer? Forget Florida and cancel the Caribbean, as we’re all about heading over to Mauritius. Sure, it's on the other side of the world, but thanks to a special flight from Emirates things just got a little more convenient—and spacious.

Emirates already does the flying fun back and forth between Mauritius and Dubai, but they’re upgrading the aircraft flying to the island nation for one day, to celebrate the spot’s 45th anniversary of independence.

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Why St. Maarten's Island Airport is Only Getting Larger and Awesomer

January 21, 2013 at 2:37 PM | by | Comments (0)

SXM. It's an airport code every avid traveler should know because it's more than just an airport; it's a kickass, bucketlist destination on its own.

SXM is Princess Juliana International Airport on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten, aka the one that's split between Dutch (St. Maarten) and French (St. Martin) and aka the one that has what is arguably the best up-close plane spotting in the world. Photos and videos of the extremely low over-beach landings at St. Maarten are almost a YouTube genre in themselves.

While SXM has been a hotspot for plane spotting, island hopping and nude beaching (that last one on the French side!) for decades, it only got a modern terminal back in 2006. Now the airport will update to the tune of $132 million, which is roughly equivalent to half the draft budget of the entire St. Maarten government. So yeah, it's kind of a big deal.

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