Saba... say no more!

Happy Holidays from My Family to Yours!

Backyard Labrish - Online Jamaica Radio Show

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Margaret Marshall at a recent cocktail party and she introduced me to her online website and radio show dedicated to preserving the culture of Jamaica. Her goal is to make sure the younger generations of Jamaicans know and understand what life what like and how simply wonderful Jamaica is and was. Please visit her website and tune in when you have time! Thanks for the support! Enjoy!

Who says you can't build a SNOWMAN in the Caribbean?

From the Cayman Islands with love...

Panarea Villa on SALE

Hot off the press! Panarea Villa, located on the west end of Anguilla, is offering a Winter Recovery Incentive:

10% discount for a one week booking

20% discount for a two week booking

Looking for Contributors...

Good day! I love this blog and this one too... but it has become a bit much for me to update as frequently as I would like. So on this dreary, rainy December day, I would like to put the idea of contribution out there to any of you Caribbean fans! If you feel you have inside knowledge of the region, a spare hour a week, and like to write... let me know and I will consider letting you post on this lovely blog!

25 Days of Caribbean Christmas Gifts

***Update! When I originally posted this post, I had lofty dreams of hours spent browsing the Internet for Caribbean themed gifts... finding more than enough and posting away to share my joy with you. Well, I made it to 11. 11 fabulous finds and that's it. Yes, I did find other items of seashore bliss, but many are not able for purchase in the US. And well, to be honest, life got in the way. Our dog ran away, a relative became ill, there were cookies to bake and deliver, presents to be bought and wrapped in silver and gold, parties to attend, and most importantly children to enjoy the season with. So please accept my humble apology in only posting 11 Caribbean gifts.


I love everything Caribbean and maybe you know someone who does also! I am going to help you out with gift ideas for your the Caribbean lover in your life and post 25 Days of Caribbean Christmas Gifts. Check back every day from today until December 25th to see great gift ideas! Enjoy!

Why YOU Should Visit the USVI This Winter!!

The US Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, & St. Croix are offering a sweet deal for travel this winter to participating hotels. Book your trip (with CaribbeanJourney.com of course) by December 31, 2008 for travel now until March 31, 2009 and receive:

• $300 in American Express Traveller's Checks
  
• 5th Night Free
  
• A Coupon Book with Savings on Activities & Attractions

No passport? No problem! Passports are not required to visit the USVI! Here are some of the hotels I'm lovin'...

Hibiscus Beach Resort in St. Croix - I love the white sandy beach, super clear water, and the food that onsite restaurant Elizabeth's H2O. Currently, they are offering a great 3 course meal for only $20!

Palms at Pelican Cove - The name gives it away... if palm trees seal the deal for you, this small 40 room hotel is perfect as they have over 100 palm trees on property:The Buccaneer has long been a personal favorite as it falls into the wonderful category of old-world Caribbean charm with graceful hospitality, plenty of leisure, and fine cuisine. A must during this great sale for any discerning traveler:

If you would like to book any of these Caribbean Vacation options, please contact me for a custom quote! No time to email? Call me 866-236-1924 as this great deal won't last!

A big huge thanks to Ellen Brownlee for designing the new banner for this blog. We love the new look and hope you do too! If there are any improvements you want to see on our Caribbean Travel News Blog, please let us know. Thanks!

Day 11 - Caribbean Christmas Gifts - Coconut Cake

The Black Hound Bakery in New York is renowned for its gourmet goodies. Their Coconut Cake is full of the rich tropical coconut common in the Caribbean. If someone on your list loves coconut, order up one of these cakes today!

Order Coconut Cakes here and enjoy!

Day 10 Caribbean Christmas Gifts - Walkers Woods

A small selection of these great products would make a great holiday gift! Most are under $5 so a thrifty gift this would be too!

This sauce I dash on everything from rice to steamed veggies, fish and chicken:
I love a sweet chutney on anything fried or spooned on top of any savory potato dish:

Whenever we throw a big party, people always ask if Mr. Sangster will be making his famous jerk chicken wings. He uses this sauce and cuts it with a little ketchup and honey so it isn't quite as hot and therefore kid-friendly too:

The mail order business of Walker Wood's website is currently down. But here in Atlanta, we have can find these products at both Kroger and Publix. Check your grocer's international aisle!

HUGE Air Jamaica Sale! Buy by December 11!!!!

CaribbeanJourney.com is offering great CARIBBEAN VACATIONS including the following sale on Air Jamaica! Book by December 11 for travel January 9 to March 31, 2009! Rates are ONE WAY and exclusive of TAXES - but still a GREAT deal!

From Baltimore & Philadelphia

$123 to Jamaica

$167 to Barbardos

$167 to Grenada

$176 to Curacao

From New York

$123 to Jamaica

$167 to Barbados

$167 to Grenada

$182 to Curacao

From Miami/Fort Lauderdale

$47 to Jamaica

$137 to Barbados

From Orlando

$77 to Jamaica

From Atlanta

$93 to Jamaica

$161 to Barbados

$161 to Grenada

$167 to Curacao

From Chicago

$133 to Jamaica

$190 to Curacao

$218 to Grenada

From LA

$157 to Jamaica

$208 to Curacao

Contact ME to book your Caribbean Vacation and take advantage of this great sale!

Day 9 Caribbean Christmas Gifts - Tory Burch Beach Tote

What girl doesn't want the most fabulous tote on the beach? No matter how you might feel in a bathing suit, walking to your private palapa on the sand or past the pool bar with a snazzy tote lifts your spirits and just makes you feel good. This tote from designer Tory Burch is large enough to hold a plush towel, great novel, and all the bottles of sun protection needed to shield you from head to toe. It comes in two great beachy color patterns:

But it here for $250. Enjoy!

Day 8 Caribbean Christmas Gifts Vintage Nautical Prints

The Vintage Print Gallery is a great source for all sorts of prints. I fancy all things nautical and find their Shell Prints perfectly detailed and a classy way to bring a bit of beach into your home:

And Sea Fan Prints:

6 Tips to Save $$ on Your Next Caribbean Vacation

1. The best deals I have seen are for travel from now to December 20th. If you can get away, even for a long weekend, you will get the best value during this time.

2. Ask for the “run-of-house” category. This room category means that the hotel will at least put you in the entry level room category but if these are sold out, you could end up in an ocean view room or even a suite. The run-of-house rooms are usually the lowest priced at the hotel.

3. The best price for winter travel are the weeks between mid-January and mid-February, not peak travel weeks and most hotels slow down enough to drop their rates and run specials.

4. Avoid the week between Christmas & New Years as this is THE peak travel week to the Caribbean.

5. Avoid President’s Week as many kids in the NE US are out of school so this is the second most popular week.

6. Spring Break varies from coast to coast so we don’t really see a spike in rates at this time, but we do see limited availability on sale rates and in entry level room categories because of the volume of people traveling. Spring Break varies from mid-March to mid-April.

Day 7 Caribbean Christmas Gifts - Catherine Weitzman Starfish Necklace

Artist Catherine Weitzman draws her inspiration from nature and for this piece, her inspiration was likely a tranquil white sand beach trimmed by turquoise sea...


This lovely locket is filled with Aquamarines and made with watch crystal. It comes in silver or gold and 30% of all sales for this piece will go to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Buy it here!

Day 6 Caribbean Christmas Gifts Jamaican Blue Mtn. Coffee

This coffee is as good as it gets. Rich, nutty, and full-bodied, a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is the best way to start any day or top off any fine meal. It is my favorite coffee. Period. One reason it is so good is because it does not need any fancy sprinkles or synthetic syrups. Simply black or with ca dash of ream & sugar, a cup of this java can't be beat.

Do be careful because many people market their product as Jamaican Blue Mtn., when it is actually a blend. Aside from reading the tiny print on the packaging, you can tell if you are buying a blend if the price is too good to be true because 100% Jamaican Blue Mtn. is usually in the ballpark of $50/pound. One safe place to buy these beans stateside is J. Martinez & Company. Enjoy!

Day 5 Aveda's Caribbean Therapy Collection

For so many reasons, I love Aveda. The #1 reason is because everything in that store smells so good! From spicy, sweet, fresh, to the rich tropical scents of their Caribbean Therapy collection. This collection includes everything needed for indulging the body, mind, and soul. Of course, I have a few favorites:

I am a sucker for soap in its old fashioned form, a large bar easily brought to a lather of scented foam:

And because I travel quite frequently, anything scented and in travel size is a must have:

Day 4 Christmas Gifts - Little Caribbean Cookbook

This miniature book of Caribbean cooking fits in your pocket so it would certainly fit in any stocking. And at $5 it is the right price. It covers all the region's faves such as Planter's Punch, Johnny Bakes, and Coconut Bread. Buy it here. Enjoy!

SUPER Aruba Sale!

Check out these hot-off-the-press specials to Aruba and contact me for a custom quote!

BOOK BY 12/31/08 • TRAVE L 1/6-4/16/09

Renaissance Marina Hotel FROM $529
INCLUDES hotel transfers & 4 nights, adults-only 4.5-star accommodations.
EXCLUSIVE save 50%.

The Westin Aruba Resort FROM $639
INCLUDES hotel transfers & 4 nights, 4.5-star accommodations.
EXCLUSIVE save 50%.

Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino FROM $785
INCLUDES hotel transfers & 4 nights, 4.5-star accommodations.
EXCLUSIVE save 40%.

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa FROM $895
INCLUDES hotel transfers & 5 nights, 4.5-star accommodations.
EXCLUSIVE save 35%, 5th night free, $150 food & beverage credit.

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino FROM $935
INCLUDES hotel transfers & 4 nights, 4.5-star accommodations.
EXCLUSIVE 4th night free, breakfast for 2 daily.

Occidental Grand Aruba FROM $949**
INCLUDES hotel transfers & 4 nights, all-inclusive 4-star accommodations.
EXCLUSIVE save 35%.

ADDI T IONAL HOT E L S & LONGE R OR SHORT E R S TAY S AVAI LAB L E
Prices do not include airfare. Ask about special air-inclusive rates from your city.

Day 3 Caribbean Christmas Gifts - Royal Hut Signature Towels

These towels are pure luxe, plush and thick and brightly colored with authentic African batik trim. Royal Hut is owned by Mary Vinson, the well traveled wife of Caribbean icon Chris Blackwell. She puts the same passion into her products that Mr. Blackwell has put into launching famous music careers (note- Bob Marley) and boutique hotels (note - Island Outpost). At $130 each they are an indulgence indeed, but then again, you do get what you pay for in a towel. Buy them here. Enjoy!

Day 2 Caribbean Christmas Gifts - Tortuga Rum Cakes

If you've visited the Caribbean, you've likely come across this famous Rum Cake Company - Tortuga. They have been baking up these love cakes for over 24 years.

They come in all sorts of fun flavors like coconut, chocolate, and banana - but I say stick to the original Golden Rum Cake. It is rich, buttery, and delicious. I've been known to eat more than my share. Buy them here. Enjoy!

Antigua For A Day

Here is a great article reprinted with permission from the Telegraph in the UK. Photo is Getty Images via Telegraph. Enjoy!

Antigua is known across the Caribbean for its vast collection of beautiful beaches, encircling the island like a giant necklace. In fact, it proudly boasts that it has 365 to choose from – one for every day of the year – but this isn’t Antigua’s only claim to fame. The island is a magnet for sailors who are drawn by the excellent conditions, and arrive by their thousands every April for its world-famous Sailing Week, which is as renowned for its parties as it is for the races.

Antigua is proud of its colourful maritime history, which has left a powerful legacy that survives to this day. One of the most popular draws is Nelson’s Dockyard, where a young Horatio Nelson was based as a senior officer for Britain’s West Indies fleet in the 1780s. Now it is the world’s only working Georgian dockyard and its gracious buildings house a collection of restaurants and shops that are perfect for browsing. Overlooking the harbour is Shirley Heights, one of the island’s highest points, which has spectacular views and is the setting for weekly Sunday night parties with local bands at the Shirley Heights Lookout. Read more here...

Day 1 Caribbean Christmas Gifts~ Liz Mannette Jewelry

Ms. Liz Mannette is a Caribbean artist generating quite a buzz these days. You absolutely must check out her website and online catalog for a luxuriously unique Caribbean gift. Her jewelry is created to honor and cherish the love for steel pan music.
Her bio just about sums up why this jewelry is oh-so-special...

Born into the pan family, the Mannettes, in St. James, Trinidad, Liz is educated at Mucurapo Girls R.C. School and the Bishop Anstey Girls High School. In 1983, she first begins to play the steel pan with Pandemonium Junior Groove, a steel band of high school students from Bishop Anstey Girls, Holy Name Convent and Belmont Boys Secondary School. She tries out the bass pan, but finds the pan sticks a bit too heavy and is moved to the tenor pan. She is a skinny teenage, after all. Liz participates in the first Junior Steelband Music Festival in 1984, playing Moods, composed by the maestro of pan, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe.

Liz migrates to New York to join her mother and sisters in 1984 and begins her university career at Brooklyn College, of the City University of New York. She joins her church steel band, Calvary Steel Orchestra (http://www.calvarysteelband.com/) and plays the triple guitar pan. Elizabeth is part of the band and church group that travels to England and Scotland in 1985.

After attaining a degree in Chemistry, Liz starts at Harvard Law School in 1988. A memorable experience for her occurs in 1990 when she invites a few friends to see the play Steel by Derek Walcott, which depicts the experience of life in Trinidad in the 1930s with a main character portraying Ellie Mannette. Her friends are impressed that she is from steel pan royalty.