If you have never been on a winter beach vacation, you truly do not know what you are missing. It’s nothing short of a miracle being able to go from freezing temperatures to beach weather in less than 4 hours!
On a cold bleak January evening, what can keep me going? Perhaps, knowing that in 10 days we will be leaving our snow filled Maine home to visit the sunny shores of Jamaica. Like children at Christmas, we count down the days in anticipation. Checking Accuweather every day to scope out the weather forecast in Jamaica, which by the way is sort of funny, because we already know what the forecast will be…. “Sunny all week and in the high 80’s”. This certainly beats the cold temperatures we’ve seen here lately. Just last week we got down to minus 6, yes you heard me minus 6, our coldest weather yet this year.
The thought of a week on a Jamaican Beach, where all we have to complain about, is the terracotta tiles being too hot, certainly warms the spirit! Yes, we look back on our beach vacations, and laugh about the things we complained about while we were there. Tiles being too hot, the pool being too cold, the sun not being out as much as we would have liked. All of these things and more just to name a few. Quite funny considering, we will have to go back to winter soon. I think that is part of the unwinding that takes place when you vacation. Getting away from the daily routine so that you can truly relax. After a couple days, you forget about all that and settle into the comfortable rhythm of the islands. It is a great reprieve from the frigid temperatures, and gives our bodies some much needed rest and relaxation.
On this trip we will be staying at Beaches Sandy Bay, on the famous 7 mile Negril beach. We are bringing along our two children, my mother in-law, a Friend and her daughter. Mark’s Aunt will be meeting us down there as well. In total there are 8 of us going and should be quite the trip to look forward to. We are already talking about what we would like to do while we are there: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Rick’s Cafe, Margaritaville, and simply relaxing by the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The bags are almost packed with our summer clothing, flip flops, and sunscreen.
Beaches Sandy Bay is a modest resort, but it offers some of the best value in all of Negril. We’ve visited the resort before so we know what to expect. Great service, beautiful beach, a warm atmosphere, and best of all access to the larger Beaches Negril resort just down the street. As usual we booked a separate room for the kids. Can’t wait!
If you have never been on a winter beach vacation let me tell you this….
It is a Must! Everyone deserves a week away from the cold. Time to relax, unwind, and spend some much needed family time together!
What is the best things about a winter beach vacation?
No worries, Mon!
~Karie
For more pics of our trips to Beaches Sandy Bay visit out FaceBook Fan Page
Thanks for coming back to visit us again!
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You know you’ve got it bad when you start finding unusual ways to support your hobbies and addictions. I tend to joke a lot about Caribbean Fever. The simple truth is though while it may not be a bona fide disease it could easily qualify as an addiction. Karie and I have a love for the Caribbean that seems to stir our very souls. We would move there in a heart beat, if we had the time or resources. I do hope to someday make that dream a reality. For now, we just try to find ways to cope. You could say we are sort of home sick, whenever we are not there. We constantly miss the food, culture and the beauty of the Caribbean Islands.
We have several hobbies, which have developed out of our love for the Islands, and yes we can answer yes to most, if not all of those 20 questions. This page is for those of you, who suffer like we do, with a longing to be somewhere you can’t.
One of my big hobbies at home, is caring for our saltwater fish tanks and our small aquarium store, The Maine Reef. I have always loved tropical fish, and was especially fascinated with saltwater reefs, but it was not until about 10 years ago that it became a viable hobby. Now it is very possible to keep and grow a real saltwater reef, complete with coral, fish, and invertebrates, in your own home. Being a lover of the natural beauty of coral reefs, it was important for me to make sure that my hobby, wasn’t contributing to the destruction of the worlds reefs. Now, we actually farm these beautiful coral right in our own tank, for sale to other hobbyists. Today, we are working with other reef keepers to insure the protection of the worlds natural reefs for years to come.
Giving Back
Another hobby is collecting Caribbean arts and crafts. The majority of people in the Caribbean do not have the lifestyle of most American’s. So, we try to give back what we can to the places and people that bring us such joy. We usually try to bring back something nice to hang on the wall, from everywhere we visit. It helps the local economy and gives us a nice souvenir that we will always remember.
Our long New England winters really make us miss the tropical heat. My childhood love of snow has now been replaced with my new love of sand. I guess, if I had to shovel sand I might not like it either. Decorating a room in your home using tropical themes can give you a place to escape when the weather outside is less than perfect. Try warm tropical colors, a few palms and other plants, and some rich dark wood furniture for starters. Then add some nice pictures and Caribbean themed art.
Many people find they like Island music, but when they get home they are not sure what to buy or don’t know the artists or song titles. Take a look through our music section and you are bound to find something you recognize. A little Caribbean Music, especially Reggae really puts the mind at ease.
We would love to hear stories of inventive ways our readers have found to cope with their Caribbean Fever. Please leave us a comment below and share your story.
Everyone that has traveled a lot, probably has a few nightmare tales. Being stuck in a cramped, uncomfortable airport terminal is never any fun, especially if it’s overnight.
Being from New England, we prefer to travel during the winter, unfortunately the weather, more often then not, has some negative effects on our flight schedule. On several occasions we have gotten bumped or delayed overnight leaving Montego Bay. Some of you may be aware that the Montego Bay Airport just underwent a major rehab and expansion. Now it is a beautiful airport, but prior to that it left a lot to be desired.
This is the story of our first experience of being Stuck in Montego Bay. My hope is that if your flight is ever delayed, perhaps you will find some comfort knowing that a) It can always get be worse, and B) It is never as bad as it seems, cheer up there is light at the end of the runway.
April 14, 2001 after an amazing vacation at Sandals Montego Bay, in Jamaica, we found ourselves once again waiting patiently for our departure flight at Sangster International Airport. On this trip we had decided for the first time to book a charter, on the knowledgeable advice of a new travel agent. To her credit, everything up to this point was perfect.
Our scheduled departure flight was at 5pm, which meant that we had arrived at the airport at 2p. Three hours early, a hotel mandate, to make sure we didn’t miss our plane. As I recall, a short time after our scheduled boarding time, they announced a 2 hour delay, which soon turned into 3. Now bear in mind, that this might not have been so bad if, there were more than 30 chairs divided up between 3 gates, or they had installed or if air conditioning the day before. Unfortunately for us, we had to wipe sweat off our brows, while sitting on our carry on luggage, up against the wall.
Around 8pm we finally boarded the plane with a big sigh of relief as the doors were shut. Funny thing was 45 minutes later, we’re still at the gate, and yes the doors are still shut. Only difference being that the pilots have been revving up the engines up for a good 25 minutes. Now being the experienced air traveler I am, and knowing enough about planes to be dangerous, I find myself in a situation I have never been in before. If you have ever gotten one of those gut wrenching feelings that something bad is about to happen, then you might be able to relate. All I know is,something didn’t feel right, and I wanted off that plane. Bad!
Luckily for the crew, before I could summon the stewardess, the pilots voice came over the speakers.
“Ladies and gentleman, we do apologize for the delay, however we are experiencing a malfunction.”
No Kidding, problem is they need a part that has to come from the US and weren’t sure how long it would take. Needless to say, this was happy news to me, first that it happened on the ground and not in the air, but second, because it meant that we could get off the plane, which by now was considerably hotter than the stuffy terminal.
So here we are, back inside the terminal, this time with an actual seat mind you, and our carry on. No one was allowed to have their checked baggage, because at this point the airline (Panam) could not decide whether or not the plane was actually leaving. Around 10:30pm the kind attendants advised everyone, that we would all get to spend the night in a nice comfortable bed at a nearby all inclusive resort. Hallelujah! Unfortunately, no one knew when or if we would be leaving the next day.
By the time we arrived at the resort it was around 1:30am. Too tired to sleep, we went for a stroll around the resort. The Wyndham Rose Hall (now the Rose Hall Resort & Spa by Hilton) is a nice family all inclusive resort. They must have some arrangement with the airport, because that is where everyone goes when the airlines screw up. You can read our full review of the Rose Hall Resort and Spa by Hilton (Comming Soon).
In the morning, we ate breakfast, and headed to the lobby for our 9am briefing.
“Now, we are not sure when the plane will be departing so come back at 11am for your shuttle,” was all that we were told.
Well this gave us at least a few hours to drink heavily, and enjoy the resorts waterpark, just in time to wait in the lobby for 2 hours more. Then it was back to the airport with another big sigh of relief.
Wait!
Don’t get ahead of me now, it’s intermission time.
You get to listen to some great Jimmy Buffet while we wait another 3 hours at the airport.
Ok, now I said there was at least some light at the end of the runway right, well by this time, it was fading like a Negril Sunset. But speaking of Jimmy Buffet, for some reason, which I am calling a small miracle, he happened to be doing a live appearance at his new restaurant, “Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville” in the airport, which also happened to be right next to our gate. So just by sheer coincidence, I get to meet Jimmy Buffet, up close and personal, pretty cool for a big Buffet fan like me. Had we left on time the day before, we would have never known. His restaurants are great by the way, but more on that later.
Well our story is coming to an end, but not quite yet. Eventually we reboarded the plane, took our seats and crossed our fingers. Everything seemed to be right on schedule, and we were certain about finally getting out of Jamaica ……
Then comes the fire trucks!
Lights flashing, hoses whirling and water gushing all over the plane…..
But wait our fearless captain is here to save us once again.
It would seem that some careless Jamaican spilled a fair amount of jet fuel (everywhere) while topping off the plane. Only in Jamaica! As luck would have it we survived and actually made it to Boston, at midnight, where PanAm was kind enough to drive us home to Maine.
Looking back on the whole situation it is almost funny. We did learn some valuable lessons on this trip though, like how to pack a carry-on just in case you get stuck overnight without you luggage. TO BE CONTINUED……….
In part one of “Marooned in Montego Bay” we talked about our misfortune to be stranded in the Montego Bay Airport, waiting for our plane to be repaired. Part II takes place several years later in January 2009.
Leaving Jamaica after a week long wonderful vacation, meeting many new friends can be difficult, but knowing you will be returning to mountains of new snow, and what can only be described as arctic temperatures makes it even worse. So when we arrived at the ticket counter and were approached by the airline attendant who asked if we were willing to take a voluntary bump, it did not take long for my mind to think through the possibility of one more night in Jamaica.
It seemed our plane had been downsized. I’m not quite sure exactly what that means. Do they chop off part of the wings? I think they might have been trying to get on the extra value menu or something. If the plane was full why would you send a smaller plane.
A couple of quick phone calls later and we had made our decision. US Air was offering to put us up for the night, at an all inclusive hotel, the Hilton Rose Hall Resort, coincidentally the same as last time, book us on whatever flight we wanted the next day, and give us two free airline tickets. Needless to say they didn’t have to twist my arm, considering that is a thousand dollars worth of free air towards our next trip.
Within an hour they had rearranged for our flights, as well as a shuttle to the resort, and even arranged for him to pick us up the next day. So by 1pm in the afternoon we were back on the beach.
After a quick snack we were floating down the lazy river, sipping rum punch, and making fools of ourselves on the water slides. What more could you ask for, the airline was paying us very well to have a great time.
About 4 ish, when we had consumed enough free alcohol to carry us through the night, we were headed back to our room when we met two other couples, whom had been at Sandals with us the whole week. I figured since we never talked to them during the week, now would be a great time to introduce ourselves. They quickly invited us into their game of Yahtzee, which I haven’t played in years, but joined in anyway so as not want to appear rude, besides, from my slightly intoxicated viewpoint it looked rather fun.
While I was trying to determine if the tiny dice were rolling, or the table was spinning, they told us of their unfortunate story, that sounded a bit like our last one. The funny thing was, they had left Sandals Montego Bay three days before us. It seems their plane had been caught in the big blizzard we missed, and unfortunately they were not given much choice. However what I found most peculiar though was the fact that they had been here for three days, and the airline still could not give them an exact time or day when they might be able to leave. Apparently we’re not the only people to be Marooned in Montego Bay. They were essentially on standby for 3 days and counting. Lucky for us, by this time they knew the resort fairly well, and invited us to buffet dinner with them. It was a very kind gesture and we all had an enjoyable time swapping memories and other tales of our Caribbean adventures.
The next morning, we caught up to them at breakfast to say our goodbye’s, then it was off to the airport for us. To this day I still don’t know when or if they returned. Perhaps we’ll see them next time.
Our shuttle driver was right there waiting for us as planned, to my amazement. Things seem to never go exactly as planned in Jamaica, and timeliness is not something the people are known for, so it was a bit of a surprise.
As I mentioned earlier, the remodel and addition at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, has finally been completed. All the facilities are beautiful now including the new departure gates. There are ample chairs, air conditioning, and some really nice duty free shops and restaurants, including a brand new Margaritaville. Margaritaville, has become a tradition for us, while waiting for our flights, the food is great, certainly not the usual airport diner food, and the atmosphere is refreshing.
All in all, it was worth the hassle of rearranging our schedules, and actually quite enjoyable. By the way, we will be using those free tickets on our trip to Negril, Jamaica in January 2010. Can’t wait! We’ll be staying at Beaches Sandy Bay, a really nice small property with excellent service, and visiting many of the other all inclusive resorts in Negril including, Sandals Negril, Beaches Negril, and Couples and Breezes. Our fingers will be crossed the whole time in hopes of another over booked flight!
One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to relax at the end of the day, in a great bar, surrounded by new friends, and recount the days adventures. The Cricketer’s Pub is the perfect place.
The Cricketer’s Pub mixes good times, a lively atmosphere, great entertainment with authentic pub fare. Oh and did I forget beer! Eleven Brands to be exact, including Corona, Miller, Bass, Guiness, and the infamous Turks Beer.
The Cricketer’s Pub features a well appointed snooker’s room with several billiards tables. The cozy library offers a comfortable intimate retreat, for quiet conversation with good friends.
Cricketer’s is open late (12am) and is a great place for a late night dinner or snack. Menu items include traditional pub fare like fish and chips and Sheppard’s pie.
Karaoke is offered several times a week and adds to the entertaining atmosphere. From open to close this place is alive and happening. Be sure to check out the Cricketer’s Pub on your next Beaches Turks and Caicos vacation.
By far the best experience we had during our stay at Beaches Turks and Caicos was the KittyKatt Cruise. These brand new, state of the art catamarans are quickly becoming a favorite at Beaches and select Sandals Resorts. Anyone who loves to sail will appreciate the sheer beauty of the fine boats. A full 65 feet of pure pleasure and relaxation await you on the Kitty Katt.
Available at all the Beaches Resorts, several different tours are also available including: Teen Only Cruises, Sunset Cruises and a Sesame Street Breakfast Cruise. We chose the popular Beaches Kitty Katt Cruise because it has the most to offer. This 3 hour tour takes you sailing along the beautiful coast line of Providenciales with a few stops along the way.
The first stop being a popular snorkeling spot in the Princess Alexandria National Marine Park. When we arrived the crew handed out our snorkeling equipment and made sure everyone knew the proper use of it. They also explained the rules of the Marine Park as well as safety protocols. Basically look but no touchy-touchy! Personal instruction was also available for any that wanted or needed it. The staff made everyone feel very comfortable, even for those with little to no experience.
The Marine Park here was extremely beautiful and rated as one of the top 10 dive locations in the world. Be sure to visit our dive section for more underwater pictures and information.
Once back on board the bars were open and it was away we went to our next destination, Iguana Island, otherwise known as Little Waters Cay. The Kitty Katt was built exclusively for Beaches and features a full bar, separate mens and ladies restrooms (heads as they are called in the boating world), a protected lower deck area, and an upper sun deck complete with cargo nets at the bow, a water slide and stairs for easy access while boarding.
Our next stop was at one of the Turks and Caicos Cays (a series of small, mostly undeveloped, islands connecting Provo with North Caicos).
Once at the Island the Kitty Katt was carefully glided up to the sandy beach and we were free to explore the unspoiled deserted Island to our hearts content. The Island was so amazing that words cannot describe it. A quick walk to the other side brought us to a shallow bay area where conch shells were scattered on the sand. Even the sand here is indescribable. A combination of the churning waves and wind makes the sand along the shore into a creamy consistency. Where your feet sink in several inches into the super soft sand. If you enjoy the beach, this island is simply divine and nothing short of heaven.
For those less adventurous your time at the Cay can be spent soaking up the sun, swimming or snorkeling in the crystal clear water or playing on the boats water slide. There is no pressure here expect to relax and enjoy a little slice of paradise.
After about an hour we are all back on board for snacks and hours-devours as we make our way back to Beaches. The sails are raised and the music cranked to island beats as people dance, and mingle on the deck. This is party time and the staff knows just what to do to get everyone in the mood. Activities, games, dancing but again no pressure. If dancing is not your thing just sit back and enjoy the show. The friendly staff is right there to ensure everyone has the time of their life.
My wife and I have been on a number of cruise tours and I have to say this was by far the best. We had an amazing time, so be sure to check it out on your next vacation at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
We could not leave Beaches Turks and Caicos without trying their new Sushi Bar, right next to Kimono’s Restaurant. You never quite know what to expect when dining at an oriental restaurant in the Caribbean, but much to my surprise the sushi was excellent. If you enjoy a bit of raw fish now and then, I highly recommend it. Even die hard sushi lovers will be happy here. The selection is good and features novelties like conch that you won’t find in the states.
After years of waiting we have finally arrived at Beaches Turks and Caicos and I have to say the resort is much more than I expected. Even with the abundance of excellent promotional literature available. The 1 hour 40 minute flight from Miami is short and comfortable. Unlike some of the southern Caribbean Islands landing at the small Provo Airport is easy and we were quick to clear customs once we claimed our bags. Shuttle waiting time was only about 5 – 10 minutes.
Everything about Beaches Turks and Caicos is organized and efficient. Our bags were tagged with our room number prior to being placed on the shuttle. We were brought right to the concierge check in at the new Italian Village. Each Village has it’s own check-in area at the resort.
We were then whisked right to our amazing ocean view Suite. Our luxury suite at Beaches Turks and Caicos was called the Roman Penthouse Ocean view Family Suite with separate kids room was nothing short of amazing. Upon entering the suite walk through the kids bedroom which is richly appointed with bunk bed, trundle bed, separate vanity and sink, game table, Xbox 360 with a 27″ flat screen tv. Beautiful hand crafted mahogany woodworking and book shelves.
Just past the kids room is the master bathroom featuring dual granite toped vanities more fine woodworking, a whirlpool bath, separate shower and private water closet. All beautifully decorated with fine Italian and glass tile. Adjacent to the bath are 2 large closets and bar area with microwave, fridge and coffee maker. This concierge level room features a fully stocked wet bar, soda, water and snacks.
The master suite is separated from the kids room with a pocket door, and feature a carved mahogany four poster king size bed, 42″ flat screen tv and lounge sleeper chair. The 5th floor balcony offered a stunning panoramic view of the Italian Village Pool Area and Ocean beyond.
Our mid-afternoon arrival left plenty of time for Karie and I to explore the resorts sprawling 55 acres of lush tropical beauty. After getting ourselves completely lost more than once, we decided to enlist the help of a few of the very friendly resort staff. Who were more than happy to show us around. Looking at the pictures, you really do not get a feel for the sheer massive size of the Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort, and although it has a lot to offer, the layout can be pretty confusing at first. We walked around for a half hour before finding the beach.
Schooner’s Restaurant
Our long travel day left us with quite an appetite and we chose Schooner’s. A fantastic seafood restaurant steps from the beach. The a la carte menu features the freshest local seafood, as well as, a great steak. Unfortunately, the beautiful weather we arrived to soon turned to evening showers and we had to eat indoors. The atmosphere was just as nice inside as out. We found the food and service here to be top notch. Fresh conch is a local specialty in Turks and Caicos and you are sure to find some variation of it at nearly all the restaurants.
The island actually boasts the only conch farm in the world. It also happens to be a popular destination on the island. Conch is served in many places in the Caribbean, but here it is the national dish. I found it interesting to see all the different ways that it can be prepared. If you have a taste for these giant snails, I would recommend the conch salad appetizer or try the conch soup both were excellently prepared. If conch isn’t on your favorite Caribbean foods list, the other local seafood and steak selections we tried were just as delectable.
The Island of Providenciales (Provo for short), in Turks and Caicos is a very dry and almost desert like most of the year, except it would seem, for today. Of course, no one wants to talk about bad weather here, when it does come, but it has to rain sometime in order for the islands lush tropical foliage to stay so beautiful.
The funny thing is that everyone you ask seems to have a different story about the weather. One entertaining chef at breakfast, told me that the rain was due to the recent earthquake in Indonesia. Perhaps I’m just a naive tourist but I could not quite figure out how an earthquake on the other side of the world would cause rain in the Caribbean where it never rains.
The rain actually worked out though as it gave us a chance to check out the resorts amenities like the Red Lane Spa. We also took the opportunity to do a resort tour, which helped us find our way around the massive hotel grounds.
Just one more note about the weather. Lots of people choose not to travel in the fall because it is rainy season in most of the Caribbean. However it only rained here for about 6 hours during our entire stay, and from speaking to other guests, this was the first time it had rained in the previous week. This time of year the resort is very slow because kids are in school, so you never have to worry about crowds. Not to mention there are some great deals in the Fall.
The Italian Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos
With the new Italian Village expansion Beaches Turks and Caicos now boasts an incredible 16 restaurants, 614 rooms and, 7000 square feet retail plaza featuring high end jewelry, a candy store, souvenirs, fashion and even an art gallery. Check out the Beaches Turks and Caicos page for a complete run down of the amenities at this fine resort.
Pirates Island Water Park
Lucky for us the weather broke by mid-afternoon and gave us just enough time to check out the recently expanded Pirates Island Water park. A few of the new exciting features here include a surf simulator, 2 water slides and a lazy river, plus a new and improved water park for the little ones.
The surf simulator is a blast, although the little kids seemed to have the technique down a lot better than I did. Equally exciting are the huge new water slides, one is an open top tube slide and the other is a pitch black thriller. Children must be 48″ tall to ride the big slides, but there are also new slides and other fun stuff at the new Pirates Island for the younger kids. The new lazy river is great for relaxing on a hot day. All in all there is something here for everyone from the young to the young at heart.
Adjacent to the water park, and inside the pirates ship, is Bobby D’s, a 50 style diner serving all the kids favorites. Including a full service ice cream parlor featuring sundaes, shakes, and cones. The water park is so cool they even have a hot dog stand. There is no way to go hungry at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
If I had to choose a favorite Sandals Resort it would have to be Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Everything about this resort is truly Grande. Anyone looking for the ultimate in exotic luxury resorts would be very happy here.
Location
Sandals Grande in St. Lucia is situated on it’s own peninsula so no matter where you are on the property you have a panoramic ocean view. The view alone makes Sandals Grande St. Lucian worth every penny. The resort lies on the edge of Rodney Bay, the calmest water in all of St. Lucia. Rodney Bay has been a favorite spot for sailing ships since Columbus, in fact the area has a rich history of piracy and conquest. Nearby, perched high on a bluff, Fort Rodney is a lonely reminder of centuries of rivalry between the French & Brittish naval fleets. If you visit Sandals Grande I highly recommend visiting the park which is right next door, read about Pigeon Island here.
For those who love water sports Sandals Grande St. Lucian is a perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon on the pristine white sand beach, or sail around Rodney Bay on a Hobie Cat.
The Resort
As with all Sandals vacations, inclusive packages at Sandals Grande St. Lucian include all meals, beverages, activities, water sports and entertainment.
My favorite thing about this resort is the layout. Everything is laid out in such a way that you don’t have to walk very far to find what you are looking for. The beach is literally steps away from the pool, and you can stop at the beach bar or grill on the way.
Restaurants at Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Sandals Grande St. Lucian offers 5 inclusive restaurants including the 5 star rated Italian restaurant Toscanini’s. My favorite place to eat while at the resort was the Barefoot By The Sea, an open air casual restaurant with an enchanting atmosphere serving Caribbean favorites.
Josephine’s a country style French crêperie, specializes in delectable crepes and all things sweet. The name originates from one of St. Lucia’s most famous decendents, Napoleon’s wife, Empress Josephine.
