Caribbean
Getaways: When to Go? by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Considering a romantic getaway, honeymoon
or destination wedding in the Caribbean? After selecting your island, the
question most on your mind is when to travel.
PRICE
The Caribbean offers plenty of fun
in the sun year around, with very little difference in temperature from
month to month. The time of year you travel may have more to do with your
budget than with the weather. Prices can vary as much as 40 percent between
high and low season.
High season usually runs from December
15 through April 15. During this time, prices peak and rooms can be difficult
to reserve (especially during the holiday season). Prices soar during Christmas
week. After the holidays, package prices (although sometimes not room rates)
drop during January. They rise again by February and remain high until
mid-April.
Low season covers the summer and
early fall months, for two reasons. First, these are the warmest months
in the northeast section of the US, the area from which travelers often
flee to the sunny Caribbean during the chilly winter months. Second, this
is hurricane season.
HURRICANES
Mention the Caribbean and weather
in the same sentence, and one concern quickly arises: hurricanes. These
deadly storms officially threaten from June through November, although
the greatest danger is during the later months, basically August through
October. (September is usually the worst month.)
Keep in mind, however, that the Caribbean
is a large region. We've been in the Western Caribbean when storms were
picking up force in the eastern reaches and never felt a gust of wind or
saw a wave over ankle high.
To minimize the chances of a hurricane
ruining or postponing your trip, plan a vacation outside the hurricane
season or outside the hurricane zone. In the far southern reaches, the
islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (also known as the ABC islands)
and Trinidad and Tobago are below the hurricane zone and should be safer
bets during the summer and fall months.
You'll also find that some resorts
offer weather guarantees. At the Jamaica resorts operated by SuperClubs,
for example, you're guaranteed sunshine every day. No sun? You'll get a
credit voucher for the value of that day, good for one year on your next
SuperClubs stay. And, if a hurricane hits the resort, you'll be reimbursed
for the disrupted nights and also get a voucher for a future stay for the
same number of disrupted nights for use during the same month the following
year.
Except for the hurricane season,
weather in the Caribbean is a wonderfully monotonous topic. (In Papiamento,
the language of the Dutch islands, there is no word for weather. It's almost
always perfect, so why waste a word?) Seas are warm enough for comfortable
swimming year around.
If budget is not your prime consideration,
then when's the best time to go to the Caribbean? Anytime!
Husband and wife team Paris Permenter
and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit the FREE
Lovetripper.com,
a romantic travel magazine featuring worldwide destinations.
Copyright Paris Permenter and
John Bigley
Caribbean
Villas Made for Two by Paris Permenter and John Bigley,
editors of Lovetripper.com
For some couples, the idea of real
island romance is a private villa, without other guests. Just the two of
you -- alone, except for the occasional visit by a cook or maid who is
there to meet your special requests, to introduce you to island cuisine,
and to make you feel pampered in what really is your home away from home.
St. John, St. Thomas, Jamaica, and Barbados are especially popular islands
for villa rentals.
Villas vary in price, services, and
level of luxury. Before you make a commitment, check:
-
maid service. Many villas offer maid
service before your arrival and after your departure; additional cleaning
can be arranged for a surcharge. At other properties, you may have daily
maid service. Check with your villa management company.
-
groceries. Can you send a deposit for
groceries and have a cook stock up before your arrival? Finding a refrigerator
and cabinets ready with your favorites can be a big boost after a long
flight.
-
cook service. Many villas can arrange
for cook service as you choose: three meals a day, dinner only, or just
one special meal. In Jamaica, villas typically include cook service. Check
your options.
-
air conditioning. Don't assume your
villa is air conditioned; ever-present trade winds make this an optional
feature. If it's more of a necessity than an option to you, inquire.
-
car rental. Many villas are located
away from the resort areas. See if you should rent a car to avoid pricey
taxi rides for long hauls.
-
minimum stay. Unlike hotel minimums
of three nights, villas often require a minimum seven night rental.
Many resorts also offer villa rentals.
These homes are located on the resort property and guests enjoy the security
and services of the resort while at the same time having the space and
facilities of a villa home. Some resorts that include villa homes are Peter
Island, Four Seasons Nevis, Jumby Bay, and Bitter End Yacht Club in the
British Virgin Islands.
Husband and wife team Paris Permenter
and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit the FREE
Lovetripper.com
<A
HREF="http://www.lovetripper.com/">, a romantic travel magazine featuring
worldwide destinations.
Copyright Paris Permenter and
John Bigley
Caribbean
Wedding Requirements
by the editors of Lovetripper.com
Thinking of making your walk down
the aisle a walk down the isle? It is becoming increasingly easy on many
islands to tie the knot and start your honeymoon on your wedding. Here's
a quick look at the marriage requirements on several islands that are tops
with couples.
Anguilla: Two day waiting period,
$284 fee. No blood test.
Antigua and Barbuda: One day waiting
period; $240 for wedding license. No blood test.
Bahamas: 24-hour residency requirement;
$40 for marriage license. No blood test.
Barbados: no residency requirement;
fee of $62.50. No blood test.
Bermuda: no residency requirement;
fee of US$205. No blood test.
British Virgin Islands: Three day
waiting period; $110 for marriage license plus fee of $35 to be married
in Registar's office, $100 to be married outside the office. No blood test.
Cayman Islands: No waiting period;
$200 for marriage license. No blood test.
Curaçao: Three-day residency.
$167 for marriage license. No blood test.
Dominican Republic: No residency
period; $20 for marriage license. Couples must write the American Consulate
in Santo Domingo in advance of intended wedding date asking permission
to marry in a civil ceremony. All documents must be translated into Spanish.
No blood test.
Jamaica: 24 hour residency; $54 for
marriage license. No blood test.
Puerto Rico: No residency; $2 stamp
fee for copy of license. A VDRL blood test no older than 10 days prior
to the wedding is required.
St. Barts: 1 person in couple must
be resident for 30 days; no fee. Blood test required.
St. Kitts and Nevis: 2 day residency;
$80 for marriage license. No blood test.
St. Lucia: 2 days residency and 2
days for license; $198 for marriage license. No blood test.
St. Martin: 1 person in couple must
be resident for 30 days; no fee. Blood test required.
Sint Maarten: 10 days before the
ceremony couples must register at the Office of Civil Registry. Fee $152.
No blood test.
Trinidad and Tobago: Three day residency;
$55 fee. No blood test.
Turks and Caicos: 2-3 day residency;
cost $50. No blood test.
USVI: Must wait eight days from receipt
of notarized application, but the couple does not need to be on island
during this time. $50 for marriage license; $200 fee to be married in the
court by a judge. No blood test.
Husband and wife team Paris Permenter
and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit the FREE
Lovetripper.com
<A
HREF="http://www.lovetripper.com/">, a romantic travel magazine featuring
worldwide destinations.
10
Top Romantic Spots in the Caribbean by Paris Permenter & John
Bigley,
Editors of Lovetripper.com
Looking for a way to heat up your
romance? The answer just might lie in the sunny Caribbean, a destination
filled with enough sun and sand to put the sizzle into every lovelife.
You'll find the islands dotted with romantic resorts but when it's time
to get out and do a little sightseeing, where are the best places for lovers
to explore? Here are some favorites with romantic-minded travelers:
Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens,
St. Lucia. Blooming with tropical splendor, garden trails lead to the
Diamond Waterfalls, a cascade that leaves a spray of "diamond" twinkles
in the air. If you stop by on a Sunday, you can also enjoy a soak in the
mineral baths originally built by French King Louis XVI for use by his
troops.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British
Virgin Islands. This beach is littered with massive granite boulders
as smooth as riverbed stones. They form shadowy caves perfect for a clandestine
kiss.
Y.S. Falls, Jamaica. Although
the north coast's Dunns' River Falls is far more visited, these secluded
falls offer couples a much quieter paradise. Cascading in steps through
tropical forest, the falls can be climbed with the help of a guide then
swimmers can enjoy clear waters under a canopy of ferns.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Dotted with historic sites and rich with the atmosphere of Spanish conquistadors,
here couples can stroll hand-in-hand where lovers have literally walked
for centuries. The most recognized site in Old San Juan is Fuerte San Felipe
del Morro, a fort better known as El Morro.
Boca Tabla, Curaçao. Pounding
Atlantic waves carved this sea cave. Kneeling in the darkness of the sea
cave, you'll watch the surge of crystal blue waves as they come within
feet of you, roaring into the cave and back out to sea.
West End, Negril, Jamaica.
Negril's famous Seven Mile Beach gives way to rugged cliffs on its west
side and here visitors find one of the best sunset lookouts in the Caribbean.
Every day, crowds arrive at Rick's, one of the region's best known sunset
bars, for the chance to watch another island day draw to a close.
South Peninsula, St. Kitts.
Until a few years ago, this stretch of land was accessible only by boat.
Today a modern highway makes the island's most beautiful, pristine beaches
accessible. Keep an eye out for the vervet monkeys that live in this remote
region.
Natural bridge, Aruba. This
symbol of Aruba marks the line where tumultuous sea waves crash against
the windward coast. Walk out on the bridge for a cool sea spray and a breathtaking
view.
Paradise Point, St. Thomas.
Aboard ski-lift gondolas, you'll rise to one point that never sees snow:
the top of Flag Hill for a view of the Charlotte Amalie harbor dotted with
cruise ships. Gondolas ascend to the point from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every
day.
Maracas Bay, Trinidad. About
an hour from Port of Spain, the drive to this area is a treat in itself,
winding through the Northern Range with views of forests where species
such as howler and capuchin monkeys, ocelot, Amazon parrots, and wild pigs
can be found. The beach at Maracas Bay offers a full day of fun and is
the place to see and be seen in Trinidad.
Husband and wife team Paris Permenter
and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit the FREE
Lovetripper.com
<A
HREF="http://www.lovetripper.com/">, a romantic travel magazine featuring
worldwide destinations.
Copyright Paris Permenter and
John Bigley
