THE

SANDALS OF TOMORROW.
®

SETTING A NEW STANDARD IN ALL-

A first-class destination now has a world-class resort to match. Introducing

Sandals LaSource Grenada, an all-inclusive luxury experience on the
magical and romantic “Spice Island.” Here Sandals has infused the exotic
feeling of the South Seas with a bold, contemporary design that goes
beyond the unexpected. You will be amazed by pools that float in the
sky, living rooms that float inside pools, and Tranquility Soaking Tubs that
rest upon oceanview balconies. Meanwhile, nine exemplary restaurants,
including the Caribbean’s finest steakhouse, will impress with savory
dishes prepared by worldly chefs. These are just a few of the innovative new
standards in luxury you can expect from the Sandals of tomorrow, today.

BEYOND THE UNEXPECTED

For more information, call

1.800.SANDALS
SANDALS.COM
A Caribbean Family-Owned Company

Renderings are computer generated and representational only.

Sandals® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc. is the
affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts.
TODAY.
INCLUSIVE LUXURY

South Seas Millionaire 1 Bdrm. Butler Suite

w/Infinity Edge Pool Sanctuary

Pink Gin Beach, Grenada

 FLORIDA

EASIEST
FLIGHT PLAN
Get to the airport, man!
Our nonstop guide
shows you how to sim-
plify your next getaway
and practically land in
the sand. P. 12

WAIST-HIGH
ADVENTURES
Our favorite underwater
sites require only a
swimsuit, a snorkel mask
and the ability to float in
4 feet of water. See that
monstrous ... thing? Go
ahead, you can pet it. P. 33

TROPICAL
HEAT
Where should you go to
heat yourself from the
inside out? Start with a
local hot sauce that uses
peppers 40 times hotter
than jalapenos. P. 20
 WELCOME (BACK) TO THE

CARIBBEAN
We missed you. While you were gone, we went ahead and started a little
to-do list, just for fun. We ended up with 365 items. It seemed to take a year
to compile. The question now is, how long will it take to do it all?

THE MASTER PLAN

It’s about time to pick an outfit
(if that’s what you want to call a
string of beads) for the Carib-
bean’s biggest event. Carnival
starts in February ... of 2015. P. 60

ISLAND CRAWLING
A sampling of why we cruise: Key
lime cupcakes before bed, sky-
diving simulators and ice skating.
Oh yeah, visiting places too. P. 24
ILLUSTRATION BY IKER AYESTARAN
 Excellence in Consulting and Rentals Since 1985

Key contributors
Exclusive
collection of private
sarah
stafed villas Greaves-Gabbadon
It’s been a while since Sarah Greaves-
Gabbadon took her frst fight,
remarking to her mother “the clouds
are upside down!” Today, Jamaican-
born Gabbadon, known on Twitter as
Named the Top Villa Rental @JetSetSarah, is a Caribbean expert
and shopping guru who “wants to
Specialist in Jamaica share her adventures with everyone
who appreciates my kind of crazy.”

Condé Nast Traveler ann

vanderhoof
A contributor
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 to CT+L’s sister
publication Islands,
and the author of
two Caribbean travel
books, Vanderhoof brooke
is often sailing the morton
Caribbean with her She once bought a
husband on their one-way plane ticket
42-foot boat, Receta. to St. Croix to spend a
year diving. Her travel
motto: “It’s more fun
to say yes, but have a
back-up plan.” Follow
her in Islands, Delta
SKY and Scuba Diving.

zach stovall
Longtime CT+L photographer and
writer Zach Stovall has been called
“mon” in more than 20 dialects. But
even after visiting the region countless
times, he’s still learning. “Sometimes
I still have to remind myself which
islands are leeward and which are
windward,” he says. “Because they all
jamaicavillas.com seem pretty windy to me.”
301.229.4300
kaci hamilton
Self-diagnosed “travel addict” Kaci
Hamilton has ventured to 40 countries
on fve continents, and called Belgium,
Alaska, China, New Orleans and
Colombia home. Her current home:
New York City, where speaking three
languages comes in handy.

linda@jamaicavillas.com
 Dreams ARE MADE OF THIS...

Our Unlimited-Luxury ® destinations feature ocean front settings, elegant

accommodations, great meals and top-shelf spirits whenever you want, endless day
and evening activities with a supervised Explorer’s Club for kids plus so much more.

Visit DreamsResorts.com for more details.

DREAMS CANCUN • DREAMS HUATULCO • DREAMS LA ROMANA • DREAMS LAS MAREAS COSTA RICA (DEC 2014) • DREAMS LOS CABOS • DREAMS PALM BEACH PUNTA CANA
DREAMS PUERTO AVENTURAS • DREAMS PUERTO VALLARTA • DREAMS PUNTA CANA • DREAMS RIVIERA CANCUN • DREAMS TULUM • DREAMS VILLAMAGNA NUEVO VALLARTA
ExplorE
tahiti
on m/s Paul GauGuin
with islands magazine

The UlTimaTe CrUise

Where: Tahiti & the society islands
When: sept. 27-Oct. 4, 2014 (7 nights!)
host: m/s Paul Gauguin

> sail with Islands staff photographers.

> enjoy daily photo lessons with the pros.
> Take your best travel photos on a trip
into paradise.

rates start at $4,995 per person

(including airfare from Los Angeles).

Go to: islands.com/ExpEditions
Twenty-seven Caribbean countries. Visits to more
than 64 islands within them. Seventeen trips to
Jamaica. Fifteen to Puerto Rico.
Those are the travel statistics for the team that
produced the special issue you’re holding. Oh wait. My
bad. Those are the stats for one dude. One. That dude
is our senior staf photographer and writer Zach Stovall.
He’s only one of the individuals responsible for the most
ambitious issue in Caribbean Travel + Life’s history.
And these journalists aren’t reporting from the guest-
room balcony or nearest Wi-Fi signal. They’re out there.
Like way out there. Zach has snapped photos hanging
from parasails and helicopters (like the one of Barbuda
you’re looking at now). Jon Whittle landed on St. Barth’s
teensy-weensy runway facing down a hurricane. Waiting
in line at airport security? Try waiting for the 6-foot boa
constrictor blocking the path to your rainforest dwelling
in Dominica, as Ann Vanderhoof did. Eddy Patricelli’s
hair was so blond from living part-time in Aruba that he
was regularly congratulated for winning the Billy Idol
lookalike competition. Brooke Morton has mingled with
whale sharks of the coast of Mexico (p. 56), and tried
bush medicines to cure her cold (p. 62).
Only a team like this can bring you 365 things to
see and do in the Caribbean. (Go ahead. Count them.)
They’re exactly who you want inspired, informed travel
ideas from. Because I assure you, Google hasn’t picked
leaves of a tree in Great Exuma to treat a runny nose.
We hope CT+L 365 inspires you as much as it chal-
lenged, frightened and exhilarated us while creating
it. See you on the beach.
ZACH STOVALL

SHAWN BEAN, Editorial Director

 instant indulgence
from ahhh to zzzz
Immerse your senses as we indulge
your desires. With sapphire blue
swimming pools, white powdery
beaches and ethereal surroundings,
each detail at Le Blanc Spa Resort is
designed to enhance your experience,
from beginning to end.

With a world-class spa as its

centerpiece, you’ll never be too far
from total serenity. And since it’s truly
all-inclusive, all you have to worry
about is choosing which sense we
should pamper first.

1 888 987 2672 | leblancsparesort.com | ADULTS ONLY


AMSTERDAM MANOR BEACH RESORT
Warm smiles, friendly staff, spacious
fully-equipped studios & suites, fine dining
and great amenities.
1-800-969-2310
www.AmsterdamManor.com
BLUE RESIDENCES
This luxury condo resort offers 124 spacious
ocean-view rooms, suites and penthouses, most with
fully equipped kitchens. Amenities include an upscale
restaurant and bar, infinity pool, spa and fitness center.
800-728-4910
www.bluearuba.com
RADISSON ARUBA RESORT, CASINO & SPA
Discover Your Play Time, Sept. 16-Dec. 21, 2013:
Paddleboarding, wine tastings, Tai Chi, fly fishing for
Tarpon, Larimar Spa massages, Casino Night, ATV tours,
shopping excursions—truly something for everyone.
1-800-333-3333
www.radisson.com/aruba
www.aruba.com
editorial   director Shawn Bean group publisher Laura Walker
shawn.bean@bonniercorp.com laura.walker@bonniercorp.com
br and director Eddy Patricelli
eddy.patricelli@bonniercorp.com
editorial
managing editor Audrey St. Clair
digital content director Steve Spears
digital editor Cami Webb
copy editor Kathleen M. Kiely
contributing writers & photogr aphers Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, Kaci Hamilton, Erika Hueneke, Jen Judge, Holly Kapherr,
Brooke Morton, Cynthia Psarakis, Robert Stephens, Ann Vanderhoof
art
Vicky Hodges
art director
photo editor Kim Kuhn
senior staff photogr aphers Zach Stovall, Jon Whittle
advertising
caribbe an / mexico / europe Carol Johnson, Publisher, 908-221-9122; carol.johnson@bonniercorp.com
mexico / hondur a s / south pacific / hawaii Valerie Aguilar, 805-452-0679; valerie.aguilar@bonniercorp.com
e a stern united states Jackie D’Antonio, 407-571-4718; jackie.dantonio@bonniercorp.com
caribbe an Julie Kittredge, 813-877-6959; julie.kittredge@bonniercorp.com
vill a s / cl a ssifieds Leslie Parker, 407-571-4985; leslie.parker@bonniercorp.com
advertising services manager Krys Pettit, 407-571-4534; krys.pettit@bonniercorp.com
vp, director of br and str ategies Matt Hickman
vp, digital oper ations David Butler
cre ative director Jerry Pomales
group marketing director Haley Bischof
marketing manager Lindsay Gigler
production director Michelle Doster
production manager Alison Klein
design services director Suzanne Oberholtzer
gr aphic artists Julia Arana, Willy Frei, Jennifer Remias, Aubrey Wilson
human resources director Sheri Bass
isl a n ds is a di v isi o n o f
Jonas Bonnier Chairman
Dave Freygang Chief executive Ofcer
Eric Zinczenko executive Vice president
David Ritchie Chief Content Ofcer
Nancy Coalter Chief Financial Ofcer
Lisa Earlywine Chief Operating Ofcer
Leslie Glenn Chief Human Resource Ofcer
Sean Holzman Chief Brand Development Ofcer
Bruce Miller Vice president, Consumer Marketing
Dean Turcol Vice president, Corporate Communications
Jeremy Thompson General Counsel
b us i n e s s a n d e d i to r i a l o f f i ce s 460 N. Orlando Ave., Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789
standard Mail paid at Winter park, FL
For content reprints, reuse and permissions, e-mail reprints@bonniercorp.com.
Occasionally, we make portions of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies
that ofer products and services we think may be of interest to you.
if you do not want to receive these ofers, please advise us at 800-250-1523.
We cannot be responsible for the care or return of unsolicited materials.
This product is from
sustainably managed forests Lithography RR Donnelley
and controlled sources. pRinTeD in usa
Cover, clockwise from top left: Zach Stovall; Life on white/Alamy; Patagonik Works/Alamy; Aurora Photos/Alamy; Jen Judge;
Stephen Frink Collection/Alamy; Courtesy Angostura; Zach Stovall; Jon Whittle; Tim Hill/Alamy; Hemis/Alamy
 The most
sunny days
of any island
in the
Caribbean

Aruba’s white-sand beaches, low humidity, and constant

sunshine make it the perfect destination any time of the year.
It’s just one reason why Aruba enjoys one of the highest
repeat visitation rates in the Caribbean.

Plan your happy escape today at aruba.com

© 2013 Aruba Tourism Authority
 CT+L 365
JANUARY

Sorry, layover. It’s not you — it’s me. The holidays are over, and our
NONSTOP-FLIGHT DIRECTORY is just too good to ignore.

Prepare for Landing

BLUEGREEN PICTURES/ALAMY

To see more nonstop

flights from an
airport near you,
visit islands.com/
nonstopflights.
 GETTING TO THE CARIBBEAN IS EASIER THAN EVER
with brand-new nonstop flights, seasonal additions, increased frequency and more
airline carriers. Get on a plane when it’s snowing at home and step of that same
plane in 80-degree temps. And not just in go-to’s like Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
Flights from Atlanta, Charlotte and Houston deliver you to surprising spots like
Bonaire (go windsurfing), Trinidad (food mecca) and St. Kitts (drunken monkeys).

Antigua

ATLANTA
Bahamas
Belize
Bonaire
Cayman

1
NEW FLIGHT ➔ JAMAICA
On Dec. 19, 2013, Delta Puerto Rico
Saint Lucia
launched new service out
of Atlanta. The flight oper-
ates once daily to Kingston, Aruba
BOSTON

departing at 10 a.m. and Cayman

Jamaica
returning at 2 p.m. Puerto Rico
2

St. Maarten
USVI

Aruba
CHARLOTTE

Bahamas
Barbados
Cancun
Cayman
Puerto Rico
3

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Maarten
Turks and Caicos
USVI
CHICAGO

Bahamas
Cancun
Cayman
Jamaica
4

Puerto Rico
MOST SURPRISING ➔ USVI
Not many flights to the Carib-
bean originate in the Midwest.
Bahamas
DALLAS

And even fewer travel all the Belize

way to St. Thomas, USVI, with- Cayman
5

Jamaica
out stopping. But United does. Puerto Rico
Turks and Caicos
HOUSTON

Bahamas
Belize
Bonaire
Cayman
6

Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago

Antigua
SHORTEST FLIGHT ➔ BAHAMAS
You’re at cruising altitude for Barbados
MIAMI

Curaçao
about as long as it takes to go Grenada
Jamaica
7

to the bathroom, and there’s Puerto Rico

not even beverage service. St. Kitts and Nevis
Gate to gate in about an hour. St. Maarten
Trinidad and Tobago

Antigua
Barbados
Belize
NEW YORK

Cancun
Dominican Republic
Grenada
MOST FREQUENT ➔
8

PUE RTO RICO

It’s no shock that Puerto Rico is a St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
favored spot (no passport needed, for St. Maarten
starters). A total of 96 weekly flights Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
hail from New York’s JFK airport.
1 HOUR 2 HOURS 3 HOURS 4 HOURS 5 HOURS 6 HOURS

C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 0 1 4 13

Thanks to our slang glossary, you can open your mouth and not sound fresh of the tour bus.
* ANNAFÈ adj. (ana-fay) Saint
Lucia — Meddlesome. Small
islands are just like small towns;
There’s always a busybody.
* BACKANAHAN n. (bak-
ana-han) Belize — Tricky; sly.
Was that one shot or two the
bartender poured? Keep him in
check with a saucy, “I don’t trust
your backanahan ways.”
* BRAWTA n. (bra-tah) Jamaica
— Something extra for free. Once
you’ve bought 15 T-shirts for all
your cousins, ask the vendor, “So,
you not giving me likkle brawta?!”
* COOYAH excl. (koo-yah)
Jamaica — Check this out, and
usually something ludicrous.
You see a whole family piled on a
motorbike. Slap your driver and
exclaim “cooyah!”
* COUCOU excl. (koo-koo)
French West Indies — Sure, you
can say “bonjour.” Or you can
CT+L 365
JANUARY
Talk Like a Local
be a badass and say “coucou.”
There may be no actual way to
say “coucou” and sound badass,
but you get the idea.
* GOAT MOUTH n./v. (gote
mowt) Dominica — To speak
something into being, usually
bad. Your negative Nancy beach
mates keep saying it looks like
rain. Shut them up with “Don’t
put your goat mouth on my day!”
* I STRAIGHT exp. (I strate)
Antigua/the Bahamas — I’m all
good. Your spouse asks if you’re
OK to walk back to the room.
Yep, so much so that you skip
the verb “to be.”
* MI DUSHI n. (me-doo-she)
Aruba — My precious. Doesn’t
this sound so much cooler than
“babe” or “hun”?
* QUE LO QUE excl. (kay-lo-kay)
Dominican Republic — Forget
hola — yell this when you walk
into a DR bar and you might find
yourself of to the local granny’s BREDRIN n. (bred-
dinner table before you know it. jrin) Regional — If
* JUMBEE n. (jum-bee) Mont-
Bob Marley were
serrat — To put a jumbee on around, you would
someone is to set a ghost on him. be his bredrin. Peter
To be a true islander, you Tosh too. The term
need a little “bad mind”
is a Rastafarian
SUPERSTOCK/ALAMY
(aka evil thoughts). When
that family with the six bastardization of
whiny kids takes all the “brethren” and just
beach chairs, you know
what to say. about every islander
will be happy
* RAAS excl. (rahs) to be your
Jamaica — Damn; hell. Use
it to swear (what the raas is brother.
wrong with you?!), to express
pleasant surprise (damn girl,
you look good to raas).
* TABANCA n. (ta-ban-kah)
Trinidad and Tobago — A
lovesick state. We’ll understand
if you “have a serious tabanca
over T&T after Carnival.”
Because it’s that good.
 THE ISLAND OF TOBAGO....
Just imagine a beautiful, intimate island waiting for you
Tobago is a favorite island for many Europeans. They love the laid back culture, the natural beauty of the island, the rainforest and
waterfalls, the variety and excitement of all the watersports featured around the island, the famous Nylon Pool with rejuvenating waters,
the combination of local cafes and sophisticated restaurants and of course the beautiful ocean and beaches surrounding the island.

Magdalena Grand is Tobago’s premier resort that recently opened and was voted by Fodor’s Travel one of the top ten new Caribbean
resorts in 2013 for everyone. The resort features oversized rooms with private balconies and terraces overlooking the ocean,
a choice of four restaurants, indoor and outdoor bars, a PGA designed 18-hole golf course, tennis, a PADI 5-star dive center,
spa services and salon, three swimming pools, two and one half miles of beach and a daily activities program.

The Island of Tobago is a must on your bucket list but don’t wait too long because the packages
we are now offering are incredible. Visit us online for more details.

Reservations : 1-866-353-6222 • Email : Reservations@MagdalenaGrand.com WWW.MAGDALENAGRAND.COM

CT+L 365
JANUARY

ZACH STOVALL
 IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b
TIM E TO

Go to the Beach
You’re at home scraping ice from your windshield while this guy stands in the surf on a
beach all to himself. Why isn’t that you? The end of December means the end of peak
high season, which means solitary sands at spots like Playa Zoni on Culebra, Puerto
Rico (pictured). Take one of those nonstop flights you just saw on page 12 to San Juan,
a 30-minute flight to Culebra, then a 10-minute car ride, and now that is you.
 CT+L 365
FEBRUARY

SEA MOSS ➔ Look for it in Saint Lucia. Rife with

stamina-enhancing minerals and vitamins, this concoction,
made from dry seaweed boiled and blended with milk and
spices, has earned a reputation as “island Viagra.” Bonus: It
tastes like the best vanilla milkshake you’ve ever had.
MOLE POBLANO ➔ Look for it in Mexico. This rich
sauce made with unsweetened dark chocolate and chiles is
a one-two libidinous punch. Dark chocolate contains the
love drug phenylethylene, and chiles have capsaicin, which
stimulates nerve endings. Both trigger an endorphin rush.
MANNISH WATER ➔ Look for it in Jamaica.
How about some goat soup — including head — with yams,
potatoes and dumplings? It’s packed with energy-producing
carbs and protein. If you’re planning a destination wedding,
here’s an FYI: It’s served to grooms on their wedding night.
CONCH ➔ Look for it in the Bahamas, especially the
crystalline style (the gelatinous protein rod in its diges-
tive tract). The overgrown cousin to escargot should be
swallowed raw. It’s renowned for giving men “strong back,”
Serving up an erotic Bahamian for bedroom prowess.
Stairway to Heaven
(right on tray) MANGROVE OYSTER ➔ Look for it in Carriacou.
at Saint Lucia’s
Anse Chastanet
The pint-size relative of the well-known cold-water oyster
is best eaten raw on the half-shell. Word on the street is
Casanova ate 50 oysters a day. Enough said.

Cupid’s Little Helpers MAMAJUANA ➔ Look for it in the Dominican Republic.

There are no points for taste. But this mix of twigs, bark
In this part of the world, aphrodisiacs grow on and leaves steeped in rum, wine and honey is known as “el
trees, cling to rocks, hide in soup pots and wash para palo” — “lift the stick.” As for staying power: It was
up on the beach Ñ no prescription needed. used by the Tainos, the isle’s earliest inhabitants. — av

IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b
TIM E TO
MEET A SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT MODEL
WITH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION DUE OUT THIS MONTH, HERE’S AN UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO WHERE YOUR NEXT
CARIBBEAN VACATION AND SI SWIMSUIT PHOTO SHOOT ARE MOST LIKELY TO HOOK UP.

1 2 3 4 5 6
BAHAMAS MEXICO BVI GRENADINES DOMINICAN COZUMEL
They’re SI’s favorite Mexico has hosted Christie Brinkley These tiny islands REPUBLIC This is where it all
Caribbean locale seven photo shoots, helped put the BVI host approximately Just one photo began. In 1964, the
(six shoots, fi ve but not all of ’em on the map in 1980 200,000 visitors per shoot, in 1987, but swimsuit issue was a
covers). The bad bordered the Carib- with her second year. And with two it was a biggie, the five-page supple-
news: There are 700 bean Sea. This 1989 SI Swimsuit Issue shoots under their second of fi ve covers ment. Today, news-
ZACH STOVALL

islands to choose cover from Mexico’s cover. Necker Island belt, that’s not a bad for Elle Macpherson, stand sales typically
from. Start with Pacific side was the and Peter Island swimsuit-model- the most of any SI reach 1 million copies.
Great Exuma. all-time bestseller. would follow after. per-visitor ratio. swimsuit model ever. — Eddy Patricelli

18 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
u n f o r g e t ta b l e m o m e n t s
on the water
Call 1.888.514.3669 or visit www.moorings.com/ctl
 CT+L 365
FEBRUARY

Beaches for Two

S E X Y S T R A N D S T H AT A R E A L L YO U R S . Feel the Burn
AT THESE STEAMY DESTINATIONS,
The only sound: waves caressing the MOTHER EARTH HEATS THINGS UP.
sand. The only footprints: yours. What
could be more romantic than a beach à SULPHUR SPRINGS PARK,
deux? You’re in luck, couples: The Carib-
bean has more than a couple. SAINT LUCIA ➔ Billed as
Follow a bush trail to the windward THE HOTTEST “the Caribbean’s only drive-in
(Atlantic) side of Exuma, Bahamas, to
Stocking Island, where deserted sand HOT SAUCES volcano,” Sulphur Springs is an
stretches endlessly. Wave-sculpted eye-popping, rotten-egg-scented,
boulders and dunes bitten away by wind Just call it pepper sauce. easy-to-reach collection of boil-
and tide provide intimate nooks for In the Caribbean, “hot”
goes without saying. Here ing springs, belching steam vents
sunbathing and …
In Puerto Rico, rays and turtles bask are five of the best, from and hot mud baths. (Take a dip
in turquoise shallows of Playa Tortuga, a mild-mannered (#1) to to rejuvenate your skin.) Molten
postcard-ready curve of milk-white sand on just plain mean (#5).
rock runs just 1¼ miles below
uninhabited Isla Culebrita. For your own
private spa, stroll to the nearby “Jacuzzis”
— sun-warmed tidal pools where wave 1 PICKAPEPPA SAUCE,
JAMAICA Known as
“Jamaican ketchup,” this
the surface, but the volcano here
has been dormant since 1766 and
action keeps the water whirling. you can walk across its crater.
Civilization seems far away in fruity blend ofers only the
Carriacou, but the long, idyllic crescent of faintest touch of fire. (Double dog dare ya!)
Petit Carenage Beach is just a short walk
through lush mangrove forest from the
road. Pretend you’ve been shipwrecked 2 BÚFALO CHIPOTLE
SAUCE, MEXICO
Smoky sweetness hides
BOILING LAKE, DOMINICA
➔ Picture the giant cauldron of a
(the old ship foundered on the reef gargantuan witch. The bubbling,
ofshore helps the fantasy). the picante underneath.
BYO everything to Mopion Island in The pepper-sauce steaming brew is kept at a boil
the Grenadines, a sea-encircled, powder- equivalent of the perfect by hot gases escaping through a
white puf of sand a half-mile of Petit first date.
crack in the Earth. The three-
St. Vincent. Nothing here except one
thatch-roof palapa, two loungers, stun-
ning 360-degree views, and you. 3 DELISH BAJAN PEPPER
SAUCE, BARBADOS
There’s heat, but it doesn’t
hour hike (each way) crosses the
Valley of Desolation, where riv-
crowd out flavor in this ers run hot and steam hisses from
Stocking Island,
tangy mustard- the ground. Don’t be surprised
Bahamas based sauce. A when your guide boils an egg
table staple
or, as the without starting a fi re.
maker says,
“Delish CLABONY SULPHUR
in every SPRINGS, GRENADA ➔ Spend
dish.” the morning hiking in Grand
Etang National Park, then soak
tired muscles in the warm waist-
deep pool nearby. The route
winds through gorgeous nutmeg
and banana plantations, but we
4 MATOUK’S
FLAMBEAU
SAUCE, TRINIDAD
suggest employing a 4x4 and a
guide, since the track is rutted
Naming this Congo mud and the turns tricky.
pepper condiment after
a flaming torch isn’t a MOUNT PELÉE, MARTINIQUE
stretch. A serious hothead
not to be trifled with. ➔ Currently dormant (but moni-
tored constantly), Pelée wiped
5 MELINDA’S ORIGINAL
HABANERO XXXTRA,
COSTA RICA The peppers
out 30,000 people in 1902, mak-
ing it one of the world’s deadliest
— 40 to 60 times hotter eruptions. The hike through
than jalapenos — are rainforest to the crater and back
calmed by carrots, onions,
garlic and lime. Still, it’s a is a stunner. So too are the ruins
fiery personality. left in the city of St. Pierre. — av

20 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 CT+L

We know, we know: It’s cold where you are. What

better time to taunt you with the hottest, spiciest
and sexiest things the region has to ofer?
HOT

SOUFRIERE HILLS VOLCANO

ISTOCK/MICHAELUTECH; FROM TOP OPPOSITE: CUBOIMAGES SRL/ALAMY;

MONTSERRAT

After a long sleep, the volcano erupted in

1995, burying the island in ash and making
ISTOCK/FLOORTJE; PATRICE HAUSER/GETTY IMAGES

two-thirds of it uninhabitable. But no

worries about visiting this modern-day
Pompeii: The steaming volcano is moni-
tored 24/7 for signs of explosive activity.
 CT+L 365
FEBRUARY

A Diferent Kind of Winter Olympics

With the opening ceremonies 16 GOAT RACING ➔ TOBAGO
Don’t laugh at a goat running on a
tator sport that encourages blankets, beach
chairs and Balashis? The strange part is hear-
in Sochi, Russia, slated for SECONDS
dirt road or swimming in Tobago’s ing no bouncing ball. Instead, the ball (which
Feb. 7, we take a moment to bays this time of year. It’s probably in is depressurized) goes puf when it hits the

FROM TOP: IMAGESTATE MEDIA PARTNERS LIMITED-IMPACT PHOTOS/ALAMY; BARBADOS TOURISM AUTHORITY; SHUTTERSTOCK;
highlight our fave Caribbean training. Goat handlers spend two months sand. So does the rally.

muscling up their animals for the annual
sports, and how much time 100-meter races in Buccoo on Easter Tues-
you’ll need to enjoy them. day. All right, laugh. Shoot some video too.
60 BOBSLED ➔ JAMAICA
SECONDS At the Winter Olympics in Cal-
gary in 1988, the Jamaican bobsled
team competed with a sled they found
in a storage room at the Games. They
fl ipped. They fi nished you-know-where.
Six years later they returned, fi nishing
ahead of teams from the U.S. and Rus-
sia. Today, you can ride the infamous
bobsled (more like a roller coaster) at
Mystic Mountain near Ocho Rios.
45 BEACH TENNIS ➔
ARUBA What could be more
MINUTES
perfect for Aruba than a spec-
2
BASEBALL ➔ DOMINICAN
HOURS REPUBLIC We’ve seen “ball”
games break out with palm fronds
and almond pods, broomsticks and corn
kernels, cabilma branches and sea grapes.
Then there’s the Golden Dolphin Villa in
Cabrera, where guests can suit up for a game
with locals — complete with Presidentes,
bratwurst and real bats.
5 CRICKET ➔ BARBADOS
DAYS Bring a comfy chair and a tooth-
brush because a two-inning game
could go on until Friday. But to Bajans, every
minute counts. An ESPN columnist once
described a cricket match here as “pulsat-
ing, nerve-jangling, thrilling.” You had to be
there, I guess. — Robert Stephens
OPPOSITE: ILLUSTRATION BY IKER AYESTARAN

1 NETHERLANDS
ANTILLES The Jamai-
can bobsled team drew
all the attention in 1988,
WHO SAYS but the Antilles two-man
PUERTO RICANS team actually finished one
CAN’T LUGE? spot higher. That made
Notable Winter Olympians Antilles the top finisher
from the Caribbean among snowless nations.
2 PUERTO RICO
George Tucker was
considered a Caribbean
3 BVI Speed skater
Erroll Fraser com-
peted in the Winter
 4 USVI In 2006, luger
Anne Abernathy
became, at age 53, the
pioneer for competing in Olympics in 1984, before oldest woman ever to
luge in 1984, even though the BVI even had an qualify for the Winter
he finished last and was athlete in the Summer Olympics, earning the
introduced as “George Olympics. He finished nickname “Grandma
Turkey” by the Yugosla- kinda sorta not anywhere Luge.” So what has your
vian PA announcer. close to first. granny done lately?

22 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 u
HOW TO
u
NOT LOOK
LIKE A TOURIST
Socks with sandals, fanny
packs, humongous hats — we
can all spot tourists. Here are
some not so obvious do’s and
don’ts for blending in.
DON’T WEAR

* T-shirts with * Neck pillows

painted bikini outside of an
bodies airplane

* Camouflage;
it’s illegal in
Barbados
* Tank tops
with big,
droopy arm
cutouts;
rhinestone/
gem bedaz-
zle shirts (a
la Richard

WHERE EVEN THE SOPHISTICATION

Simmons)
* Apparel
with big
logos, espe-
cially words
* Adidas shower
shoes with socks (the
IS LAID BACK
Caribbean isn’t a
across your dorm shower)
buttocks

DO WEAR

* Coverups
over bikinis
in the hotel
lobby or bar

A leisurely swim in sparkling azure waters. A soothing

massage on your own private balcony. An afternoon
* Colored spent gazing at the sun-splashed Atlantic with not a
or patterned * Solid-color, cruise ship or a care in sight. The Sands at Grace Bay
shorts
button-down offers a soul-satisfying tranquility along with inspired
shirts, light
linen shirts, cuisine, considerate service and as much – or as little –
* Leather solids and activity as you choose.
flip-flops, stripes; keep it
simple U N S P O I L E D. U N C O M M O N.
or slightly
elegant san- U N P R E T E N T I O U S.
dals; fedoras
that dress up For reservations, see your travel professional
an outfit or call 1.877.77.SANDS (72637) Providenciales • Turks & Caicos
thesandstc.com an exceptional all suite beachfront resort
 CHOOSE YOUR
OWN ADVENTURE:

Cruise
Edition
With cruise season in high
gear, we help you find the
perfect ship, whether it’s
about the kids, the itinerary
or the five-star treatment.
Best for FAMILIES
DISNEY MAGIC ➔ While the young-
sters become superheroes at Marvel’s
Avengers Academy, parents can relax
at the After Hours night spots, and
everyone can be a kid again on the
AquaDunk, a three-story water slide
that careens out over the ocean.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN (Allure of the
Seas/Oasis of the Seas) ➔ With a car-
ousel, a zip line, surf simulators, rock-
climbing walls, an ice-skating rink, and
characters from Shrek, Madagascar and
Kung Fu Panda — not to mention the
cupcake shop (root beer! Key lime!)
— these massive twin sister ships ofer
plenty for tots and teens.
NORWEGIAN EPIC ➔ Two words:
Wii wall. Not the right two words?
How about “bowling alley,” “water Royal Clipper (right), one
park” or “SpongeBob SquarePants”? of the world’s largest sailing
ships, under sail alongside
Whichever floats your boat, they add its sibling, the Star Flyer.
up to family fun for all ages (including

AIRPORT UPS 1 ANTONIO RIVERA

RODRIGUEZ AIRPORT
2 LYNDEN PINDLING
INTERNATIONAL
3 PHILIP S.W. GOLD-
SON INTERNATIONAL
AND DOWNS
HORIZONS WWP/ALAMY; LORI BARBELY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: STAR CLIPPERS;

Vieques, Puerto Rico AIRPORT AIRPORT

It’s been said a good
landing is one you can
walk away from. We
couldn’t agree more.
With that in mind, here’s
a list of airports, in order
from “Aaaaaah ...”
to “Ahhhhhh!”
This place is a breeze. Nassau, Bahamas Belize City, Belize
Exhibit A: Less than 25 The Grayclif Divans This one is all about going
feet around, the shortest Lounge (left) is a classy with the flow. The Tropic
island baggage-claim belt smoking lounge (smoking Air pilot asks where you
matches the tiny size of and nonsmoking sec- need to go, then replies,
Vieques. That means less tions) with an outdoor “We can stop there.”
time on the tarmac, and sun deck and compli- Bonus: If it’s a full flight,
more on Blue Beach. mentary Wi-Fi. you might sit co-pilot.

24 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 CT+L 365
MARCH

the grown-ups), and that’s really the
appeal of Norwegian’s ship.
Best for EXPERIENCES
ROYAL CARIBBEAN (Quantum of the
Seas) ➔ Debuting in November, Royal
Caribbean’s latest ship raises the bar
for onboard fun with yet another slate
of cruising firsts, including a roller-
skating rink, a skydiving simulator,
bumper cars and the North Star, a glass-
walled capsule that rises 300 feet above
sea level to give a true bird’s-eye view.
NORWEGIAN GETAWAY ➔ On the
Getaway, which just entered service in
February, you’ll find a magic-inspired
dinner show in the Illusionarium,
Grammy nominees and winners in
a specially themed club, and a ropes
course in which you can actually walk
the plank (pirates not included).
ROYAL CLIPPER ➔ Action-packed
megaliners aren’t for everyone — if
they’re not for you, this tall ship ofers
a voyage under sail to ports well of
the beaten path. On what other
cruise ship can you climb the mast
to the crow’s nest or enjoy a massage
while staring down at fish through an
underwater porthole?
Best for LUXE FACTOR
SEABOURN SPIRIT ➔ You won’t find
bargain-basement prices on a Spirit
sailing, but what you will fi nd is well
worth the price tag: all-suite accom-
modations, a fold-out marina for water
sports, and impeccable service on an
overgrown yacht where the crew-to-
passenger ratio is practically 1-to-1.
THE MOORINGS ➔ A crewed luxury
yacht or a six-cabin catamaran? Tortola,
Grenada or the BVI? The Moorings
is all about the fantasy float-cation,
where a typical day at sea hops from
stateroom to snorkeling to snacks
from the personal chef.
MARINEMAX VACATIONS ➔ Cruise
ships, now in fun size. MarineMax
ofers what are essentially buoyant vil-
las: crewed yachts ranging in size from
50 to 300 feet available for charter not
only in the Caribbean, but the Mediter-
ranean and South Pacific as well.
Best for DESTINATIONS
SEA DREAM I ➔ Thanks to its tiny size
— it’s more yacht than cruise ship — Sea
Dream I can access tiny ports that you’d
otherwise need a sailboat to reach. This
ship visits truly secluded spots like
Culebrita, Saba and the Grenadines.
And you’ll never have to hoist a jib.
PAUL GAUGUIN (Tere Moana) ➔
Check out the 14-day itinerary that
skips the A-list stops in lieu of locales
with indie cred: English Harbour, Anti-
gua; Les Saintes, Guadaloupe; Willem-
stad, Curaçao; Cartagena, Colombia;
and Isla de Coba, Panama.
HOLLAND AMERICA (m/s Maasdam)
➔ With 20 diferent destinations on
its Caribbean itineraries, Maasdam
will take you to ports like St. Kitts,
Martinique and rarely visited St. Vin-
cent — sometimes on the same voyage
— and it won’t cost you premium-
cruise prices. — Cynthia Psarakis
Find more cruises at islands.com/cruises.

4 PRINCESS JULIANA 5 QUEEN BEATRIX 6 GUSTAF III 7 JUANCHO E.

INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
St. Maarten
Plane spotting is a
pastime in St. Maarten
(right), where jets come
in hot mere feet over
Maho Beach. Avoid
the jet-engine thrust at
nearby Sunset Beach Bar.
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT YRAUSQUIN AIRPORT
AIRPORT St. Barth, FWI Saba
Aruba If the nosedive approach Somewhat akin to taking
U.S. Customs preclear- necessary to hit the short of from an aircraft car-
ance means you go runway doesn’t make you rier. When the runway
through the customs sweat, seeing the expres- ends, it drops 60 feet.
and immigration process sion on the drivers’ faces Pray your pilot has
while on foreign soil as your plane’s wheels enough speed. You may
leaving Aruba, Nassau, almost graze them in the find yourself suddenly
Freeport and Bermuda. hilltop roundabout will. feeling religious.

C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 0 1 4 25
CT+L 365
MARCH

OUR FAVORITE
BEACH BARS
The truest way to honor St. Patrick’s
Day (March 17) is to raise a libation and a
hearty sláinte. Start here.
1 The Soggy Dollar, BVI ➔
Mic methodically pumps
by night. When the locals
routinely speak five languages

FROM LEFT: ZACH STOVALL; NIK WHEELER/ALAMY; ZACH STOVALL (2); SHUTTERSTOCK
out painkillers by the half- and love to salsa, there’s no
dozen. Boats begin arriving excuse not to meet people.
before noon, anchoring feet
of White Bay Beach, radios
up. The Soggy crowd (left) 3 BasilÕs, Mustique ➔
Rich people know how
to party. Since glitterati from
swells far beyond the bar’s
tiny footprint, content to play Academy Award winners to
ring toss, and slowly get drunk royalty regularly grace Basil’s
in the sand. They come from (that’s him below) Bali-style
every island within boating
distance Sunday after Sunday
because there’s no place in the
world they’d rather be.

2 MooMba Beach Bar,

Aruba ➔ Shaded by divi
divi trees and giant thatch
palapas, this is Aruba’s
epicenter of idle. A bastion of
inaction on a tranquil shore
by day, it’s just the opposite

porch, the rum-addled
stories produced from late
nights have earned Basil an
indelible reputation. He
knows stuf, but people here
don’t spill secrets.
4 Tamboo Tavern,
Puerto Rico ➔ Hanging
surfoard decor and Reef Girl
posters aren’t necessary to
prove its merit as a legitimate
surf shack. In fact, there’s no
denying it when the winter
swell breaks right of the tav-
ern’s back deck. It becomes
the most popular bar on
the west coast of Puerto
Rico, and the surfoards are
aplenty then.
5 Gwen’s Reggae Grill,
Anguilla ➔ Begin Sunday
afternoon with a lazy swim
and barbecue lunch. Then get
primed with a steady stream
of rum punches. When the
scratch band explodes, give in.
The all-ages all-smiles party
follows on the porch overlook-
ing Shoal Bay East will make
you want to stay forever.
NisbetPLANTATION BEACH CLUB
NEVIS, WEST INDIES
6
Elvis’ Beach Bar,
Anguilla ➔ Slide up to
the Elvis’ beached Anguilla
race boat (below right) and
order something. Anything.
It’s the place everyone stops
in — locals and visitors alike
— and no one here has ever
met a stranger. Trust us.
Before your first one’s empty,
you’ll feel like a regular.
7 Nippers Beach Bar &
Grill, Bahamas ➔ The
no-see-ums this dive was
named after may nip your
ankles, but the frozen Nip-
pers will nip your sobriety
much faster. And while the
kids on the Great Guana
CT+L 365
MARCH
Cay dune have small pools to
play around in, the grown-
ups have dancing on tables.
Everyone leaves happy.
8 Stuf Your
Yellow Beach Bar, Pinel
Island, St. Martin ➔
Take the five-minute water
taxi from Cul de Sac. What
await are an uninhabited
island with thatch-roofed
huts, lobster lunches plucked
straight from the water, a
constantly shifting sandbar,
sexy bartenders with ooh-
la-la accents, and the most
picture-perfect view of St.
Martin. If heaven exists on
Earth, this is it. Proof: The
beach is also topless. — zs
Face in
IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b
Cancun
TIM E TO
French food? In the land of
salbutes? That’s what the (deep
breath) Wine & Food Festival
Cancun-Riviera Maya, March
13-16, is going for this year.
Celebrity tastemaker Daniel
Boulud joins 50 chefs from
around the globe (from Canada
to Brazil) to celebrate French
eats and drinks. The hot ticket
is the “all-inclusive” gourmet
day: a sip-and-sample-palooza
in an oceanfront mega-tent.
We’re predicting the next big
foodie trend: Frexican.
Stay
“Top Hotels in the Caribbean”
- TripAdvisor
Relax
“World’s Best Service”
- Travel + Leisure
Dine
“Best Island Resorts for Food”
- Condé Nast Traveler
Experience the very best at Nisbet
Plantation, the Caribbean’s only
historic plantation inn on the beach.
800-742-6008
www.nisbetplantation.com

Floating
cabana at the
Ritz Carlton
Grand Cayman
Overindulge at five resorts where next-level amenities pack a punch.
HAVE YOUR
CAKE
Craving cheesecake at
midnight? Fancy a fajita
feast at 4 a.m.? Happily,
at all-inclusive mega-
resort Excellence Playa
Mujeres near Cancun,
24-hour room service
is included in the room
rate. Just remember to
say gracias. s
KEY s Pretty fancy. ss Over the top. sss Oh, no, you didn’t. ssss This is getting ridiculous. sssss No. Way.
28 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
CT+L 365
MARCH
Above & Beyond
2 3 5
LEAVE THE SPLURGE IN LOOK UP GO WITH THE
PACKING TO PRIVATE At Jumby Bay, a FLOAT
THE PROS At Barbados’ Sandy private-island resort Soak up the sun while
Don’t feel weird about Lane resort, the staf situated just of Anti- you suck down a mar-
it. At The St. Regis is there when you need gua, guests stargaze in garita in a two-person
Bahia Beach Resort them, but you won’t style with the resident floating cabana at the
in Puerto Rico, your spy them en route to astronomer: Think Ritz-Carlton Grand
personal butler will fold their daily chores: An comfy lounge chairs, Cayman. Or order
your wardrobe between underground network nibbles and champagne lunch from a four-top
crisp sheets of tissue of tunnels accommo- on pristine Pasture Aqua Lounge table,
paper while you hit the dates all back-of-house Beach — binoculars also right in the water.
pool one last time. ss services. sss included. ssss sssss
ZACH STOVALL
 You’re In Good Coman
When ou Choose Windson on Grace Ba

A Preferred Boutique Hotel

Trip Advisor Top 25
Caribbean Hotel
Expedia Insider’s Select
Travelocity Excellence Award
Fodor’s Choice
Magellan
Design Awards
Condé Nast
Grace Bay
World’s Best Beach

Whether it is the most recognized names in the travel industry, delighted vacationers,
or Windsong condominium owners, you’re in good company when you choose the
Windsong Resort. Windsong is the perfect luxury island getaway to relax, refresh
and invest in your “well-being.” And, for those who choose to own, it is also an
investment that can provide a perennial source of rental income when you are away.
That’s perfection in paradise – vacationing and owning luxury oceanfront property in
an exquisitely pristine, tropical setting.
Enjoy boutique luxury overlooking the island’s best reef on world-famous Grace Bay.

Dining • Spa • Fitness • Heated Pool • Meeting Facilities • Luxury Rentals • Sales from $450K - $2.8M
Turks & Caicos Islands • (649) 333-7700 • 1-800-WINDSONG (946-3766) • www.windsongresort.com
 cT+l 365
APRIL

got back Bonefish Cay,

Bahamas

Buy an island
$ 10 0,0 0 0 s
s
1
GUNPOWDER ISLAND
BeRMUDa A 7.5-acre expanse once used to
stash military explosives. (Use the on-site bar-
racks for your next big corporate event!) Price
upon request. privateislandsonline.com
2
LITTLE CHANNEL CAYE
BelIZe This 1.5-acre sliver of awesome lets
you live out your life on a postcard. Should you
have a few extra sheckles to spare, purchase
Big Channel Caye as well. $350,000. caribbean
islandbrokers.com
3
BONEFISH CAY BaHaMaS
A 13-acre atoll that’s completely self-sufcient
(translation: on-island electricity and desalina-
tion). Take a swim at low tide to your own coral
reef. $14.5 million. vladi-private-islands.de

tAX ReFUnD sPenDinG

Rent a Villa
got back
$ 10,0 0 0 s
s
1
VILLA BALINESE TURKS
anD caIcOS A 4,200-square-foot Indo-
nesian vibe in the Caribbean, complete with

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: VLADI-PRIVATE-ISLANDS.DE; ZOETRY WELLNESS & SPA RESORTS;

infinity pool that runs the length of the villa.
$5,000-$16,000 per week. luxuryretreats.com
2
BANYAN TREE PInK SanDS
ReSORT, THe BaHaMaS Chill at the pri-
COURTESY MATACHICA RESORT & SPA; LUXURYRETREATS.COM
vate pool, enjoy your own chef, and stash the
in-laws in the 700-square-foot, one-bedroom
cottage. $20,000-$26,000 per week.
pinksandsresort.com
3
HUMMINGBIRD VILLA
MUSTIQUe Think Jetsons’ summer home:
sleek architecture, open spaces. There’s room
for 10, not including the six-person staf.
$50,000 per week. villasofmustique.com
Villa Balinese,
Turks and Caicos

30 c T+ l S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 cT+l 365
APRIL

got back Zoetry Paraiso de

la Bonita, Mexico

All-inclusive
$ 1,0 0 0 s
s

GROTTO BAY BeRMUDa

1

All-inclusives are an endangered species in

Bermuda, so Grotto Bay deserves special atten-
tion. At $270 per night, this 201-room, 11-cottage
retreat is a proper budget getaway. grottobay.com
2
BARCELO BAVARO
PALACE DELUXE DOMInIcan
RePUBlIc One of our favorite Punta Cana
megaresorts boasts a rum-and-cigar bar, an
18-hole golf course and a “floating” cocktail
lounge. Starts at $270 per night. barcelo.com
3
ZOETRY PARAISO DE LA
BONITA RIVIeRa Maya, MeXIcO The
resort’s “endless privileges” include a bottomless
mini bar (sold!). Don’t miss the lively catamaran
sunset cruise. Starts at $553. zoetryresorts.com

GUiDe We’ve got suggestions, lots of  ’em — depending on

how much Uncle Sam sends back your way, of course.

got back
$ 10 0 s
s
stay Cheap
1
SOHO PLAYA Playa Del
caRMen, MeXIcO Urban chic resort
with a focus on a spa that’s walking distance
from the beach. Lower your heart rate even
more at the 8:30 p.m. meditation session.
Starts at $99. sohoplaya.com
2
JAKES TReaSURe BeacH, JaMaIca
Funky, fashionable hotel on the island’s south
side with a laid-back, no-problems attitude.
Chill poolside under the shade of almond and
coconut trees. Starts at $99. jakeshotel.com
3
MATACHICA BelIZe A quick water-
taxi ride from San Pedro, Matachica is a Belize
resort without the jungle-trekking commute.
Choose from 26 casitas and villas. Starts at
$200. matachica.com — kh
Matachica, Belize

c T+ l S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 0 1 4 31
where visitors
can swim with
Grand Cayman is
A location known
as The Sandbar on

southern stingrays.
APRIL
cT+l 365

STEPHEN FRINK COLLECTION/ALAMY; CLOCKWISE FROM TOP OPPOSITE: AURORA

PHOTOS/ALAMY; BLICKWINKEL/ALAMY; STEPHEN FRINK COLLECTION/ALAMY; THE
WESTIN ST. JOHN RESORT & VILLAS; CHRIS A CRUMLEY/ALAMY; IMAGE SOURCE/ALAMY
 snorkeling starter kit
Water visibility peaks in the spring, so dive in. Here are our
favorite spots to swim, skim and sleep. — Erika Hueneke
SEE SAIL STAY

Mingling with southern Red Sail Sports’ Stingray The Ritz-Carlton,

CAYMAN ISLANDS
GRAND CAYMAN,
stingrays may seem Sandbar & Reef Sail Grand Cayman sits over
spooky, but at Stingray departs on a 65-foot a prime spot on Seven
City, it’s a harmless catamaran from the Mile Beach. There’s no
1

excursion. The water is Safehaven dock and reason to stay dry with
waist deep, and guides includes a stop at a coral free access to water
feed the rays (which is reef. Rum punch is trikes and sea
why they stick around). extra (but worth it). hammocks.

The second-longest White Sands Dive At Las

AMBERGRIS CAYE,

barrier reef in the world Shop at Las Terrazas Terrazas,

attracts sea turtles, Resort & Residences condo-style
BELIZE

nurse sharks and moray makes daily runs to Hol rooms ofer full kitchens.
eels in staggering num- Chan Marine Reserve For a post-snorkel snack,
2

bers. Brace and Shark Ray Alley for chef Manuel Dorigoni’s
for fin-clad $45 per person. Gear and ceviche pairs nicely with
crowds too. a park fee cost extra. local Belikin beer.

Reefs such Stuart Cove’s, located in Perched high on a hill

NEW PROVIDENCE,

as Nari the old Flipper movie set, 12 miles from Nassau,

Nari, Little ofers pickups from any the 10-room A Stone’s
BAHAMAS

Elvis and School hotel. Its 46-foot Zam- Throw Away B&B
3

House attract myriad bezi boat (takes 35; boasts wraparound

tropical fish, as well as 14 is average) porches and gratis
eels, sting rays and is a floating shuttles rides to
5-foot reef sharks. party. Love Beach.

The Caicos Cays Retired Ocean Club

TURKS AND CAICOS
PROVIDENCIALES,

are as deserted from a life Resorts is

as when pirates rumrunning, afordable
plied these seas. A stop the 77-foot among Grace
4

at Water Cay means Atabeyra departs from Bay Beach’s

a chance to snorkel the Blue Haven Marina. grand dames. Its
through the wreck of a Excursions include rum passion-fruit daiquiris
decades-old cargo ship. punch, snacks and gear. use local Bambarra Rum.

The snorkeling trail of The Sadie Sea can take The Westin St. John
the coast of Trunk Bay 37 guests, but often the Resort & Villas occupies
typically gets all the 40-foot trawler embarks 47 acres near Cruz Bay.
ST. JOHN,

love, but true adventur- with just four. Tours A $12 million refresh
USVI

ers head ofshore for a depart from the of all 96 pool- and
5

drift snorkel at “secret” national- beach-side hotel

reefs that shelter blow- park rooms wrapped
fish and octopus. dock. in January.
 cT+l 365
APRIL

u
USE YOUR
4
STEP
HOW TO
DRIVE
ARMS When you’re
u slowing down or coming

IN THE to a stop, flap one arm like a bird’s

CARIBBEAN
Because you need
to obey the local
laws. Because safety
comes first. Because
you don’t want to KEEP LEFT A
1
STEP
run over a goat. majority of the Carib-
bean drives on the left
side of the road. Islands where
they drive on the right: French
West Indies, Puerto Rico, Haiti,
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Cuba
and the Dominican Republic.
DON’T TAIL-
2
STEP
GATE Cars stop in the
middle of the road, often
to pick up or drop of passengers,
or just chat with passing drivers.
HONK AWAY Your
3
STEP
horn is your best friend.
Use a light tap and a
wave to greet passers-by, while a
long, extended beep signals your
approach around a sharp corner.
wing out the driver-side window.
Just in case the person behind
missed your brake lights.
5
STEP STEP ON THE
GAS Some locals take
the laid-back life too
literally and drive at 30 mph. Shoot
past them with a burst of accelera-
tion as you pop into the other lane.
Give a light (read: very light) horn
tap as a courtesy. Also, smile.
BRAKE FOR
6
STEP
ANIMALS The road
is hardly your own in the
Caribbean. Cows have the right
of way in St. Martin. Give way to
motorcyclists or moped riders in
the Dominican Republic: The law
tends to side with bikers.
WATCH THE
7
STEP
ROAD Be careful on
smaller, more rugged
islands. Potholes make locals
do crazy things, like swerve into
oncoming trafc or climb an
embankment. And if you pull over
and ask for directions on Gua-
deloupe, they might think you’re
stopping to give them a ride.
LISTEN UP Keep
8
STEP
the car radio on. This is
the only way to hear news
of a volcanic eruption, carnival,
rugby match or other events that
can impact your commute. — KH

see an lslandwide

FROM TOP: ILLUSTRATION BY IKER AYESTARAN; COURTESY ST. CROIX FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE; OPPOSITE: ZACH STOVALL (2)
IT ’ S TH e
perfect b

Food Fight
a
TIM e TO

Break out your “things I and dancing under the stars.

ate” foodie checklist and get
ready for some serious caloric
damage during the St. Croix
Food & Wine Experience.
On April 6-12, the largest
of the U.S. Virgin Islands
turns into a no-holds-barred
bacchanal, with celeb chefs
and wine dinners ever y
night. Local and visiting
chefs will also compete in a
“food fight” on the beach to
prove their culinary prow-
ess. Other events include
tasting crawl through his-
toric Christiansted, a sunset
barbecue that blends dining
The event’s climax, A Taste
of St. Croix, held at the Divi
Carina Bay Resort, draws
2,000 guests and partici-
pants to sample the island’s
best cuisine, wine, rum and
beer, all while celebrity chefs
judge the island’s restau-
rants. The bout is for brag-
ging rights, but on an island
that draws culinary influ-
ences from Dutch, French,
Spanish, West Indian and
African roots, the show-
down means just one thing:
Allez cuisine! stxfoodandwine
.com — Holly Kapherr

34 c T+ l S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 Surprisingly affordable luxury on Grace Bay. reservations@
Royal West Indies is a beachside resort featuring royalwestindies.com
2 Studios and 1 and 2 bedroom Suites. Perfect
the for honeymooners, sun lovers and families alike. 1-800-332-4203
O n ly Pl ac e
where A ResoRt Enjoy nonmotorized water sports and fabulous
www.royalwestindies.com

MAkes its
meals at the Pelican Bay Restaurant & Bar.
@

own CAR
Screw the golf cart. On Petit
St. Vincent, a tony private-
island resort in the Grenadines,
guests are whisked between the Bonaire’s only All-Inclusive resort!
beach and their plush villas in
a feet of spify Mini Mokes.
Production of the iconic Brit-
ish beach buggies began in
the 1960s and has long since
halted, but for the past 45
years, PSV has manufactured
the rugged of-roaders itself.
Sorry, eco-warriors: It only
gets 3 miles per gallon. — sgg
Toll Free 1-800-766-6016
www.plazabeachresortbonaire.com
Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire – the only resort on Bonaire that offers an All Inclusive package.
Packages from $1,110 pp/dbl for a 7 night ALL-INCLUSIVE stay.
PRICE INCLUDES:
• Buffet style meals • Theme buffet nights
• Live cooking stations • Daytime snacks
• Unlimited drinks (*premium brands & other restrictions apply)
• Daytime activities and evening entertainment
• On-site Coral Casino • Day spa and fitness center
• Beach chair & Pool towels • Free WI-FI
• 6 days unlimited shore diving • Round trip airport transfers
• All taxes and service charges (excludes marine park fee)
 CT+L 365
MAY

THE BUZZ-O-METER
Before you glance down the bar and have what
she’s having, know what you’re getting your liver into.
Our wimpy-to-where-am-I cocktail chart can help.

SO WHAT ARE YOU Let’s skip the child’s play.

HAVING?
MUDSLIDE PIÑA COLADA
Grand Cayman Puerto Rico
Yeah, it’s tasty, but so If you’re ordering a pine-
are lollipops and Lucky Chocolate milk I want Sunblock apple-rum drink that ends
Charms. This vodka- something in “a” or “o” and comes with
Kahlua slushy could yummy. an umbrella, you should be
practically be relegated to a wearing a tiara and a T-shirt
child’s diet. that says “bride.”

I’m not leaving the bar. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS

FOR THE NIGHT?
PAINKILLER ’TI PUNCH
BVI French West Indies
There’s a direct correlation We’ve started to eliminate
between rum-to-mixer Heavy dancing I’m not Light conversation the fruit basket to get
ratio and imminent danger. sure to what matters. Clean
You still have four fruit yet. and smooth from rhum
juices competing with the agricole, it’s the mojito’s
rum. You can do better. promiscuous cousin.

WHAT ARE YOU TWO How weak the drinks are here
ARGUING ABOUT?
CUBA LIBRE KILLER BEE
Havana Nevis
Now we’re getting into When a bartender refuses
chest-hair-inducing Politics We’re having Relationships to divulge a drink’s entire
territory. The pop of Coke a debate recipe, be warned. There’s
and lime hides the fact that about ... rum, passion-fruit juice
you’re essentially drinking … but what’s that secret
moonshine (Bacardi 151). ingredient?

I love you, man. Seriously. WE’RE NOT KIDDING,

THIS STUFF IS POTENT.
PLANTER’S PUNCH BUSH RUM
regional regional
Some lush thought to use When you can get fined for
two rums instead of one. Coyote Ugly Let’s The Hangover personal consumption of
And one of those rums get a liquor, try it. Get ready to
is often Jamaica’s highly crazy! hear the stories about that
flammable John Crow time you used a ship’s mast
Batty. Floor, meet face. as a stripper pole.
SHUTTERSTOCK (8)

OK, YOU’RE CUT OFF —

GO TO BED.

36 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
Time is soprecious ,
smart couples steal it

Rendezvous allows you to find time, time to be together, time to

relax, time to talk. It gives you time to reconnect and to reflect.
It gives you time to concentrate on each other, to refocus.
It gives you time to rediscover what matters most – you.

Rediscover life’s pleasures together.

Visit www.theromanticholiday.com or call 1 888 877 4705

 ON A SCALE
OF $10 TO $1
Being down to your last
lempiras doesn’t mean
the fun is over.

$ 10 JAMAICA Dive
into the Blue
Hole near Ocho Rios —
the guides will force you
Divi to have fun.
Carina
Bay, St.
Croix
$ 9 TOBAGO Ride out
to the Nylon Pool
and snorkel in every shade
of Caribbean water ever

Most Inclusive All-Inclusives $8

described.

GET A LOT OF BANG FOR A LITTLE BUCK AT THESE EVERYTHING -AND -MORE RESORTS.
JEWEL RUNAWAY BAY,
JAMAICA ➔ To appreciate this
resort between MoBay and Ocho
Rios, bring kids — anyone’s kids.
What you get Dive-in movies,
beach Olympics and hay rides.
What you don’t Anything resem-
DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC Eat fresh
snapper with a side of
a direct flight from the U.S. Presidente on hard-to-
find Playa Caleton.
What you get Beach bar, pool bar,
lobby bar and an archery range
(maybe try the archery first).
$ 7 SAINT LUCIA Hike
the Tet Paul Nature
Trail for a view of the
What you don’t A new menu every Pitons (price covers
day, peace on weekends. one adult and
What you pay $306 (standard); one child).

6
bling adults-only. $425 (junior suite).
What you pay $325 (standard);
$
DIVI CARINA BAY, ST. CROIX UTILA Play
$545 (junior suite).
➔ No passports necessary for the weirdest
PARADISE ISLAND HARBOUR U.S. citizens, so that could be mini-golf
course
RESORT, NASSAU ➔ This basic additional savings. The snorkel- we’ve ever
all-inc is one block from Atlantis, ing of the long beach is as good as seen.
with a 50-mile diference in price. it gets in any U.S. territory. The fee
includes a
What you get Mountain bikes, What you get Horses and ham- beer and a tip.
three meals and endless snacks. mocks on the beach, and the best
What you don’t High-speed Inter-
net, water slides.
snorkeling in any U.S. territory.
What you don’t Giant water slides,
$ 5 ST. CROIX Tour the
Cruzan Rum Distill-
ery. Yes, of course, there
What you pay $250 (standard); beach villa appeal. are samples.
$400 (beachfront). What you pay $448 (a four-night

GRAND PINEAPPLE, ANTIGUA

special for a family of four). $ 4 BEQUIA Fawn over
the world’s cutest
babies at the Old Hegg
➔ Spring-breakers have yet to Pool suite at Turtle Sanctuary.
touch the quarter-mile beach Grand Pineapple,

$ 3
Antigua GRENADA Hike to
where this Sandals sibling sits.
and splash in Seven
What you get One price for all Sisters Waterfalls. Use the
eats, drinks, snacks and tips. ofered walking stick.
What you don’t All-night restau-
rants and all-night noise.
What you pay $338 (standard);
$ 2 PUERTO RICO Eat
pinchos in Pinones
on Sundays.
$468 (beachfront).
IBEROSTAR COSTA DORADA,
$ 1 ROATAN At the
airport, leave your
leftover lempiras in the
PUERTO PLATA, DR ➔ Not as boxes to fund the medical
expensive as Punta Cana, and it’s clinic for needy locals. — RS

38 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 CT+L 365 CT+L
MAY

It’s high season, which begets big spending, CHEAP

which begets overbooked hotels, which begets
cries of “How much?!” Let us show you where
May is not celebrated as max-the-Visa month.

SUNSCAPE
CURAÇAO

Curaçao, Aruba’s exotic neighbor, is a world-class div-

ing destination, and Sunscape makes it part of the all-inc
package. You’ll get nonstop food, lessons in windsurfing
and (finally!) sumo wrestling. You won’t get a 12th bar
or restaurant — there are only 11 (oh, the humanity).
Spend your extra money on the craps table in the casino.
Remember, it’s not an investment. May rates: $380
(standard room, two people); $550 (ocean view, four people)
SUNSCAPE RESORT & SPAS; FROM TOP OPPOSITE: DIVI CARINA BAY ST. CROIX RESORT;
SHUTTERSTOCK; GRAND PINEAPPLE BEACH RESORTS
 CT+L 365
JUNE

Moonsplash,
Rendezvous Bay,
Anguilla

Full Moon
needs a year to schedule four days’
Party Scene MILD and three nights’ worth of Carib-

1 TRELLIS BAY, BEEF ISLAND, BVI ➔ bean bands, with the headliner

Parties
Beach bufet at 7 p.m., followed playing around 3:30 a.m., give or
by stilt dancers, steel-pan music and take an hour. “We aren’t picky,”
floating fireballs (copper sculptures Bankie says. “We keep it simple
torched on the water and burning and natural.” An apt description of
for hours). Back in the room by 10. his driftwood-constructed Dune
It happens once a month. Preserve Beach Bar too.
The moon, if the clouds
cooperate, works like a
spotlight. Who can sleep?
2 JUNGLE TRAILS, GRENADA
Every Saturday the island’s
Hash House Harriers set 50 to 350
➔

Party Scene WILD

Who wants to? people loose on a late-day hike.
And once a month the hike starts
just before moonrise. The goal?
5 KOKOMO BEACH, CURAÇAO
The bonfi re is the tamest part
of this scene. As many as 3,000
➔

To return to the trailhead for beer.

people show up on the beach for
Muddy shoes required.
house music, dancing and ID

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ZACH STOVALL (6); PHOTO RESOURCE HAWAII/ALAMY

3 SUNSHINE’S, NEVIS ➔ Guests
at the Four Seasons next door
to Sunshine’s see the bonfi re and
checks. It’s kind of like the height
of spring break showing up on a
monthly schedule.
the tree-stump tables and sidle on
over. Lose the sport coat, unless it’s
white. Anyone dressed in all white
scores a discount on Killer Bees
6 BOMBAS SURFSIDE SHACK, TOR-
TOLA, BVI ➔ Families having a
good time at the Trellis Bay Full
(the secret rum punch). Moon Party (see “Mild”) are thank-
ful to be on the other side of the isle
when this one starts up. Be careful
Party Scene MEDIUM of, in reverse order: the punch,

4 RENDEZVOUS BAY, ANGUILLA ➔

Moonsplash happens only in
March. Organizer Bankie Banx
the tea, the mushrooms. And also
watch out for lost possessions — like
bras and vomit — in the sand. — rs

40 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 CT+L 365
JUNE

u
HOW TO
TAKE THE June 20 is the longest day of the year. With all that daylight, it’s
u PERFECT your best chance to snap something to hang over the sofa. Check
PHOTO out these five tips from our resident sharpshooter Zach Stovall.

1 2 3 4 5
DISTINGUISH YOURSELF TAKE CHANCES THE RULE OF THIRDS GET HIGH KEEP COMPOSED
Avoid the trap of shoot- Shoot the first thing that To make an image more Beaches look amazing Draw the eye deeper
ing a desertlike expanse comes to mind, then turn interesting, think of the when viewed from above. into your photo by using
that has no focal point. around. There’s probably frame as a three-by- A high vantage point dis- “leading lines” — a dock,
Find something (like a a better opportunity three grid, then align guises the small imper- a jetty or the line where
palm tree, thatch hut or behind you. Do the same the elements where the fections while allowing the sea meets the sand.
umbrella) to help frame with portraits — experi- lines intersect. That said, you to use its curvaceous Make sure these lines are
the shot and give the ment with diferent back- see Tip 2, some rules are shape to your composi- leading the eye to some-
scene scale. grounds and angles. meant to be broken. tional advantage. thing interesting.

Simply Magical

Rosalie Bay
Discover a sense of inner peace at Rosalie Bay Resort This wind- and solar-powered sanctuary sits perfectly
on the Caribbean’s Nature Island of Dominica. At this between the Rosalie River and a black sand beach,
eco-boutique and wellness resort, natural beauty and where endangered sea turtles nest.
elegant touches create a simply magical vacation.
Retreat to Rosalie Bay Resort today and renew your Dominica
Unwind in one of 28 spacious, air-conditioned rooms spirit while helping the environment.
and suites, each with hand-carved furniture. Rejuvenate (877) 732-2864
with healthy cuisine, stretch out with complimentary 33% of 4 nights or more www.RosalieBay.com
yoga and indulge in treatments at the waterfront spa.
 CT+L 365
JUNE

IT’S HURRICANE SEASON.

Let’s Vacay!
PEOPLE OFTEN THINK TROPICAL ISLES ARE OFF-
LIMITS JUNE 1-NOV. 30. NOPE. JUST HEAD SOUTH.

ARUBA ➔ Refreshing trade winds, low humidity, and the

most sunny days per year of any Caribbean island.
BARBADOS ➔ Hurricane Janet was the last storm to hit the
home of Rihanna and Mount Gay Rum. The year: 1955.
BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA ➔ On these undeveloped islands,
eco-lodges and frequent power outages take you of the grid — literally.
BONAIRE ➔ More than 55 percent of travelers to Bonaire
are repeat visitors. Maybe it’s the lack of Category 5’s.
CURAÇAO ➔ Don’t leave the island without riding one of the bipedal
fowl at the Curaçao Ostrich Farm. Insider tip: Buy it dinner first.
MARGARITA ISLAND, VENEZUELA ➔ We recommend a
horseback ride out to Macanao peninsula ... through the water.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ➔ Everyone back home is stockpiling water.
You’re enjoying a bake and shark (fish sandwich on steroids) at Richard’s.

Druif Beach,
Aruba

42 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 u
HOW TO
u

STAY
SHARK-FREE
“Get out of the water!” No
words spark more fear in beach
lovers and tourism boards, not
since June 20, 1975, when two
musical notes (da-dum) and
one big fish tapped a powder
keg of worldwide fear. While
Jaws has forever changed our
view of the ocean, the Carib-
bean’s clear blue waters carry
good news. Statistically, they’re
extremely safe. Only the Baha-
FROM LEFT: ZACH STOVALL; MOVIESTORE COLLECTION LTD/ALAMY

mas consistently bubbles up in

worldwide shark–bite statistics
(five in 2013, none fatal), which
mostly suggest avoiding spear Try diving at any of our 86 marked sites, or go snorkeling, kayaking,
fishing. It’s paltry stuf for a hiking or windsurfng. The pace is up to you, as the choice of
nation of 700 islands — espe- shopping, dining or touring is also yours. Without a traffc light
cially compared to, say, Florida, in sight, there’s never a reason to rush…Simply relax, unwind
which had an estimated 26 and remember to leave your wrist watch at home.
attacks in 2013. That’s 30
percent of the world’s annual
shark attacks, all in one state.
Uh-oh, Mickey. — ep

Bonaire is serviced by Delta, United and Insel Air

 Hix Island
House,
Puerto Rico
The Road Least Traveled
S L I P O F F T H E B I G - R E S O RT S C E N E AT
O N E O F T H E S E M I N I P R O P E RT I E S —
A N D F O R A F R AC T I O N O F T H E P R I C E
DURING LOW SEASON.
PUERTO RICO
HIX ISLAND HOUSE
* From afar, Hix Island House looks
like a bunker, but take a few steps
toward it, and the concrete walls and
clean lines give way to birds and but-
terflies that come and go via the missing
wall. You will too — from your hanging
day bed to the chairs on the veranda.
Number of rooms: 19. Nightly rate from
$135. hixislandhouse.com
ST. MARTIN
LE PETIT HOTEL
* The owners were supposed to visit
relatives for a two-month vacation back
in 1996 but decided to stay and open a
hotel instead. They did so with this spot
on the French side of the isle, building
11 rooms facing the ocean and Grand
Case Beach. You’ll feel like you’re being
tended to by the cast of Cheers at Down-
ton Abbey. Number of rooms: 11. Nightly
rate from $265. lepetithotel.com
JAMAICA
GEEJAM HOTEL
* It used to be a recording studio used
by moguls like Björk and Gwen Stefani.
Live like them for a week in the foothills
of the Blue Mountains, in pine cottages
outfitted with the latest in high-tech
gadgets. You can even lay down a track
or two yourself. Welcome to the Apple
store in the jungle. Number of rooms: 7.
Nightly rate from $395. geejamhotel.com
CAYMAN ISLANDS
COTTON TREE
* You’re only 10 minutes from tourist-
trod Seven Mile Beach, but you’d never
know it. Here on West Bay, amid avo-
cado trees, is Cayman’s only boutique
hotel. It’s unlikely you’ll see another
soul. Well, except for your personal chef
and on-call sommelier. Number of rooms:
4. Nightly rate from $670. Discounted rates
for couples. caymancottontree.com
44 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
CT+L 365
JUNE
Islands on the C-List (as in Chill)
IT’S A LITTLE HARDER TO GET TO THESE LESSER-KNOWN ISLANDS, BUT WHAT’S ONE
MORE FERRY RIDE FOR A CHANCE TO DISCOVER A WELL-KEPT SECRET?
MARTINIQUE ➔ The Paris
of the Caribbean is about as
French as you can get, from
Chanel handbags to the birth-
place of Napoleon’s empress Jose-
phine to a love of the drink. After
a few ’ti punches — straight white
rhum agricole with a dash of lime
and cane syrup — your high-school
French might not sound too bad.
LOW-KEY CRED It’s out there:
1,950 miles from New York, and
275 miles from the closest South
American coastline.
2 ANGUILLA ➔ This island
is where celebs come to swap
paparazzi for privacy. Spot them
biking around Island Harbour
on the east end, having dinner
at roadside Picante on the west
end, or sipping sunset drinks at
Viceroy (Sandra Bullock is very
nice, by the way).
Martinique
LOW-KEY CRED At a mere
35 square miles, discovering
Anguilla probably required more
efort than crashing into a conti-
nent. (No ofense, Columbus.)
3 ST. VINCENT AND THE
GRENADINES ➔ Longtime
yachtie haven St. Vincent and its
surrounding Grenadines made
news when Capt. Jack Spar-
row came onto the scene. But
its timeless treasures are turtle
sanctuaries, West Indian-style
plantations and the private
island of Mustique.
LOW-KEY CRED Approximately
9,000 visitors stayed overnight in
December 2012. That’s basically a
Kardashian family reunion.
4 DOMINICA ➔ Flying gur-
nards. Batfish. Golden crinoids.
This ain’t the sea life of Cayman,
the BVI or the Bahamas. A
dearth of nonstop fl ights from
the States keeps Dominica (due
north of Venezuela) on the least-
traveled list, but it’s worth a few
layovers to look one of these rare
creatures in the eye.
LOW-KEY CRED The population
is 68,000, which equals the aver-
age daily visitor total for Niagara
Falls. (No biggie: Dominica has
waterfalls too.) — Audrey St. Clair
 CT+L

Summertime means low season. Translation: CHILL

an even better chance to have these laid-back
locales and secret spots all to yourself.
DEBBIE SNOW; FROM TOP OPPOSITE: MICHAEL GRIMM; JON WHITTLE; ZACH STOVALL

SABA
You’ll find no franchises or shopping
malls on the “Unspoiled Queen of the
Caribbean.” This rock island is just a
12-minute flight from neighboring St.
Maarten (on a plane the size of a sofa),
and has grown into a favored haunt of
divers and hikers. Low-key cred: The
island’s (only) airport boasts the world’s
shortest commercial airline strip.
 CT+L 365
JULY

Furry,
Majestic,
Wasted
Get up close and
personal with our
favorite Carib-
bean critters.

1
sWiMMing Pigs
THE BAHAMAS
Theories vary about
how they got there —
dropped of by sailors who
intended to eat them later,
castaways from a ship-
wreck. Regardless, the
swimming pigs now domi-
nate talk of Big Major Cay
in Exuma. Just remember:
They’re still wild.

PIG: KIP EVANS/ALAMY; DRUNKEN MONKEY: FRANK STAUB/GETTY IMAGES; JAGUAR: JUDY BELLAH/ALAMY; IGUANA: ISTOCK/PHOTOTREAT;
2 3 4 5 6

SCREAMING MONKEY: STEPHEN ALVAREZ/GETTY IMAGES; FLAMINGOS: ISTOCK/VANWYCKEXPRESS; TURTLE: SHUTTERSTOCK

drunkEn FriEndlY suntanning sCrEaMing soCial
MonkEYs Jaguars iguanas MonkEYs FlaMingos
ST. KITTS BELIZE CAYMAN ISLANDS BELIZE ARUBA
The vervet monkeys may Junior Buddy is a 3-year- Drivers beware: Watch Head inland to the For $99, you get a day pass
have started out getting old big cat and resident out for these cold- crumbling Maya ruins at to Renaissance Aruba
their rocks of on fer- of the Belize Zoo whose blooded creatures of daybreak, and you’ll unmis- Resort & Casino’s private
mented fruit lying on the precociousness knows to the sides of the road. takenly hear the howler island — one of Aruba’s
island’s forest foor, but no bounds. He’s been Sometimes they’re so monkeys. Their treetop few private beaches — and
now they’ve graduated to known to get up close and preoccupied working on serenade sounds like the the chance to hang with
a much easier route: steal- personal with visitors and their tan they don’t real- soundtrack to World War wild pink f amingos.
ing drinks from nearby even do a somersault or ize how close they come III. That, or the coming of They’re roaming free and
beach goers. two for crowds. to being road kill. a Zombie apocalpyse. ready to mingle. — kh

IT ’ S TH E
SPOT SEA TURTLES IN NEVIS
a perfect b Few things are cuter than a baby sea turtle, except the
TIM E TO
prospect of watching hundreds of the little sea-green
nuggets crossing the shore from their nests to the sea.
It’s a great time to visit the Four Seasons Nevis, which has
partnered with the Sea Turtle Conservancy to give guests
an insider’s look at the turtles’ brave new world through
guided beach tours. The hotel even sponsors six tricked-
out turtles you can follow in real time via GPS tracking.
Calabash Cove is an idyllic beachfront boutique resort on the
world’s most romantic island. Expansive sea views, a serene
sanctuary and a tranquil spa distinguish this luxury hotel, a
resort that embraces the best of the past. Each of 26 suites
has its own Jacuzzi and high-end amenities. The 9 Balinese
Water’s Edge Cottages have their own pool.

WATER’S EDGE COTTAGE WITH POOL SWIM UP JR. SUITE SUNSET OCEANVIEW JR. SUITE INFINITY POOL WITH SWIM UP BAR

A romantic resort on the most romantic island in the Caribbean, an ideal location to tie the knot.
Bring friends and we will celebrate your wedding free of charge*
*10 couples all-inclusive for 5 nights or longer.

W W W. C A L A B A S H C O V E . C O M
800-917-2683
 CT+L 365
JULY

WELCOME TO THE
AMERIBBEAN
Speak English and pay with greenbacks. This
Fourth of July, we spotlight four locales that
are as close to the monster truckin’, Buffalo-
wingin’ US of A as it gets.
PuErto riCo you’re there You can ask
How American is it? where the ba–o is in Eng-
Technically speaking, lish, and use the greenbacks
it is America: It’s a U.S. in your wallet. If you want
commonwealth over which to eat kinda-sorta Ameri-
Congress has legislative can, ask for lechón, smoky
power. And it wants to barbecued pork that comes
be more American: In piled high, and a Medalla,

FROM LEFT: SHUTTERSTOCK; ZACH STOVALL

November 2012, 61 percent
of Puerto Ricans voted in
support of statehood status.
Getting there It’s relatively
close (less than three hours
from Miami; less than five
from Chicago), and pass-
ports aren’t required. Once
an American-style lager.
u.s. Virgin
islands
How American is it?
There’s a Home Depot
and a Kmart. Does that
answer your question?

EXPLORE ALL THE WAYS

TO ENJOY YOUR STAY
GET AWAY FROM THE EVERYDAY
• The Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina features 102 rooms,
most with a view of the Caribbean Sea.
• Business Class rooms and 3 Hour Express Laundry
• To Keep you comfortable, Sleep Number Beds are available, WiFi
to keep you connected.
• Business Center, Tour Desk and Fitness Center.
• 2 restaurants, a bar, café, 2 pools, whirlpool, and spa.

Radisson Fort George and

Marina
Tel: +1 (501) 223-3333
amin.dredge@radisson.com Fort GeorGe
radisson.com/belizecitybz Hotel and Marina
Getting there You can
make it from Boston to the
USVI in about four hours.
And as with Puerto Rico,
you can leave your passport
in your underwear drawer.
Once you’re there No
Rosetta Stone to practice,
and the ofcial currency
is the U.S. dollar. If you’re
missing the craft beer back
home, try a St. John Brewers
Island Summer Ale, which
goes down easy on a hot
beach. And if you like the
view, why not stay awhile?
As in, permanently. No visa
is needed to work here.
British Virgin
islands
How American is it? We
beat the pants of the Brits.
Today, the BVI uses Uncle
Sam’s currency. Anyone feel
B L U E H A V E N T C I . C O M • C O N T A C T @ B L U E H A V E N T C I . C O M • + 1 . 8 5 5 . 3 1 8 . 8 0 2 9 (toll free from USA and Canada)
like chanting three letters
over and over? Getting
there While you’ll need
a passport to get out of
the airport, the English-
speaking locals, availability
of charter boats and plente-
ous beach bars all make it
well worth the time spent
in line. Once you’re there
Check out the Firecracker
500 regatta, taking place July
4th weekend on Nanny Cay.
turks and if it didn’t mean showing
CaiCos up with a soggy passport.
How American is it? Chris- Once you’re there Twelve-
USVI Leave your
topher Columbus came mile Grace Bay Beach passport back in
across this island chain and the slew of its luxury your underwear
during his 1492 voyage. Not beachfront hotels won’t drawer. There’s
exactly a reason to fy the be easy on your wallet, no Rosseta Stone
stars and bars, but close but luckily they do take to practice, and
enough. Getting there dollars, so at least you the island’s ofcial
It’s so close to Miami you won’t lose any scratch in a currency is the
could almost swim there, currency conversion. — zs U.S. dollar.
BLUE HAVEN
RESORT & MARINA
G AT E WA Y T O T H E T R U E T U R K S A N D C A I C O S
Blue Haven Resort and Marina, quietly tucked away in the
Leeward area of Providenciales, is ideally located near some
of the best water sports and island hopping excursions, the
perfect gateway to experience the true Turks and Caicos.
Three dining venues with a distinctly different character, de-
signed to appeal to guests at any time and for any occasion,
make Blue Haven a veritable Dining Destination in its own right.

It’s Too Hot for Clothes — So Get Naked!
A staffer for a nude
cruise line (yes, they
exist) takes us to
the hottest beaches,
hotels and cruises for
shedding your clothes
— and inhibitions.
50 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
CT+L 365
JULY
1
hotEls
➔ It’s topless only — no full
nudity — at the Eden Pool,
part of Punta Cana’s Hard
Rock Hotel, but the swim-
up bar, cabanas and ample
lounge seating make up for
that small restriction.
Couples Resorts offers
two properties in Ocho
Rios, Jamaica: the modern
Tower Isle and the rustic,
cliff-side Sans Souci.
Both offer beach areas
where topless sunbath-
ing is allowed, and pri-
vate sections that guests
must be nude to enjoy.
Even au naturel weddings
are welcomed at Hidden
Beach Resort in Riviera
Maya, Mexico. This nude
property includes yoga ses-
sions, ping-pong and nightly
theme parties, including a
body-painting soiree.
2
BEaChEs
➔ Something about the
boat crossing from St.
Maarten to the satellite
Pinel Island makes it feel
exclusive and private. Wait
staf from Restaurant
Le Karibuni ofer drink
service to those sunning in
the nearby lounge chairs.
Anse de Grande Saline
is among St. Barth’s most
popular beaches, where all
ages take part in all stages of
undress, soaking up the sun
at this undeveloped beach.
It’s a 10-minute walk from
the parking area, so you’ll
need sturdy shoes.
The only nude beach
on A ntig ua, Hawksbill
Bay is near Hawksbill Bay
Resort, but like all beaches
on-island, it’s public. Note
it’s not easily accessible and
lacks food — thus its privacy.
3
CruisEs
➔ The destinations and
chartered ship vary each
February for Bare Necessi-
ties’ Big Nude Boat cruise,
but the all-accepting vibe
and nonstop fun do not.
Polite conduct, including a
no-photo policy, is guaran-
teed by the staf (of which
this writer is part). What
isn’t? Tan lines. — bm
NAKEDOLOGY 101
*Don’t stare — eye contact only.
*Wear a hat with a logo or a
FROM TOP: NORDICPHOTOS/ALAMY; PHOTOALTO/ALAMY
loud accessory to help kick-start
conversation. You’ll be surprised
how tricky striking up a chat can be
with no clothing on.
*You won’t have pockets, so plan
for a way to carry keys, money, etc.
Bring a lanyard, wrist pouch or, if
you must, a fanny pack.
*You won’t feel fat. Clothes are
evil. You wouldn’t have a mufn
top if it weren’t for jeans.
* Nudists don’t look a certain way,
which means anyone is welcome.
 During al 2014…
Enjoy Cacun at it’s best
WITH RESORT CREDIT

For any booking of fve nights or more at any room category or three nights at Grand Club Suites(*).

Resort credits ar designed to enjoy in different “HOST 2014”

experiences at resort´s spa, restaurants, bars and more…

All OCEAN FRONT LE BASILIC

SUITE RESORT GEM SPA DINNER

To learn more:
festamericanagrand.com
fagrandcoralbeachpromo.com/1000
coralbeachcancunhotel.com

Blvd. Kukulcán Km 9.5, Hotel Zone Cancún, México

Reservations: 01.888.830.9008 • res2facb@posadas.com

(*) Subject to availability, some black out dates might apply.

 CT+L 365
AUGUST
1 2
DoMiniCan rePuBliC
The DR has major rum
cred as the producer of
Brugal, the Caribbean’s
best-selling rum. If you
can try only one Brugal
extra Viejo, in a Santo
libre (with lemon-lime
or club soda over ice) at
Boca Marina lounge at
Boca Chica. Bring out the
flavor by pairing it with a
plate of tostones (twice-
fried green plantains).
3 4
BarBaDos
Considered the birthplace
of rum, thanks to Mount
Gay, Barbados has been
producing it since 1703.
If you can try only one
Mount Gay eclipse Black,
straight or with ginger beer.
Find it at one of the 1,000-
plus rum shops scattered
around the island, where
Bajans gather to socialize
Master
and “fire one.” It goes down
blender Alan smooth with a fish cake.
Smith at
Barbados’
Mount Gay
5 6
warehouse
Puerto riCo
Rum Wars
More than 70 percent
of rum sold in the States
comes from Puerto
Rico, including Bacardi,
the kind used when the
daiquiri and Cuba libre
National Rum Day (Aug. 16) inspires were invented. If you
can try only one Bacardi
a visit to the eight top rum-producing Superior White, in a
islands for a clash of the spirits. daiquiri at Nuyorican Cafe,
in Old San Juan. It tastes
even better when you’re
watching live salsa.
SIPPING ETIQUETTE There’s the
“proper” way to sip rum: a tulip-shaped cognac 7 8
glass, one cube of ice (if you must), smelling, CarriaCou
swirling, and examining streaks (legs) — the This Grenadine island
has one gas station and
thicker the streaks the older the rum. Then 100 rum shops. That’s
there’s rum etiquette in the Caribbean’s rum one rum shop for every
shops, where rum arrives in a fask, alongside 60 men, women and
children. If you can try
a bowl of ice, a plastic cup and a can of Coke. only one Clarke’s Court
Sure, it’s less formal, less refned, but watch Special Dark, mixed or
yourself. a rum shop isn’t so much about how neat, at lambi Queen
rum shop. Owner
you sip but how you lime, or socialize. Rum Sherwin will suggest
shops aren’t for the meek. Brush up on politics, the curried conch as an
cricket, or better, just skip the Coke. accompaniment. Do it.
52 C T+ L S P e C I a l 3 6 5 I S S U e 2 01 4
triniDaD
This twin-island nation
is home to angostura,
the largest distillery in
the southern Caribbean,
and to the world’s most
costly rum ($25,000 for
a decanter of legacy).
If you can try only one
angostura’s 1919, at Rise,
the rooftop lounge in
the capital city of Port of
Spain. Sip it slowly with
dark chocolate.
Martinique
This French-Carib isle has
the most active distilleries
in the region that make
rum straight from sugar-
cane juice, not molasses.
If you can try only one
Neisson Rhum agricole
Blanc, in a ’ti punch,
at Chez Martine, a
sunset-only bar in a narrow
Sainte-anne side street.
Bar food of choice: accras
(crispy saltfish fritters).
JaMaiCa
The island’s big boy,
appleton estate, has
been making the spirit
since 1749 in the style
that has made Jamaica a
TOP leFT: ZaCH STOVall; MOUNT GaY: JaMeS BOaRDMaN/alaMY; BaCaRDI: WHITeBOXMeDIa lIMITeD/alaMY
top rum spot: rich, heavy
pot-still rums. If you can
try only one appleton
estate 12-year-old, for
sipping neat. enjoy it at
the source, the appleton
estate tasting room, with
one cube of ice.
PanaMa
Zafra is a perfectly
balanced blend of aged
Panama rums brought
together by a master
blender from Cuba. If
you can try only one
Master Reserve 21. Sip
it with your sweetheart
in an overwater hut at
the San Blas Islands’
secluded Coral lodge,
with two pieces of tres
leche cake. — AV
T HE 2014 CA L ENDA R
FROM THE EDITORS OF ISLANDS MAGAZINE

ORDER
YOUR
2014
ISLANDS
CALENDAR
FOR ONLY
$11.97
Save $2 on each
additional calendar!

HURRY!
QUANTITIES
ARE
LIMITED!
 1 2 3
look look look

Swimsuit BANDEAU TANK TOP FRINGE

Decoder BD ➔ The woman who

wears this is most likely
from a big city, trying
Our expert panel as hard as possible to be
can tell a lot about a trendy. She’s probably trav-
woman by her choice eling with her overweight
of swimwear. Because wealthy boyfriend.
who’s seen more MG ➔ I like it! This woman
bikinis than a beach is classy. She’ll order white
bartender? — bm wine, and once she’s tipsy,
a painkiller cocktail. She’s
here with her husband —
a quirky, arty sort. These
tHe JuDGes
are the people I would
enjoy talking to.
Pw ➔ She’s high mainte-
nance. She orders a vodka
martini with three olives.
kB ➔ She plays it safe. She
is here with her husband
and orders a simple frozen
strawberry daiquiri —
nothing wild.
BD ➔ The girl is from the
Midwest. She is likely
traveling with family, or
out of the country for the
f rst time on her honey-
moon. But she’s a nice girl.
When you f irt, you can
say almost anything and
she will be fattered.
MG ➔ This look is about
wanting to be 18 again. I
always ID her to get the
giggles going.
kB ➔ This look is sweet.
It’s country with edge; she’s
just missing the boots.
BD ➔ She’s ordering a
sweet, bright-colored
frozen drink; there’s no
doubt about it.
MG ➔ Only a younger
woman wears this. From
the f rst f ve minutes
after meeting her, you will
surely know if she’s
going to get that bikini
moving. Her drink
of choice: Don Q rum
with a mixer.

kennetH Bowe
Chat ’N’ Chill
exuma, Bahamas

Ben Dortona
Fatty’s
St. Thomas, USVI

SWIMWeaR aVaIlaBle aT aCHeSWIMWeaR.COM; PITUSa aVaIlaBle aT PITUSa.CO

aVaIlaBle aT PITUSa.CO; a.CHÉ SWIMWeaR aVaIlaBle aT aCHeSWIMWeaR.COM;
leTaRTe BY lISa CaBRINHa aVaIlaBle aT leTaRTeSWIMWeaR.COM; a.CHÉ
SWIMSUITS FROM leFT: aNTON OPaRIN/alaMY; COURTeSY ReeF; PITUSa
MiCk GarDner
The William Thornton
Floating Bar & Restaurant
Norman Island, BVI

Porter williaMs
Island Thyme
Salt Cay, Turks
and Caicos
 CT+L 365
AUGUST

4 5 7
look look look look

6
SKIRTINI ONE-PIECE ONE-PIECE STRING
BOTTOM PRINT CUTOUT BIKINI
BD ➔ She doesn’t start BD ➔ This woman is BD ➔ She’s def nitely sexy kB ➔ She feels good about
drinking right away, but traveling with her younger but lacks some confdence. herself. She’s most likely
instead, waits for peer boyfriend. If you want to Maybe she’s a new mom, here with her new husband.
pressure and orders catch her eye, be probably here with a pack Pw ➔ Defnitely hot.
whatever her friends younger than he is. of girlfriends. Defnitely confdent.
tell her is good. MG ➔ kindhearted, no MG ➔ This look is daring MG ➔ This girl wants shots,
MG ➔ This is a vodka-soda- complaining — she’s happy in some ways. I see it on shots and a side of shots.
splash-of-lime kind of gal, to be in the islands. She local girls all the time — and they usually let me
and she always tips well. drinks whatever I suggest. don’t ask me why. join them for a round. I
She’s on a couples’ retreat, Her husband orders a beer. Pw ➔ This looks like she don’t expect a tip from this
sailing around the islands Pw ➔ Mature, icy and can’t decide between a one- girl, but I usually get one,
with her partner. self-conscious. She’ll order piece or a bikini. She would which is a nice surprise. But
Pw ➔ Ooh, la, la! a cosmopolitan and sip it most likely order a frozen the rich guy who owns the
Cougar cub! throughout the night. margarita or Jell-O shots. powerboat that brought her
and her seven friends sure
leaves a hefty tip.

55
 CT+L 365
AUGUST

IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b
TIM E TO

FROM leFT: MIke VeITCH/alaMY; MICHael OCHS aRCHIVeS/GeTTY IMaGeS

Swim with Whale Sharks
“We have at least one baby elephant on every boat,” says John Vater of Ceviche Tours,
based in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Vater isn’t talking pachyderms here; he’s referring to
the snorkel-muffled squealing that a newbie emits when swimming for the first time
alongside one of these plankton-feeding behemoths, which grow up to 42 feet long.
The season runs from “just before the full moon of June” to mid-August. During the
season’s height, it’s possible to see more than 400. That’s a lot of squealing. — bm

56 C T+ L S P e C I a l 3 6 5 I S S U e 2 01 4
 is it real or is
it HollywooD?
It’s back-to-school season, kids.
Time for a quiz! Do you know if
these islands are real or fake?

1 | Drunken
Man’s Cay 4 | BarBeCue
Caye
Real Fake Real Fake

2 | san
Monique 5 | san
MarCos
Real Fake Real Fake

3 | no
Cay
naMe
6 | Cay
CraB

Real Fake Real Fake

Now put your pencil down and check your work.

1 Real. located about 5 miles

ofshore of Jamaica, it’s one of the
eight named islets of the Port Royal
Cays. 2 Fake. It’s the villainous Mr.
Big’s private island in the James Bond
movie Live and Let Die, scenes for
which were shot in Jamaica. 3 Real.
located in the abaco Islands of the
Bahamas, this uninhabited sliver of
land is a beachcomber’s dream come
true. 4 Real. This palm-studded
12-acre islet of the coast of Belize
is actually for sale: It’s yours for $1.1
million. 5 Fake. It’s the banana-
republic setting of the 1971 Woody
allen fick Bananas, some of which
was flmed in Puerto Rico. 6 Fake.
It was home to Dr. No, and while the
island wasn’t real, aerial images of it
used in the movie Dr. No were, thanks Call us at 888-843-2293 or
to clever cropping of Jamaica’s coast. EMAIL: info@tranquilitybayresort.com
www.tranquilitybayresort.com
 CT+L 365

Five Star AUGUST

luxury
at itsbest.
sumptuous

DI N I N G

magnificent
FOUR BEERS YOU’VE LIKELY
NEVER HEARD OF
Kalik, Carib and Red Stripe are the A-listers, but they aren’t
the only suds worth a swallow. In honor of International Beer
Day (Aug. 1), here are five under-the-radar local brews.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ZACH STOVALL; COURTESY BAHAMIAN BREWERY & BEVERAGE; COURTESY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
WINES 1
BELIKIN,
3
BUSH CRACK,

OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO; COURTESY STEVE BENNETT/UNCOMMONCARIBBEAN.COM; COURTESY BOWEN & BOWEN, LTD.
BELIZE THE BAHAMAS
It takes Canadian This 3-year-old beer
pilsner malt, Ger- (sold only in 16-ounce

elegant
man hops and a
long fermentation
period to create this
full-bodied brew. Sip
it while swinging in a
hammock chair at the
sand-floor poolside
bar at El Secreto resort
on Ambergris Caye.
tall boys) has a clean
taste that belies its
6 percent alcohol
content. It’s brewed
in Freeport but best
enjoyed on a saddle-
shaped stool in Nassau
at Atlantis’ Virgil’s
Barbecue restaurant.

2 4
BIERE LORRAINE,
R O OM S MARTINIQUE
Sweet and malty,
this brew is almost a
century old and sold
exclusively on-island.
Try it on the sand at Le
Petibonum chef Guy
Ferdinand’s rocking
Hotel Restaurant Cigar Company beachfront restaurant
Nassau, Bahamas in the village of Le
Carbet with his signa-
(tel)+1242.322.2796 ture pork Colombo.
info@graycliff.com
www.graycliff.com
STAG,
TRINIDAD
Launched on Carnival
Friday in 1973, this
40-year-old, bitter,
bold, European-style
sud is marketed as
“the man’s beer.” Grab
one (or three) on the
sand at Richard’s on
Maracas Beach, along
with the island’s best
bake and shark. — SGG
 FLY OUT FREE!
Visit www.MyOutIslands.com
Call 1-866-689-5505
GRAND ISLE RESORT & SPA
EXUMA
Exuma, Bahamas. Lavish in casual luxury. Reconnect
seamlessy. This spectacular oceanfront resort offers
1-to-4-bedroom villas with spacious living areas, gourmet
kitchens, high-end amenities, and extraordinary views.
866-380-5213 • 241-393-2841 • www.grandisleresort.com
FERNANDEZ BAY VILLAGE
CAT ISLAND
Discover the breath taking beauty and relaxed
atmosphere of Fernandez Bay Village. 12 beachfront
cottages on a mile of sugary white sand, outdoor dining,
tiki-bar, water sports.
800-940-1905 • 954-474-4821
www FernandezBayVillage.com
BIMINI BIG GAME CLUB RESORT & MARINA
BIMINI
Adventure for the Entire Family! Resort, Marina, Fishing
Center, Watersports Center and PADI Dive Center. Big
Game Bar & Grill, Vegetarian and Gluten free menu.
800-867-4764 • 242-347-3391
Reservations@biggameclubbimini.com
www.biggameclubbimini.com
STELLA MARIS RESORT CLUB
LONG ISLAND
Superb beaches and water sports; beautiful rooms-
cottages-villas; attentive services, and many
complimentary activities. On tranquil Long Island, in the
southern Bahamas. 800-426-0466 • 242-338-2051
reservations@StellaMarisResort.com
www.StellaMarisResort.com
PIGEON CAY CLUB
CAT ISLAND
A remote piece of paradise, the cottages offer
the ultimate in seclusion and breathtaking views.
Located steps from a private 3-mile stretch
of white, powdery sand beach.
242-354-5084 • www.PigeonCayBahamas.com
SMALL HOPE BAY LODGE
ANDROS
Andros Island, Bahamas.
Totally All Inclusive! Celebrating 50 years! 21
Beachfront Cottages. Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing
and More... Packages Available.
800-223-6961 • shbinfo@SmallHope.com
www.SmallHope.com
STANIEL CAY YACHT CLUB
EXUMAS
Soothe your body, mind and soul with small island charm.
Your balcony will literally overhang the clearest waters in
the world. Come experience the Exumas.
954-467-8920 • 242-355-2024
info@StanielCay.com • www.StanielCay.com
TREASURE CAY BEACH,
MARINA & GOLF RESORT
ABACO
“One of the best beaches in the world” 3.5 miles
powder white beach,* Unspoiled & Uncrowded *
Championship Golf * Fly Free Specials * 3 Bars &
Restaurants* 150 Slip Marina * Watersports*
Scuba/Snorkeling/ Fishing Charters
800-327-1584 • www.TreasureCay.com
TIAMO RESORT
ANDROS
Our luxury boutique resort on South Andros Island is an
idyllic place for an amazing escape. Relax on the private,
white sand beach or enjoy activities such as diving,
snorkeling, fishing, and canoeing.
786-374-2442 • 242-225-6871 • www.tiamoresorts.com
HALVORSON HOUSE VILLA RESORT
CAT ISLAND
Cat Island’s newest destination. TripAdvisor 2013
Certificate of Excellence Winner. Romantic, serene, and
simple. Ideal for weddings and honeymoons as well as
family getaways for those who want to reconnect.
6 villas on a secluded beach. Restaurant on-site.
242-359-9500 • www.HalvorsonHouse.com
VALENTINE’S RESORT & MARINA
HARBOUR ISLAND
Real Island Luxury Awaits Your Arrival. Each luxury suite
is equipped with a full kitchen, a spacious patio, and
incomparable décor. Every detail is a stroke of design
genius - from the fabulous fabrics that ribbon throughout
the suites, to the sunken tubs in our marble bathrooms.
866-389-6864 • www.valentinesresort.com
 CT+L 365
SEPTEMBER

IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b

Plan your Carnival Trip

TIM E TO

Trinidad’s Carnival isn’t just a party. It’s the ultimate escape ... from yourself. In a costume, a dance, a
free-for-all parade — the festivities may start in February, but preparations begin now.

JEN JUDGE (8)

It takes six months for the adrenaline rush of Carnival in Trindad and
Tobago’s Port of Spain to depart your veins and the frenzied soca beat to
stop thumping in your brain. (That sound system on the back of a semi-
truck? It’s meant for a stadium.) It also takes six months to plan. With the
legendary fest slated for Feb. 16-17, 2015 , you’d better start now. A hotel
is key, but the number of stars it carries isn’t: You won’t spend much time
there. But you’ll want sleeping quarters close to the Queen’s Park Savan-
nah because you’ll likely end up chipping — dancing while walking — back.
Carnival is always fi ve days before Ash Wednesday, so fi nd fl ights
that get you in Thursday and out a week later. Playing mas with a band
— parading with an organized group of revelers — is Carnival’s core. All-
inclusive costumes — marching positions — including drinks, food, head-
dress and a very skimpy outfit, are unveiled in August and September
(watch sites like carnivaltribe.com). They often sell out by October. Get
moving, because gyrating in the streets with 200,000 of your closest
friends in their bedazzled undies never felt so good. — zs
 CT+L 365
SEPTEMBER

Kick cold season with these

secret bush-medicine brews.
I LIKE BUSH CURES A HELLUVA
lot more than a dose of Sudafed (no
ofense, Johnson & Johnson).
Ask for the bush lady on Great
Exuma in the Bahamas’ Out Islands
and you’ll meet Lily Mae Rolle, whose
garden is a collection of cures. The most
versatile plant answers to many names,
including life leaf, miracle plant or, to
botanists, kalanchoe pinnata. Only the
leaves fresh of the plant will do to stave
of a cold: To make the tea, boil them for
no more than five minutes. It’s a remedy
passed down from her grandmother.
It’s the leaves, not the fruit, that hold
the cure, says Rolle. This is true for the
tamarind plant (nature’s answer to
asthma) and the soursop tree. Tea from
soursop leaves allegedly alleviates high
blood pressure and even cancer. One
of her neighbors was supposedly sent
home from the doctor’s ofce when his
prostate cancer was deemed terminal.
Instead, he turned to tea. That was a
year ago. Today, all traces of his cancer
have evaporated, says Rolle.
2
the
In Belize, the flu antidote is called
O N LY PL AC E bitters, which you’ll likely spy in an
where unmarked bottle at the end of any bar
@
shelf on the island. The base is rum;

You Can Stay in a Treehouse

the infusing herbs vary. The most
FROM LEFT: COURTESY SECRET BAY DOMINICA; SHUTTERSTOCK (2)
common ingredient is bark from con-
tribo, aka the pelican flower, which
with air-conditioning and a minibar smells like meat gone bad.
In Western medicine, our vitamins
Get high — vertically speaking, that is — at Secret Bay on
are shaped like cartoon characters
Dominica, which ofers treehouses that wouldn’t look out
and our tonics taste
of place if you dropped them in Malibu: Think giant Jacuzzi
like candy. But here, a
tubs, 360-degree verandas and a well-stocked wine
cure is as much about
cooler. The compound was designed by award-winning
mystery and faith as it
architect Fruto Vivas to minimize environmental impact
is about wellness. — bm
and maximize privacy, so you can vacay like a movie star — a
movie star with a sizable budget but small carbon footprint.

62 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 the perfect wedding destination
$229 per night for Oceanfront accommodations.
Complimentary bottle of champagne upon arrival.
Beachside cabana for the week.
Breakfast for two each day in Ocean Restaurant.
Offer valid for stays between May 1 - December 15, 2014

This is how it should feel. ®

Whether you are planning your dream wedding, Relax on beautiful Dawn Beach.
elegant reception or romantic honeymoon, the Revitalize yourselfin our luxurious spa.
Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa Dine at one of our exquisite ocean view restaurants.
provides the ideal setting for your special event. Unwind in our multi-level infinity pool.
Try your luck at our casino.
Experience the ultimate island paradise,
a fairy tale beginning to your happily ever after.
Call property direct at 001-721-543-6700
or email reservations_231@columbiasussex.com

©2014 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved. Westin is the registered trademark of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.
 CT+L 365
OCTOBER

FROM LEFT: ZACH STOVALL; RIBBON: SHUTTERSTOCK; BEN NOTTIDGE/ALAMY; ZACH STOVALL (6)
THINK PINK
The pinkest month of the year inspires a tour of blush-colored beaches.
I scoop up a handful of Horseshoe Bay’s famous sand to examine it more closely — sure
enough, it’s flecked with pink particles left behind by foraminifera (tiny marine crea-
tures with pink shells). Bermuda isn’t alone in its blushing beaches. At just 3 miles long,
Harbour Island, Bahamas, hardly registers on anyone’s radar — except for its coral-
hued coast. Bed down at Pink Sands Resort, whose staf will happily pack you a picnic
to enjoy on a deserted patch of pink earth. If it’s novelty you seek, ride The Crane’s
glass elevator down to its eponymous pink beach on Barbados. Even more exclusive is
the nine-room Lighthouse Bay Resort on the remote island of Barbuda (stay more than
six nights, and you’ll earn a free helicopter transfer from Antigua). The pink-tinged
sand here is so fine, Barbuda exports it to some of the world’s top hotels. — eh

64 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b
TIM E TO

Devour
Chocolate
on Saint
Lucia
This month, the home of the
Pitons celebrates the role cacao
has played in its history and
transforms into a Snickers-y
Shangri-La. All of it is part of
the island’s Chocolate Heri-
tage Month. Take a plantation
tour of one of the grand cacao
estates, and learn how to taste
chocolate like a pro. (Scarfing
it alone in your car? Not the
way.) For accommodations,
stay at Hotel Chocolat, where
you’ll be covered in choco-
late during cacao massages,
and dine on sweet cuisine
at Boucan, like mushroom
risotto with cacao nib oil or
citrus salad cloaked in white-
chocolate dressing. — hk

SEE A BIOLUMINESCENT
MUSHROOM
Hiking after sundown can
be treacherous, but it’s
worth it to witness one of
nature’s most psychedelic
oddities: the biolumi-
nescent mushroom. This
wonder grows only in
humid tropical settings and
is best seen in reduced light,
making undeveloped Saba — the
satellite island of St. Maarten — an ideal set-
ting. Dimitri Deheyn, a biolume expert, advises
strapping on a headlamp on a moonless night
after a recent rainfall. “The mushrooms glow
a nice, deep green that’s easy to see,” Deheyn
says. Deheyn spearheads such hikes as part of
Sea and Learn, Saba’s month-long educational
festival held each and every October. — BM

C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 0 1 4 65

The Phobia Fixer
THE BEST WAY TO RID YOURSELF OF A FEAR IS TO FACE IT HEAD ON.
Fear of: THE DARK (achluophobia)
Try: NIGHT DIVING, BVI On the
RMS Rhone, swimming through
the hull of a submerged ship in the
eerie stillness of night, your dive
light will become a paintbrush,
revealing the coral-covered skel-
eton of a broken hull against the
charcoal canvas backdrop of mid-
night. The shapes moving just out
of sight are giant cubera snapper
and silver trevally, but who can be
sure? Bring on the ghost stories.
Fear of: HEIGHTS (acrophobia)
Try: CANYONING, DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC Tell people you jumped
of the Big Bastard this morning
and they’ll think you have a tall
son you’ve never mentioned. The
world’s best canyoning — climb-
ing up, rappelling down and
jumping of waterfalls and sheer
canyon walls — can be found in
this island. And when you’re not
clinging to the side of the a clif,
canyoning also ofers up some of
the region’s best jungle views.
66 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
Canyoning in
the Dominican
Republic
Fear of: FLYING (aerophobia)
Try: JET-WASH SHOWER, ST.
MAARTEN Blown across the sand
by the jet wash of a 747 on takeof
isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, yet
thousands flock to Maho Beach
to grip the chain-link fence sepa-
rating the strand of sand from the
Princess Juliana International
Airport runway. As jets pass just
overhead, the daredevils and just-
stupids are bounced down the
beach into next week.
Fear of: BATS (chiroptophobia)
Try: HIKING, TAMANA CAVES,
TRINIDAD Vampire bats have long
struck fear into the human heart,
so it seems totally rational to
wander into a cave packed
wall to wall with them.
Think of the caves as
the Match.com of thirsty
little winged mammals: Esti-
mates put the local vampire-bat
population in Tamana at over a
million. In the caves, it
feels like far more.
KILLER
CREATURES
What’s a little lost sleep
worrying about these
menacing buggers?
You’re on vacation.
Sleep in tomorrow.
1 LIONFISH, GRAND
CAYMAN The aptly
named aquatic creature
is quickly becoming the
king of the Caribbean
Sea after escaping from
an enclosure somewhere
between Florida and the
Bahamas and breeding at
an uncontrollable pace.
With no known predators,
it can both decimate a reef
by eating juvenile fish and
unleash quite a sting on any
human who gets too close.
2 BOTFLY, BELIZE When
the local guide tells
you to cover your arms
and legs, it’s to protect you
from the legendary botfly.
This charming little bugger
takes a page right out of
an ’80s horror movie: It
lays eggs on mosquitoes
or houseflies that can
transfer to your skin upon
contact. A few days after
the eggs hatch, you might
notice something moving
under your skin. It’s a
worm. It’s inside of you.
Bug repellent anyone?
3
POISON DART FROG,
JAMAICA There are
better ways to get high than
licking toads. The Jamai-
cans found this out early
on, as dart frogs are native
to this isle. These amphib-
ians secrete a poison from
their skin strong enough
FROM LEFT: HEMIS/ALAMY; LIFE ON WHITE/ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK
to kill a man 20 times over.
They’re also beautiful, so
don’t fall prey to the “ooh,
pretty” thing. — JW
 CT+L 365 CT+L
OCTOBER

Who needs zombies and goblins when there SCARY

are vampire bats and worms that live under
your skin. We highlight the freakiest, shriekiest
attractions and activities the region has to ofer.

FEAR OF SHARKS
(GALEOPHOBIA)
FREEP ORT, BAHAMAS

Who hasn’t looked at shark-infested water

and thought, “I’m definitely going in there”?
Probably not most people, but if you’re one
of the brave few who like rubbing pectoral
fins with the ocean’s apex predators, Free-
port and its tiger sharks are waiting for you.
 1

4
NOVEMBER
CT+L 365

5
2

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE

COLLECTION/ALAMY; PATAGONIK WORKS/ALAMY; AURORA
PHOTOS/ALAMY; JAMES LOZEAU; ETHAN DANIELS/ALAMY;
BELIZE TOURISM BOARD
3

The Sand-
Bucket List
Next-level adventures to do before, well, you know.

Dive into Dominica’s Champagne Reef and you’ll

1 see what looks like steam rising from the cracks:
This 90-degree, nutrient-rich water feeds a unique
orange sponge that thrives here: It looks as if thousands of
orange candles have been left burning unattended.
Technically any cloudless western horizon in the
2 Caribbean will do for spotting the green flash
at sunset, but fi rst-timers will fi nd better odds
in a place like the Bahamas Out Islands. Next you’ll need
patience, which comes easier with a cocktail in hand —
they’re called sundowners for a reason. Rest your eyes
until seconds before the sun disappears.
Some people are naturals when learning to rip; some
3 simply follow directions. The instructors at Swell
Surf Camp in Cabarete, Dominican Republic,
acknowledge that learning styles vary, and they’re patient.
When the surf dies down, retire to the MTV Real World-
like crash pad, where the play continues with the ping-
pong table, pool and impromptu dance floor.
Ian Anderson opened the Caves Branch Jungle
4 Lodge in Belmopan, Belize, 22 years ago: All this
time, his team has been one-upping itself with
rainforest adventure oferings. Tubing through the cave
network is the most popular experience — anyone can do it
— but those with a higher degree of fitness and daring should
tackle the Waterfall Cave Expedition. It’s a two-mile hike
to the heart of the cave lit only by headlamps.
You’ll fi nd a greater number of whale-watching
5 tour operators on Grand Turk, but puddle-jump
to Salt Cay to fi nd the country’s true humpback
hot spot. Here, the water is so thick with whales, encoun-
ters are pretty much guaranteed.
Guests don’t learn the precise whereabouts of
6 Costa Rica’s Finca Bellavista Sustainable Tree-
house Community until they book. It’s a private,
of-the-grid sanctuary without power or telephone — and
the owners intend to keep it that way. The sky-high dwell-
ings are rustic afairs connected to a web of zip lines that
link the community: This is the Sky Trail. These perches
are the closest you can get to untouched rainforest and its
curious fauna, including iguanas and monkeys. — bm

6
C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 0 1 4 69
 CT L 365
CT+
NOVEMBER

MOVABLE
FEASTS
THANKSGIVING TO GO! OUR TOP FOOD
TRUCKS KEEP LINES MOVING, PRICES LOW
AND TASTE BUDS SATISFIED.

HUNGRY’S GOOD FOOD TRUCK,

ANGUILL A ➔ Irad Gumbs and
Alfonzo “Papi” Hodge have been
running their jungle-painted truck
since 2004. Order the bull foot if
you’re feeling bold, or the conch
soup for a safer bet.
Location: Outside
the Anguilla Gen-
eral Post Office in
the Valley.
C AC TUS B LUE ,
BONAIRE ➔ With
his sous-chef son readying for col-
lege, restaurateur Hagen Wegerer
saw a chance to spend more time
kiteboarding and still tend grill.
You’ll find him in his wildly colorful

FROM TOP: ZACH STOVALL; MARIA FOREMAN/HUNGRY’S GOOD FOOD; COURTESY OF VAGON; OPPOSITE: ILLUSTRATION BY IKER AYESTARAN
cart, flipping burgers (try the fried-
onion-and-turkey-bacon-smothered
kite burger) and lionfish fillets. Loca-
tion: Atlantis Kite Beach.
E L VAG ON , PUE RTO RICO ➔
Normally, ceviche from a food truck
is questionable at best. At El Vagon,
it’s the way to go: Ask for the ceviche
IT ’ S TH E
a perfect b tacos and take a moment to savor
TIM E TO the homemade hot

Get conched
sauce. Location:
The corner of Calle
Labra and Calle
Ribot in San Juan.
Timing is everything when it comes to fresh conch. Exhibit A: MISS LUCY’S,
Shufe up to Show-Boo’s conch-salad stand in Marsh Har- ST. CROIX ➔ To
bor (Abacos) and it might or might not be open — depends the late-night partiers, it’s called
if Show-Boo has his salad ready. Exhibit B: Take a live conch the roach coach. Service starts at
from Cayman waters on Oct. 31 and it could cost half-a-million 7 p.m. and ends when they sell out
bucks — the maximum out-of-season fine. November is go of Trinidadian-style pates — a fried
time. Your best bets are the annual Turks & Caicos Conch pocket of fi lling wrapped in dough.
Festival, where wontons, chili and (yes) conch ice cream are on If they still have lobster, order two.
the menu. Or check out Barrel Bar in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Location: On the corner of King
During happy hour, the conch ceviche is free.— rs and Church streets. — bm

70 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 u
HOW TO
u BOARD A YACHT
IN 5 FLIRTY STEPS
It’s megayacht season in the Caribbean.
Why not get an up-close look at one?
FIND OUT
1
STEP
WHERE TO GO
Popular boater hang-
outs: the Bitter End Yacht Club
on Virgin Gorda, BVI; the Staniel
Cay Yacht Club in the Bahamas
Out Islands. Arrive around sun-
set. Too soon, and the boaters
are still on the water.
WHO TO LOOK
2
STEP
FOR He’ll be wear-
ing white-soled boat
shoes and a belt with stitched
images of marlin, lobsters or
marine paraphernalia. His shirt
will have a collar.
ACT POLITE
3
STEP
BUT UNIM-
PRESSED when
the yachtie tells you how amaz-
ing his boat is. If he mentions
the name of his beloved and
it’s a pun, give little more than
a “hmm.” If he gets more than
this while on dry land, he has
little reason to proceed.
DON’T USE
4
STEP
THE WORD
“YACHT.” People
who own them don’t call them
that — it’s not part of the lingo.
Don’t call it a ship either. Titanic
was a ship. Call it a boat.
5
STEP ONCE
ABOARD,
“OOH” AND
“AHH” A BIT to stroke
his ego. You like what you see,
but you’re not super impressed.
Now decide how far you want
to take it. If you’re in for more
than the next few hours, look
for a nautical chart nearby.
Lean over it and ask questions.
He may want company for the
journey’s next leg. — BM
Beach House Turks and Caicos is the first authentically boutique hotel on Grace Bay
Beach. Our luxuriantly playful 21-suite abode overlooks the white dunes, swaying sea
grass and azure waters of one of the world’s most beautiful destinations.
Our passion for exquisite service and relaxation is matched only by our commitment
to spontaneity and can be felt throughout our hotel, restaurant and spa. From suites
with names instead of numbers, to surprise tasting menus and a massage on the
beach, the Beach House Movement is all about breeziness going into your soul.
no socks allowed
H OTEL | R E STA U R A N T | SPA
+1.649.946.5800 | +1.855.318.6990 (toll free from usa and canada)
C O N TA C T @B E A C H H O U S E TC I . C O M | W W W . B E A C H H O U S E TC I . C O M
T W I T T E R | FA C E B O O K : BEACHHOUSEMVMNT
 CT+L 365
NOVEMBER

YOUR
BUTT
HERE
It’s cold where you are.
So get of the couch
and into one of our
favorite beach chairs.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: EDDY PATRICELLI (3); ZACH STOVALL; AUDREY ST. CLAIR; ZACH STOVALL (3)

Clockwise from top left: 1 The Sky Beach Club on Eleuthera, Bahamas, tempts beach lovers to stay by the pool. 2 It’s so intimate at the Four Seasons Resort
Nevis that you’ll forget you’re at a property managed by one of the world’s hotel giants. 3 Slip into the ocean from your infinity pool at Christophe Harbor in St.
Kitts. 4 Sandals Grande St. Lucian is the island’s only all-inclusive flanked by the Caribbean Sea on both sides. 5 The cocoon-style chairs at Sublime Samana,
Dominican Republic, call for an afternoon nap. 6 Pull up a chair or two on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach and you’re just steps away from all the action.
7 Stay in the pool or on top of it at one of only 14 villas at St. Maarten’s Coral Beach Club. 8 Watch the day come to an end at Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun.

72 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 looking for your
dream wedding location?
Download the Destination & Resort
Finder App today.

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons’ Destination & Resort Finder

is the go-to tool for couples planning a wedding away. Locate the
perfect destination and resort around the globe. How it works:
• Couples launch the app or log onto destinationweddingmag.com/destinations.
• They answer a few simple questions about their ideal wedding locale.
• The Finder recommends destinations and resorts that ft their criteria.

Also available on all Web-enabled devices at

destinationweddingmag.com/destinations.
 CT+L 365
NOVEMBER

THE BOUTIQUE AT VICEROY ANGUILLA

➔ MEADS BAY, ANGUILLA Glam (and pricey) clothing,
beachwear, accessories and jewelry from high-end interna-
tional designers. Our fave fi nd: Tissue-thin James Perse
T-shirts, embellished with names of local beaches on the
back, instantly telegraph your island insider status.
CA R I B B EA N CA N VA S COM PA N Y ➔
CAMANA BAY, GRAND CAYMAN Super-soft cotton
T-shirts with vintage travel logos; rugged “Cari-All” can-
vas totes; and a nifty Caribbean Canine line of
leashes and collars. Our fave find: Available
in multiple sizes and colors, durable canvas
packing cubes keep all the stuf in your
suitcase organized and crease-free.
GALLERY OF WEST INDIAN
ART ➔ MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Original paintings and sculptures from
emerging and established local and Caribbean
artists. Our fave find: “Spotties,” wooden animals
painted in vibrant hues and stippled with white polka dots,
are the gallery’s signature souvenir (and start at just $20).
Gallery ATELIER TURQUOISE ➔ UNION ISLAND,
of West
Indian Art THE GRENADINES Semiprecious stone-and-silver jewelry
designed by the owner; Christmas-tree decorations; wood-

To Buy For
craft; T-shirts; tote bags; and locally made body-care products.
Our fave fi nd: Carriacou artist Georgie Tuson’s calabash
gourds, hollowed and painted with island landscapes and vivid
abstract patterns, artfully contain stray knickknacks.
Black Friday is here! Instead of a slumber party

FROM TOP: ZACH STOVALL (2); STEVE PASSMORE;

OLÉ ➔ OLD SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO Original art, can-

OPPOSITE: ILLUSTRATION BY IKER AYESTARAN

in a department store parking lot, try these
go-to spots for tasteful trip treats.
FLAVORS OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ➔
GRACE BAY, PROVIDENCIALES A variety of condiments,
confectionery, spices, preserves, rums and cofees, all
made with island ingredients. Our fave fi nd: Bambarra
Rum, the national tipple, comes in five varieties and even
adds its potent punch to a hot sauce.
vas espadrilles, vintage books and santos (traditional wooden
figurines depicting saints). Our fave fi nd: Pick from the
huge inventory of Panama hats that are custom fitted and
shaped using a blow dryer and then further personalized with
the colored ribbon hatband of your choice. — sgg
TIP Many stores will ship your finds directly to your doorstep,
so your flight home can remain carry-on carefee. (Just remem-
ber to declare your unaccompanied
items to customs on arrival.)

IT ’ S TH E PARTY WITH STAR CHEFS

a
The Turks and Caicos’ Caribbean Food & Wine
perfect b
TIM E TO
Festival is all about sharing. Big-name Napa winemak-
ers create pairings for dishes dreamed up by culinary
celebs like Iron Chef Beau MacMillan (right) and local masters like
chef Wolfgang von Wieser (left). You’ll leave this three-day bender
having tried gourmet spins on all the local biggies: ackee, callalloo,
conch and lionfish (which even helps the food chain, see p. 66).

74 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 u
HOW TO
u
BARTER SMARTER Get what you want without all the haggling.

HAVE CASH Before you go, ENLIST A FRIEND Return WALK AWAY Put the amount
1 2 3
STEP STEP STEP
get cash in small denominations so to the product you want to purchase, you’re willing to pay in your right
you can leverage each and every but have a friend nearby. When you pocket. When you return, reach into
dollar and avoid asking for change. If you see approach the vendor with the product in hand, your pocket, hold out the cash and say, “I can
something you like, ask how much it costs, arrange for your friend to say you two need to give you this.” The ofer should feel fleeting. It’s
then put it back down and walk away. go. The ofer that follows will be one-time-only. on the vendor to accept the ofer or miss out.

It’s time to unwind

Escape the stress of everyday life and
embrace the simple joys of living.

Here time slows down and there are no

distractions. Reconnect with the one you love
while attentive staff cater to your every need.
Relax on a private white sand beach. Savor
gourmet cuisine. Retreat to one of 53 suites
and cottages overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Isn’t it time you go beyond relaxation and

truly unwind?

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

800.837.4608
www.JamaicaInn.com
 CT L 365
CT+
DECEMBER

We do this: Buy potted poinsettias We do this: Pop Christmas crackers.

IT ’ S TH E to decorate the house. They do this: “Buss” (burst) the
a perfect b They do this: Let Mother Nature bamboo in Saint Lucia. Lengths
TIM E TO
DRINK
do the decorating. Tall-as-a-house of dry bamboo are turned into
poinsettia bushes with brilliant red kerosene-fueled “cannons” that

PONCHE DE
leaves grow wild in Grenada. let out a deafening boom when
ignited. Stand too close and your

CRÈME. IT’S
We do this: Serve roast turkey with eyebrows will get singed.
stufng and gravy.

CHRISTMAS!
The Caribbean goes all
out during the holi-
days. Just don’t expect
treetops glistening
or sleigh bells a-ring-
ting-tingling. We do this: Watch college-football
bowl games.
They do this: Watch Junkanoo
parades in the Bahamas, where
elaborately costumed groups with
drums, cowbells, horns and whistles
dance through the streets.
We do this: Hang stockings.
They do this: Hang new curtains.
Cleaning and sprucing up the
house is a Christmas tradition in
St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
They do this: Serve roast pork with
peas and rice in Puerto Rico.
We do this: Listen to traditional
Christmas carols.
They do this: Listen to
Venezuelan-inspired
parang in Trinidad. It’s
“Deck the Halls” on
speed, and “Away in a
Manger” with maracas,
claves, cuatros, and a
furious up-tempo beat.
We do this: Drink eggnog
and mulled wine.
They do this: Drink ponche
de crème, eggnog’s high-test
island cousin (think 150-proof
rum), and spicy-sweet sorrel (a
ruby-red concoction made from a
plant of the same name) in Trini-
dad’s sister island of Tobago.
We do this: Avoid Grandma’s
fruitcake.
They do this: Hope Grandma
makes black cake. Recipes
for this rich, alcoholic
confection — made
with ground fruit
soaked in rum and
port or brandy — are
closely guarded
family secrets
in Jamaica.
We do this: Hit
the sales the day
after Christmas.
They do this: In Barba-
dos, they hit the beach with
a cooler of leftovers. Dec. 26,
“Boxing Day,” is a holiday in the
English-speaking Caribbean,
and considered an extension of
Christmas itself. — AV

Barefoot Cay
Relax in a beachfront bungalow on our private island,
delight in sumptuous dining, indulge in a massage,
disCoveR the incredible coral reefs of our Caribbean paradise.
Roatan, Bay islands Our luxury bouƟque resort is a world apart – un mundo aparte

www.BarefootCay.com
US Toll Free 1-866-246-3706 Info@BarefootCay.com
 Four, Three, Two …
WHEN IT COMES TO NEW YEAR’S PARTIES, THERE’S AN ISLAND WITH A
SWEATY OR SHOE-FREE AFFAIR TO CELEBRATE YOUR WAY.
JUST DON’T BE SURPRISED IF SOME ACQUAINTANCES GET FORGOT.

FOXY’S TAMARIND BAR, JOST fireworks sparkling above Gustavia

VAN DYKE, BVI ➔ There are so
many boats ofshore that anchor
lights look like Christmas lights
strung across Great Harbour. You can
FROM LEFT: SHUTTERSTOCK; ISTOCK/LISA F. YOUNG; ISTOCK/FROZENSHUTTER
harbor as all the megayachts in port
sound their massive horns in unison.
THE CONDADO PLAZA, SAN
JUAN, PUERTO RICO ➔ Salsa

barely see straight, much less figure
out how to swim back to yours. The
solution: Prescribe another painkiller
— which you convince yourself will
dull the hangover tomorrow — and
dance until the sun comes up.
QUAI GÉNÉRAL DE GAULLE, ST.
BARTH ➔ Your sweat stains have
soaked through your linen shirt,
and Martha Stewart’s dance moves
just don’t stop. You toast a dishev-
eled Marc Jacobs aboard Roman
Abramovich’s Eclipse and give Lindsay
Lohan a wink under a ceiling of
music is infectious, and so are Cuba
libres. You put your salsa moves
where your mouth is at the stylish
lobby’s Eternal Lounge and let the
well-dressed locals show you how
Puerto Rico lets loose.
PETIT ST. VINCENT, GRENA-
DINES ➔ Your feet are bare and the
stars seem brighter than any fireworks
display. Breaking waves and the clink
of champagne glasses are the only
festive sounds you need to ring in the
New Year at your private beachside
cottage on this private island. — zs
I S L A N D S ’ 2 5th A N N UA L

Photo Contest
LIKE US ON
FACEBOOK
TO ENTER

Your next trip could be on us.

It’s the silver anniversary of one of the world’s best photo contests.
This year the Islands Photo Contest will again create a buzz on Facebook.
Upload, share and like your favorite island images with us and your friends.
One thing hasn’t changed in 25 years: the dream-trip prizes.

SHARE YOUR BEST PHOTOS AND WIN!

I SL A N DS.COM/PHOTOCONTE ST

PREMIER PARTNERS
 CT+L 365
DECEMBER
B L U E R E S I D E N C E S Aruba

a
IT ’ S TH E
perfect b SEE A
TIM E TO
CELEB
STARS. THEY’RE JUST LIKE US: THEY LOVE THE
CARIBBEAN! HERE’S A PEEK AT THOSE WHO
HAIL FROM THE REGION, OR OWN A HOME
OR (YIKES) A PRIVATE ISLAND (SEE “*”).

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA:

Eric Clapton, Giorgio Armani,
Oprah Winfrey
BAHAMAS:
Sean Connery, Johnny Depp*,
Nicolas Cage*, Lenny Kravitz*, Escape to Aruba’s coveted Eagle Beach — wide, soft
Sidney Poitier, Michael Jordan, and crowd-free — at Blue Residences. This brand-new
Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Sean luxury condominium resort ofers the ultimate island
“Diddy” Combs, Eddie Murphy*, beach resort experience. The 124 ocean-view rooms,
Mariah Carey*, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill* apartment suites and penthouses are spacious, most
BARBADOS: Rihanna with fully equipped kitchens and some with a Jacuzzi
BELIZE: on your private terrace. Amenities such as an upscale
Marion Jones restaurant and bar, a minimart, an infinity pool, a spa
and a fitness center will be right on property. 800-728-4910 | bluearuba.com
BERMUDA:
Michael Douglas,
Catherine Zeta-
Jones, Michael
Bloomberg
BVI: Sir Richard Branson*
CAYMAN ISLANDS: Iggy Pop,
Selita Ebanks
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Oscar
de la Renta, Zoe Saldana, David
Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez
JAMAICA: Lennox Lewis, Ralph
Lauren, Naomi Campbell,
Usain Bolt, Damien Marley
MUSTIQUE: Mick Jagger,
Tommy Hilfiger
PUERTO RICO: Ricky Martin,
Joaquin Phoenix, Benicio Del Toro
ST. BARTS: David Let-
terman, Steve Martin,
Johnny Depp, Mikhail
Baryshnikov
ST. CROIX: Tim
Duncan
ST. JOHN: Kenny
Chesney
ST. MARTIN: Anthony Bourdain
ST. THOMAS: Kelsey
Grammer
SHUTTERSTOCK (8)

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:

Nicki Minaj, Billy Ocean
TURKS AND CAICOS:
Bruce Willis, Donna Karan
 CT+L 365
DECEMBER

* ANGUILLA
Seaspray boutique’s handmade
wooden “rasta head” bottle.

* ARUBA
“I Love Aruba” merch from — where
else? — the I Love Aruba store on
J.E. Irausquin Boulevard.

* BIMINI, BAHAMAS
Pick up a loaf of sweet Bimini bread
at Taste of Heaven bakery.

* NASSAU, BAHAMAS
A box of the sea-grape-, mango-
and lime-flavored bonbons from
Grayclif Chocolatier.

* TORTOLA, BVI
Ceramic “happy bowls” from
Aragorn’s Studio in Trellis Bay.

* GRAND CAYMAN,
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Sweet, spicy gourmet pepper jelly
at Foster’s Food Fair.

* JAMAICA
The gift shop at Couples Tower Isle
has a selection of masks by local
ceramicist Gene Pearson.

* MARTINIQUE
A bakoua (straw fisherman’s hat)
from the Fort de France market.

* MEXICO
Cowboy kicks are plentiful and well
priced at Roger’s Boots at Cancun
International Airport.

* NEVIS
Candleholders made from red island
Zaka masks from clay and fired over coconut husks are
Saint Lucia for sale bestsellers at Newcastle Pottery.
at Aragorn’s Studio,
Tortola, British
Virgin Islands. * PUERTO RICO
Browse Concalma’s roomy tote bags,
which transition easily from sand to
city, at the Old San Juan store.

* SAINT LUCIA
Zaka’s vibrant totems made from
recycled wood and discarded tele-
phone poles (shown left), crafted in
his studio in Malgretoute, Soufriere.

* TURKS AND CAICOS

A bottle of Sakaja, the hot sauce
from Da Conch Shack in Provo.
ZACH STOVALL (4)

Before you go home, step away from the gift shop’s * TRINIDAD
Silver and gold jewelry made out of
fridge magnets and opt for a must-have memento. steel-pan material from Y De Lima’s
store at Piarco airport. — SGG

80 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
The Carambola
Beach Resort & Spa,
St. Croix

Move to an Island
Inspired yet to take the plunge? Here’s where to make it happen.
1 2
GO NOW.
SERIOUSLY
BELIZE English speaking, 2-to-1
exchange rates, friendly immigra-
tion policies — and we’re just
getting started. Houses start at
$75,000 amid iconic beaches,
snorkeling sites and Maya ruins.
PANAMA Low cost of living,
strong expat communities and
a pensionado program make
residency easy. Prove a $1,000-per-
month income, and expats of any
age receive discounts on medica-
tions, food, utilities and more.
ROATAN A beach house runs just
$99,000. There’s only one paved
road, but islandwide Internet and
a handful of nonstop flights to the
States keep you connected.
ZACH STOVALL
CT+L 365
DECEMBER
JUST LIKE HOME
(WITH A BEACH)
ST. THOMAS No immigration,
property or language barriers,
and retirement is an option, not a
mandate. A photography business?
Why not. No work permit is needed.
There’s even a Home Depot.
GRAND TURK A community of
expats who sip rum punch every
evening at the Sandbar means
never missing your post-work
happy hour. The island’s welcom-
ing vibe makes the $1,000 annual
residence fee feel like a steal.
PUERTO RICO The island’s west
coast is quaint and safe, and has a
large English-speaking popula-
tion. Nonstop flight options keep
the mainland close.
3
TAKE THE
(GRAND)KIDS
BAHAMAS Nassau has
infrastructure and good private
schools, and ofers a cultural
melting pot not far from extended
family. Cheap flights with border
preclearance (read: no Miami
customs) make visits easy.
ST. CROIX Not as developed
as St. Thomas, but just as easy a
move. Public- and private-school
options exist. Field trips visit sea-
turtle nests. There’s also a college.
CULEBRA A bold ofering, but
safe for kids. This tiny Puerto
Rican isle boasts low crime,
inexpensive property and public
schools. Even better, it’s only a
30-minute flight to San Juan. — EP
 Our hotel and resort directory highlights the services
and amenities of every property in this issue.
(Dark shaded areas mean they have it; light means they don’t.)

11 12 13
10
14
9 FIND A HOTEL
8 15

16
7
17
6

18
5

19
4

20
3

21
0 11 12 13 14
9 1 15
2

8 16
7 17
6

22
a 18
5
1

Hotel
19
4

20
3

21 2
1 2

J I HG F E D C B A

Index
A B C D E F GH I J
4 23
45 44

25 2
43

23
b
45

26
42

27
41

0 2
8
4

39
38 29
30

24
44

37 31
36 35
34 33 32

25
43

26
42

27
41

40 2
8

39 29
CHECK THE
AMENITIES 38 30
37 31
36 32
35 34 33

A B C D E F G H I J

Beachfront Water sports Excursions/ Leisure Spa In-room 3+ restau- Boutique Kids club/ All-inclusive
tours sports Wi-Fi rants/bars activities

84 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 G R A N D C A S E B E A C H C L U B
hotel/resort listing
a l l - i n C l u s i V e s , m e g a r e s o rt s , V i l l a s ,
b e d a n d b r e a k fa s t s , a n d m o r e .

1 Viceroy, anguilla
2 Grand Pineapple Beach, antigua
3 Renaissance aruba Resort & Casino
4 A Stone’s Throw Away, bahamas
5 P
 aradise Island Harbour Resort,
bahamas
6 Pink Sands Resort, bahamas
7 Sky Beach Club, bahamas
8
9
Sandy Lane, barbados
The Crane, barbados
The beach is so close, shoes are strictly optional.
10 Lighthouse Bay Resort, barbuda Emerald green mountains as a backdrop. The
11 Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, belize turquoise Caribbean Sea at your feet. Could there
12 El Secreto, belize be any place more charming than this picture
13 Las Terrazas, belize perfect cove called the Grand Case Beach Club ?
14 Matachica, belize Two powder white beaches. Fresh water pool. Day
15 Grotto Bay, bermuda and night tennis. Delightful dining. Invigorating
16 Pink Sands Resort, bermuda water sports. Shopping and excursions. Everything your heart desires.
17 Biras Creek Resort, bVi
18 Sunscape, CuraÇao For reservations see your travel
19 Secret Bay, dominiCa professional or call 1-800-344-3016.
20 Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe, www.gcbc.com
dominiCan republiC
21 Iberostar Costa Dorado, dominiCan
republiC
22 Sublime Samana, dominiCan
republiC
23 Cotton Tree, grand Cayman
24 Ritz Carlton, grand Cayman
25 Petit St. Vincent, grenadines
26 Couples Tower Isle, JamaiCa
27 Geejam Hotel, JamaiCa
28 Jakes, JamaiCa
29 Jewel Runaway Bay, JamaiCa
30 Rosewood Jumby Bay, JamaiCa
31 Excellence Playa Mujeres, mexiCo

DISCOVER
32 Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun, mexiCo
33 Soho Playa, mexiCo

YOUR PASSION
34 Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita, mexiCo
35 Four Seasons, neVis
36 Hix Island House, puerto riCo
37 St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, puerto
riCo
38 Sandals Grande St. Lucian, saint A unique home-based travel franchise to
luCia
39 Divi Carina Bay, st. Croix
create the work-life balance you desire
40 Westin St. John Resort & Villas,
st. John
• Full training & support - no experience required
41 Coral Beach Club, st. maarten • Award-winning marketing & lead generation programs
42 Le Petit Hotel, st. martin • Innovative technology and mobile-friendly websites
43 Buccament Bay, st. VinCent
• Low-cost, low-overhead business
44 Carlton Savannah, trinidad 32 YEARS IN BUSINESS
45 Ocean Clue Resorts, turks and WITH 825+ FRANCHISEES
CaiCos
CALL TODAY 888.418.6099
www.CruiseOneFranchise.com
 LOCATION INDEX

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ZACH STOVALL (3); JON WHITTLE; ZACH STOVALL (2)
ANGUILLA 27, 40, 44, 70, 74, 80 CUBA 34 ROATAN 38, 83 Clockwise
ANTIGUA 13, 25, 27, 28, 38, 50, 79 CURAÇAO 13, 25, 34, 39, 40, 42 SABA 25, 45, 65 from top left:
ARUBA 13, 25, 34, 42, 46, 80 DOMINICA 14, 20, 44, 62, 69 SAINT LUCIA 13, 18, 20, 38, 65, 72, 76, 80 Local fishing
boats in Aruba;
BAHAMAS 13, 18, 20, 24, 27, 30, 33, 38, 46, 54, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 14, 18, 22, 31, 34, ST. BARTH 25, 50, 77, 79 ice cream in
57, 58, 62, 64, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 76, 79, 80, 83 50, 52, 66, 69, 72, 79 ST. KITTS AND NEVIS 13, 40, 46, 72, 80 Martinique;
BARBADOS 13, 20, 22, 28, 42, 52, 64, 76, 79 GRENADA 13, 20, 38, 40, 76 ST. MAARTEN 13, 50, 66, 72 Saint Lucia’s
BARBUDA 64 GUADELOUPE 25, 34 ST. MARTIN 25, 27, 34, 44, 79 Pitons; surf-
BELIZE 13, 24, 30, 31, 33, 46, 57, 58, 66, 69, MARTINIQUE 20, 44, 52, 58, 80 ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES shop owner
Alexi in Rincon,
70, 83 MEXICO 13, 18, 20, 27, 28, 31, 50, 56, 80 18, 20, 35, 44, 74, 76, 77 Puerto Rico;
BERMUDA 30, 31, 64, 79 MONTSERRAT 14, 21 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 13, 20, 22, 38, Manzanilla Bay,
BEQUIA 38 MUSTIQUE 26, 30, 79 42, 52, 58, 60, 66, 76, 79 Trinidad; young
BONAIRE 13, 34, 42, 70 NETHERLANDS ANTILLES 22 TURKS AND CAICOS 13, 30, 33, 48, 54, 69, windsurfer love
BVI 18, 22, 26, 40, 48, 54, 66, 71, 77, 79, 80 JAMAICA 13, 14, 16, 20, 22, 31, 38, 44, 50, 52, 70, 74, 79, 83 on Bonaire.
CARRIACOU 18, 20, 52 57, 66, 74, 76, 79, 80 USVI (ST. CROIX, ST. JOHN, ST. THOMAS)
CAYMAN ISLANDS 13, 28, 33, 44, 46, 66, PANAMA 25, 42, 52, 83 13, 22, 33, 34, 38, 48, 54, 70, 79, 83
70, 72, 74, 79, 80 PUERTO RICO 13, 16, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28, 34, UTILA 38
COSTA RICA 20, 69 38, 44, 48, 52, 70, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83 VENEZUELA 42

86 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 Do you have the App?

With the Islands Magazine app,

you can access all the latest issues and subscribe to Islands.

Search “Islands Magazine” in the App Store.

 CTL-SSENTIALS
If you only learn 12 things reading this issue …

1 Monkeys steal cocktails on St. Kitts. P. 46 2 Drunken

Man’s Cay is a real place. P. 56 3 You can fly from

Houston to Grand Cayman in one Godfather viewing. P. 12
4 Aruba is lovely during hurricane season. P. 42 5 The

bartender won’t tell you what’s in a killer bee. P. 36

6 Pack a sleeping bag if you’re going to a cricket
match. P. 22 7 Wearing camouflage in Barbados is illegal. P. 22
8 There are no atheists aboard Saba’s departing flights. P. 25

9 The Grenadines have the best ratio of visitors to swimsuit

models. P. 18 10 Use que lo que — not hola — in the Dominican
Republic. P. 14 11 In Saint Lucia, sea moss is known as “island
Viagra.”P. 18 12 Unless you have $500,000, don’t take a live
conch from Cayman waters in October. P. 70
SHUTTERSTOCK (6)

88 C T+ L S P E C I A L 3 6 5 I S S U E 2 01 4
 and experience the wonder that surrounds you.

Explore 500 acres of natural treasure

surrounded by an exotic rainforest and
a mile stretch of golden beach. Forge
lasting memories while you frolic and
enjoy the many unique experiences and
culinary delights at this world-class resort.

Winter Sale
save up to 40%

FroM inCluDEs

$ 184* $ 100*
PEr rooM FooD & BEvEragE
PEr nigHt CrEDit

For travel from January 3 - april 26, 2014

& stays of 4 nights or longer.
Credit is per room, per stay.

Book By FEBruary 28, 2014

Call For rEsErvations

800.474.6627

WyndhamRioMar.com

*Above rates are EP (room only), per room, per night, for single or double occupancy. All rates
are subject to 27.65% Government Tax and Resort Service Fee which are not included above.
Children 17 and under staying in their parents room are free. 4 persons max occupancy per room.
$100 F&B credit is per room per stay and applies to stays of 4 nights or longer. Offer subject to
availability and to change without notice. Offer valid for new bookings only. Cannot be combined
with any other promotions, and does not apply to groups. Must be booked by February 28, 2014.