New Look at Tulemar Bungalows in Costa Rica

For years, Buena Vista Villas & Casas have been been the TOP choice for my Costa Rica bound clients. They love the private villa atmosphere, the option to keep cool drinks and snacks on hand in the granite kitchen, or BBQ some fresh catch on their verandah. They also enjoy the private beach at Tulemar. All beaches in Costa Rica are public, but because this one is landlocked by private land, it is private! Because Buena Vista Villas are super popular, we haven't always been able to get our clients in when they book at the last minute. The only other option on property are the Tulemar Bungalows - however, I never mentioned these to my clients because they weren't up to par. They reminded me of the places I stayed at when I was backpacking Central America 12 years ago! Fast forward to 2010 and Tulemar is getting an upgrade! Check out a few sneak peak photos below! Rates start at only $195/night.

{hey good looking}

Ready for a little Costa Rica in your life? We can make it happen:

info @ caribbeanjourney.com or 866-236-1924

Casa de Campo Spring Promo

Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic should be on everyone's list of the top 100 places to visit before you leave this planet. It is THAT good.

The Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo is combining high-quality golf facilities with upgrades to attract visitors this spring. Casa de Campo’s Go Green in March special grants guests who reserve a luxury room for a five-night minimum stay for travel March 1 to April 4 receive an upgrade to the new chic Elite rooms, a $200 resort credit and a $25 gift certificate for use in the Golf Pro Shop, too. This translates to a $525 savings on free room upgrade plus $200 resort credit and $25 gift certificate, for a total $750 value. La Romana is the closest airport to Casa de Campo and American Airlines seems to have the best flight schedules in an our of this airport. You may combine this package with cheap flights to the Caribbean from Europe too. 

Casa de Campo is home to three Pete Dye-designed golf courses -- Teeth of the Dog, Links and Dye Fore -- and a new David Leadbetter Golf Academy. The resort won a Gold Resort Award by Golf Magazine in its March 2010 issue. The award is based on what its editors and subscribers deem the game’s finest properties ranked on four criteria -- golf, lodging, food and drink, and service. Casa de Campo is one of only 25 properties cited in the 2010 Gold list.

Sound good? Call me - 866-236-1924. I'll book it for you!

Name a Bar & Win a Trip to St. George's Caye, Belize!

What do you call two parts laid-back luxury and one part Belizean hospitality, served straight up on the reef? You tell us – help St. George’s Caye Resort name its bar! Whether sharing tales about the one that got away or simply kicking back and enjoying one of our bartender's frozen concoctions after a long day in the sun, our bar is the place to be! Visit their new website at www.belizeislandparadise.com and submit your suggestion for a name (and make sure to tell your clients too.) The winner will be awarded a 3-night stay for two so they can toast their victory on the island. Cheers! Entry deadline is March 31, 2010.

Good Luck,

Vintage Style Caribbean Travel Posters

I have a lack of wall space in my office thanks to recently installing wall to wall shelving from IKEA. If I had the space, I would order each of these in the largest size possible, rotate them monthly, and stare at them longingly every single day.

Check out all the wistful prints right here.

Art & Haiti

"In Haiti, Art Feeds Millions ”

- Tiga (Jean Claude Garoute-Hatian Painter, Saint-Soleil School.)

Haiti doesn't share the tourism blessings of the other Caribbean Islands. {not yet} Haiti doesn't share in very many blessings at all. This statement was true even before the recent quake. The poor island has had more than its fair share of bad luck. What they do have, and what I consider the island's greatest gift are its artists.

Even before the Caribbean stole my heart, the Haitan artists vending at the nationwide art festivals I loved to attend, did. I loved the warmth and bright colors reflected in their paintings. Hang one of these in your house and you will feel warmth even when it is freezing outside.

For more on the current state of Haiti's art community, let's turn to Christianne Amanpour's covereage for CNN:

Painting 1. Painting 2. Painting 3.

Did you see this? Cool...

The didn't make it to the Olympics this year, but we still love them!

Trinidad & Tobago Carnival!!!

While New Orleans fetes Mardi Gras and Rio puts on quite a show, Trinidad & Tobago plays host to a party all their own...

Not as large as Rio, but also not as crowded. Plenty of room for endless smiles.

Want a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful costumes of Carnival Trinidad? Check out the Trinidad Carnival Diary.

Trinidad is serviced by many international airlines from the US and Europe. Check for cheap flights to Trinidad!

Healing Hotels of the World

Finally... a hotel consortia I can relate to 100%. My very first job was as spa cordinator at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. Being there was zen and I learned so much about the importance of taking care of myself inside and out. If ever there was a reason to travel, for me it would be to heal. To release the stresses of my busy day-to-day life and to dig deep down to my core and find my center. Namaste.

The Healing Hotels of the World is an exclusive partnership of hotels, resorts, and retreats offering holistic health in luxury surrounding. 

Four of my favorite hotels are in the group:

Jade Mountain in St. Lucia:

 

Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos

Hermitage Bay in Antigua:

Tabacon in Costa Rica

{The first time I visited Tabacon, I arrived on the back of a Harley Davidson, my head spinning with uncontrollable fear. It was my first time on a motorcycle and what an introduction! If you've driven from San Jose to Tabacon/Arenal, you know what I am talking about. More curves than not, more potholes per mile than anywhere I'd ever been, add a random cow or two, and a few over crowded buses barreling down the mountain in the opposite direction, and you see can imagine the state I was in. However, all of that fear, and the stress than came with me packed in my luggage from the US, dissolved within a few hours of soaking in their incredible hot springs and gazing up at Arenal glowing in the low light. Bliss.}

The Rums of Martinique

Some of the best rums in the world are created on the tiny island of Martinique, giving visitors yet another great reason to visit this French territory in the Caribbean. The rums from the island have been bestowed with the appellation d’origine contrôlée award, which certainly sounds very prestigious. Rum distilleries throughout the island welcome visitors to tour the facilities and sample the product.  Article & photo from here... Enjoy!

Rock House Island Love

Moonhole. Simple enough name. What does it mean? See the arch in the photo above? Twice a year, you can see the moon set when gazing out through the arch. Simple. That's it. Moonhole inhabits the southern tip of Bequia, in the Grenadines. You can rent Moonrise. Or virtualy travel to this home via Coastal Living {below} built with love and decked out with solar juice - securing it a spot on my "perfect" list:

How does one reach this little gem of an island? You can fly to St. Vincent from a few major US gateways and sometimes you can find low cost flights from Europe too!

NOBU comes to Strawberry Hill, Jamaica

Love NOBU - Love Strawberry Hill. 

NOBU is one of those places that IS all it is cracked up to be. Everything you've heard is true. It is a sushi wonderland. The good people at NOBU are bringing their love to Strawberry Hill - one of the most enchanted hotels in the Caribbean. Set in the mystical Blue Mountains and overlooking the sparkling city of Kingston and the deep blue sea beyond, Strawberry Hill is a must. Read about my trip last year right here. 

If you can't make it to Jamaica - then try Nobu at the Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Puerto Rico's {New} Ad Campaign Goes Vintage

From the NY Times {12.3.2009}

"The campaign is for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which made waves in the 1950s with print ads by Ogilvy & Mather that presented beautiful scenes shot by a 26-year-old photographer named Elliott Erwitt."

"To be sure, the new campaign does acknowledge the change in attention spans in the last five decades. There are 107 words of text in one ad from the new campaign, compared with 217 in an ad from the original campaign that appeared in 1958.

And the new campaign reflects other changes since the days that the real-life versions of Don Draper and the other “Mad Men” strode Madison Avenue."

For the FULL story - go here.

See the full collection of Elliott Erwitt's Puerto Rico Photos.

Reason #4356 Why I Love Jamaica

The luxurious Round Hill is home to many designer villas. After all, Ralph Lauren owns a home here and played a part in the decor of the common areas so the property is synonymous with classic island style. Surely to impress, is this lovely villa decorated by Meg Braff, featured in Coastal Living, and first spotted by Moi, right here. {her smart little remarks fill you with a "be here now" moment or two}

If ever you should lose me and wonder where I am... if only.