Antigua: beyond the sun and the sea...

If Caribbean holidays are on your mind, consider adding the island of Antigua to your list of possible destinations.  Although many Antigua holidays are well known for their fun in the sun activities, due to the island’s many coves and bays, there are many other captivating aspects to this beautiful island.

Historical places

For visitors interested in history, Nelson’s Dockyard situated in English Harbour is the world’s only fully restored Georgian dockyard.  It was here, during the Napoleonic Wars that many English admirals found a secure home for their navy, mainly owing to the natural harbour’s highly strategic position.

Modern amenities

Today, English Harbour is a charming boating community and Nelson’s Dockyard is part of a national park.  Filled with shops, hotels and restaurants, the area also offers numerous sailing and hiking activities for visitors to enjoy.

Whether you are looking forward to relaxing on a beach with a good book, soaking up some remarkable historic facts or trying your luck at one of the island’s casinos, Antigua may be the perfect setting for your next holiday.

Treat the family to a holiday in Barbados...

Many people think that a luxury holiday is not a place for children, but with the right planning you can enjoy luxury family holidays where everyone can relax and have fun.

Barbados is a good destination for families because it is friendly and welcoming and offers a good range of child-friendly activities. You can take your child snorkelling, see the protected turtles, or take a trip in a submarine to explore the sea life.

On land, natural wonders such as stalactites and stalagmites are on show in local caves, while the wildlife reserve houses many animals, including the Barbados Green Monkey.  The Morgan Lewis Windmill explains the story of sugar production, which was once the island’s main industry.

One key part of a good family holiday is the accommodation.  If you are planning to take your children on holiday, then look for a hotel that has plenty to offer children as well as adults, such as Sandy Lane holidays.

These hotels offer entertainment for children such as kids clubs, or scheduled activities alongside the activities and entertainment for adults.  Often these activities are tailored for children of different ages, from toddlers to teenagers.

The kids clubs offered by these hotels enables parents to have a break from their children knowing they are safely looked after and means that everyone can enjoy a luxury family holiday.

Many of the facilities are family friendly, including swimming pools, sports facilities, and sandy beaches.  All-inclusive resorts will also offer restaurants on site often with special children’s menus that makes dining a pleasure rather than a chore.

Whatever you choose to do during your Barbados holidays, a little bit of luxury is sure to help relax and rejuvenate the whole family.

Caribbean holidays – Antigua and Grand Cayma...

Heading to the Caribbean for your next holiday is a start, but where exactly is it that you would like to stay? When it comes to generalised holiday terms such as Caribbean holidays, they can include a multitude of exotic destinations. Some of the more popular and best-known islands are Barbados, St. Lucia, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Antigua, not to mention the glorious Grand Cayman Islands.

Antigua

For a slightly different Caribbean holiday you may want to check out holidays to Antigua. Not only is it far away, ensuring you actually feel as though you are taking an exotic holiday, Antigua is renowned for its 18th century history. Two of the island’s most interesting attractions are Shirley Heights and Nelson’s Dockyard. Visitors here can take in a little of everything, from endless sun and sand; Antigua has a total of 365 beaches, to diving, swimming and sightseeing. The area is also a delight for food enthusiasts, thanks to its numerous authentic local restaurants, many of which just happen to have menus centred around the theme of fresh seafood.

Grand Cayman Islands

Another far away destination, the Grand Cayman Islands, are ideal for those who seek endless sunbathing in luxurious surroundings. It is also a popular destination for those who love to shop, as the island is well known for its duty-free status. Visitors who choose to holiday here will find world-class diving, unspoiled beaches and heaps of great things to do. It is easy to island hop to the nearby islands, which makes for a great full or half day excursion. Two favourite destinations are Cayman Brac, which is renowned for its eco-tourism and Little Cayman, which remains almost as quaint today as when it was first discovered.

Travel Guide to the Caribbean...

Although the Caribbean Sea is a fairly compact area in comparison to the world’s oceans, the region is far from uniform. The weather can vary greatly from island to island depending on their location and the direction of prevailing winds in addition to geological factors such as mountain chains. While Aruba, for example, boasts a desert climate featuring a variety of cactus species, Puerto Rico is both cooler and more tropical.

The islands also differ greatly in terms of their culture and language. Europeans settled the Caribbean during the great ages of exploration and colonization when many nations competed for power over the region. As a result, some islands are French-speaking to this day, while others use Spanish, English, and even Dutch as their official language. In each case, the native styles of dress and cuisine have blended over time with those of the colonizing country to produce a unique culture found nowhere else on earth.

Getting to the Caribbean

The larger islands have airports served by major airlines, while smaller ones can only be reached by ferries or by taking a flight on a smaller, regional airline. Many people, however, reach the Caribbean on large cruise ships that whisk them away from the UK and allow them to travel in comfort to the New World. Cruise ship travel is actually ideal for a region such as the Caribbean because travellers can have one “home base” that takes them to island after island, freeing them from the necessity of finding their own way from, for example, Jamaica to the Bahamas.

St. Lucia Holidays...

The island of St Lucia in the eastern Caribbean sea is a popular tourist destination, especially with those looking for a luxurious holiday. Cheap flights may not be that easy to come buy so going for the all-inclusive packages helps relieve the stress of organising your get away. The island is one of the Windward Islands, a group that includes Grenada and Martinique among others. Ownership of the island was strongly contested by the French and British over the last few centuries, and the country finally became an independent state in 1979 when it joined the Commonwealth of Nations. St Lucia offers high quality hotels and accommodation and fantastic service, ensuring it is a prime location for those enjoying luxury holidays.

St Lucia has some of the most beautiful scenery in the Caribbean, with a stunning volcanic mountainous landscape, beautiful waterfalls, and lush green jungles. Beaches with soft white sands in the north and volcanic black sand in the south line the coasts while the azure blue seas are ideal for water sports including diving, windsurfing and jet-skiing. Those wishing to explore inland can either hike on foot, hire a mountain bike or even ride a horse to enjoy the natural beauty of the island.

St Lucian holidays offer perfect opportunities for relaxation, while taking in the culture of the country. There are many festivals and events held throughout the year so visitors should be on the lookout for them. The biggest festival on the island is the Saint Lucian Jazz Festival, held in May each year. An annual carnival and La Rose and La Marguerite Festivals are also popular.