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We know great beaches!

Find beachin' great tips and insider info!

May 21, 2013
Caribbean Jim
0 Comments
Barbados, Cancun, Dominican Republic
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Vacations So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades

If you’re on vacation, no one has to convince you to enjoy yourself. And if that vacation finds you lounging by a Caribbean or Mexico beach, we’d all agree that you’ve probably hit the jackpot. This week throw on your favorite shades and start packing your bags, as we outline a few places that we consider “vacation gold.”

The DR’s vacation hot spot: Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus

La Romana in the Dominican Republic is home to white, powdery sands, turquoise waters and sky high palm trees, making it the perfect setting for the vacation of a lifetime. And why not stay at the #1 rated resort in the Bayahibe area? That’s why we’d suggest Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus for your well-deserved getaway.

A winner of TripAdvisor’s 2011 Traveler’s Choice Award, Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus has something to offer everyone. For the water enthusiast, the onsite Dressel Divers International Diving Center has several excursions a day, seven days a week, to multiple diving locations. For guests looking to spend more time on shore, you can opt to divide your time between the shady, thatched huts on the shore or one of the three resort pools, including a 20-person, cool-water spa.

Dominican Republic vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

And when you’re looking for nourishment, stop by the El Faro Beach Bar or main pool’s swim-up bar. There are a total of seven restaurants and two bars, all featured on the all-inclusive option here.

Live Like the Rich & Famous: Crane Resort and Residences

Crane Beach is known for its powdery pink sands and sparkling waters, making it a true must-visit beach. Crane Beach was named “One of the 10 Best Beaches in the World,” by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, in addition to “Top 50 Places to Go Before You Die,” by BBC’s Holiday Programme. So when we say this a must-visit beach, we really mean it.

The Crane Resort and Residences is the place to stay when you’re looking to take it all in on this iconic beach. From the moment you arrive, the resort’s management and staff will go above and beyond to make sure your vacation is everything you’ve hoped for - just one of the many reasons this resort’s staff has been given the AAA designation.

Barbados Beach Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

When you’re not busy perusing the pink, sparkly sands of this beach, hang out at any of the infinity edge private pools or the individual plunge pools that are unique to all two-bedroom residences on the upper floors of the resort. When it’s time to eat, take advantage of the kitchen or kitchenette that comes standard in all 146 suites or venture to try one of the five restaurants, which have been twice nominated by Zagat as best food in Barbados. There’s no denying that your trip to Crane Beach in Barbados will give you that flashy taste of lifestyles of the rich and famous.

Cancun’s Trendiest Beach Buzz 

Our next favorite for the ultimate beach getaway comes to us from the hotel zone in Cancun. Secrets the Vine is the newest hotspot in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area and sure isn’t lacking on the beach luxury.

This adult-only hot spot comes fully equipped with Ultimate Luxury® amenities, including premium drinks, food and even the Secrets Spa by Pevonia. This 12,580 sq. ft. spa offers a huge range of massages and beauty treatments, plus 12 indoor massage spa suites and two couples’ suites.

Cancun Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

Spend your days on a cozy sun lounger under shady umbrellas or lounge by one of the three infinity pools, which include tanning decks and an outdoor Jacuzzi. Don’t worry; full-service pool staff is on call to make sure your glass never goes empty. As nighttime falls, explore one of the seven on-site restaurants, including Mediterranean and Latin cuisines. And after dinner, venture to the open-air theater, or take in some live music provided every night of the week. It’s no surprise this exclusive Cancun hotspot is an absolute must when planning your rockin’ beach vacation.

So as you can see the recipe for the ultimate beach vacation requires just a few things – the beach, some fun in the sun, and of course – you. So grab your favorite pair of shades and prepare for the vacation of a lifetime at any of these fine beach destinations, or share your favorites with us below. Party on!
May 17, 2013
Caribbean Jim
0 Comments
beach, Best Beaches, twitter
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Save the Date: #CheapCaribbean Best Beaches Twitter Party, May 21st, 1-2pm CST

Mark your calendars, CheapCaribbean.com is hosting its first ever Twitter Party! This Tuesday from 1-2pm CST, join us and special guests, Matt Long, @LandLopers from LandLopers, Kara Williams, @KaraSW from The Vacation Gals and Katie Dillion, @LaJollaMom from La Jolla Mom on Twitter, as we discuss the best beaches in the Caribbean & Mexico. We'd love to hear your favorite vacation spots and what you love about the beach, as we'll be sharing insider tips on all of our favorite beaches and all the reasons why we love them.

Use the hashtag #CheapCaribbean to join in on the fun!

Use the hashtag #CheapCaribbean to jump in on the conversation!

Here's how to jump in on the fun:

  • On Tuesday, May 21st at from 1-2pm CST, log onto to Twitter and make sure you're following us at @cheapcaribbean.
  • Jump in on the conversation by answering our questions & tweeting your thoughts about the best beaches, using the hashtag #CheapCaribbean.
  • Three lucky partygoers will win the ultimate beach bum package valued at over $300! To be eligible, participants must follow @CheapCaribbean on Twitter and tweet using the #CheapCaribbean hashtag at least one time during the party. Winners will be selected at random.
Prize package includes Ray Bans, iPod Shuffle, beach bag, oversized beach towel and other beach accessories.

Prize package includes Ray Bans, iPod Shuffle, beach bag, oversized beach towel and other beach accessories.

 

Be sure to follow Matt Long at @LandLoper Kara Williams at @KaraSW and Katie Dillion at @LaJollaMom, as they share their travel insights with us. We're excited to hear what you have to say and we'll see you there! Happy Tweeting!

 
May 14, 2013
Caribbean Jim
0 Comments
Anguilla, Jamaica, Mexico, Shopping, St. Lucia, Uncategorized
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Five Must-Shop Caribbean Stores by JetSetSarah

 

JetSetSarah blogs for CheapCaribbean.com

By: JetSetSarah

Got the retail itch? Step away from the three-for-$20 T-shirts and those dreadful knitted caps with the dreadlocks attached! Savvy shoppers bring home authentic Caribbean goods that look good and/or work well, and evoke happy memories every time you look at them. Here are some of my favorite souvenir-snagging spots.

Irie Life, South Hill, Anguilla 

There are T-shirts and then there are T-shirts. Irie Life sells the latter, and wearing one immediately marks you as one of Anguilla’s coolest customers (even the most stylish locals sport them around town). This store is located in South Hill and housed in a hilltop cottage painted red, green and gold. Expect trendy colors (neon Ts are current bestsellers) and styles (hoodies, burn-out textured stretch cotton), with nary a boxy crew-neck in sight.

Irie Life, Anguilla Shopping from CheapCaribbean.com

Shop Smart: Make no mistake; Anguilla is notoriously pricey. Time your trip for the end of the summer, however, when shops are anxious to move leftover merchandise in advance of the winter high season, and you’ll score great deals.

Gallery of West Indian Art, Montego Bay, Jamaica

When I lived in Mo’Bay, this decades-old store secreted in a residential about 10 minutes’ drive from the city, was my go-to for Jamaican and Caribbean art and craft. Montego Bay’s, The Gallery is most famous for its menagerie of multi-colored “spotties,” hand-carved painted wooden animals stippled with white polka dots. But it is also a great find for handmade small furniture pieces and an impressive collection of colorful Cuban canvases. For more about Gallery of West Indian Art, visit them online.

Shop Smart: Don’t leave without a handmade Christmas tree ornament from the store’s year-round collection.

Olé, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Looking for the perfect Panama hat? Make a beeline for Puerto Rico and milliner Guillermo Jeffs’ tiny boutique on Old San Juan’s bustling Fortaleza Street, where you can browse more than 5,000 of them. Toppers start at a very reasonable $50 and rise to a whopping $4,000 for a hand-woven model that takes about two years to make. Whichever you choose, Guillermo will custom-fit the Panama to your head, employing his decades of experience – and a hat block and blow dryer – to ensure the perfect fit. For more information, visit Olé's Facebook Page.

Jamaica Shopping from CheapCaribbean.com

Shop Smart: Ole offers more than 20 colors of hat ribbon to choose from, so instead of falling back on traditional black, get creative!

Mixik, Tulum, Mexico

I fell in love with the hand-carved wooden angels you see at resorts all over Mexico, so I was thrilled to hit pay dirt at this Tulum shop, which has a vast selection of the charming cherubs. It’s also jam-packed with locally crafted gifts, art and accessories you’ll find impossible to resist (or is that just me?)

Shop Smart: Can’t find what you want at the beachfront store? There’s also a larger location in el pueblo. Store can be reached at: 52-984-871-21-36

Zaka, Soufriere, St. Lucia

Simon Gajadhar used to be a shipwright but has clearly found his (ahem) groove as a wood carver and artist. Visit his fret-worked cottage in Soufriere, St. Lucia and you too will be enchanted by the colorful collection of masks and totems, all carved from recycled wood and old telephone poles. For more information about Zaka, visit their website.

St. Lucia Shopping from CheapCaribbean.com

Shop Smart: While the larger masks will set you back hundreds of dollars, prices for smaller pieces start at a very reasonable $20, so you can bring back something for everyone - even that grumpy woman in Accounting).

 

Jet Set Sarah, Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, is a Caribbean travel expert, award-winning travel journalist, and TV personality. Former executive editor of Caribbean Travel +Life magazine, she ventures to the beach and beyond, sharing the diverse culture, relaxed lifestyle and colorful people of the world’s favorite warm-weather destination. She is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com, where travel and shopping meet.

 

 
May 2, 2013
Caribbean Jim
0 Comments
Adventure, Excursions, Things to do
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Excursions & Tours to Make the Most of Your Vacay

National Tourism Week is May 4th through the 12th. That means it’s time to pull out your camera, slap on a fanny pack and start exploring all the great tourism spots in the Caribbean & Mexico (okay, maybe without the fanny pack). Check out some of the excursions & tours we’d consider a must when on your next beach vacation.

Go Down Below: Cancun's Underwater Museum

If you travel to the Caribbean & Mexico looking for the best diving and snorkeling spots, this excursion was made for you. Located in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, the Cancun Underwater Museum is a diver’s absolute must.

Cancun Underwater Museum Excursion from CheapCaribbean.com

Photo Credit: Coventur DMC

The project was founded by Jaime Gonzalez Cano of The National Marine Park, Roberto Diaz of The Cancun Nautical Association and English artist, Jason deCaries Taylor in 2009. It’s currently home to more than 400 permanent sculptures in depths ranging from 9 to 20 feet. Called “The Silent Evolution,” artist Taylor aimed to offer a cultural view of how the Mayan people evolved throughout the years. These sculptures were also designed in efforts to become artificial reefs. They are all made to boost the local ecosystem, provide shelter to the marine creatures and create areas for corals to flourish.

So while staying at one of the many fabulous all-inclusive resorts in Cancun, be sure to make the trip below and see this ocean wonder.

Go Kukoo in Aruba: Kukoo Kunkuk Pub Krawl

You’ll find another one of our favorite tours in Aruba. Kukoo Kunkuk tours are perfect for the partier in us all. After a day spent lounging at one of the many luxury Aruba resorts, the Kukoo Kunuku bus will pick you up for an evening of unforgettable memories.

Kukoo Kunkuk tours in Aruba from CheapCaribbean.com

Photo credit: http://www.kukookunuku.com

Chose from a signature Aruban dinner at a local residence and bar tour to follow on the Kukoo Kunuku Dinner & Barhopping tour or go straight for the bars on the Kukoo Kunuku Pub Krawl. Both tours offer free drinks or drink specials at a series of three or four bars. So whether you’re celebrating a special occasion like a birthday or bachelor party, or just want to go out on the town, a night out with Kukoo Kunuku will be one for the record books.

Mingle with the Stingrays: Stringray City, Grand Cayman

The next activity we’d recommend can be found in Grand Cayman. Not only are the Cayman Islands known for their white sandy beaches and top-rated resorts, but you also have the opportunity to swim amongst string rays at Stingray City. Stingray City is in the shallow waters of Grand Cayman’s North Sound and is surrounded by a barrier reef, perfect for snorkeling.

The Stingray City sandbar is home to dozens of tame southern stingrays. The stingrays began gathering near the Grand Cayman shore in the late 80s, as fishermen used to clean their fish on the shallow sand bars. The stingrays would approach these shallow waters to eat the leftover fish and sooner than later, stingrays began to associate the sound of the fishermen’s boat motor with food.

Stringray City in Grand Cayman from CheapCaribbean.com

As you wade in the 3-ft-deep Caribbean ocean, enjoy feeding and petting these stunning animals as they swim amongst their natural habitat. Depending on the type of excursion you’re looking to do, you can also venture out to the barrier reef for some eventful snorkeling or diving.

While we won’t argue that there’s not much better than lounging on a white sandy beach with a beautiful view, we also suggest getting out an exploring the fascinating areas that make up the Caribbean & Mexico. No matter where you’re headed on vacation, there’s always a long list of things to do and places to see. So it’s official…you have our permission to unleash your inner tourist and start exploring.

Share your favorite things to do and places to see while on vacation in the comments below.
April 30, 2013
Caribbean Jim
0 Comments
Cinco de Mayo, nightlife, party, Uncategorized
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Five Fiesta Vacations You Won’t Want to Miss

Would it surprise you to know that the U.S. celebrates Cinco de Mayo more so than Mexico? Unless you call Puebla (the city where the Mexican army defeated the French on the fifth of May) home, the likelihood that you’ll find a slew of designated Cinco de Mayo festivities in Mexico isn’t high. But that’s okay; we’ll argue you don’t need an excuse to party in paradise. And what’s better than an ice-cold cerveza, some clear blue waters and some serious rest & relaxation to ring in this holiday?

Let’s start the party in Playa del Carmen. This Mexican hot spot is known for its stellar beaches and even spicier nightlife. Our pick here is 5-star THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen. Not only will you be submersed in luxury during your stay here, but you’re also mere steps from Playa del Carmen’s famed Fifth Avenue. This area of Playa del Carmen is home to plenty of hip nightspots and trendy cafes, making it the ideal area to put on your dancing shoes and party all night long.

Playa del Carmen Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

Don’t worry; your days spent at THE ROYAL will be full of numerous all-inclusive dining options, sunbathing at both of the enormous freshwater swimming pools with built-in Jacuzzis, hanging out at the in-pool lounges and lively swim-up bar, and maybe even a tennis match on the rooftop tennis court.

Puerto Rico is the next party spot we’d recommend. With plenty of options for nightlife and even more things to do and places to see during the day, El San Juan Resort & Casino is an ideal home-away-from-home. Located in the city’s fashionable Isla Verde district, stop in at the resorts’ Club BRAVA nightclub or if you’re feeling like rattling Lucky Lady, hit the slots at the 13,000-sq-ft El San Juan Casino.

Puerto Rico Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

When you’re not busy perusing around the 15 acres of hotel grounds, including pools and beach, plan a day trip to Casa Bacardi, the famous rum factory in Old San Juan. You’ll learn all about the history of sugar cane in the Caribbean, as well as the origins of rum making. And, of course, there are plenty of free samples to go around.

Ready to rock? We are too. That’s why your next vacation party spot should be hosted at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana. This Dominican Republic hot spot was recently named a 2013 AAA Four Diamond hotel and is the first all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel in the world. This resort does everything big, offering 13 restaurants, seven bars and 15 pools. As the sun goes down, stop into the 45,000-sq-ft, Vegas-style casino or grab bottle service at Oro Nightclub, open daily from 11pm – 3am.

Punta Cana Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

And if you’re all about thinking ahead, make plans to attend the Enrique Iglesias Concert on July 23. Tickets can be purchased at the hotel. Your party options are endless here and with a hotel that embraces a rock ’n’ roll attitude, we can’t think of a better place to party hardy.

Another destination known for it’s great nightlife and “party in paradise” attitude is Los Cabos. And why not live it up in Cabo at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, All Suites Resort & Spa. This resort has five free-form swimming pools, five Jacuzzis, endless amounts of shady loungers and six swim-up bars, making your days spent poolside unforgettable. And when you’re looking for a beach that’s straight out of a magazine, catch the complimentary shuttle that takes you to Pueblo Bonito’s sister resort on Medano Beach, the perfect setting for continuing the party vibe. When night falls, dress up for one of the resorts’ themed dinners and have a nightcap at the ocean-view terrace of The Lobby Bar.

Los Cabos Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

And since you’ll be busy partying the day away, reward yourself at the Spa at Sunset Beach. This resort spa was named the “#1 Top Hotel Spa in Mexico” and among the “Top 10 Hotel Spas in Mexico, Central and South America” by Travel + Leisure. We recommend the Honey Sugar Glow, where an exclusive formula of crystallized honey hydrates, exfoliates and soothes the skin.

Our fifth and final recommendation for a good, quality place to party is on an island that’s name says it all. Riu Palace Paradise Island is the Bahamas resort that rests on three miles of satiny sand and crystal clear waters making it a true island of paradise.  If you love feeling like a VIP, plan your next trip to this 24-hour all-inclusive spot equipped with a long list of some of our favorite amenities.

Bahamas Vacations from CheapCaribbean.com

Hang by the Romanesque pool and Jacuzzi or grab a bite at one of the five delicious dining options. And as nighttime approaches, head next door to the Atlantis Casino and end the night groovin’ at one of four bars, including the Sports Bar open 24 hours a day. Live like the Bahamians do at this Paradise Island must-stay.

So as you might agree, partying can mean a little something different to everyone. Whether you’re looking for iconic nightlife or simply want to waste the day away with a cold one in your hand, celebrate Cinco de Mayo the right way this year – in the Caribbean or Mexico!