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a place in THE SUN
Space to unwind, cooling trade winds, scenic vistas and an environment in which to reconnect, the Caribbean makes for the perfect post-pandemic holiday, says Debbie Ward
Open spaces, natural beauty to sooth the soul and the chance to safely reconnect with loved ones and nature itself have been simple pleasures many of us have craved since the pandemic struck in March 2020.
The Caribbean offers all of the above in abundance and the good news for travel agents and anyone planning a holiday of a lifetime is that it is waiting with open arms. The following pages will offer tips on all the Caribbean has to offer – its sandy beaches, lush rainforests, colourful reefs, exciting cuisine, world-famous music and carnivals...and much more.
At the time of writing, the rules to keep both visitors and residents safe vary between the nations of the Caribbean, and are likely to stay fl uid for a while yet. – but tourists shouldn’t be fazed.
“Our destinations have clear entry protocols that are easy to fi nd and understand,” advises Carol Hay, Business Development Director, Caribbean Tourism Organisation UK & Europe Limited. “Those planning a visit should check out each destination’s website or speak with their travel agent. Also see the information provided online by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) at carpha.org.”
A WORLD OF CHOICE
With so many fabulous and diverse destinations across the region, the trickier problem is likely to be choosing where to go. Perhaps you want a premium hotel experience, of the type that can be found in
Barbados, The Bahamas, Aruba and others; a family all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic or Saint Lucia; or an ecoadventure activity holiday among the rainforests of St. Kitts, Dominica,
Belize, Montserrat, Tobago or Guyana?
Weddings and honeymoons will be in demand in 2022 and top properties – from Le Barthélemy in St. Barth’s to The Cove in Eleuthera, The Bahamas) – offer an alluring mix of scenic location, great service and a guarantee of privacy and seclusion.
Divers can swim with reef sharks in the Cayman Islands, explore the underwater sculpture park off Grenada or experience Belize’s Great Blue Hole, listed among the world’s top 10 dive sites. If you’re new to diving, or like to snorkel, the Caribbean’s warm waters, its reefs and shipwrecks are a popular place to learn. Golfers can tee off on championship courses in the Dominican Republic, Barbados, St. Kitts, Nevis and Jamaica, while equestrian types can enjoy a beachfront horseback ride that ends with a swim in the Caribbean sea in Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Tobago and several other places. Adrenaline junkies can zip-wire across a forest canopy, bike or hike a mountain trail, climb a waterfall or raft a river.
Sailors and anglers also love the Caribbean. Options include deep-sea fi shing trips, while the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), The Bahamas and Antigua are among the top choices for yachtsmen. With crewed yachts for charter you don’t need to know the ropes to set sail – making this a popular option for families.
“The Caribbean is much more than a beach destination; you can have a whole adventure,” says Colin Pegler, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation UK & Europe Ltd.
And there’s plenty of history and culture to discover: learn about the period of
KINGSTON’S CAPITAL APPEAL IN JAMAICA
“Take your time,” says Cheree, my guide, as I admire the rose-beds of Emancipation Park and the bronze fi gures of the Redemption Song memorial, named after the Bob Marley song and dedicated to the slaves of Jamaica’s past.
Next up on my Kingston tour is The Bob Marley Museum, the singer’s former home and, Cheree explains, where he survived an assassination attempt in 1976. My history lesson in Jamaica’s capital continues at the antique-stuffed Georgian mansion, Devon House, built by Jamaica’s fi rst black millionaire, George Stiebel. Aside from the tropical foliage, the heritage site has a defi nite UK west country feel, with brick cottages and stables turned into a bakery, and the iScream ice cream parlour where I choose a clotted cream vanilla cone.
Leaving the house, Cheree spots a roadside fruit seller and we buy a bag of orange jackfruit, that grows on the treetrunk, and the Jamaican apple which is like a plum but less sweet.
The Caribbean exudes romantic appeal
enslavement, the days of sugar plantations, and the Caribbean’s spice trading and rummaking heritage. Then meet indigenous communities, such as rastafarians, or join in the fun at a colourful carnival.
Those just looking to chill can hole up on a quiet island such as Nevis or one of the Grenadines or enjoy a castaway experience by spending a day picnicking on a private cay.
Combine a lively destination with another that is more chilled on a twin- or multi-centre holiday made possible by the inter-island flights and catamaran ferry services.
“If you’ve been to one Caribbean destination that’s it, you’ve been to one! We encourage people to stay longer, experience more than one resort and to island hop,” says Carol Hay.
With several destinations – such as Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica – promoting workations (or staycations), a stay of weeks or even months is now possible.
Holidaying in the Caribbean is also an ethical choice: the region’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism so all visitors will be helping local businesses – hotels, guest houses, beach bars, taxi drivers, roadside stallholders and others – get back on their feet.
And businesses large and small are mindful of a shift in what tourists want.
“There is more emphasis on health and wellness. Visitors will want that feeling of space and will take more individual tours,” explains Colin Pegler.
Whatever Caribbean destination(s) you travel to, such extra thought and planning will ensure you’ll be in safe hands. •
Colourful carnivals are a big draw card Watching the marine life
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