A Twitter-esque tour of the Caribbean
11 islands in 140 characters apiece
Because North America appears so enamored with Twitter, I’ve decided to substitute a Twitter-like appraisal of 11 tropical islands, limited to 140 characters apiece, instead of the usual wordy, lengthier descriptions normally found in this space.
The Twitter-like descriptions that follow are of islands where I’ve vacationed or visited - and I hope they prove helpful in choosing your own next trip to the tropics:
Aruba: Mainly high-rise hotels on superb beaches, but heavy emphasis on casino gambling attracts a harsh crowd.
Bonaire: Scuba capital of the world; its low-rise hotels offer resort courses taking you 60 feet below the sea.
Curacao: So-so beaches, but superb attractions of Caribbean culture and history will enchant you.
Cuba: Always provocative, but lack of hotel space requires you book an often-uncomfortable private apartment.
St. Thomas: Excellent beaches, a broad assortment of hotels; heavy emphasis on shopping; heavily visited.
St. John: Excellent beaches, but only three resorts: One of low-cost eco-huts, one of deluxe quality; one in between.
Jamaica: Fine beaches, endless hotels, excellent food and constant entertainment like unique music and dance.
Puerto Rico: Fine beaches; and currently full of discounts because of low bookings.
Mustique: Fiendishly expensive hotels for the world’s top 1 percent; not for normal people.
St. Lucia: Excellent beaches and superb cuisine, but many hotels on steep seaside cliffs, requiring you walk up and down to the beach
Dominican Republic: Its all-inclusive resorts (one price for everything) are the area’s cheapest, especially on an air-and-land package.
Arthur Frommer is the pioneering founder of the Frommer’s Travel Guide book series. He co-hosts the radio program, “The Travel Show,” with his travel correspondent daughter Pauline Frommer. Find more destinations online and read Arthur Frommer’s blog at frommers.com.