Check out this Christmas message from the Managing Director of Tour America - Mary McKenna
We'll see you in 2010 for your next holiday!
All the Best,
The Tour America Team
12/23/2009
12/17/2009
12/04/2009
Christmas in the Caribbean
For roasting hot Christmas Day sunshine, you will have to endure a long haul flight. But watching the seasons reverse from your window as you fly into warmer and sunnier climates can be a present in itself. The Caribbean is one of the most expensive locations to visit in December, but it is refreshing to know that as friends back home are stuffing the turkey, your only movements will be waking from beach slumber to enjoy an al fresco Christmas buffet. While there are plenty of winter sun destinations, the Caribbean is packed with large and small island hideaways that beg visitors to kick off their shoes, toss on some sunscreen, and chill out. Many islands even have a special word for this lack of activity: ‘limin’, to enjoy life at a destination where the ‘livin’ is easy.
Blessed with tropical beaches and perpetually sunny days, Jamaica attracts over one million tourists to its shores every year. The most colourful island in the Caribbean has a distinct high season running roughly from mid-December through to mid-April. Jamaica is a large island with 14 parishes, each with its own distinct flavour. The clever concept of the all-inclusive holiday originated here - where your accommodation, food and drinks are all pre-paid before you even board the plane. It may seem like you are paying a small fortune but once you arrive you don’t have to worry about carrying any cash for the duration of your holiday. For those who are slightly sceptical of such a practice, rest assured after several trials of room service, you will be satisfied that the brochure’s promise of ‘everything included’ is, in fact, true. The freebies are often extended to tennis lessons, fine dining restaurants, water sports, beach parties and constant flowing champagne.Negril is one of the trendiest resorts on the island; its beach is like a shell necklace with a conglomeration of tourist attractions fringing the coast for 15 miles. From snorkelling to parasailing, to just vegging out at a midnight beach bonfire – it attracts a diverse mix of holidaymakers. A few hours drive away is Ocho Rios or Ochee, as it is known locally. The once sleepy fishing village is now a hugely popular honeymoon retreat. One of its most famous hotels is the Couples Resort. As its name suggests, it is exclusively for lovers. The resort’s beach is like a recurring movie scene as sunset beach weddings take place a few times a day under floral filled gazebos. For the more free spirited tourists there is the enchanting hip strip in Montego Bay which is buzzing every night with a dazzling array of reggae artists and calypso kings.
Jamaica is a celebrity haven with Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson and Naomi Campbell counting it as one of their preferred destinations. Those in the money can book a room at the Goldeneye Resort - where Ian Fleming penned the James Bond books. The Clintons stayed there a few years ago a cost of €3000 a night for Fleming’s villa on Bond beach. Irish celebrities have also savoured the Jamaican lifestyle with Bono being a frequent visitor at the idyllic Caves Resort in Negril. It’s easy to see why so many celebrities visit, as there is no hassle from the locals - in their words everything is ‘No problem Mon’.
Christmas in Jamaica, like many countries around the world, has become slightly commercialised. Carols are heard from the end of November, decorations appear from the first of December, and Santa can be visited in many different stores. There is no need to fret about missing out on your traditional Christmas dinner as a celebration of food is found throughout all the Caribbean. Jamaican food, in particular, is like a box of chocolates. Local treats include ackee (a traditional fruit enjoyed at breakfast) dumplings and jerked chicken (barbecue style chicken with spicy seasoning), spongy banana bread and the renowned Blue Mountain coffee. You can also enjoy casual culinary fun, snacking on roast corn, or fresh mango. At night sip a glass or two of homegrown Tia Maria, which was created in honour of the country’s independence in 1962.While Jamaica offers every excuse to be lazy, there are more than a few adventures to get your heart racing. Start with a horseback ride n’ swim followed by an exhilerating rainforest canopy tour or a swim with sting rays. The non risk-takers can swim with dolphins, climb Dunn’s River Falls or take a culinary tour in the Jamaican hills. Another vibrant way to see more than just the island’s splendid beaches is by signing up to ‘Meet the People’ programme. It offers tourists the opportunity to mingle with the locals by meeting up with a Jamaican family for a day or for some fun on the beach.
There are many child-friendly resorts for families in Jamaica; golfers will be challenged by the champion courses; couples will be serenaded by the old world romanticism; and the party will never stop for groups or wedding parties.
OTHER CARIBBEAN TEMPTATIONS
Dominican Republic
Things to do: There is every imaginable activity from world-class golf, horseback riding, white-water rafting, surfing, diving, and wind surfing.
Where to sunbathe: It has over 1,000 miles of sandy beaches including the Caribbean’s longest stretch of white sand: Punta Cana-Bávaro.
Accommodation: A selection of surfer’s camps, exclusive boutique hotels, and all- inclusive resorts. Food: The dining scene in Santo Domingo is reputed to be the best in the country. But it is just as tempting to buy fresh fish from the beach shacks; you can even get whole coconut sea bass.
BARBADOSTell your friend you are off to Barbados and you will be faced with a very jealous reaction. This island is possibly the most tropical holiday destination, particularly at Christmas when temperatures hover around a balmy 30 degrees celsius. Christmas day in Barbados is just like home with a big feast complete with turkey, baked ham and mince pies. The only difference is you can work it all off with a dip in the warm ocean, before seeking refuge in your cushioned lounger, where a butler will be waiting to take your cocktail order. The only downfall of holidaying in Barbados is that it makes the return to your regular world of work and gloomy weather even more difficult.
Things to do: Aside from sunbathing, you can go cave exploring, deep-sea fishing, surfing and posh shoppingWhere to sunbathe: The Crane was once rated one of the ten best beaches in the world but there is an abundance of beautiful bays and beaches to lounge about.
Accommodation: The exclusive Sandy Lane Resort on the west coast is must-stay accommodation for any celebrity. Cheaper alternatives include the nearby Treasure Beach hotel.Food: Expect lots of barbecued chicken, sushi, rice, salads, and fried fish. There has also been a boom in world-class dining on the island.
Aruba
With immaculate beaches, a gently deepening sea, virtally no rain and no hurricanes, Aruba is one of the safest sun destinations. The island boasts year-round temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and its temperature is as constant as the trade winds that bring cooling breezes. It is one of the world’s best surfing and windsurfing centres with 42 major dive sites around the island.Things to do: For the active, there is anything wet - diving, snorkelling, jet skiing. There is also horse riding and hiking in the Arikok National Park, a hilly cactus-filled nature reserve.
Where to sunbathe: The Island has long, powder-white beaches with Palm Beach and Eagle Beach considered to be two of the finest in the Caribbean.
Accommodation: Bucuti Beach is ideal for romantic getaways and honeymoons (www.bucuti.com). There is also a selection of beachfront hotels which are great for water sports.
Food: Fresh seafood and salads is the staple of the Aruba diet. Meal time can be as romantic as you wish – with luxury yachts offering sunset dinner cruises.
- by Karen Creed
