picture credit: andy_tyler

With over 365 beaches, Antigua and Barbuda has one beach for every day of the year! Although to anyone who loves holidays and long stretches of sand beaches, Antigua and Barbuda is a must visit at least one time. the country also offers more than these never ending beaches (or almost!). As a matter of fact, Antigua and Barbuda is also a great country, with culture of of an over 4000 years old civilization.

Antigua and Barbuda is comprised of three islands: Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda, a total of 442 square kilometers of land, just north of the Guadeloupe.

Antigua, the main island of the country has an area of 281 square kms. Today, the population of the island is estimated at over 80,000 people. The island is also home to the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, St. John’s.

Discovered in 1943 by Columbus who named Antigua, which literally means “ancient” in Spanish, the island was first colonized by Spanish people (due to the small number of indigenous people), and later by the English empire on a long-term basis. English settlers have lived on Antigua since 1623.

In 1674, the first sugar cane plantation was started on Antigua Island by Sir Christopher Codrington. In 1784, Antigua becomes the biggest British base of the archipelago. It is only in 1981 that Antigua and Barbuda becomes independent and a member of the Commonwealth.

En 1674, Sir Christopher Codrington fonde la première grande plantation de canne à sucre dans l’île d’Antigua. En 1685, Codrington et sa famille louent toute l’île à la Couronne britannique pour la modique somme «d’un gros cochon par an si demande est faite», et ils établissent avec succès d’autres plantations. En 1784, l’amiral Nelson fait d’Antigua la plus grande base britannique de l’archipel. En 1981, Antigua-et-Barbuda accède à l’indépendance et devient un État membre du Commonwealth.

Other reading: 5 Romantic Things To Do In Antigua

picture credit: kenteegardin

As a matter of fact, resorts vying for parents and families are more prepared as they are becoming more aware of what parents (and kids) need. These services, unheard of a few years ago, are becoming the standard for any family-friendly resort and hotel. Childproof guest rooms, appealing meals for the kids (we are not talking here about french fries, chicken nuggets or burgers) and complimentary tools and accessories like baby bathtubs are only some of the few amenities parents can expect to find in some of the better resorts. Even afternoon children’s activities are evolving. Many resorts now offer various types of activities for the toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners, including fun activities such as a range of water activities, tennis lessons or even acrobatics. And let’s not forget the best features of those family-resorts: better security with an increased presence of security and lifeguards.

So what are the best family-friendly resorts in the Caribbean? Of course, everybody have their favorite one, and if I were to ask every reader here what their favorite one was, I would probably end up with hundreds, if not thousands of different answers. On the other hand, some places would recurrently come back as a favorite, because they offer exceptional services or have a great price/quality ratio. So I decided to share with you the 10 most impressive family-friendly resorts with you, based on criteria such as hotel quality, children’s activities, security and price.

1. Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas for its 11 swimming pools, including 2 kids only pools, and numberous lifeguards; a movie theater with 3 daily newly released movies shows and popcorn; over 30 restaurants most of all including children’s menus; 23 nonsmoking floors.

2. Westin St. John Resort & Villas, US Virgin Island for its ocean trampoline (!!), fun kids’ events such as the hermit crab race or the tie-dying and the market, that will help you keep the costs low.

3. Club Med Caravelle, Guadeloupe because of the rooms that can accommodate up to 6 people, easily ramp accessibility for parent’s with strollers and babysitter services for babies 4 months and up.

4. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa, Turks and Caicos Islands for the Sesame Street Caravan, the 12 miles of amazing beach stretch, many lifeguards for each pool, the waterpark and its full-service nursery.

5. Beaches Negril Resort & Spa, Jamaica for its pajama parties, the sandcastle building, the staff hospitality and the Crayola Art Camps.

6. Four Seasons Resort Nevis, St. Kitts & Nevis for its supervised children’s hour during your romantic dinner, the activities, including tennis lessons, watersports, and storytelling.

7. Breezes Curacao Resort, Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles for its children’s menu in every restaurant, its arcade, beachside playground and the Kid’s Club being opened in the evening (6pm-9pm).

8. Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for the three swimming pool staffed with lifeguard, a different activity every hour and lots of baby features and amenities – bottle warmers, baby bathtubs, strollers.

9. Almond Beach Village, St. Peter, Barbadosfor its quiet and relaxing atmosphere, its swim-up movies and the shaded playground.

10. The Buccaneer, US Virgin Islands for anyone looking for an upscale place, lots of kids activities, including basketball, tetherball and tennis (although tennis is paying), the kids camp and the outstanding complimentary breakfast.

However, if you follow a few rules, Mexico remains a safe and great place to visit. It is however advised that tourists going to Mexico exercise a high degree of caution.

If you are planning to go to Mexico, here are 10 safety tips you should apply while touring the country.

1. Preferably stay in a resort or a hotel located in a touristy area. Resorts are especially safe, being so secluded and with high security. As a matter of fact, if you decide to leave the resort for a day trip, you will notice security guards checking on the in-an-outs of people at all times.

2. When visiting a city, avoid venturing out of the touristic areas. Non touristic areas can be very quiet, therefore less safe.

3. Keep your resort’s address and phone number handy at all time. If you get lost, they should be your first resource to contact. If you need directions outside the resort, preferably ask a policeman or commerce workers in a touristic area.

4. Avoid large crowds.

5. Even if you plan to go shopping, avoid carrying big amounts of money on you. Ladies, avoid purses that hand on your shoulder as they are easily snapped off

6. Monitor local news.

7. Travel outside of the resort in small groups as much as possible.

8. Preferably book tours through your hotel or resort.

9. Avoid all non-essential travel to these states and cities (mostly located near the U.S. border):
Sonora state, Chihuahua state, Coahuila state, Sinaloa state, Durango state, Michoacan Cuernavaca city, Veracruz city, Nuevo León state, Tamaulipas state, Baja California state and Guerrero state.

10. Remain vigilant.

These are a few tips that, while not hard to apply, will keep you safe and out of trouble.

Have a good a safe trip!

For more information, visit the following websites
1. Travel warning to Mexico, Bureau of Consular Affairs, USA
2. Travel report, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Canada
3. Conseils aux voyageurs, Ministère des affaires étrangères et européennes, France
4. Advice – Traveling to Mexico, FCO, UK

The crystal clear water, fine white sand, coconut trees and the perfect climate of the region are more than welcoming. So wait not more and discover the most scenic views of the Caribbean in the Dominican Republic.

The easternmost province of the Dominican hold some of the best beaches in the country, such as Playa del Cortecito, Playa Arena Gorda, a continuation of the famous beach Playa Bavaro, where you can find numbers of fantastic resorts and hotels.

On the north side of the country, on the island of Samana is Playa Bonita, a 10km of quiet and secluded beach stretch, only occupied by a few hotels and villa.

On the southwest, between fisherman villages, you can find Bahia Las Aguilas, a stunning beach with red cliffs and turquoise blue water. This spot is great for sports lovers. Among a few sports you can practice are water sports such as windsurfind, diving and golf (with close to 20 golf courses).

Discovered in 1744, Praslin is the second biggest island of the Seychelles, right after its sister island Mahe. Located at about 25 miles east of Mahe and a 15 minutes flight from the bigger island, Praslin has a population of 5000 people.

Praslin highest point is 1080 feet and has a much more even land than Mahe. But just like Mahe, Praslin is also partially covered by a formation of granite and and surrounded by an amazing coral reef and crystal clear water well known to this amazing archipelago.

The Beaches
Côte d’Or is especially attractive with its stunning white sand. Spectacular granite formations contrast with the beautiful beaches of Anse Bois de Rose and Anse Boudin. Because of its shallow waters and proximity to coral reefs, swimming is not ideal at Grand Anse. However, this beach is perfect for a suntanning.

May Valley
This Unesco World Heritage is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm to visitors and is only accessible through one road. This valley is home to a large number of widlife and indigenous plants. The winding roads are well maintained and well indicated and visitors will be impressed by the tropical forest so dense the hot sun never seems to penetrate the leaves of the higher trees. Chatting birds and the moving leaves and branches is all you will hear. Crawfish and fresh water crabs live in the stream and hide between the plants located near the fresh water. Sea Coconut, ferns and other rare plants grow between the many granite formations.

Nearby Islets
There are many close islets worth a visit. Among them: Cousin, Curieuse, St-Pierre, Serenade at the sunset, Aride with a stunning view, Grande Soeur and Ile Coco, surrounded by coconut trees.

For more information, visit All Inclusive Vacations now.

So what bring people to the Seychelles’ North Island? Of course there are the perfect weather, the beaches, the palm trees.

Amazing room with you in the Seychelles Islands

Picture source: flickr

Seychelles Islands Location

For the active vacationer, this island located north east of Madagascar and in the middle of the Indian Ocean offers unparalleled snorkeling and diving sites.

Snorkeling and Diving

Indeed, the Granite Boulders, often offer a spectacular view of clams, soft and hard corals. They are also home to hundreds of different types of colorful tropical fishes, sting rays and eagle rays. Occasionally, divers and snorkelers may even come face to face with a dolphin or the curious and gentle whale sharks as they get attracted by the schools of Pelagic fishes.

The wrecks found around the Seychelles are home to many species of animals, including barracudas, giant cods, scorpion fishes, eagle rays and even sharks. In 1989, several wrecks were purposely sunk to create a new home to many species of marine life, and divers will have the opportunity to visit many of the wrecks.

Natural beauty

But the Seychelles’ North Island are more than just palm-fringed beaches and exceptional diving and snorkeling, it is also home to an abundance of wildlife and indigenous vegetation. This island is really a sanctuary of natural habitat combined with plain beauty.

Seychelles’ North Island Accommodation

The North Island Seychelles Hotel is like many describe it, a hidden paradise. A 20 minutes helicopter ride will bring you from the airport to this secluded hotel. Extraordinary villas, with an unbelievable decor brings barefoot luxury to a new level. The human touch and the privacy of this hotel will convince anyone to go back over and over again.

For more information about vacationing in the Seychelles’ North Island and other islands, please visit Cheap All Inclusive Vacation now.

Now, there are a few tricks to getting a great deal on a vacation and we’ll outline how to go about it. All you’ll need is a computer, or failing that, borrow some time at your local internet cafe or a relatives computer.

First step is to decide what kind of vacation you’re looking for. This is important, because it will dictate what kind of deals are available to you. Are you travelling with kids, someone special, or by yourself?

Now, do you have a preference for destinations? Although each of the Caribbean islands has its own unique culture and atmosphere, if you’re just looking for a sunny beach, then it may be a moot point. Decide what you want out of your vacation, as it may save you money going to a destination that only offers the activities you’re interested in.

How flexible is your schedule? The more flexible the schedule, the better the deals can potentially be. Ideally, you can travel at the drop of a hat, but obviously 99% of travellers don’t have this luxury. Planning your vacation out long in advance and booking early can save you quite a bit of money. For those few of you who can afford to wait and travel at a moments notice, take note of last minute deals, when resorts are looking to cover cancellations.

Look online at airline sites, they often carry package deals and this is a great starting point. Also be sure to visit sites such as expedia.com, orbitz, and their ilk. They can often mine data from multiple sources, and present you with packages from several companies at once, giving you a clear and easy way to compare deals.

Lastly, visit your local travel agency and inquire about their package deals. This is recommended so that you can ask any questions you might have, and listen to their expertise and recommendations. There is also the opportunity to haggle a bit here, possibly getting them to match or beat prices that you’ve found online.

As you can see, getting cheap all inclusive vacations can be quite involved but the rewards are worth it. Personally, I’ve gotten 5 star resorts for less than half the normal price by flying near the end of high season or travelling on last minute deals. Your mileage may vary, but you might as well try and save some money!

For more information about the Caribbean, please visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Resorts.

If you’re planning a vacation in the near future, you may be interested in seeing what kind of golf courses in Jamaica there are. Is the island a good destination for avid golfers? What level of facilities do they offer? Well, golfing fans rejoice, because the golf courses in Jamaica are among some of the best in the world. In fact, Jamaica is home to some of the finest greens in the world. In fact, the very first golf course built in the Caribbean was built in Jamaica. You’ll find that there are several world-clas golf courses in Jamaica, many of which are only a stones throw away from the major resort centers.

Top Golf Courses in Jamaica

Half Moon Golf Club, Montego Bay

The Tryall Club, Montego Bay

Cinnamon Hill Golf Course at Rose Hall, Montego Bay

SuperClubs Ironshore Golf & Country Club, Montego Bay

Sandals Golf & Country Club, Ocho Rios

SuperClubs Golf Club, Runaway Bay

Caymanas Golf & Country Club, St. Catherine

Constant Spring Golf Club, Kingston

Manchester Club, Mandeville

Negril Hills Golf Club, Westmoreland

SuperClubs Golf Club Braco, Rio Bueno

The natural terrain and breezy conditions have made Jamaica a traditional favorite for golfers looking for a challenge. With golf courses built so close to resort centers on the island, its really the best of all possible worlds. Play a few rounds on the green, then settle back on the beach for the day with your family. On your next vacation, if you’re thinking golf, you really need to check out the golf courses in Jamaica.

For more information about Jamaica, please visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation.

For a small glimpse into island life in Jamaica, you should explore the different culinary options available. Dining in Jamaica can be a real treat, with their unique cuisine derived from hundreds of years of settlements and dozens of ethnicities. Their recipes are derived from European, Indian, Asian, and native sources, giving them one of the most colorful histories in the islands.

Although the most famous of Jamaican dishes, the legendary “jerk” is quite popular, fiery hot dishes aren’t the only thing on the menu. You can find dishes which inhabit the entire spectrum from volcanic to non-spicy. Best of all, dishes are generally made from local ingredients with fish and seafood caught just off shore and vegetables/fruit grown on the island or nearby.

Tipping

The standard when dining in Jamaica is 10-15% outside of resorts.

Drinking Age

The legal drinking age in Jamaica is 18.

Street Vendors

Like most places, you can find some interesting culinary options conveniently by the side of the road. The most common street food you’ll find is either jerk chicken or jerk pork. This is often cooked in a converted steel drum and served fresh roadside. Look for vendors selling this just about anywhere.

Another popular dish is the famous Jamaican beef patty. This resembles a calzone, with a flakey sweet breading and often a spicey meat center.

Restaurants

If you’re dining in Jamaica and looking for a more formal sit-down experience, there are a wide variety of great restaurants in Jamaica. Since Montego Bay is a very well travelled area by tourists, a number of great restaurants have popped up in the area. If you’re dining in Montego Bay, look for the Sugar Mill Restaurant. This is one of the best restaurants in Montego Bay, famous for their smoked marlin.

For some truly exquisite Jamaican dishes, visit the Day O Plantation Restaurant, located a few miles west of Montego Bay City. They specialize in fine Jamaican cuisine, as well as offering a few foreign dishes.

Jamaica has a long and proud history of great food and friendly people. If you don’t make some time to visit a few restaurants on your next trip, you’re really missing out on a great experience. For more tips on dining in Jamaica, visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation.