Snooth - the popular wine website and community - has a new article up about dining on St. Martin, specifically Grand Case:

Much more here.

From Expedia: Early Booking Special: Save up to 48% on resorts in Antigua & Barbuda! Expires 1/31/10

Le Phare Bleu is a new property on the south coast of Grenada, combining a marina with some of the most tasteful accommodation to be found on this very West Indian island. There are only 14 rooms in total at the present. And what exceptional spaces they are! The wooden bungalows, all individual buildings, are tastefully constructed and decorated in a contemporary villa style of relaxing living spaces that merge onto the outdoor deck. To raise the bar there is a comfy canopy bed, mosaic walls in the bathroom, wooden plank floors, and a kitchen sporting modern top-of-the-line appliances. Oh did I mention that the four poster bed is the most comfortable I have ever slept in a resort. Apparently, this is a common refrain from satisfied clients.

Continue reading "A Grenadian escape" »

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The Mine Shaft Café on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands offers beautiful sunset views while you dine out on their elevated deck with very good food, including above average BBQ and jerk chicken wraps with homemade potato salad and curly fries. Drinks are good too, including a not too sweet Rum Punch. Overall, a good value.


Plus, right as the sun sets, what seems like dozens of chickens gather under the big tree next to the deck and start a clumsy, noisy ascent up into the highest part of the tree.


What a spectacle. The hostess tells us they are wild and don't have a man made place to stay, so they roost up in the tree for the night to stay safe from predators. What must that place sound like at 5 AM?

Travel Tip submitted by jmq on the VIOL Forum.

If you are heading way down to the South Caribbean, to the hot little Island of Aruba, there is a fun little bar out on a pier that you shouldn't miss called the Bugaloe Beach Bar. The Bugaloe is located on a pier off Palm Beach between the RIU Palace and the Radisson Resort. My wife and I were just down there and we had several fun times at the Bugaloe. The first night we were there we caught a live band playing with a lead singer originally from Philadelphia... this band was a lot of fun and, actually, very good. They played everything from Santana to Michael Jackson... we actually got out there and danced... thank god there are no videos! One day we had yummy curry shrimp and a burger for lunch, another night we enjoyed a lively "Salsa Dance Workshop" where some local dance instructors had us all out there learning to dance salsa and merengue... what a hoot!

The staff at this place is really good too, friendly and efficient. Happy Hour is from 4-5 PM... don't miss this place the next time you are in Aruba, check their website for event dates and times... Bon Dia!


This travel tip submitted by "Sherban", who has some neat stuff on Google Earth.

OK... The secret is NOW out!!!
This small islet is called Mopion
It's not easy to get to, but is it worth it!

An adventure of a lifetime, it's the getting there that is most of the story. Mopion is a classic tropical sandbar, which is held in place by a reef on it's north side. The shape is ever changing, although the area of this islet stays roughly the same throughout the year, high seas notwithstanding. The thatch umbrella, built to give a castaway a bit of shade, is maintained by the resort of Petit St. Vincent. The 22 bungalow resort is on an island of the same name, a 10 minute ride away by motorboat. The PSV resort would probably like to think of Mopion as their private property, but it isn't. They offer a day trip/picnic to Mopion, for guests to get a stranded-on-a-tropical-isle experience. Of course, all is not what it may appear to be, as there are others who come and go. Most of the time you will have this spot to yourself, but occasionally there are some passing yachties that anchor for the day just outside the shallows.

To get there on your own: It's easiest if you start in Carriacou, a small island of 7000 souls just to the north of the 'mainland' of Grenada. Carriacou is the southernmost island of the Grenadine chain, a necklace of volcanic islands stretching northward, the majority of which belong to the country of St. Vincent. And, in fact Mopion is in the territorial waters of St. Vincent, but there aren't any passport controls out here, and sailors regularly ply the waters between the two countries with impunity.

Once in Carriacou, take a taxi to the fishing village of Windward. There are plenty of men with seaworthy boats there that will be willing to take you over for a quick look, or you can do the castaway thing, and have them return for you in an hour or more. They will likely take you over in a boat the owner built by hand. Windward is the shipbuilding capital of the Caribbean, and you'll probably see numerous small boats being built on the beach.

Take some snorkel gear, water and mostly importantly, sunscreen. Enjoy!

Unlike the other islands that make up The British Virgins, Anegada is the only island in the group that is not mountainous. Flatter than an IHOP pancake, Anegada is an atoll - an island formed from thick layers of dead coral reef that has deposited around a volcanic island that has receded back into the sea. The great thing about atolls are their beaches. The most spectacular on this island is Loblolly Bay, a terrific stretch of sand that, as luck would have it, has a place or two to eat. And lobster is on the menu. You will find crustaceans, both fresh and reasonably priced. The beach here is one of the most pristine you can find in The Caribbean. It is not unlike the unspoiled beaches you can find on Antigua's sister island, Barbuda.

Anegada is the northernmost of the British Virgin Islands. It's a totally different experience from the other islands, in that it is not geared to tourism. In fact it has a small population, and transportation getting to the island can be sporadic.

You can get there by power catamaran, Dive BVI has a trip twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays in high season, subject to getting a minimum of 8 reservations. It is supposed to take 45 minutes for the crossing, and as this boat just screams out across the ocean, you will get there fast. Cost is $80 adults/$60 children. Lunch is not included in this price. www.divebvi.com/anegadatrip.htm or call 284-495-5513. They have three pick up spots on Virgin Gorda: Leverick Bay, VG Yacht Harbour and Little Dix Bay. Unfortunately, they only go from Virgin Gorda, and not the most populated island of Tortola.

To get there from Tortola, Fly BVI, can take you for the day. It's only a 10 minute flight over azure seas. They will bring you out in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. They can arrange a vehicle to take you from the landing strip to the beach, and back in the afternoon to catch the return flight. Sometimes Fly BVI has a scheduled charter that you can book a seat or two on, or if not, and you have a group you can charter their services. Call them at: (284) 495-1747 www.bviaircharters.com

From the 'name it and they will come department', is an announcement from the office of The Prime Minister of Antigua. According to The Antigua Sun, Antigua's highest point, Boggy Peak (OK, so it's not really a lofty snow-capped mountain), will be re-named to Mount Obama in honor of The United States' new president. The peak's moniker is set to change on Mr. Obama's next birthday, August 4. As luck would have it the timing of the renaming of the 1300 foot 'mountain' will happen during Antigua's annual carnival in August.

This would appear to be another PR coup for the island. Already, the tourist board likes to claim that there are 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. Having been there a number of times I would dispute that. But whose counting. However, there are some truly great beaches on the island, like Turners Beach which is my favorite. I also like the beach at Galley Bay.

The best view on the island certainly has to be from the Shirley's Heights Lookout. From the bar on top, there is an excellent view of historic English Harbour. They make a good rum punch here, as well as offer a weekly jump up, featuring live bands and a BBQ cookout.

More information can be found in the files of The Antigua Sun.

I haven't spent much time exploring St. Vincent, yet I have been there many times, usually just to overnight. Most of the time I arrive late, too late to catch the ferry over to the Grenadine Island of Bequia, one of the Caribbean's most charming places, and a favorite spot of mine. Nevertheless, I always look forward to a stay in St. Vincent, however short.

Why? Because St. Vincent really does have a lot to offer. It's a mountainous, volcanic island with steep roads leading down to black sand beaches, and some terrific colonial fortresses just outside the capital city Kingstown.

This is the real West Indies.. The countryside is verdant and lush. However, Kingstown, is where the action is. It has some old buildings, and a bustling market. When I find myself there I always stay at the charming Cobblestone Inn. It's a stone's throw from both the market and the ferry docks. In fact it's an easy walk, even with luggage to the docks. From there you can grab a ferry to various islands in The Grenadines, to as far south as Union Island.

The Cobblestone Inn dates back to1814. It was constructed in the Georgian style of architecture favored at the time. Built originally as a waterfront warehouse for sugar, the idea of restoring the building and converting it into a hotel required extensive renovation. In the process, original details of the building were exposed, revealing its lovely cobblestone walkways and arches.

It's a comfortable hotel, steeped in history. While some of the rooms are facing the main street, most are placed further back in the property, and are as quiet as can be. All the rooms are unique, and all show different aspects of the original building. There are seventeen double and two single fully air-conditioned rooms each with its own bathroom. There is a restaurant in the hotel, and another one on the ground floor facing the main street, which is run by Basil, of Mustique fame. It's also one of St. Vincent's best watering holes.

Rates are $75 for a single to $95 for a suite. Tax of 20% will be added on top to cover service and VAT.

www.thecobblestoneinn.com

Pulling up by car or taxi at Grenada's sleepy airport is an easy thing to do. The parking lot is adjacent to arrivals, with the car rental outfits found immediately upon being sprung from customs. It is a small cozy affair with a few shops outside. The airport seems to be well run, with a bank, car rentals, a book shop and a couple of eateries at curbside. There is also an ATM, but no bank to change money. A Starbucks clone, called Rituals is right at curbside. There is a restaurant, or at least a facsimile of one upstairs overlooking the runway

Inside at arrivals, there is an outpost of the Board of Tourism tucked into a corner next to passport control. The location is a bit strange, as it seems that it is positioned before passport control.

The departure lounge has really been upgraded nicely in the last few years to include an excellent gift shop selling locally produced items as well as imports from Africa. There are the obligatory liquor, diamond and perfume shops, as well as a T-shirt shop and a snack bar with very limited offerings. Again there is no bank in here for exchanging your EC dollars for something more usable outside Grenada. Beware of the VERY expensive international telephones that gobble your credit card dollars like a drunken sailor. A brief call will cost you $30-$50, and that's US hard currency, not the 2.7 to one EC dollar exchange. Be forewarned!

Note: There is a departure tax levied on ALL passengers. You can pay in local EC dollars or USD. The charge is 50EC or $20 USD.

For years The Nutmeg has been a favorite meeting place for locals and tourists alike. Located on the second floor of an old building, it's louvered windows overlook the Carenage, St.George's well protected harbor. The gentle breezes and great views of the harbour and moored fishing boats make this a classic local spot to while away the time.

The Nutmeg is a casual restaurant offering a great rum punch (sprinkled with nutmeg). They serve a terrific and inexpensive boneless chicken roti ($11 EC =$4.10 US) and Grenada's classic spinach-like soup, Callaloo ($6.50 EC = $2.50 US).

While the stairs down may seem a bit hard to negotiate after having one excellent rum punch too many, there is a taxi stand located conveniently a few steps away, just in case you need to find an uncomplicated way to return to your hotel after dark.

Simply put Anguilla is a gem. It's a quiet island ringed by fabulous sandy beaches. The larger and mountainous neighboring island of St. Martin practically looms over this flat, scrubby isle. It's only a 20 minute ferry trip from the port of Marigot, on the French side.

These days, Anguilla is a haven for the rich and famous. There are exclusive hotels and expensive restaurants. However, there is only one Arawak Beach Inn. Only minutes from beautiful Shoal Bay Beach, this comfortable and inviting family-run hotel is a good value (for pricey Anguilla, anyway), especially during the summer months. This intimate gem exudes island warmth. Hexagonal, breezy, two-story villas painted in the soft pastels of the Caribbean offer spectacular views of the narrow beach and boat-dotted harbor. Deluxe units are far grander, with four-poster rattan beds, mahogany and teak furnishings, and brilliant tropical fabrics.

Scilly Cay, a Robinson Crusoe-like islet is just offshore and visible from the hotel. You can go there to hang out. There is also a restaurant on the isle, usually offering up lobster lunches.

Hotel prices are a very reasonable $125-$185 plus tax, depending on season and room. Here's the "beauty part" as we say in Canada. For long stays, for between one and three months, a room can be rented for $1100 a month. If you stay 3 months in the off season, the monthly rate starts at $825. Bigger, better rooms can cost three times as much. Still reasonable given the location.

www.arawakbeach.com

Toll-Free from the USA & Canada: (877) 427-2925
Phone: (264) 497-4888

Twice daily the privately owned, Osprey ferry makes a run from the tiny Grenadian Grenadine island of Petit Martinique to Carriacou and then on to Grenada. The Grenada to Carriacou portion takes about 1 1/2 hours, and completes a round trip, twice a day. If you fancy a quick day trip to Petit Martinique it's only a 20 min run from Carriacou.

The ferry is the most reasonable (though hardly cheap), and reliable way to go back and forth from Grenada to it's outlying islands. There are some flights into Carricou's Lauriston Airport from Pt. Salines in Grenada, but nowadays everyone seems to like traveling by ferry. It does arrive, after all, in St George's, eliminating the need for an expensive taxi ride from the airport.

And if you want a quick day trip to the 500 person strong island community of Petit Martinique, this is the way to do it.

If you want to traverse the entire chain of Islands you can begin your Grenadine island hop this way. Starting or finishing in Grenada. And from the other end begin or end in St Vincent. There are ferries all the way down and up the chain of islands, but it is difficult to hop the short distance from Union Island (St Vincent) to Carriacou (Grenada). Usually a very expensive private speedboat trip can bridge this gap.

Check their schedule:www.ospreylines.com
Grenada to Carriacou 9am and 5:30pm daily. M-F.Sat 9am only. Sunday 8am and 5:30pm
Carriacou to Grenada: 6am and 3:30pm daily. M-Sat. Sunday 3:30pm only

The cost: One Way from Grenada to Carriacou is $80 EC ($30US)

Palm Island Beach Resort is the quintessential private island resort. This 135 acre island is located in The Grenadines, a chain of idyllic islands that are part of St. Vincent. The easiest way to get there is by short flight from Barbados to neighboring Union Island. Palm's private launch meets the plane and after a ten minute boat trip you've arrived at one of the most exclusive getaways in the Caribbean. Featuring 37 bungalows, the resort is an all-inclusive of the highest order.

Food: Table service featuring a changing menu of steak, fish, lobster. All the wine you can drink. A buffet happens one night a week, featuring a tremendous selection of meat and fish.

What to do?: Day sail on Yannis catamaran to the Tobago Cays. Full day at sea, checking out the reknown Cays, which are four uninhabited isles floating in the clearest, bluest water you have ever seen. Includes lunch, beer, rum punch, snorkeling gear.

Internet: Available in the library and game room, free of charge

Beach: One of my favorites, the golden sand of Casuarina beach will make a beach lover weep. Also a pool for you landlubbers. Hammocks swing between palm trees

Prices: $650-$875 daily for a double in low season
$850-$1075 daily for a double at Christmas

Website: http://www.eliteislandresorts.com