Travelers stories

famous landmarks in St Lucia are the two towering volcano cones on the south west coast called the Twin Pitons which are the most incredible sight especially at dusk.

St Lucia’s climate is obviously tropical with temperatures varying between 70 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain from June to November and fairly dry between December in May.

St Lucia has a lot of accommodation choices to suit most pockets and tastes. There is everything from all-inclusive resorts, and large deluxe hotels to luxury villas. You will also be able to find lovely small hotels, traditional inns, and apartments and guesthouses. You will find accommodation on the beach or inland, in the north which is completely different in characteristics to the south.

A St Lucia Vacation is for pleasure seeking people, for people who like unspoiled undiscovered places. It is for people who want to celebrate their wedding on a Caribbean Island and for honeymooners who are looking for a tropical island paradise, because St Lucia is all of these things.

St Lucia is a great place for a family vacation which can include any number of land and water sports, including but not restricted to golf, tennis, cricket, table tennis, biking, horse riding, and deep sea fishing, windsurfing, sailing, para sailing, and waterskiing. Water sports are definitely a large part of any St Lucia Vacation, especially when you think about the white sand beaches, and beautiful inviting turquoise blue sea.

In addition to all of that there are places to visit like the beautiful Marigot Bay, Maria Islands Nature reserve, Whale and turtle watching, to name a few.

Dining out in St Lucia is a treat because St Lucians enjoy their food, so this logically means there are a large number of restaurants on the island. The cuisine is best described as a combination of International and Creole, where fresh local produce plays a huge part.

Now you can sea what a great place St Lucia is for a vacation, the only question left to answer is how to get there. You can reach St Lucia by air or by sea. You can arrive at airports in the north or the south with many popular airlines, and you can travel on to your final destination by helicopter or ferry. You can fly into a neighbouring island like Martinique and then catch a ferry to St Lucia. You may also arrive on a cruise ship or a yacht.

It really doesn’t matter which way you choose to arrive in St Lucia, because you will find a Caribbean Island paradise unlike any other and you won’t want to leave

For more information about Caribbean Vacation Spots go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

This article was written by Gordon Seven

About the Author:

Gordon Steven writes about Caribbean Vacation Spots as well as authoring several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends in Kenya Safaris

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For more articles, information, and resources on Caribbean Travel, visit My Caribbean Travel Site

For those of you looking for some useful information relating to Barbados  why not travel over to The Barbados Blog or take a look at the Barbados Photo Blog.

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Barbados is a truly beautiful island which offers you a near perfect holiday location, it is an island unlike no other place in the world. For those that visit, I can assure you, that you will want to return again.

Facts About Barbados:

Barbados is the most easterly Island in the Caribbean, covering 166 sq miles, which is divided into 11 parishes. It is 21 miles long by 14 miles at it’s widest point. As Barbados is primarily a coral island the rainfall filters through the limestone and collects in Underground reservoirs giving the island extremely pure and delicious drinking water.

Barbados was originally discovered by the Portuguese in 1536 and named it “Los Barbados” after the bearded fig tree’s that grew on the island. In 1625 the English claimed the island and in 1627 arrived with the first 80 settlers.

Barbados has a population of around 286,000 with tourism as the main source of income. There is also sugar and light manufacturing which also contribute to the gross domestic product. The island also boosts a thriving offshore sector.

Barbados is an island which has over 100 practising religions and faiths, with Anglican being the predominant religion.

Barbados became Independent on the 30th of Novemeber 1966 and is ruled by a democratic government that maintains a well developed and financially stable island. The current party in power is the Barbados Democratic Labor Party and the Prime Minister is David Thomson.

Barbados is a renowned wedding destination and the island provides a number of beautiful locations for those seeking to get married. Whether you are looking to get married on a fantastic beach, in a luxury hotel, a historic great house or in a beautiful old church Barbados has it all.

For those of you looking to get married Celebrations Caribee will make sure all your wedding needs are of.

Don’t just take my word for it, why don’t you head to Barbados and find out for yourself what this wonderful Caribbean Island has to offer. Barbados is an island which is not only for the super wealthy people of the world, it is an island which is becoming ever more affordable, especially due to the strength of the Euro. Visit Barbados and you will not regret it.

Further Reading:

1. You Should Consider Barbados as an Events Destination!

2. Chose Barbados For Your Dream Wedding Location!

3. Barbados the Perfect Wedding Location!

4. 20 Bajan Words That Will Make Your Trip to Barbados More Fun!

5. Braveheart Sir William Wallace Following in the Legends Footsteps

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Barbados is well known as a luxury wedding destination, and as a result thousands of people get married every year in Barbados. But Barbados is also a destination which is ideal for hosting any kind of event that you may be planning.

No matter what kind of event you are planning on having, whether its a birthday party, an engagement, anniversary, Bar Mitzvah, or even a product launch, Barbados offers you a fantastic and unique location which will help to make your event a memorable occasion.

Barbados offers a multitude of amazing locations for hosting your event including, beautiful beaches, nature reserves, luxury hotels, restaurants and historic plantation houses.

No matter what the size of your event is, whether its an intimate and romantic occasion for two people, a family celebration, an extravagant masked ball, or your company’s latest product launch, Barbados is the perfect location to host your event and make it stand out from the crowd. Whether you want the event to be held indoors or outdoors, or even both, Barbados has the facilities and locations to make it happen.

In order to make your event a success it is imperative that you hire the services of an experienced, professional and innovative event planning company. Through them, you will have all the many headaches that come with organizing an event dealt with by people that know what they are doing.

Barbados is a truly beautiful and inspiring Caribbean island, which offers you the perfect setting for hosting your event. You do not have to think too hard, to know how much your guests will love the very special ambiance and tropical setting of an event hosted in Barbados, it will be an experience which they will never forget.

Barbados is a true tropical paradise which offers visitors everything that they could wish for, near perfect beaches, quality hotels, lively or quiet nightlife, huge selection of local and international restaurants, many great visitor attractions and of course the laid back pace of life on the island is what makes the Caribbean and in particular Barbados such a special place.

If you are thinking about organizing an event in Barbados, you should look no further than a company called Celebrations Caribee, they are a innovative and professional Wedding and Event management company. Celebrations Caribee customize each event to suit each individual clients unique requirements, taking into consideration the clients own ideas, style and budget.

Celebrations Caribee not only has the local knowledge, but also has international professionals who have the experience and knowledge to make your event an unforgettable success. If you are looking for event planners to assist you in organizing and planning your event, you need to look no further than Celebrations Caribee.

For those of you thinking about heading to the Beautiful Caribbean Island of Barbados you should think about learnng some of the local dialect, it will make your trip more fun, 20 Bajan Words That Will Make Your Trip to Barbados More Fun!

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Fancy getting married on a tropical paradise island, with white sandy beaches, warm turquoise blue seas, swaying palm trees in the breeze and lush tropical gardens, creating that picturesque back drop to that very special day?

Then come to Barbados.Barbados has been accommodating weddings now for over 20 years to seasoned holidaymakers and celebrities alike. Most recently tiger woods and his beautiful Swedish model wife Elin nordegren were married in Barbados on the 5th Oct 2004.

Popular wedding locations in Barbados are beach weddings, great house weddings, tropical garden weddings, church weddings and weddings at sea i.e. catamarans and private yachts.

Beach weddings

Beach weddings are located on the sandy public beaches of Barbados; popular beaches for weddings in Barbados are on the south west coast and the west coast of the island. A beachfront wedding can be as large or as small as you want it. With the reception being held at the any of the nearby restaurants that back the beach.

Your wedding location can be decorated with a decorated arch and your isle created by placing a bed of petals or isle runners for you to walk down. Also dependant on your budget a marquee could be placed onto to the beach, please bear in mind facilities such as rest rooms may have to be hired in, as some locations do not offer this.

Imaging your wedding taking place on a beach, watched by your close family and friends, or just you in an intimate ceremony with the striking blue seas and a tropical sunset at the backdrop to your wedding pictures.

Weddings will usually take place in the mid afternoon, as the sun is at it coolest.

Great houses and plantation houses

Barbados has some of the most beautiful great houses and plantations houses in all of the Caribbean.

Beautifully maintained properties set amongst acres of lush matured gardens driveways lined with thousands of years old mahogany and or tall palm trees. Such properties are hundreds of years old, and are steeped in history and provide an amazing location for your wedding.

Weddings will usually take place in the gardens. Whiles receptions can take place in one of the dinning rooms but this is for formal seating. Other arrangements can be made for an informal setting.

Church weddings

An old favourite, the church wedding. Walking up the isle in a beautiful old historic church, with an organ playing and filling the air with harmonious gospel like melodies. Get married in front of god with your friends and family present.

Catamaran and yacht weddings

Set sail on your own private catamaran or yacht for your special occasion. Saying I do out in the great blue yonder is ideal for the couple looking to get away from a normal kind of wedding.

This way your partner and you or even a few close friends and family could get away and sail out to sea with your own captain and crew.

You can laze around on deck or take a drive with the sea turtles, but what ever you choose, you know it will be a day to remember.

Barbados is a fantastic location for those of you that are planning on getting married; it is a unique island, which is unlike any other place in the world. If you are interested in getting married in Barbados I would like to personally recommend a company called Celebrations Caribee, they are a Wedding and Event planning company that does things properly; they take the time and effort to create something that is special and memorable.

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The beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados is the perfect location for your dream wedding. Whether you are seeking a wedding on a perfect beach, a traditional wedding in an old church, a wedding in a historic plantation house, or on a private island, Barbados offers a wide choice of exotic and traditional locations for you to choose from for your dream wedding.

Why Choose Barbados for Your Wedding:

• Barbados is a paradise like location with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with crystal clear clean waters, which are perfect for relaxing in. You also wont have to worry about finding a space on the beach in Barbados to chill out on.

• The natural beauty of the island provides a perfect location for a truly romantic occasion, and getting married should be the most romantic occasion of your life.

• Barbados has an abundance of wonderful hotels to suit all budgets, requirements and tastes.

• There is a fantastic choice of local and international restaurants, some great bars, clubs and music venues to suit whatever your mood is.

• Whether you want to take things easy or indulge in water sports, shopping, excursions, Barbados has something for everyone.

• Not only is Barbados the perfect location for your dream wedding, it is the perfect location for your honeymoon.

• Barbados is a one of the safest islands in the Caribbean with almost year round sunshine with an agreeable temperature.

• You wont find hordes of lager louts rioting through the streets at night.

• It is very easy to get married in Barbados, as there is no required waiting period or minimum stay.

• Barbados is the perfect choice for what will be one of the most beautiful and memorable days of your life. It is a unique island, like no other place in the world and once visited you will have strong desire to return again.

For those of you that are interested in getting married in Barbados, I will recommend a company called celebrationscaribee.com. I personally got married with this company, and they really will pull out all the stops to ensure you get a personalised wedding, as opposed to a conveyor belt wedding like so many wedding companies.

Barbados is an English speaking country, but like many other countries they have a local dialect, which is known as Bajan, 20 Bajan Words That Will Make Your Trip to Barbados More Fun!

 ”There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends”.
Homer

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For me Barbados is a fantastic choice as a holiday destination, in fact I love it so much I chose to get married there last year. It may not be the prettiest Caribbean island, it sure isn’t the cheapest island in the Caribbean  and the roads aren’t the smoothest either. But the island has a unique charm and style, which I find truly captivating and it has drawn me back on numerous occasions.

The beaches are some of the best in the world; you have the calm Caribbean side of the island and the rougher and more rugged Atlantic side, both of which are lined with beautiful, must visit beaches. The island offers virtual year round sunshine and warmth, and when the rain comes, it is nothing that someone from the UK or colder countries cant easily cope with.

It is one of the easiest   islands to travel around,  that I have ever been to, to travel around, in fact you could travel around the island in a day, if you were in a hurry, but of course your in the Caribbean and there’s no need to hurry, as soon as I board the Virgin flight at Gatwick bound for Barbados, I leave that rushing around mentality at home. I go to Barbados to take things easy and relax.

Barbados offers a reasonable good choice of visitor attractions and sites such as Harrison’s Cave, St Nicolas Abbey, Welchman Hall Gully, Sunbury Plantation house, The Barbados Museum, a huge choice of boat trips, submarine trip, vast choice of waters sports, international standard golf courses, a vibrant nightlife, with a vast of choice of cuisines to chose from including local to international.

From a personal point of view Barbados was and is an excellent choice for getting married, we couldn’t have had a more memorable wedding day, the beach front location was stunning, the ceremony was a relaxed and  beautiful experience, the Marquee reception was truly a fitting climax to the best wedding day we could have ever hoped for. The Hotel we stayed in, The Southern Palms was a fantastic place to stay and help provide the most memorable honeymoon experience anybody could have  ever wish for! For anybody thinking about getting married in Barbados I would recommend  Celebrations Caribee  they offer exceptional value for money and a very high quality service. Unlike many Bajan businesses, this company runs on UK time not Bajan time, i.e. they turn up and do things when they are meant too!

For me what makes Barbados so special is that you don’t have jam packed beaches like you do in countries like Spain, Greece, Italy or Croatia, or huge groups of drunken louts roaming the streets, also it doesn’t seem like a whole council block full of people have moved home and are staying in your hotel!

Barbados at a Glance:

• The Capital of Barbados is Bridgetown.
• Barbados is the most eastern island in the Caribbean and has a land area of about 430 square kilometres.
• The official language is English and the island has a population of around 280,000 of which 90% are of African decent.
• The island is made from non-volcanic composition and is predominantly composed of limestone-coral.
• It has a tropical climate with constant trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean, which help to keep temperatures mild.
• There is an average of 8 to 9 hours of sunshine daily, with a temperature of between 75 F to 95 F year round.
• Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the world. The human development index currently ranks it 31st in the world and third in the Americas, behind Canada and the USA.
• It has a democratic government and political stability.
• Barbados has good communications and utilities are available island wide.
• The Time Zone is GMT -4hrs, electricity is 110 volts/50 cycles, currency is the Barbados dollar and USA dollars are accepted everywhere.
• Barbados has strong links with Great Britain and was ruled by them until its independence in 1966, they even drive on the left side of the road.
• The best rum in the world is distilled in Barbados, which is called Mount Gaye rum.
• St Lawrence Gap a 1.3 km stretch of road in Christ Church is the main nightlife area of the island, a vast array of hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping.
• Crane Beach, which is located on the south east coast, was voted one of the 10 best beaches in the world by “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.
• You can arrive in Barbados and get married in one day.

Barbados in my opinion is one of the best holiday destinations, not only in the Caribbean but  in the world and this beautiful island  offers something for everyone.

For those of you that have never been to Barbados the official language is English, but like many countries they also have a local dialect know as Bajan, here is a great article which, teaches you some of the most commonly used words 20 Bajan Words That Will Make Your Trip to Barbados More Fun!

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When you are travelling to the caribbean, whether it be Mexico, Cuba, Bahamas, or the Dominican Republic, you will want to be fully prepared, so that you can make the most of your trip and your caribbean vacation investment. There are several areas of caribbean travel that you will want to keep in mind.

There are tips that you can keep in mind in areas like booking the vacation, packing, flight, arrival and check-in, resort and hotel, excursions, food, and other general areas.

Here are a few examples of some caribbean travel tips that you will want to keep in mind:

1. Try to make an effort to speak a few words in the native language down there. They appreciate it!

2. Anything like mouse for your hair, shampoo, creams etc that may explode in your suitcase on the plane should be packed in plastic bags or alternatively put in your carry on.

3. Try to understand that check in may take some time and that depending on the time of arrival rooms may not be ready. Since check-out and maid service must happen before you can check into your room, this is sometimes the case.

4. Bring insulated travel mugs for drinks! You will understand this on once you get down there, especially if you hate drinking your alcohol from tiny plastic cups.

5. Do try to go on a few excursions off your resort. You will have so much fun and will really get to see much more of the culture of the country. Catamarans are very fun, as are jeep tours. Both are worth the money.

6. Drinks made with milk (i.e. pina coladas) should not be consumed in high quantities. Drink these as treats and not as your only drink of choice. The milk acts as a diuretic and can also cause a lot of diarrhea.

7. If you are visiting a country where only bottled water is allowed, then make sure you brush your teeth with bottled water and use sanitizer after washing your hands in the washroom. When in the shower, keep your mouth closed at all times and try not to get water around your mouth or in your eyes.

A inspiring story about an intrepid traveler who is immigrating to the Caribbean Caribbean Dreaming, Sand, Sea, Sun and Business in Barbados

For some great travel tips for a family beach vacation visit  Family Beach Vacation Ideas

Gary R is an executive editor for www.robarspages.ca and wrote this [http://www.robarspages.ca/caribbean-travel-tips.asp]caribbean travel tips article from actual travel experience.

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