There are a few pertinent facts a visitor should know about St. Barts, aside from the location and the climate.  Though the economy is very much geared to tourism, this is not the place for free-wheeling nightlife.  There are a number of fine hotels, and a greater number of gorgeous villas that can be booked for a visit, but the emphasis in more on gourmet restaurants than on bars and nightclubs.

St. Barts is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Caribbean islands, and not just because it has so many stunning white sand beaches, coves and reefs (which it certainly does.)  What is does not have is easy access; there is one airport (one of the smallest in the world), that handles only short-flight planes from neighboring St. Martin and a few other Caribbean islands.

One other very pertinent characteristic of the island is that it is very much a part of France, both in governance and ambiance.  Even the French agree that St. Barts offers some of the best things about France in an easy-going South Seas kind of atmosphere.  There has been little of the over-building and destruction of the landscape that afflicts so many popular tourist resorts.

The capital city of Gustavia was named for the Swedish king Gustav after France sold the island to Sweden for Scandinavian trading rights.  The French later bought it back, but the city retained its name and today it is a lovely pink-roofed town with a beautiful (and busy) harbor and some of the finest cuisine in the world.  King Gustav also proclaimed it a duty-free port, and that has remained in effect to this day.

The island combines upscale French chic with the mellow, laid-back Caribbean lifestyle in what can only be described as ‘a most delightful way’.  What is equally delightful is that it seems the inhabitants, French or not, intend to keep it that way.

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There are a number of all inclusive options in the country and a holiday in Cuba will give you beautiful white sand beaches, crystalline waters and quality entertainment. There are beautiful locations such as Cancun but the area is known for partying and lots of drinking and being overloaded with people. Many people want something that is a bit more tranquil and laidback.

Most offer a great nightlife, just not as mind boggling as many other places. Some of the finer all inclusive resorts are Iberstar Varadero, Blau Varadero, Sandals Hicacos and Paradisus Cuba in Guardalavaca.

An important thing to know about an all inclusive holiday in Cuba is the area is not known to have the best food. Sandals Hicacos offers excellent fare and their seafood buffet is one of the best on the island. Also important to remember is always to ask for bottled water. Tap water will just cause your vacation to be spent indoors.

The staff that works at these resorts lives more than anything else on tips. It is courteous, polite and respectful to tip the employees for their services provided. If the family is coming then you need to choose the right all inclusive since not all will cater to children. The Iberostar Varadero is probably the best for families with young children.

The rainy season is May through October and the hurricane season is June through November so make sure you schedule your vacation well, the best suggestion is anytime other than August, September or October, the three biggest months for hurricanes.

Cuba can offer a great, inexpensive and memorable holiday for you and your family. Just remember to bring your sun block, a wide brimmed hat and lots of light cotton clothing.

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Sound too good to be true?

If you’re bored of the daily grind, now is the perfect opportunity to grab the opportunity of a lifetime. The two week sandman apprenticeship will entail scouring the Caribbean in search of perfect beach locations to build the next Sandals Resort.

Sandals, the leading group of luxury beach resorts is offering one lucky member of the public the chance to become the first ever Apprentice Sandman. Unique to Sandals, the Sandman is an expert in all things sand – testament that they have the best located beach resorts around the world! The job will entail scouring the Caribbean in search of perfect beach locations to build the next Sandals Resort. Key skills learnt on the job include location sourcing, sand quality checks, tidal and water property testing, air quality checks, not forgetting view and land stretch analysis enabling them to become an expert like their mentor.

In true Apprentice style, ten finalists will be selected. It will take a convincing display of passion and dedication for sand and tropical beaches in order to walk off with the winning prize. The chosen apprentice will fly to Emerald Bay in the Bahamas to get hands on experience and learn the complex details that make the perfect beach.

Jeremy Jones, Sandals current Sandman, says: “I’ve been the Sandman for the last five years and have scoured the Caribbean in search of perfect beaches to build the next Sandals resort. My most recent find is Emerald Bay, Great Exuma in the Bahamas which is opening towards the end of January 2010. It took me a year to find but it was certainly worth it. The Sandman apprentice winner will have the opportunity to travel the Caribbean, visit beautiful beaches and help me find the hidden gems still waiting to be discovered. It’s a never ending search but someone has to do it!”

2 week Apprenticeship Description::

• Someone who is willing to travel to beautiful and exotic places
• Enjoys adventure, the outdoors and has a love of beaches
• A good traveller – i.e. can ride in helicopters, jeeps, all modes of transport etc to carry out recess under all various circumstances/nature elements
• An outdoors personality – i.e. good swimmer, walker etc
• Interested in oceanography and physical geography
• Likes walking along beaches, swimming, air travel, jeep rides, sunshine, beaches

• Someone who can work to high levels of standards and can follow strict beach guideline policies

UK beach fans can enter the competition on www.Sandals.co.uk explaining why they deserve to become the first Sandals Sandman Apprentice

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Beautifully landscaped tropical gardens abound. The Lazaretto Garden just outside Bridgetown has a rock face with a cascading waterfall. The Ayshford Ratite Gardens has many tropical plants, exotic birds, pheasants, ostriches, and gardens which are illuminated every night. Fine restaurants there feature international executive chefs. Orchid World has 20,000 orchids in five orchid houses. The Flower Forest in the Scotland District of Barbados has brilliant flowers amid jungle greenery and is open 7 days a week. The Andromeda Botanical Garden in the parish of St. Joseph has six acres of exotic flowers and trees. In that same area the Turners Hall Woods is 50 acres of tropical forest.
Bathsheba on the east coast is a small fishing village that is a favorite spot for photographers because of the island’s most spectacular beaches and rocky terrain. It also has “the Soup Bowl,” which is a favorite with surfers because of its foaming surf and powerful waves. It is also where an annual surfing contest is held.

Barbados also has one of the best wave windsurfing places in the world at its Silver Sands, where windsurfers ride and jump the waves that range from 7 to 16 feet.

Another popular sport is wreck diving at Carlisle Bay, which has numerous wrecks, and Folkestone Marine Park where an artificial reef was formed in 1976 by the sinking of a Greek freighter.
You can take an undersea expedition in an Atlantis Submarine, go on a Shipwreck Adventure, take a private cruise, or go on a safari island tour. You can rent a car and take a private look at this stunning island with its natural caves and historic buildings.

Barbados is featured as a main port of call for many cruise ships which dock at Deep Water Harbour near Bridgetown. There you will find many duty free shops.

If you have been tempted by this article you will find lots of travel agents who sell Barbados holidays and flights to barbados

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Until December 12th 2009, all bookings made with selected hotels in St. Kitts will qualify for Seven nights for the price of Five. The promotion is bookable from most tour operators or direct with hotels for travel from May 1st to December 19th 2009. http://www.stkittstourism.kn/FallinLove.asp

In addition to room night savings, selected participating hotels will also offer food and beverage credit and visitors will receive a special value card at hotel check-in with details of discounts offered on island activities, car rentals and shopping.

Hotels participating in the 2009 ‘Fall in Love’ promotion include the Royal St. Kitts Hotel, St. Kitts Marriott, Sugar Bay Club, Timothy Beach Resort, Frigate Bay Resort, Ocean Terrace Inn, Ottley’s Plantation Inn, Rawlins Plantation Inn and Rock Haven B&B.

With a host of historical and cultural attractions to experience and plenty of leisure activities on the island, visitors will find much to do in the extra two days. Riding the scenic sugar railway, exclusive to St. Kitts; touring the Brimstone Hill Fortress or taking a taxicab tour round the island are just some of the many ways to explore St. Kitts, while the island’s idyllic beaches, excellent range of restaurants and nightlife, and two casinos, are a fun way to relax.

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Club Colonna in Antigua promises the best dinghy sailing and windsurfing in the Caribbean. The consistent winds are popular with intermediate and advanced sailors and the enclosed harbour gives shelter for beginners. The resort also boasts more high quality sailing and windsurfing kit than any other hotel in the Caribbean.

Off the water, the Club offers two white sandy beaches, an open air restaurant, a well equipped gym, indulgent spa and fantastic Kids’ Club facilities including a life sized pirate’s ship.

Departing on 16th January you can spend one week at Sunsail’s Club Colonna from just £649 per person, saving £450 per person!

Price includes half board accommodation, including afternoon tea and cakes, return flights from London Gatwick, Kids’ Clubs for ages 2-17yrs, use of Sunsail’s watersports equipment, fitness, tennis and lots more.

For reservations and even more great late deals contact Sunsail Clubs on 0844 463 6578 or visit www.sunsail.co.uk/clubs

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Created by Tom Fazio, an influential golf course designer with a track record which includes the renowned River Course and Osprey Point in Kiawah Island, it is envisaged Christophe Harbour will benefit the local economy by driving the future of tourism for St Kitts.

With an enviable climate and pretty much cloudless skies for 320 days a year, it’s easy to see why the Caribbean island is such a popular destination for the British. Life is made easier by the fact that English is spoken by most West Indians and the affordable flights that serve the island.

The course, set to be open for play in 2011, will be built atop a volcanic ridge and along a natural inland cove. Planned over 250 acres, the Par 72 course will be 7,250 yards from the back tees. In addition to the terrain, wind will be considered a major design element and will influence shot selection choices in the upper holes.

The mountainous environment, sweeping views of two oceans, and spectacular design will make the project unique – a “must play” international venue for golf aficionados.

Careful environmental preservation has been a fundamental to the course’s design: steps have been taken to curb erosion and sustain the environment, to include water filtrations through Reverse Osmosis (RO) and planned wetlands treatments including groups of saltwater mangroves that treat runoff water.

For sales enquiries and to request a brochure, please visit www.christopheharbour.com

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