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Caribbean Vacations: Recommendations |
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Some people may call it paradise. Others say that it's heaven on earth. Well, one thing is certain, a Caribbean island vacation is exactly what you need if you're looking for beaches, boats, bikinis, and other tropical vacation essentials.
Situated right at the tip of South America and surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the Caribbean is not just the top playground for the Americas, but also boasts movie-set beauty, coconut tree-clad mountains, verdant valleys of sugarcane and bananas, and seashores galore. Even the cities here radiate with glorious architecture and the towns dotting the region had been established long before the automobile.
The islands are soaked with island-flavored culture with just the subtlest hint of European influence, and world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, activities, attractions, and shopping. There are over fifty island destinations to pick from for your Caribbean island travel and each has its own extensive directory of accommodations and activities for the Caribbean's famous exotic warm weather.
Below are the top picks for an awesome Caribbean island vacation:
New Providence, the Bahamas
Most visitors incorrectly call it "Nassau" because the island is the site of the nation's capital, which was named after the Dutch Prince of Orange-Nassau in 1695 after he took over the British throne. In fact, the island is New Providence is where about two-thirds of the Bahamian population lives, and where millions of dollars are invested in Nassau, Cable Beach, and Paradise Island. In recent years, New Providence has created a name for itself as one of the premier places to visit when on a Caribbean island travel.
Considered an offshore financial hub, New Providence is most noticeably a fabulous shopping bazaar and Caribbean island travel destination. Stroll along the world-famous Bay Street and side streets and relax in the Caribbean carnival atmosphere. Or visit one of the outer islands of the Bahamas -- the famous Nassau and Paradise Island, linked to each other by a bridge.
But while the Bahamas has lots to offer, what it is really most renowned for is its island groove. The drumbeat is the essence and the soul of Bahamian culture with the instrument establishing the heartbeat for all Bahamian music, including rake 'n scrape, Junkanoo and goombay.
Bermuda
An isolated paradise, Bermuda is found right in the middle of the great chasm -- the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. Combine that with a history of English settlement and you have an island that is as unique as its topography. This Caribbean island destination is spotlessly clean, quaint, orderly, and extraordinarily beautiful. Imagine pink and green. Pink for the pastel shades that cleanse this 21-square mile island. And green for the color of money that Bermuda's offshore banking and insurance sectors produce. Plus, it is only a convenient two and a half hour flight from most major cities on the U.S. east coast.
There are no slums, no outside advertisements, and very, very few fast food outlets. But it's not inconvenient, because all this is negligible compared to the glorious sight this Caribbean island travel destination offers. From the colonial architecture of the tidy homes that row its roads to the fragrant tropical flowers -- Bermuda is all splendor and grace.
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