Alternate islands offer fun vacations
Some travelers looking ahead to winter and spring getaways may be wondering what their options are when it comes to Caribbean islands post-hurricanes.
Some islands, such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and St. Martin, have a ways to go to recover. But many other places were relatively unscathed. Island destinations where life proceeds as usual include Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
If you had your heart set on an island that’s now off-limits, but you’re still hoping for sun, sand and sea, what should you do?
Brian Major, editor for the Caribbean and Latin America for travAlliancemedia, offered these alternative destinations:
■ Consider Martinique or Curacao if you’re looking for the European cultural mix found on St. Martin. There’s “terrific air service” to Martinique, he said, as well as “wonderful food,” mostly boutique hotels and interesting historic sites, such as the Schoelcher Library, named for a famed abolitionist. On Curacao, you’ll find great diving, Dutch-style gabled houses and local food vendors at Plasa Bieu.
■ Consider Montserrat for rugged landscapes and outdoor adventures akin to what Dominica is known for. Montserrat is a volcanic island with soaring mountains, inland rivers, waterfalls, diving and snorkeling.
■ The Bahamas, like the Virgin Islands, offer “every stripe of resort, from all-inclusive to small historic.” Travelers who want to experience the famed Atlantis waterpark on Paradise Island without paying for lodging at the resort often stay across the street at the Comfort Suites. For adventurers, head to Exuma Island. There are even small private islands where you can pitch a tent.
■ Try Barbados for “cosmopolitan flair” and “nice beaches.” A former British colony, it offers everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites to horseracing. Hotels range from all-inclusives like Sandals to three- and four-star and boutique hotels.
For information on how hurricanes affected individual islands and resorts, Major recommended the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.
Kelly A. Luf, a Boston-based leader for Liberty Travel’s Northeast region, offers these ideas for travelers looking for island alternatives:
■ Consider St. Lucia “for a customer who was maybe hoping for something like St. John, where they could have a lot of outdoor eco-adventure.” Experiences include hiking, hot springs and mineral baths, and diving to underwater national parks.
■ Try Aruba “if you love a vibrant downtown and shopping like you’d find on St. Thomas.” Aruba also offers “excellent casinos and gaming” and “incredible beaches.”
■ Barbados might work “if you enjoyed the refinement and food on the French side of St. Martin.” It has “European-style culture” and great dining options that make it “the only island that’s Zagat-rated.” You’d be “equally wowed” with an upscale meal at the Cliff or a fish sandwich from a chattel house, a traditional local eatery.