Tree House Mansion Debuts in Curacao
The Lodge Kura Hulanda in Curacao has officially opened its new Tree House Mansion -- a two bedroom, two bathroom thatched-roof suite on a raised platform perched on the edge of a cliff and accessed by a spiral staircase. The 1,300-square-foot accommodations are decorated in African antiques and artifacts collected by owner Jacob Gelt Dekker.“It might be best described as Swiss Family Robinson meets African Safari on a Caribbean island,” said Kura Hulanda President Peter Heinen. “Jacob took great care and detail in designing the layout and décor and has created a surreal African experience here in Curaçao. Guests can enjoy the Caribbean sea, snorkeling, sand and sun during the day and then retreat into an African oasis at night.”
Rates for the treehouse start at $1,000 per night; it sleeps up to four people.
Tropical Storm Bertha Forms, Heads West from African Coast
At last report the storm was headed west-northwest at about 14 MPH, with maximum sustained winds of 40 MPH. I will keep you posted if the progress of this storm threatens land in the Caribbean, Bermuda or the Bahamas.
New Photo Tour of Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten
St. Maarten/St. Martin is one of the most interesting islands in the Caribbean because of its dual nature -- half French, half Dutch. In many ways a visit to this island in the Eastern Caribbean is a two-fer: two distinct cultures and cuisines, and a pair of fascinating capital cities to explore, Marigot (French) and Philipsburg (Dutch).
Philipsburg is a great town to explore on foot because of its compact size and variety of attractions, including shopping, historic sites, boardwalk and beach. You can literally see the whole town in a couple of hours, which makes for a fun half-day outing whether you're staying on-island or coming in on a cruise ship.
Touring Philipsburg, Capital of St. Maarten
2008 Turks & Caicos Film Festival Cancelled
Caribbean Still the World's Top Destination for Cruises
Rising transportation costs and the sluggish economy have helped to cement the Caribbean as the top destination for cruising, according to the Cruise Line International Association.The Associated Press recently reported that more cruisers are choosing to drive to a nearby home port rather than purchase a costly airline ticket, meaning more business for Caribbean-bound ships. The Caribbean also benefits from being a year-round cruise destination.
Some cruise lines, however, are cutting back on exotic destinations to save money on fuel, including dropping Aruba as a port of call because of its distant location off the coast of Venezuela.
Gloria Estefan, REO Speedwagon to Headline Aruba Music Festival
The 7th annual Aruba Music Festival, scheduled for Oct. 10-11, will be headlined by legendary Latin performer Gloria Estefan and soft rockers REO Speedwagon. Estefan will play on Oct. 10, and REO Speedwagon will star on Oct. 11 -- Labor Day weekend, if you're checking your calendar.The show will be held at the Aruba Entertainment Center; advance tickets can be purchased at ticketweb.com and you can get more information by calling 800-390-4936.
LIAT Now Flying Between St. Lucia and Dominica, Montserrat and Antigua
LIAT also announced recently that its codeshare partner Carib Aviation Ltd. would begin daily air service from Antigua to Montserrat, also using Twin Otters (if you are lucky) or four-passenger Queen Air or eight-passenger Islander aircraft (if you like a little adventure). The flight takes about 15 minutes and costs $55-$85 one-way, or a special one-day roundtrip fare of $100 for day-trippers.
Wyndham Announces October Opening for Cap Cana Resort
The Green Village at Cap Cana, a Wyndham Grand Bay Resort, will open this October, the hotel company says. The latest in a wave of luxury resorts cropping up in the Dominican Republic -- a destination better known for its bargain all-inclusives -- the new Wyndham property will feature 497 upscale bungalows, villas and residences, an 18-hold Jack Nicklaus golf course, meeting space, a Wyndham Blue Harmony spa, fitness center, and multiple restaurants and bars.The resort will be located oceanfront about 10 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport.
All-Inclusive Riu Resorts at Up to 37% Off
The biggest discount offered is 37% stays at the Riu Tropical Bay in Negril, Jamaica; other offers include Riu Paradise Island (35% off) in the Bahamas, Riu Bambu Punta Cana (32% off) in the Dominican Republic, Riu Caribe Cancun (30% off), Riu Palace Riviera Maya (27% off), and the Riu Cancun (23% off) -- the last three located in the Mexican Caribbean.
For more details, see the Continental Airlines Vacations website or call 800-301-3800.
AirTran Adds San Juan Flights
In addition to this new service, the airline also will add a second daily flight between Orlando and San Juan on Nov. 2 and a second Atlanta-San Juan flight on Dec. 18.