Image via Wikipedia Planning an EscapeIf you want to travel to the Caribbean, one of the most important things you can to is plan it completely. Planning it now may be a lot of work, but if you do it before ever leaving home, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation while there. No matter which Caribbean island you want to visit, planning is very important.

First, plan how you want to get to your destination. Because of the nature of the Caribbean, flying straight to your destination is not you sole choice. You do so if you choose, but you can also take a cruise throughout the Caribbean islands and visit a bunch of different port cities. In either case, you should plan your transportation as one of the first and foremost aspects of your vacation. Often, you can get a cheaper deal on tickets if you plan far in advance.

You should also consider your accommodations when traveling to the Caribbean. You first choice is, of course, any one of the many hotels and resorts scattered around the islands and catering especially to tourists. Many of these places to stay are completely Americanized and some even are owned by America companies. Another choice you have is the all-inclusive resort. Found on many of the Caribbean islands, all-inclusive resorts are great because they include meals, tours, private beaches, and more for free. If these don’t strike your fancy, you can also try booking a room in a smaller hotel or bed and breakfast, where you can get a true cultural experience.

Once you have your transportation and hotel figured out, you should consider planning certain activities. You can leave a number of days open for relaxing on the beach and spur of the moment tours, but if you don’t plan ahead for some of your activities, you may not be able to fit them into your schedule once there. It is best to plan ahead a bit, but not too much. This is the best way to enjoy your Caribbean vacation.

The last thing you should consider planning is a back up. Things inevitably go wrong on any vacation, so if it rains, have something to do other than lie on the beach. If the hotel overbooks accidentally, be prepared by knowing the names and numbers of some other hotels that might have open rooms. The key to a great vacation in the Caribbean is not to have everything go smoothly, but rather to enjoy it no matter what.

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Image via Wikipedia The Caribbean islands have long been a favorite honeymoon destination for newly married couples. The weather here is sunny all year round and you can enjoy a number of wonderful vacation activities together, like taking tours, trying water sports, and lying in the sun. However, in the past few decades, it has also become very popular to travel to the Caribbean for the wedding itself, not just for the honeymoon. There are both advantages and disadvantages to doing so.

First, you must consider who you want to have present at your wedding. By law, you will probably be required to have a certain number of witnesses, and you may not be able to imagine your wedding without your father to walk you down the aisle or your best friend as your best man. Remember that every guest you want to be present at the wedding will have to be flown to the island. In many cases, the guests will not be able to afford this trip themselves and you will have to pay for all or at least some of it. If this isn’t in your budget, it may not be possible for you to have everyone present at your wedding ceremony. The cost of a Caribbean wedding is definitely a disadvantage.

Remember also that you will probably be vacationing for your honeymoon wherever you hold the wedding. While it may be nice to have friends and family around for the wedding, you might wish they would disappear for the wedding. Your guests may also want to take a vacation while they are in the neighborhood, so if you want some private time, and all inclusive couples only resort may be what you need for them to stay out of your way.

However, one of the main advantages is that you are already in the location where you’ll be honeymooning. Travel is stressful and not a good way to start a new life together, so instead, you can just jump right in to paradise. Not only that, but your wedding will be an very memorable event because the beach background overlooking the sunset and ocean will be beautiful. Many couples love the island scenery, so a Caribbean wedding may be perfect for you.

If you decide to have a Caribbean wedding, contact a wedding planner from the specific island to which you will travel. He or she can help make sure that your big day goes smoothly and that you will have the time of your life on your honeymoon.

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Image via Wikipedia Caneel Bay of the Caribbean offers what every beach vacation should – beautiful surroundings, luxury service, and gourmet dining.  This exclusive beach resort is nestled within the 5,000 acre Virgin Islands National Park on the island of St. John in the Virgin Islands.

Ideal for beach lovers, Caneel Bay offers seven secluded beaches – Honeymoon Beach, Caneel Beach, Little Caneel Beach, Paradise Beach, Scott Beach, Turtle Bay Beach, and the Hawk’s Nest Beach.  The resort is set on its own peninsula and also surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

There are many different things to do here while on your beach vacation, including snorkeling, nature walks, hiking, sailing, kayaking in the sea, wind surfing, scuba diving, and swimming.  You can also order a private massage, take lessons in watercolor, or just sneak away for a picnic.  The resort also offers you a fitness center and 11 outdoor courts for tennis.

The resort of Caneel Bay offers 166 guest rooms and cottages furnished with hand crafted furniture, woven fabrics, natural wood, and native stone.  The guest rooms also offer patios and balconies that overlook the beaches or resort gardens.

You can dine in several restaurants and bars that range from fine dining to casual meals.  The restaurants include the Turtle Bay Estate House, Beach Terrace, The Equator, Starlight Terrace, and the Caneel Bay Bar.

For those who are looking to work on their beach vacation, Caneel Bay offers a business center complete with computers, high speed internet access, printers, data ports, and even telephones that offer free local calling.

Offering you everything for vacation bliss, Caneel Bay is one place you’ll be glad you found.

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Image via Wikipedia If you want to travel to the Caribbean, you certainly have no shortage of wonderful destinations from which to choose. One of the most popular places for tourists in the Caribbean, however, is Jamaica. The country of Jamaica is about 150 miles long and 50 miles wide, so it isn’t huge, but it is mighty in the world of tourism, and is actually the third largest island in the Caribbean. It is found less than 100 miles south of Cuba and a little over 100 miles from Hispaniola, the island on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic as found. It was formally a possession of Spain, and late of the United Kingdom, but is now its own nation.

Although Jamaica is small, it has had a large cultural influence on the world. Reggae, ska, dancehall, and ragga are just a few of the many musical genres that originated in Jamaica. Jungle music in the United Kingdom and hip-hop in the United States are also largely accredited to the Jamaican immigrant population. The Rastafari movement also began in Jamaica.

When you are visiting Jamaica, there are a number of fun activities for you to do. Of course, like most other Caribbean islands, Jamaica is home to a number of beautiful beaches, so it is a real island paradise. While there, you can try diving, parasailing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, jet and water skiing, and surfing. Fishing is also very popular in the Jamaica, and you can see a variety of great planets and animals when you are visiting this island.

For those who are not interested in fun in the sun, the nightlife in Jamaica is also great. You can dance the night away in a number of clubs and visit bars to try some of the local drinks. The restaurants here serve both foreign and cultural cuisine, and shopping is great for tourists who want to pick up lots of gifts to take home.

If you plan to go to Jamaica on your next vacation, you can fly directly there or you can take a cruise through Caribbean islands. Make sure that you check with your airport to see what kinds of travel paperwork are required to visit Jamaica from your country and be prepared to experience this fun island culture by reading up on the many things you can see and do while there. Jamaica can be your own island paradise when you visit, so the vacation is definitely worth making the travel plans.

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Image by Andries3 via Flickr If you know you’re interested in traveling to the Caribbean Islands, you have a variety of choices for your final destination. You can try a fun cruise throughout the islands in order to visit all of the best hot spots, or you can fly directly to one of the many wonderful islands found in this region of the world. One of the islands from which you can choose is Anquilla.

Anguilla is not one of the most popular islands when talking about Caribbean travel sites, but for that very reason, it is great if you are looking for a more private Caribbean vacation, without lots of other tourists. Anguilla is actually a British overseas territory and is the most northern of the Leeward Islands. Anguilla is comprised of one larger island, including the capital city of The Valley, and also includes a number of tiny islands and cays, most of which are privately owned or uninhabited. Some of the other smaller islands that are part of the Anguilla chain include Dog Island, the Prickly Pear Cays, Scrub Island, Seal Island, and Sombrero, or Hat Island.

The climate on Anguilla is generally what you would expect to find in this tropical region of the world. The island does get northeastern trade winds, so it is fairly dry compared to other tropical islands, with the most rain coming in September and October. Anguilla is also along the path of some hurricanes in the summer and fall.

When traveling to Anguilla, make sure you spend some time in the beautiful Caribbean water. Anguilla is known for its coral reef, which is home to a variety of sea animals and plants. The land itself is mostly sandy and not particularly good for farming industries. However, the waters along the coast are great for fishing, so if you enjoy that sport, you may be interested in applying for a fishing license and talking to some fishing outfitters in Anguilla when planning your Caribbean travel.

As with most Caribbean islands, if you want to travel to Anguilla, you need the proper paperwork. Before you leave, apply for a passport, and it is important to be able to show either a return plane ticket or a ticket to otherwise leave the island at some point. Make your hotel reservations at least a few months in advance in order to find the best deals for your stay in the Caribbean.

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