Beautiful beaches and lavish accommodations aside, St. Thomas is widely regarded as the Caribbean's premier shopping destination. With over one million cruise ship passengers and overnight Caribbean resort guests visiting St. Thomas each year, the island's ports have long been bustling centers of commerce and trade. Much of the finest duty-free shopping is concentrated near the waterfront of the island's historic capital, Charlotte Amalie. At discounts of 40-60% off American mainland prices on goods such as jewelry, fine china, crystal, electronics, perfume, clothing and liquor, the bargains are seemingly endless. Adding to the allure is the fact that U.S. citizens are allowed a duty-free shopping allowance of $1,600, twice the amount of any other island in the Caribbean and three times that of European nations.
Visitors to St. Thomas should begin their shopping tour in Charlotte Amalie's downtown and waterfront areas. The historic Dutch provincial warehouses along Main, Back and Waterfront Streets, beautifully restored to host a plethora of unique shops, allow visitors to shop and sightsee simultaneously. In the alleys surrounding the Main Street area (Royal Dane Mall, Palm Passage, Riise Alley and many others), shoppers will find smaller boutiques specializing in unique local products and Caribbean oddities. Inviting restaurants and entertaining bars are located amongst these stores, ideal for lunch or an island cocktail. Most shops in this exclusive shopping district are open Monday through Saturday; including holidays from 9am to 5pm. Shops in the downtown and waterfront areas are typically closed on Sundays, unless a cruise ship is in port. The shops at larger St. Thomas hotels usually remain open on Sundays, however. The Havensight district is another concentrated collection of shops catering to St. Thomas' visitors. Located near the primary cruise ship dock, this shopping area is comprised of The Havensight Shopping Center, The Buccaneer Mall and The Port of Sale. Featuring over 60 distinctive stores within the waterfront warehouses, the Havensight district is another great option for cruise ship passengers with limited time and overnight tourists alike. Like the shops on and around Main Street, tourists will find great prices on jewelry, clothing, perfume, liquor, electronics, music, sunglasses and assorted souvenirs. Also, Havensight is another great location for lunch, featuring a number of friendly cafes. Shops in the Havensight district are generally open from 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week when cruise ships are in port. Yet, during high season some cruise ships stay in port later into the evening. On such days, the shops in the Havensight will remain open until 7pm.
Also in Charlotte Amalie, across from Emancipation Park and Fort Christian, is the Vendors' Plaza, an assortment of small booths, tables and tents displaying a vast assortment of souvenirs. Here, in addition to the luxury goods found in other shopping districts, you will also find many locally produced products and unique regional food items. Vendors' Plaza is generally open Monday through Saturday from about 7:30am, when the vendors start setting up, until 5:00pm. On Sundays, fewer vendors set up, though the Vendors' Plaza is still worth a visit when one or more cruise ships are in port.
Directly across the street from the Vendors' Plaza is The Native Arts and Crafts Cooperative. Run by local artists, the Cooperative features a plethora of Caribbean artwork not available in any mall or shopping center.
For the more adventurous tourist, smaller shopping areas catering principally to residents are located throughout the island. Such shopping centers as American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook, Lockhart Gardens, Tutu Park Mall and Nisky Center offer visitors distinctive cultural opportunities in addition to essentials like grocery stores, pharmacies and clothing stores. Tillett Gardens is a charming local haven for pottery, silk-screened fabrics, candles, paintings and handcrafted jewelry. The Mountain Top and Paradise Point centers are also interesting options because shopping is accompanied by captivating, hilltop views. In Frenchtown, travelers can find some of the best cuisine the Caribbean has to offer.
As the heart of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas continues to astonish travelers with its refined pleasures. Combining a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere with the vibrancy of city streets, St. Thomas may just be the best of both worlds.
This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel in St. Thomas and other Caribbean resort areas for Marriott Resorts.
Anybody want to do business in Jamaica, Cayman islands, bahamas with me?
Ok, I need college money. So, I've invented a diesel generator that makes electricity for a lot less than the utilities in the Caribbean can sell it for. Like 80% less. I need 5k startup money to travel and make contacts with prospects and any other un-thought of costs to make a sale.
E-mail me the pictures and complete specifications of your idea. maybe i could buy it.i live too far from you that's why can't do business regularly otherwise i would have loved to do this.
Here's a Video about caribbean island for sale:
San Pedro Belize Caribbean Island for Sale ~ Eagle Ray Caye near Ambergris Caye
One of the greatest aspects of traveling to Jamaica for a holiday is its year round perfection in weather. Even during the Gulf hurricane season, Jamaica very seldom gets touched by a nasty storm and when it does rain, it is only for a little while before the skies clear up again and the sun shines down.
With an average yearly temperature along its coastlines averaging between 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit that drops as cool as 65 degree up top of the Blue Mountains, there is not a single day of the year that you could not wake up and wear a t-shirt and shorts all day.
On an average, the whole of Jamaica will see bout 78 inches of rain every year, but that is an average as the Blue Mountains can get in some cases over 300 inches while other parts of this small island nation may get less than 36 inches a year.
With warm temperatures year round and the rarity of the island seeing the effects of a hurricane, Jamaica is considered to be a great place to visit no matter what time of year it is. If it does get too hot for you while you are visiting Jamaica, you can always make your way up past the Blue Mountain Coffee farms all the way to the peak of the Blue Mountains where at an altitude of just over 7,400 feet, if the day is clear enough you can see all the way to Cuba.
There is no doubt that the weather in Jamaica is one of the benefits of this stunning Caribbean island.
can anyone narrow it down or give me possible suggestions.
but, not:
puerto rico
dominican republic
or jamaica
an island that:
- language is preferably English
- low to moderate crime rates
- not too expensive to live on
- beautiful beaches
- has some decent-sized cities (not too* excluded)
- presents the opportunity to work in the medical field
(what i'm going to school for)
not puerto rico because i've been there every summer and it's too much like the united states in a different language for me. i want something different, and to experience different cultures.
Try Curacao. It is best know for its beaches and the wonderful people! They can speak English fluently and it's a very modern island. Everything is up to date so it's not that typical small island where its all about hills and flowers but you can go there if you want to relax or whatever. Many people immigrate there to start a new life and they always succeed. Many immigrants are Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Hindus and South Americans. It's basically a multi cultural island. We are a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands so financially it's a very stable island.
Curacao is definitely in need of people with some kind of degree in either teaching or medical so there'll be a job opportunity for you there.
Here's a Video about caribbean island jamaica:
Caribbean Wedding | Weddings in Jamaica | Island Wedding Planners
When choosing a cruising sailboat for a trip to the Caribbean, make sure you remember it's a home first sailboat second.
We enjoyed living on a sailboat for 8 years cruising up and down the Windward's and Leeward's...Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Venezuela. We had a ball cruising on our 35 foot Island Packet sailboat Shadowtime. We chose very well, never wanted any other kind of boat. You can choose well too.
The things we liked were the teak interior; dining room table that stowed; a roomy head shower area; a roomy cockpit that could seat eight for cocktails; and high freeboard that kept us dry and secure.. It was a home we loved that also happened to be a very good sailboat. We had some 140 mile days on our rare passages.
But 99% of the time you are at anchor or docked. 1% you are underway. So remember you are mostly not moving when choosing a cruising sailboat. And since you are a cruiser and you want to go from Trinidad to Grenada 70 miles, you wait for calm seas and favorable winds...cruisers are not in a hurry.
We were stuck in Martinique for 24 days once waiting for the seas to lie down. What a great place to be stuck.
Point being when you wait for good weather it's a pleasant crossing. We looked for 4 to 6 foot seas max less if it was on the nose. 10 to 15 knots of wind hopefully somewhere on the beam. In all our many passages we had the motor on half the time. No stress no mess. Motorsailing may not sound cool, but comfort is number one with cruisers.
Cruisers are a frugal, make that cheap, lot . Keep that in mind when choosing a cruising sailboat since most of your meals will be prepared in board. If the chef is happy you can be happy. If the chef is not happy...the captain won't be either. We had a 3 burner gimbaled stove, propane fueled. The small oven had a big turkey in it every Thanksgiving. We ate great.
We had 12 volt refrigeration with a huge cooler area. A very small freezer which worked out fine. Look for a large, well insulated cooler...if the beer is not ice cold you will not be pleased. For you Europeans that think us Yanks are nuts for drinking ice cold beer...feel free to disregard this advice.
Other items to watch for are fresh water capacity. We had 90 gallons which lasted 2 weeks, a shower apiece every day, cooking and dishwashing and drinking water. Makes you cringe when you realize the average family uses 400 gallons a day in the US...what a waste. Be careful if your fresh water capacity is much less than 90 gallons. We had a 1.5 gph watermaker installed midway through our cruising life. It was expensive and noisy, better to have big tanks.
An absolute do not is never buy a boat with engine driven refrigeration. You will drive yourself and your neighbors crazy with the noise running the engine an hour plus every day. Beneteaus are fine for charter purposes...you won't see any where the cruisers hang.
Another must for Caribbean cruising is the V berth being the main sleeping quarters. It gets hot in the tropics and if you are not comfortable sleeping forget it. If the main sleeping area is aft make sure you can direct airflow, wind scoops help, to the bunk. With the sleeping quarters forward you can be assured of proper ventilation for sleeping. Don't over look this important aspect of being comfortable.
So when choosing a cruising sailboat remember it is a home first. If you are cramped and not happy at anchor you won't be happy period. Enjoy.
I've been to a bunch of Islands so far and I don't want to go to one I've already been to. The islands I've been to are:
St. Thomas
St. John
St. Martin
Anguilla
Aruba
Puerto Rico
Bahamas
St. Kitts
Nevis
Is there an Island besides those that's known for having the best beaches?
I have been to most of those places as well, so you really narrowed down my choices for an answer!
I may be a little biased since I really love this island, but I am going to say Jamaica. There is a beach there for almost any occasion and lifestyle (or clothing style - clothed or, well, um.. not clothed!).
My favorite is, by far, 7 mile beach over in Negril, and the area has plenty to see and do. Parts of 7-mile are clothing optional as well if you are in to that. But if you are looking for family beaches, then you can check out Cornwall Beach over near Montego Bay.
Turtle Beach and Mallards Beach, near Ochie, are more secluded but still within walking distance to hotels (a quarter of a mile or so to the nearest hotel). Both also boast great Jamaican food nearby as well.
While over there, check out Dunn's River Beach as well. The world famous Dunn's River Falls overlook this beach, making it the perfect point to take in nature and enjoy the scenery.
Here's a Video about caribbean island anguilla:
Anguilla / The British overseas territory in the Caribbean
It all depends upon what you're looking for in a honeymoon. do you want peace and quiet or lots of action in the towns?
I've been to St. Thomas...it's nice, but St. John next to it is nicer and quieter. St. Lucia...where we stayed had a wedding every half hour it seemed in an all inclusive spot, sorry but I forget the place where we stayed. The weddings were driving us nuts! All you heard was "here comes the bride".
Check out iBtraveling.com's Caribbean page and you'll find your answer there. The Caribbean link is located on the left hand side under states, mexico ... click on Caribbean.
each caribbean accent, which is the most difficult to understand?
alright each caribbean island has a unique accent, for those who have traveled to the diffent islands which ones you find most difficult to understand( i say bim or barbados, jamaica,and guyana)
If you stay somewhere for about 2 weeks, and you stay with the people of the area, you will find that you can understand them, what ever their accent is.
im taking a vacation this summer-end and i would like to go someplace quiet, small & cozy. somewhere not overcrowded with tourists n big hotels and fancy stores.. any advice ?
My favorite island for relaxing is St John USVI. You can find a nice quiet beach out of the 39 pristine beaches on St John. The Coral Bay side is much quieter than the Cruz Bay side. The island is 2/3 rds National Park. You do have 2 large resorts on island. The Westin and Caneel Bay resort. They aren't big high risers. They are spread out over acres of land. No big high rise hotels lining the beaches of St John.
Our favorite beach is Francis Bay. We snorkeled with the turtles and beautiful colorful fish. Good exercise and very relaxing time.
What I love about St John is it's a wonderful place to explore. You have some ruins, great nature walks and hiking trails and just over all beauty. You can enjoy stunning views. You are a short ferry ride to St Thomas or the British Virgin Islands.
There are plenty of B&B lodging places. Many visitors rent houses/villas especially if you are traveling with family.
No passport is needed for St John and that's a plus for some travelers.
A break from your professional stadium for a week may seem not enough for you to enjoy your Barbados Holidays. However, knowing the activities you want to engage in, tours you want to avail or spots you want to visit before packing your stuff into your big LV suitcase will maximize your time in the island. Creating a list of to do's and where to go's beforehand will make the vacation go on smoothly.
A visit to Barbados may be limited, buy making the most of the trip will craft memories to keep for a lifetime. Educate yourself with internet rave reviews and maps of the island available.
Beaches
Barbados cradles more than 60 beaches. This Caribbean island is a long stretch of world's finest coastline and beaches. The uniqueness of Barbados is pictured through powder-soft fine pinkish sand and turquoise waters. As the beam of the yellow-gold sun makes the beach more appealing as it mirrors a glass-like appearance from time to time. Lounge with an authentic rum punch while beside your muse with authentic Barbadian music surrounding the paradise on earth. Feel the spotlight of tropical sunshine while walking by the seaside while creating a blueprint of your future. Not to mention the most friendly staff and excellent service in every hotel you booked in.
Shopping
A truly shopper's paradise, Barbados offers designer brands in duty free prices, exotic jewelries and gems, world famous rum and tobacco. The island offers the most distinctive and exciting shopping experience in the Caribbean. The capital city Bridgetown is homo to the island's longest shopping streak.
Adventure
Families, children and friends would not be disappointed if they are looking for fun and adrenaline rush in Barbados. Hike Coles Cave with a team of trekkers, zip line track through the Harris or join a safari tour to visit endangered and exotic island inhabitants.
Historic adventure through museums and century old houses is also a popular treat in the island. Mansions built in the 18th and 19th century will surely provide you with grandeur ideas on how to set up your own crib. A mix of African and European taste, architectural designs and interiors will certainly sweep you off your feet.
Getting Married
There's no better way to get married than to celebrate this momentous event in the most beautiful place in the sphere. With scenic spots and picture perfect background, every snap is a work of art. A display of goodness will wrap the ceremony while keeping your guests in awe every minute. Arrangement with Marriage Officers should be made prior to the ceremony. After that, you are free to tie the knots. World premiere golfer Tiger Woods got married at Sandy Lane Beach and Golf Club.
Festival & Events
Cultural immersion is arguably the best way to seep into the ways of thriving and lifestyle of the Bajans. Enjoy surfing competition from world class surfers and the anticipated cricket matches during the Food & Wine Festival.
Barbados has tons to offer. Just match your wants and needs to countless choices and you are sure to go back for a second round of feast, food and fun.
My fiance and I just got engaged and we are looking to plan a destination wedding. We would like to get married in a "not-so-typical" Caribbean destination and we came across Anguilla. Neither one of us has ever heard of it before and it looks interesting from the pictures, yet we can't really find any reviews from people who have gotten married there. I was wondering if anyone has ever been to a wedding there or gotten married there and if so, where and how did you like it? Also, when would you say is the best time of the year to go? Is it a cheaper all-inclusive island or is it on the more expensive side than other Caribbean islands?
I found Anguilla to be a romantic honeymoon spot - it's off the beaten tourist path, so you can enjoy walking the beautiful beaches without hoards of other people around and you can always pop over to St. Martin via a short ferry ride if you want more action. It's not the cheapest place to be, but there are some affordable places (no all-inclusive) - I've provided a link to my favorite below. Best time of year is November (end of hurricane season, and just before rates go up for winter). Be SURE to go to Scilly Cay for fresh caught/grilled lobster!
The Caribbean's exotic plants and animals are a large part of the natural beauty which attracts many international visitors to the region. In fact, one third of the area's wildlife and plants are found only there. Unfortunately, many native species are either endangered, threatened or, in some cases, already extinct. Part of the reason for this is because many species have such a small range - in some cases only a few square miles on one particular island. But other factors also contribute to their low numbers, such as the expansion of humans and limited gene pools that make them more vulnerable to disease.
In the Sea
Marine life has been hit especially hard in the Caribbean. Even with protective legislation in place, illegal poaching continues to reduce many populations. Sea turtles, queen conch and coral are among the most notable cases. Six of the seven species of sea turtles call the Caribbean their home. Unfortunately, they are frequently hunted for their meat and shells. The queen conch is another lucrative catch for local fishermen, offering meat, shells, and pearls. Increased demand for these items has caused a drastic decline in conch numbers. Some types of coral have also experienced over-harvesting
Manatees, whales, and seals have also fallen prey to people. In the case of the Caribbean monk seal (now believed to be extinct), fishermen considered them pests and killed them simply so they wouldn't eat fish. Manatees and the North Atlantic Right Whale - one of the rarest mammals in the world - have suffered as a result of both over-hunting and boating accidents. Their tendency to swim slowly near the water's surface often results in collisions with ships and powerboats.
Pollution, diseases, increasing ocean temperatures, and human development all pose additional dangers for water-dwellers.
On Land
Caribbean land animals face plenty of hazards, too. Although many lizards, snakes, and other reptiles are specifically raised to provide products such as leather, rare reptiles are still subject to poaching. In some cases, fear leads people to kill certain species, like the Aruba Island Rattlesnake. On the other hand, reptiles fascinate some people, leading to their sale as pets.
An even larger business is the parrot trade. People want parrots as pets because of their beautiful colors, ability to talk, and intelligence. Parrots produce only one or two chicks per year, however, meaning they can't breed fast enough to replace the vast numbers taken from the wild. In addition, poachers chop down trees in order to reach them, effectively destroying their natural habitat. Captured parrots are often crammed together into small bags, lacking adequate food, water, and air and an estimated 80% of them die before reaching their destination.
One of the major causes of endangerment for both plants and animals is invasive species. Beginning with the first European colonists, a variety of foreign animals and plants have been brought to the Caribbean islands. Many of the newcomers thrived, depleting native species. Even those introduced with good intentions have caused havoc. The Small Indian Mongoose, for example, has been imported by many countries to control rodents and snakes. Unfortunately, in Jamaica, their voracious appetites have decimated five endemic animal species - one lizard, one snake, two birds, and one rodent.
Ironically, even re-established colonies of endangered species can negatively effect others. Once thought extinct, the Bahamian hutia (a type of rodent) made a comeback on one particular cay in the Bahamas. In an effort to promote re-population, some of them were transferred to other cays, where they bred to greater numbers than the cays could support and devastated many of the native plants.
Help For Endangered Species
Fortunately, nature preserves, conservation centers, gardens, and zoos throughout the Caribbean help to preserve dwindling species. For visitors who want to experience an island's true nature, these may be the best places to find it.
Tourists should be aware that animals, plants, and certain souvenir items may be illegal to buy or to import to their home country. Many Caribbean nations signed on to the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) treaty. Under CITES, international trade of wildlife and animal products are monitored and regulated. In addition, most countries have their own laws regarding endangered species. For more information, visit the World Wildlife Fund.
Is Curacao an expensive Caribbean island to visit?
My family and I are trying to decide between - The Cayman Islands, Aruba, Bermuda, St Lucia or Curacao and are leaning towards Curacao as it's kind of unusual and looks really pretty... But is it a really expensive islands like the Cayman Islands? I have no idea and am not getting any real impression from my internet searches.... thanks!
sorry.. don't need a travel agency.. am going to book via Lastminute.com. also I live in England so using an American travel agency wouldn't be very helpful!
I would venture to say that it depends on what you're looking for in your search for an island to visit(I am Owner of a Travel Agency). Some things to consider are:
1-Are you into the culture of the islands?
2-Scenery most important to you?
Now let's say for the sake of this post that you have chosen an island to visit. Have you considered the following details:
1-When do you want to go?
2-Air/Hotel package? All-Inclusive package(best overall bargain)?
3-Length of stay?
4-Do you have a Travel budget in place?
Minor details for sure but they're important only because it will simplify your search for the island that will make you and your family happy. Also keep in mind that there are other islands in the Caribbean chain that are worthy of a visit as well. If you could kindly either call, email me at: indysteve1563@yahoo.com, or reach me through Yahoo Messenger with what you and your family have in mind, we can research which islands fit your criteria and what Travel options are available to you that not only satisfy your wants and needs, but are cost-friendly.
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