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Caribbean Travel RoundupNewsletter - Paul Graveline, Editor |
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-- Unusual High Season Opportunity Offers Great Value -- ARUBA, January 3, 2000 – While most Caribbean properties are raising their prices for winter, Radisson Aruba Caribbean Resort, Aruba's newest five-star caliber property, is offering vacationers the opportunity to save up to 43% off winter rates in honor of its grand reopening. The Radisson Aruba Caribbean Resort, one of the island's original resorts, reopened on January 1, 2000 with a first-class management team and a brand new look following a major $55 million transformation. The resort is welcoming guests with a special $250 per night introductory rate now through April 24, 2000. The rate is based on double occupancy and includes breakfast daily. Accommodations are offered run of house and the offer is subject to availability. Located on Aruba's famed Palm Beach, the "new" resort features 240 rooms including 19 one-bedroom suites as of January, and will offer 358 elegantly appointed guest accommodations by April. The refurbished resort also boasts exotic landscaping including waterfalls and lagoons, lounges and restaurants. Only the view and the island's most perfect beach location remain the same. For information and reservations, call Radisson at (800) 333-3333 or Radisson Aruba Caribbean Resort directly at (297) 866555, or see your travel professional. You can also visit the resort on-line at www.radisson.com/palmbeachaw.
Jamaican National Championship Series Race Anchors Festival February 11; 12, 2000 Event Hosted by Jamaica Mountain Bike Association and Rustys X-cellent Adventures New York, NY December 1999 -- Sanctioned by the Jamaica Cycling Federation and hosted by the Jamaica Mountain Bike Association and adventure tour operator Rusty's Excellent Adventures, the Second Annual Negril Fat Tire Festival has been slated for Tuesday, February 8 to Saturday, February 12, 2000. Anchoring the Festival's activities is the Jamaican National Championship Series race, to be held Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12, which will determine the Jamaican National Champion. The best Jamaican riders may become part of the Jamaican National Mountain Bike Team and may be eligible to participate in international UCI and World Cup races in preparation for the Pan American and Olympic games. The Championship Series will have a Downhill and a Cross-Country competition. The Downhill Race is scheduled for 10:00am, Friday, February 11 and will be a two-man eliminator format.; This exciting head-to-head racing will take place over a one-mile course and is expected to be fast and furious. The Cross Country Race is slated for 10:00am, Saturday, February 12, and is set on a scenic, four mile, 99% single-track loop that includes one major hill climb.; In this competition the expert class race will complete seven laps. Both the Downhill and the Cross Country race courses are located in the hills just above the Negril Bay, close to the downtown area of Jamaica's most picturesque, out-in-the-country tourist town, with spectacular scenic views. For spectators there is vehicle access parallel to some sections of the racecourse, as well as at the start and finish lines. All riders are welcome to participate and may compete in expert or a combined sport / beginner class. A helmet law will be in effect, 26- inch (big wheels) are mandatory, and there is a JA$250 (US$7) race entry fee. Talent, prizes and sponsors to be announced. There is no charge for admission for spectators and as witnessed at last year's inaugural event, fans are encouraged to participate in other Negril Fat Tire Festival activities such as the famed Cave Rave;, a guided night ride to a giant limestone cave in Little Bay lit with hundreds of candles; a scavenger hunt by bicycle; and a street party with plenty of *reggae music and a chance to experience warm Jamaican hospitality and spirited humor! Nearby on Negril's popular "West End"; festivalgoers will find charming accommodations in small inns and hotels; with plenty of nightlife; that dot the dramatic cliffs for which the area is known. Sparkling-clear, bath-warm azure seas are just outside your door and affordable air and hotel packages or tourist information can be found by calling 1-800-JAMAICA, or by visiting the Jamaica Tourist Board website at jamaicatravel.com. For more information on the Negril Fat Tire Festival, Jamaican National Championship Series, or directions to the race site, call Rusty's X-cellent Adventures at (876) 957-0155 or email jamtnbikeassc@cwjamaica.com. Rusty's X-cellent Adventures is a mountain bike and adventure tour company; a division of the Jamaica Mountain Bike Association Limited (JAMBA).; JAMBA, recognized by the Jamaica Olympic Association, Ministry of Sports and Labour and the Jamaica Cycling Federation, is dedicated to promoting mountain biking in Jamaica and to the support of the Jamaican National Mountain Bike Team.
* THREE-DAY JAMAICA FAMILY FESTIVAL SET FOR FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND * NEW YORK, NY, JANUARY 2000 -- Jamaica has long been considered the pioneer of the family-oriented resort. Today, the island boasts a number of resorts just for families, with special children’s programs and fun activities for kids and parents alike. Now, the island will be celebrating family togetherness during a special three-day "Jamaica Family Festival" set for the Fourth of July Weekend! The first-ever Jamaica Family Festival, taking place from July 1-3, 2000, is a unique opportunity for families to experience the island and all her family charms. The gorgeous resort area of Montego Bay will be the setting for this inaugural event, which will feature activities for all ages and once-in-a-lifetime cultural opportunities. "Jamaica has always welcomed families with open arms," said Fay Pickersgill, Director of Tourism. "With this in mind, we have created a Festival that will allow our visitors the opportunity to experience our traditions and trademark hospitality while at the same time enjoying all that the island has to offer. "We hope that in addition to the activities we have planned that our guests will take advantage of programs such as our ‘Meet the People," Pickersgill said. "This program will pair them with Jamaican families and allow them to experience our wonderful island as we do every day, giving them wonderful memories and newfound friends," she added. Visitors will dive right into the fun on Saturday, July 1 when Gloucester Street comes alive with the sights, sounds and delicious smells of an authentic Jamaican street fair. Montego Bay’s famed "Hip Strip" will be closed to traffic for the occasion and will be lined with vendors featuring tasty Jamaican treats and beverages. Lively art and craft vendors and colorfully costumed dancers will fill the street, live Reggae music will fill the air and a host of activities such as professional hair braiding, face painting, and more will capture the imagination in this festive kickoff event. Sunday, July 2nd features the all-day all-night "Family Beach Party & Sports Day" at Rose Hall Beach from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Families can choose from a host of fun sports activities and competitions on the beach, including beach volleyball and plenty of watersports activities. On hand to lend their considerable talents will be a variety of Jamaican cultural groups, including musicians, storytellers and more. The Jamaica Family Festival culminates on Monday, July 3rd with the "Country Cook Out" from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The day begins with a taste of river rafting, Jamaican style, as families board 30-foot bamboo rafts for a leisurely ride down the Lethe River (an activity made famous by swashbuckling actor Errol Flynn!). Leisure is the order of the day here. Rafters can sit back and enjoy the sights, stop along the way to sample vendors’ colorful wares or dive off the rocks into the soothing clear blue waters. And when the ride ends, the real fun begins with a Jamaican "Country Cookout" featuring more live music, family sing-alongs, palm frond sliding (Jamaica’s answer to sledding!) and a special "Pen Pal Signup" to ensure that visitors can stay in touch with their new-found island friends for life. Best of all, nearly all hotels and resorts in the Montego Bay area are less than 20 minutes from the airport, so you’ll be in the sun and having fun almost right after you land! For more information on the Jamaica Family Festival, contact the Jamaica Tourist Board office nearest you: New York, 212-856-9727; Chicago, 312-527-1296; Los Angeles, 213-384-1123; Miami, 305-665- 0557, or e-mail the JTB at jamaicatrv@aol.com. The Jamaica Tourist Board’s website now features the new "J-Mail Dispatch," which automatically updates you via e-mail about new events and happenings in Jamaica. Sign up now; visit the Jamaica Tourist Board’s website at www.jamaicatravel.com.
Trip 1/00 e, our relatives and friends flew to Nassau on 12/28/99 for our wedding which was on 12/31/99. We stayed at Sandals on Cable Beach (great place!) for the first of our two weeks and were to stay at Casuarinas on Cable Beach for our second week, which was where all our relatives and friends had rooms. We canceled our reservations and had our deposit refunded (hopefully, it has yet to show up on our credit card statement!) after EVERYONE in our travel party had things stolen from their rooms! Others we spoke to also staying there had property stolen as well! In one incident, a person walked into their room to find a hotel staff maintenance man with her jewelry bag in hand going through it! She went to the from desk and made a positive identification of the employee, only for him to be working on the grounds the very next day! Besides this one incident, there were 8 additional incidents that we know about of theft over a one week time period that included jewelry (my mother's recent Christmas gift from my father!), money, passports, and birth certificates. In some instances, the thefts occurred in the middle of the night while those victimized were asleep in their rooms (with no signs of a forced entry, which lead us to believe that the perpetrator had a key, and even is possibly even a hotel employee)! Although police were called, identifications were made, and reports were filed, no further actions were taken by local authorities nor by the hotel owners/management. The islands of the Bahamas are beautiful and we will forever treasure the memories of our wedding there, but save yourself some trouble and DO NOT LODGE at Casuarinas of Cable Beach!
Myself, my wife of 26 years, and my teenaged son traveled to Barbados from 12/25/99 to 1/1/00. We returned home happy to be in one piece. The following is a description, in my son's words, of what happened at about 8:30 p.m. on December 30th, 1999 in Speightstown (an area very near to the poshest resorts on the West coast of Barbados): ""My dad and I JUST got back from what we thought would be a nice, comforting drive around Barbados. We drove up the western coast on a highway to a town that my dad had not visited yet, Speightstown. We were in a kind of vehicle commonly rented there called a "Moke." It is a three cylinder car with no doors and no side windows. It has a removable canvas top. Our top was up. All of the rented cars in Barbados have an "H" on the license plate - so it is easy for the locals to tell that a tourist is driving the vehicle. Our vehicle also had an "H" on the left side of the front window, in yellow tape. We saw a sign that said "Speightstown Center" with an arrow to the right (we were heading south on a main road at that point). Eager to see the rest of this area, we took a right and followed the signs for the city center. We drove slowly down the quiet main street, and passed a white "Diahatsu" truck that was parked on the left side of the road, I noticed that the back of the truck was filled with Bajans. As we were pulling out of the main part of town, we heard screaming and yelling behind us. I saw that the truck had followed us and was about two feet behind us, nearly ramming us. It was honking its horn and driving wildly to the left and right with its brights on. My dad suggested the brilliant idea that we leave the area, immediately. The Moke is not a fast vehicle, and we could not get away from the truck, it continued to swerve left and right all over the road, and tailgate us. They pulled along side of us, on our right side (they drive on the left in Barbados); the people in the back of the truck were screaming and hooting like wild animals. The truck started to swerve over to drive us off the road into a tree or ditch. My father said half to himself: "Oh Shit, they're trying to kill us." That was when it pretty much clicked. My dad slammed on the brakes as the truck came totally into our lane, if he had not we would have been a statistic. The truck was now ahead of us, still moving, and we had slowed considerably. We saw that the truck turned left into a gas station and started to turn around in the gas station to come back out onto the road.. If we turned around we would have gone back into downtown Speightstown, - there was no place to run to, there was no one to help us. My dad floored the Moke, and we got past the gas station where the truck was before it had completed turning around - the truck tried to pull out behind us, but another car was in front of it. Once that the truck had pulled out, it had a car in front of it, and was trying to pass the car, but couldn't because of traffic coming the other way. There was now a line of 3 cars: Us, the other car, and the Truck full of screaming natives. All the while my dad had his foot to the floor. We were putting more and more distance between us and them because they were stuck behind the car. We went around a curve to the right, and due to the curve we got out of their sight, there was a turn off to the left onto a small road, my dad took it at a high speed - the road proceeded to go up an incline so the Moke started to lose speed. My dad said that he wanted to get far enough up the road that we were on so that the people in the truck could not see us when they passed the intersection. The road took us past a sugarcane field and into and through a residential area. It was like a roller coaster at a high speed. The road was dark, narrow and curvy - but my father seemed to find his way through as if he had been there before - he got us back to the main highway as soon as possible and jetted our asses back to our hotel. End of story. I hate Barbados. If we had been an elderly couple out for a drive, or if my dad did not have extensive driving experience, I have no idea what would have happened to us." After that incident we decided to just stay in the hotel for new years eve.. I think that Barbados should follow the lead from areas such as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they actually have police officers designated as "Tourist Police." One of the primary functions of the Tourist police is to assure the safety of visitors. Barbados, on the other hand, seemed to have a shortage of police - we saw very few the whole time we were there. In the past we have frequented Jamaica, Grenada, St. Martin, Canada, London, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Paris, and Mexico. We have driven around the United States on cross country sight seeing trips several times. We have never had anything like this happen to us anywhere else that we have been. This was an unprovoked senseless attack on us for no other reason except that we were white tourists in Barbados. So, if you are planning a trip to Barbados, at least reconsider the trip, and whatever you do, definitely stay away from Speightstown and the area around it. You may not be as lucky as we were. You may not get away.
Trip 12/99 My first visit to the Caribbean was Christmas 99' with my family. We stayed at the Club Rockley Hotel, just off the beach, so that we could enjoy the set in golf course. The hotel was very nice, spacious, and nice rooms, just the right size for a family of 3, no need for maximum luxury in a country such as Barbados, where you should be out of the room all day and night! The first 2 days we were there it rained, and when it rains, it rains hard, there were lakes forming on the golf course and I thought I would never get a round in. On the third day we ventured down the beach, as the rain had stopped. As we walked down the road I could see the beautiful Caribbean ocean lapping against the golden sands between 2 houses, and that is when I knew I had reached paradise!! It then started to rain again and we got soaked but that didn't wash out my thoughts and feelings The rest of the days leading up to the new year were spent on the beach enjoying the brilliantly warm temperatures compared to rainy old England. The waves were very big so no snorkeling could be attempted, but the all-inclusive package meant that we could use the boogie boards, a smaller sized surf board (made of foam) which you lie front down on and catch the waves. The waves were one picture which will stick in my mind forever, as you speed along this wave anticipating when it will break and wash you right to the top of the beach!! - Brilliant New Years Eve was spent in the main hotel complex, where lots of shows were laid on for us, with by far the best being a singing duo of a big Caribbean man with yellow hair and a beautiful young lady who sang 'off of each other' and complimented each other in every way. I wish them all the luck in the world and hope they make it big some day. As the New Years Eve celebrations came to a close, I ventured off on my own to the night-club in the Club Rockley complex where I stayed till the early hours of the morning with other fellow party goers of my age All in all my first Caribbean experience was brilliant and we shall be returning to Club Rockley on Boxing Day in 2000 to do it all over again!! Ps. I did get a couple of rounds of golf in, which was excellent!
Dates: Dec 11-19, 1999 Getting there: We left from various points (Boston, Cleveland, and Baltimore) and flew with American Airlines to Beef Island Tortola. The flights were arranged by the charter company (The Morrings). There was good weather and flights were all on time. The only glitch was in Boston where American preferentially checked in the Miami bound passengers and stopped the other lines. (rather annoying as we had gotten there early to avoid the lines). A hint: don't check luggage and go to the gate. You don't need much for a trip like this. We left early am on Sat the 11th and got to Tortola at 3.30pm. We were met by the Moorings crew and taken to our hotel for the evening. The crew: we had a mixed group of sailors and non sailors. Ranged in age from upper 20s to low 50s. 3 men and 5 women. Turned out to be a "wild" bunch. The captain was Vinnie and experienced sailor who had done this run many times. First night: Dinner was at Pussers in Road Town. We had been acquainted with Pussers Triangle (if you order a Painkiller -a wicked rum drink-in each of 3 Pussers bars-there are 4 in the BVIs- and get a card stamped, you get a nice burgee at your third drink.) We had round one and dinner. Our dinner was not great. We should have taken a hint that every one was getting Pizza there and done that. On the way back to the base several in our group "crashed" a Christmas party at a local bistro and dance til late. Day 1: The Moorings is a great outfit and does a great job of Chart and boat check out. Both were efficient and well done. The boat was provisioned by them for breakfasts and lunches only (we wanted to go ashore each night for happy hour and dinner.) We left about 12.15pm and sailed across Sir Francis Drake Passage to Manchioneel Bay on Cooper Island. Arrived about 2pm and picked up a mooring ($20 a night). We snorkeled (provided by the Moorings) at Cistern Point. Good visibility and nice fish. It was tough getting back into the dinghy from the water. Later went ashore for happy hour and dinner at the Cooper Island Beach Club. Good, inexpensive (~$25 with drinks). An interesting aside: they served our drinks in plastic, if you are a guest of the Hotel you get glass. The Boat: We chartered a Moorings 4500 catamaran. It sailed easily. Top speed 8 knots. Loved it. The real plus was having twin screw when we motored. This made anchoring, docking and maneuvering in tight harbors easy. The only negative was that our windlass was under powered and sometimes did not work. This made raising the main sail and anchoring (which we did little of). For you monohull purists, it did not heal like a monohull but also did not pound in rough seas either. Seasickness was not a problem. Lots of space. 4 cabins and 4 heads. The front trampoline was great for cruising and looking at the stars at night. Had a CD player (Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley were the big hits) We had been advised to bring CDs. Boat is equipped with cell phone for security. You call in your credit card and get a pin number. Day 2: Left early and motored (only 2 miles) to the Baths on Virgin Gorda. We got there at 9am before the crowds and picked up a mooring (part of the National Park, You pay a fee and moorings are free at all the parks). Went ashore and did the hike to Devils Bay snorkeled and generally did the tourist thing. This was superb and is a "must do thing". Returned to the boat and made a pitcher of painkillers (formula 4,3,2,1 rum, pineapple juice, o j, and coconut juice). Had lunch and watched the crowds come and go. (cruise ship types). Left around noon and sailed to North Gorda sound and moored near the Bitter End Yacht Club. When you go ashore you are met and given a tour of the resort and allowed to use their facilities. (the girls craved a shower and blow dryer). Dinner and drinks at The Bitter End Yacht Club. Elegant surroundings and overpriced meal (good salad bar) Cost ~$50 each. We entertained by a steel band playing for a Christmas party nearby. Caribbean steel band Christmas carols were a treat. Day 3: Spent the morning on the beach at BEYC. Beautiful beach. We were entertained by watching a thong bikini young thing learning to wind surf. When she fell it was very exciting to watch her get back on the board. Motored across the sound to Mosquito island for snorkeling. Snorkeled Anquilla point (a little murky). Motored across to Liverick Bay and moored near Pussers. Went ashore for our second leg of the triangle and dinner. Shopped there (nice boutiques). Good meal. (try the ribs). Day 4: Sailed in am to Cane Garden Bay on Tortola. Great sail. Arrived around 1.30pm and picked up a mooring. Beautiful beach filled with cruise ship people. Vendors and hair braiding (all of us did this, including the men). Ashore for drinks and dinner at Rhymers. We picked the one night with no live music. Happy hour was 2 for 1s. Nice painkillers and Bushwackers (a vodka based chocolaty drink). Beach became more deserted by 5pm we had it to ourselves. Dinner was cheap ~$15. Day 5: Went ashore and had the beach to ourselves til 11am. Crowds arrived. There were topless sightings. Left around noon and sailed to Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke. Small harbor loaded with boats. WE anchored. Took over an hour to get a good "hook". Anchoring is a struggle hear and watching others struggle is great entertainment. Went ashore to Foxys for shopping, drinks, dinner and entertainment by Foxy himself. This is another Don't miss. As the evening wore on it was evident Foxy would not pass a "tox screen" He makes a point to circulate and interact with his guests. By the end of the evening everyone knows each other cheers appropriately. He left around 9pm not to return. We left and walked down the beach to another bar (Rudys) for live entertainment. Day 6: Left for a morning sail to Green Cay and Sandy Cay for snorkeling. Then on to Soper Hole on Tortola. By now we recognized lots of the people everywhere we went. Went ashore for shopping (the best). Final leg of Pussers Triangle. We got our burgees. Very nice. That night was pig roast so we stayed for dinner. A better choice (we later learned) would have been the Jolly Roger. Day 7: Sailed across Sir Francis Drake Channel to Norman Island. Snorkeled at The Indians and the Caves (both excellent, the best). Moorings right next to them. Swim right from the boat. Moored in The Bight for the night. Skipped the "William Thornton" (a floating bar restaurant) to go to Billy Bones for drinks dinner and party. Dinner excellent (ribs). Partied til late. Day 8: The last. Got up early to get back to the Moorings base in Road Harbor. One of us had an early (noon) flight. Uneventful checkin, showers, back to the airport, waiting, home (all on time). Summary Impressions: BVI is a sailors paradise. Good sailing, short distances, easy to navigate. Nice people, safe. Great harbors and lots of great places to go. No need to leave BVI waters. Places not to miss: The Baths on Virgin Gorda, The Caves and the Indians on Norman island, Fox on Jost Van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, Soper Hole. We have already begun planning our next trip. I recommend this trip, The Moorings and the Moorings 4500 cat to anyone.
Well it’s another fantastic trip to the Caribbean, the place that never disappoints. Getting there Being from Wyoming and getting a bad case of cabin fever, wintertime is get away time. We absolutely love the previous trips we have taken and never miss a chance to get down there. With frequent flier points and hotel points, planning the trip is the only hassle. It is very difficult to coordinate dates and places that you can get to and the right times. This time we used our Marriott points and found them to be the easiest so far to work with. We flew down on United and connected to Antillian in Miami after a delay that stretched our layover there to 8 hours……. Ouch. Thanks to the Red Carpet Club there it was at least bearable. We got into Curacao after a very quick stop in Bonaire to drop off some passengers. We’re here The airport is an experience all of it’s own. It looks like it is not that busy, but our plane got in at the same time as the KLM flight from Europe. What a zoo. We all packed in an area where lines to check documents formed and half of the people had not gotten their forms on the other plane, Our crew was great. After claiming our luggage, it was the line for customs. Be forewarned that these Europeans are a bit on the weird side. They all lit up the minute they got in line and it looked like it must have been a non-smoking flight the way they were going after it. Also they cut from line to line if you are not 6”s behind those ahead of you. We looked at these old people that did this to us and they smiled and started chattering and everyone else just ignored us. It was 2 in the morning and we were just glad to get out and get to the hotel. Everything is Dutch and it is difficult at times to get around. We grabbed a cab out front and the guy was parked around the corner instead of in the cab line, maybe that explains everyone yelling at us??? It was about 20 bucks to go 10 minutes to the hotel that he wasn’t quite sure of. We made him wait until we were sure it was the Marriott as there was no signage. We got a clerk on the night shift and were grateful to just get a room. He put us in a double bed room on the side and we hit the hay. The next day I went down and met Roland Pinto who runs the desk and because I am a Marriott black level, he upgraded us to a suite for the balance of our stay. The resort This place is one of the top resorts on the island. It has a casino for the gamblers and is set up wonderfully for business meetings and any other type of party you would put together. The layout is all very open. The pool area is really the centerpiece of the resort and is extensive. It has a poolside café and bar that was heavily utilized the entire time we were there. There was an outdoor area for breakfast and lunch that I can’t swear by because we could never get up that early. They had an excellent evening restaurant that took advantage of on several nights. It was fantastic and very reasonably priced. Our room was overlooking the beach on the second floor and was a three room suite with a patio on the end of the last building. The grounds are lush and beautifully kept. The resort was not that full and is new to Marriott. We found that out when they put up all of the signage while we were there and even had a ceremony. I can not say enough nice things about this property. You should get there before the crowds find it. The island. This is a beautiful setting. We had heard a lot about the dry arid conditions in Aruba and assumed it would be similar here. It is very hot. I should say that again, it is very hot. Everyone carries a handkerchief to wipe their faces with because it is very hot there. Did I say it was very hot there? We rented a car from Hertz and it was the first time I have every seen a car without a heater in it. Everything on the island revolves around Punta and Wilmsted. Almost one town, it is where the cruise ships come in and all of the shopping is. In our car we drove out and about. We really got to see the island and the residential areas and local shopping for residents. The island is actually laid out quite well and is not too crowded. We came across new subdivisions in some beautiful settings in the hills. One end of the island is very sparsely populated and only has one road, which circles that end of the island. A few beaches dot the coasts along the way. There are some parks at that end but they are poorly developed and cumbersome to visit. It is very beautiful and unspoiled. Not much as far as commercialization goes. If you are thinking Mexico or Jamaica or St. Thomas, you will be pleasantly surprised. Even the downtown shopping district is the regular area for the locals. The floating market was interesting. It is where the farmers from Venezuela come over in boats and sell produce and everything else to the locals. One day we had lunch at a restaurant in the old fort that overlooks the harbor. A little pricey but well worth it. Busy in the evenings but wide open during the day, and a spectacular view. The people We loved the people there. Many of the tourists are European and especially Dutch. The locals are all very nice once you engage them, but they will not start any conversations. They have a unique situation, as they are just off the coast of Venezuela and they being Dutch, it is very multi- cultural. We sat on a ferry next to a young lady in business dress and when we struck up a conversation with her, it turns out she speaks Dutch, Spanish, English, some French and the local pidgin. Wow. She says everyone there speaks multiple languages. We took every opportunity to eat at local hangouts rather than always doing the tourist thing. The people were always friendly. We found some good food at some of the roadside stands. One of note was the Hot Road Bread Shop near the airport. Many of the people we talked to were from Holland and many of those born there had been to Holland to work. The hurricane Unbelievable, we were in a hurricane. Hurricane Lenny formed just above Curacao several days into our trip and made for two days of excitement. Because it formed in the Caribbean and went west to east, it did severe damage to areas that had never had exposure before to that kind of weather. The day we drove to the west-end of the island was the day it hit so hard and we were witnesses to some unbelievable damage. During the night a pier and 50 boats disappeared. Several homes were gone and we saw several that the back half of the home overlooking the ocean was gone. They sandbagged at the hotel and still had the whole outdoor café area underwater. The most devastating aspect was the increased wave action that ate most of the beach. It was really quite spectacular to see. It did cool it down slightly. Quirks Some of the funny things we noticed and wanted to pass on. As mentioned before, the people look as though they are having the worst day in the world, but if you talk to them, they are very friendly. The maps that you get from the rental car agency are very general and are horrible at identifying most things. We tried to get a better one and all we found were just like it. All signs are in Dutch other than the retail store signs, which are in English. This means that attempts at driving are risky the first couple of days. The roads are horrible to try to navigate. The signs to places like Seaquarium take you to the general area then don’t get you all the way there. People don’t communicate very well in English. We saw several others that were having similar problems to ours when you just can’t get your point across or don’t quite understand what the other person is saying. They have some of the Jamaica syndrome where nothing gets done on time but it’s not as bad. We saw quite a few buildings and roads under construction, but never once saw anyone working on one. Not once in the course of a week. We had to gas up the car when we were leaving and while at the gas station, every car that filled up squealed out as they were leaving the pump area. Now this was every one of them and it didn’t matter if it young or old. One guy was even in his work truck. Yes I did too, (when in Rome). They take us dollar bills or Dutch guilders. No one can figure out how much in U.S. It was different every time and half of the time they had to go get help. Amstel is what you drink if you are a beer man. The beaches We hit several in the course of the week and all were nice. Our hotel also had a nice beach. The beach of choice was the beach at Seaquarium. Seaquarium is more of an area that a place. It’s the aquarium but then some restaurants and bars have built next to it and that is where it all happens. There is one night that the party goes on all night and all morning. Of course we missed it. We did hit the beach there though. It is a private beach so there is a charge and then also a beach chair rental. The cruise ships that come in take their people over to this beach for the day. That provides much of the entertainment. The beach has no restrictions on going topless. We met some New Yorkers that actually thought this was heaven. Go figure. You do get all types and shapes and I would say that about 20% went topless. There were several that were a credit to all that is wonderful and on the other side of the scale were several that had a boat from Greenpeace circling to try a rescue. (Think for a minute) All in all it was a wonderful beach and it was packed with people, families, great food, drink and a little of everything you could imagine. Adios Well, when it’s time to go it’s time to go. We hated to leave the hotel. We turned our car back into Hertz, And should mention that I hate to say anything bad about Hertz because I rent from them almost every week for work and they do very well by me. BUT, this place here was the worst. Very expensive too I found out. The line for our plane also had a sign for Haiti and after inquiring which one went to Miami I was told ours. It just made a quick stop in Haiti…….Where did that just come from?……….. All I could think of was that little sign in our local airport that informs you that there are two airports in the world that don’t have adequate security and won’t fix their problem. Oh yes, one is Haiti. Luckily it all passed without problems and we were back in the states for layovers in Miami and Denver. We did make it home and loved every minute of it. We would highly recommend
Trip Report on Grand Lido Sans Souci, Ocho Rios, Jamaica December 4 through 11, 1999 The Thumbnail Report CATEGORY GRADE Scenery A+ Rooms A+ Service B- Staff A+ Food B Activities B Facilities other than room B- Overall Grade B+ The Short Of It The hotel and its grounds are pleasing to the eye. The lushness of the vegetation being the most impressive. The room I had was an ocean view suite with a Jacuzzi hot tub in "A" block (very convenient to the nude beach). I couldn't have asked for a better room. Service was a bit disappointing for a place ranked so highly by others. Room service was disappointing (see detailed review). Spa services were delivered fast and brusquely, rather than in a luxurious, pleasing style. This was countered by incredible service at restaurants and bars MOST times, and once or twice we had awful service. Staff were remarkably friendly and considerate, with the exception of one man. Other than him, everyone, every single staff member, was a joy to spend time with. Very incredible staff! The food was uneven. Id say it was good for an "all you can eat" all- inclusive place. Some dining experiences were awesome, and some were fair. There were a good number of activities, though not very many for rainy or sunless days. Nit Picky Detailed Review Explanation I am a very detail-oriented person. This review is for those who want to know all the details. I came to Sans Souci expecting the Best of the Best. I have a cultured background and have stayed in some excellent places. I was comparing Sans Souci with my best experiences or expectations. Scenery/Aesthetics At first I was not impressed with the scenery at Sans Souci (SS). The pink stucco buildings were not freshly painted, some wear was showing, and some aging. I compared it to the modern metal and mirrored hotels I had known in the US and this hotel seemed less clean and crisp and up kept. However, once I let go of that standard of excellence, I could appreciate the beauty of the architecture and its pink color with white trim. The great beauty of the place is in its landscaping. No, its not sculptured gardens like at Versailles or similar places. But it is beautiful in a more wild and natural way. Some of the most beautiful foliage grows on the property. The lake was a calm and lovely touch to the property. The tropical palms and trees were feasts for the eye, especially to those of us like myself who do not live in palm- tree climes. The sea is gorgeous with its varying hues of blue, and the wildlife added to the enjoyment. A small cat hangs out at La Palazzina. The most beautiful black birds flock in the trees. They have a very pretty song. A little unsettling is the night songs of the local frogs. They sound like high pitched crickets or birds, and never stop until the sun rises. It took a day to get used to them. The property also holds 3 parrots, one of which has the run of the place, and will let you pet him. That was a wonderful time. It was great to see butterflies and moths, when back home they had long gone. The lake holds some ducks that you can feed. And of course, there are the ubiquitous small lizards that scamper about the place. The restaurants are nicely decorated in tasteful outdoor furniture made of iron. The tables at La Palazzina have glass tops set into the iron. Though the Cassanova is supposed to be a super-upscale place, it seemed de clase to me. The chairs were of a Queen Anne style, but obviously made cheaply, like furniture one can buy at WalMart. The padding was so thin I felt the fiberboard wood underneath me. The china was from England, but in a very casual design. All in all, it seemed that they asked greater class from their guests (in terms of proper dress) than they afforded their guests. This was true even in the food, which shall be discussed elsewhere. But I felt that La Palazzina was completely on par with nicer restaurants in the US. Rooms I think the room is the most important part of any vacation where you are staying in one place for more than a few days. The room needs to be your place of retreat for rest, relaxation, sewing up the days events and of course, intimate fun. The room I had was quite excellent for all these needs. I stayed in a ocean view suite with a Jacuzzi tub. It had a large bathroom, ample bedroom, and comfy sitting area. The bathroom, tiled in a tasteful peach marble was the most impressive and sumptuous part of the room. It had two sinks, his and hers, a shower with room for two to fit comfortably, and a separate counter area with mirror for drying hair and applying makeup. The hot tub was large, fitting two people very comfortably. Once I figured out how to operate it (a switch outside the bathroom high above the closet door), I enjoyed it immensely. The bedroom was oddly shaped, which threw me off at first. But I found it to be very functional. It had a king sized bed, lamp, end tables with lamps, ceiling fan, a large chair, and a dresser that was barely large enough to hold two people's clothes for the week. There was plenty of closet space and what I call "breathing space". The sitting area was small in a cozy way, consisting of a couch with end tables and lamps, a chair, a television set and a small, light coffee table. The television offered satellite tv, which didn't mean much to me when I read it in the brochures. I wasn't expecting much, considering that most foreign countries offer few stations. I was impressed that it received ABC and NBC, as well as CNN, TNT, HBO, and a local Jamaican station. I was surprised to see it received Playboy Channel, as well as a Japanese station. (SS has quite a few Japanese clients.) The sitting area was comfortable for viewing. This area also had a ceiling fan. I was impressed with the air conditioning, which was not really central AC, but a unit attached to the ceiling in the bedroom. At first, this worried me. But I was thrilled that the AC was operational by a remote, and that the temperature could be controlled by degree. This came in handy, as some days a few degrees in difference made a big difference. The only drawback to the arrangement was that it was often much cooler in the bedroom area than in the sitting area, so adjustments had to be made for sleeping. The mini refrigerator, hair dryer and CD/cassette player were nice additions. Especially the hair dryer. I am not one to use the things in my ordinary day, but being at the beach, and showering at least twice a day, I found the dryer to be priceless for pulling it all together for evening activities. And the refrigerator meant we could sip Red Stripe or soda at whatever hour of the day we desired, without waiting for room service or leaving the room. The CD player helped make our mornings seem more like being home since I could hear Eric Clapton as I dressed which I do most mornings at home. However, the CD player did not work very well one day, perhaps due to age. The one nit-picky detraction of the room was the "ocean view". I had, perhaps like many of you, envisioned that "ocean view" meant sitting on a private balcony seeing nothing ahead of me but the blue water, and maybe a mountain in the distance. I imagined waking every morning to the sound of the pounding surf. None of this panned out. The view of the ocean was from a good distance, over the pool and the sidewalk, and a swim up bar. It lacked some privacy and we could not hear the ocean from our room. We could just make out whether the surf was calm enough for snorkeling, so it wasn't *much* of a view. Service Here we come to chief gripe number one. Why can't room service bring food that exists on property, if we ask for it? During my stay, I ordered room service. My companion requested a beef patty, which is available at any grill on the property, comes already prepared and all you do is heat it up. Room service refused to deliver a beef patty, though why it wouldn't was beyond me. Cant the staff get to the refrigerator and heat up a little patty? Likewise, I had to beg for Diet Coke, instead of the odd tasting Diet Pepsi that was almost pure syrup. Is it bottled especially for Jamaica with a different method? The Diet Pepsi came in thick glass bottles and had almost no carbonation. This lack of carbonation was true also if you were getting Pepsi from the bar on tap. I was not the only person to remark on how different and odd the Pepsi was. Another lack of service from room service was that they would not provide Ting, the local equivalent of "Sprite". I was under the impression that SS was so upscale as to provide what you wanted if they could. With Ocho Rios just five to ten minutes into town, I thought they could have told us it would be a wait (even a day's wait would have been okay) but that they *would* provide it. Instead, we had a resounding no, and had to go into Ocho Rios ourselves to get a taste. Beach service was barely present. I had imagined sipping pina coladas, and having someone strolling the sands, noting when I was almost finished and offering to get me something from the bar. I had heard tales of staff timing your sunbathing, so you would not burn. None of this manner of pampering was present. One day of the 7 I was at the beach I saw one person do this for about 30 minutes. Another day, this went on, but only because the actual bar itself was closed for repairs. I would have liked to see more of this type of service, though it might have been avoided because of some sense of privacy, it being a nude beach. Also, a few days there were towel shortages on the nude beach. Not good. The spa services in general seemed very quick and dirty. My favorite treatment was the foot reflexology which was delivered with some care and ease. The loofa scrub left our skin feeling very nice, but it seemed very rushed and forced, instead of like the spa staff was pampering us or wanted to. The massage, even though in the hut over the water, was not as good as the massages I have had in the US, even from massage students. Again, I think the rushed feel was conveyed to me, instead of a relaxing, steady effort. The facial was relaxing. Both my partner and I fell asleep during it. There were times when I felt completely invisible at a bar that was not busy, but for some reason, I could not get an order taken. I was not impressed by the staff at the reception, which is usually an important place for a hotel. The front desk had a difficult time handling our departure plans. They kept forgetting our reservations to Montego Bay via Tim Air. The front desk also would not cash travelers checks into American money. I found this to be service far below what I expect of a top-rated hotel. Especially when my travel companion said that Breezes Runaway Bay ( (a lesser resort of SuperClubs) changed travelers checks into American money without a problem. Though maybe this reflects a change in Jamaican law, or something. The last day of my stay, the service for breakfast at La Palazzina was atrocious. My companion and I waited for ten minutes to be seated. There were many tables available, but none had been bussed or set up for dining. We were told to select a table ourselves, and get our food, and someone would get us place settings. Instead, when we returned from the buffet, nothing was set up. I had to steal forks and knives from indoor tables that were partly set up. No napkins were available and they were never offered. After almost finishing our meals, someone came by with glasses for water and orange juice. But bad service was the exception and not the rule. These few bad experiences were counter-balanced by some exceptional service. One night, while eating at La Palazzina for dinner, we had the most phenomenal service. Glasses were only half empty before being filled. Unusual requests were granted graciously. (We ordered a third meal, to be brought to us as an appetizer.) The manager inquired to our comfort. It was exactly what I had hoped for months earlier, when I was wishing on a star and writing the considerable check for our vacation. Some staff members provided service above and beyond the call of duty, going into town to pick up coffee, or taking us to tour the local dining establishments in Ocho Rios. One staff member (Brian from the nude beach, the best staff member-- why didn't he win an award at the staff party?) cleaned a conch shell my companion brought out of the Caribbean Sea. The staff teaching diving were skilled at explaining, patient and used many good techniques to try to help me get certified to dive. (I needed extensive help with the "clearing the mask" technique. With their great instruction, I was able to see that I couldn't do it because of a breathing problem that I was not going to remedy anytime soon, so I bowed out of the class.) The water sports director, Junior, was super helpful. And David Pyne made the MOST delicious Bloody Marys in the entire resort. Some friends we made there (Michael and Marie from Toronto-- great guys!) testified that David makes the best drinks, period. The laundry service was excellent. I used it twice, each time if you asked for laundry, the clothes were back within a few hours! If you asked for dry cleaning it was 2 days. Nothing was ever lost. I would have used the service a third time, but for some unexplained reason, I never got another laundry bag or laundry slip, so I couldn't use it. Staff The staff were, with only one exception, the nicest bunch of people you might ever meet. They were friendly, patient, conversational. Besides all the wonderful people mentioned under Service (Brian, David Pyne and Junior), I should mention that Monster was fun to talk to. And two of my favorites were the flamenco guitarists, Fidel and Roberto from Cuba. I adored the music they played, in and around the Cassanova restaurant. And being one of the few people who could converse (sorta) in Spanish, I spent considerable time talking with them when they were off duty and we would bump into each other. It was such a pleasure to encounter such friendly people wherever we went. One never lacked for conversational partners. Food Breakfasts were sumptuous at La Palazzina. My favorite breakfast was punctuated by a solo flautist and the beauty of that accompaniment made my heart sing. Lunches at La Palazzina were very nice too. This restaurant is conveniently located near the beaches. For breakfast, it is the only place to eat, except for room service. And for lunch, the only other choice is the beach grills with a limited menu. This arrangement (grill or Palazzina) suited our needs perfectly. The Jamaican food at the grills was good, though limited. The best dinner I had was at La Palazzina/La Terraza. The food at Buena Vista was not much to speak of, but the view is lovely, sitting on the beach, under a gorgeous tree, dripping romantically with Italian lights. The food at Cassanova was not as delicious at La Terraza. Most surprising was the tiny size of the appetizers. I felt a bit cheated, having to dress up in special attire, and my companion wearing a hot jacket, to then be served average food in a warm restaurant. My companion was very uncomfortable with the temperature. The desserts at SS, which were supposed to be so impressive, were just okay. They don't seem to make chocolate desserts, and when they do, it isn't so good. The brownies-- oh the brownies-- would make a chocolate lover cry in anguish. (And I did! <g>) They taste like you are licking plain dry cocoa powder. Horrors. I had decent chocolate cakes tainted with disgusting white chocolate. And some chocolate in the form of cheesecake which I hate. (I know, I know: I am probably the only one in the whole world who hates cheesecake.) It would be nice if SS could offer some standard chocolate dessert, like brownies, only that taste GOOD. <g> Activities I didn't attend many activities. And from what I could tell, the typical beach activities (Jamaica trivia pursuit, beach volleyball) had low attendance. I think SS is for couples who want time together, enjoying each other without much interruption. Not a recommended place for partiers or singles. As mentioned under "service", I tried to scuba dive. I did not get resort certified, but it would not have mattered anyway. The water was so choppy that we couldn't scuba dive or ride the glass-bottomed boat the entire week we were there (December 4-11, 1999). My partner also felt the water was too choppy and silty for snorkeling, though Junior thought it was okay. I missed the Jamaica night (Tuesday) due to feeling ill. The Gala Event on Friday night was pleasant. I enjoyed the food and sitting outside on the lawn. The entertainment, though, which I had expecteded would be romantic was instead some other kind of music. I found it disappointing. Here we are with Italian lights and white canopies romantically draped in sheer material, carved ice sculptures, dressed up, and we are listening to pop music. I expected more along the lines of harp or violin. What were they thinking? I took one excursion. It was to Dunns River Falls. This activity was pleasant, but rushed. I was not impressed that they hustled us quickly past the vendors outside, so that they could get us to pay for an additional excursion into town to go shopping. Tsk, tsk. Tacky, that. (I bought some coffee, anyway, and managed it for about $4 less than the gift shop at SS, plus a lovely string of beads thrown in.) The game room was nice and provided some entertainment, as did shuffleboard. I like the fact that they bring local artisans and crafts onto the resort for sales. It was a nicer atmosphere for shopping than the public beach across from the nude beach. I went there for some local culture and to get braids. One vendor was selling conch shells which go for $10 in the US, and he was asking $20, and would not haggle with me. On this same beach I was approached by a Rastafarian for the sale of marijuana. After he departed a police officer came up to me. Im not sure if he was looking to arrest people for a drug deal, or if he wanted some money (bribe money) to look away... One thing about shopping in Jamaica is: its a lot of being harassed and cajoled. Money seems to rule people's minds there. I have been pretty well traveled (Europe, Greece, Denmark and Mexico) and have even walked alone as a woman all over those parts day or night, but I have never before felt so much like a walking target as in Jamaica. And this was day or night, and even with two male companions, one of whom was Jamaican. My companion and I made a private excursion into Ocho Rios to absorb local culture and eat up some local authentic food. It was a short trip. Because we stuck out like sore thumbs (was it only our skin color or something more?), we seemed very much to be drawing attention that was unpleasant. Though some people were friendly (a guy in the billiard room offered us tips on our game), others on the street gave us threatening stares. We left early. This is a country where I did not feel safe mixing with the locals. That was quite disappointing to me. Facilities other than Room I gave this a separate category because it deserved some mention and a grade of its own. It got a B- because so many things were being repaired or closed down during our very short stay. I was extremely surprised by the inconvenience of it all. Especially at the nude beach. During the last few days of our stay, the hot tub at the nude beach was broken. It not only had two inches of sand on the bottom, but it also was cold. Every time we told staff about the problem, they claimed it was getting fixed. It never got fixed. We are talking several days and nights of missed hot tubbing. During half a day, the bar at the nude beach was closed. Tiling that was supposed to be done during the night was not finished. It was unfortunate that this was one of the few mornings with real sun, so the demand on the bar was great. The poor staff were taking orders and running over to the other beach, getting drinks and carrying them back. It was a good walk away and inconvenient for all involved (including the bartenders at the other beach, I imagine). Also, the mineral pool hot tub was constantly filled with seeds and leaves from the overhanging foliage. I understand this must happen often, but it seemed that the tub was never cleaned out. The bathroom at La Palazzina was out of order, and smelled pretty badly. What was going on? Was SS falling apart? Otherwise, the facilities were very nice. The resort is nicely laid out, but be prepared to groan at the idea of going up to Cassanova, the Balloon Bar, the gift shops, or the lobby. Its a serious uphill climb. This is from someone who was doing the stairmaster religiously for months before the vacation. I was used to stairs, and still found the upward journey to be a hike. Summary Overall, it was a pleasant vacation. We were in beautiful surroundings with nice facilities. We did encounter more than our share of disappointments and misfortunes including: a tumble at Breezes during the van ride up, where I seriously injured my elbow and couldn't use my arm for several days, choppy waters preventing all water sports except swimming, cloudy and overcast days that were bad for tanning, and one day that was so windy I was shivering on the beach, as well as catching a nasal infection. I was disappointed that the surrounding environs beyond our pearly gates were not tourist-friendly places. It made me feel that while on vacation in SS, I was literally a bird within a gilded cage. Because of this, my companion and I felt that another island might be more to our liking. Nonetheless, we found the staff so exceptional and the scenery and accommodations so pleasant, we can definitely see ourselves returning to Sans Souci another time.
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