This short guide is designed to give new visitors to the Caribbean an idea of what to expect and look for, and experienced travel veterans some new ideas.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico – Here, the seaport is located right on the edge of Old San Juan, the original fortified city, now the greater city of San Juan’s cultural district. It is a notoriously tourist-friendly place, and English is spoken to some degree by nearly everybody. Be sure to check out the park by the city’s west fort, stop in at the Ben and Jerry’s for a “cool” hang and some tasty treats, or head down to Old Bay Brewery to taste some of Puerto Rico’s finest microbrews.
- Barbados – From Puerto Rico we go south and west to Barbados, a former British colony inhabited (like most of the Lesser Antilles) mostly by people of African descent. The main language spoken therefore is English, however the dialect is a very unique one. Barbados is famous for its waters: on the Atlantic side, the long beaches and giant waves are coveted by the surfing community. On the Caribbean Sea side, the waters are calm and crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling or just floating on your back. Don’t be afraid of the sea turtles; they are naturally curious and have grown accustomed to guests in their water!
- St. Thomas – Like Puerto Rico, St. Thomas is a territory of the United States, and like Barbados, St. Thomas is well known for its many beaches. Destinations such as Megan’s Bay and Koki Beach have water that is practically sedentary. These popular beaches are also surrounded by beautiful coral and tropical fish that reward snorkelers willing swim a little distance. Be sure to visit Paradise Point in Havensight, which will not only give you the best panorama of St. Thomas, but also St. John, Tortolla, and several other of the American and British Virgin Islands.
- St. Marten – St. Marten is a very unique little island, as it is a territory of two different countries, split awkwardly down the middle. The south side is owned by the Dutch (who spell the name St. Maarten), and the north is owned by the French. While the two sides essentially function as one government, they each very much maintain their own culture and preference of language. Though English is widely spoken, it is not uncommon for residents to be well versed in five or more languages. The French side is significantly larger than the Dutch: legend has it that a soldier from each side walked from the coast to the middle of the island to determine the border; unfortunately the Dutch candidate decided to get drunk for his journey.
- Cozumel, Mexico – Cozumel is a well-inhabited island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, famous for its cities whose economies are booming due to the tourism and hospitality business. The city’s cultural district is just filled with shops to browse, bars to relax, and eateries to sample. The very colorful Mexican culture is everywhere and particularly amped-up for the millions of tourists it receives. As a result of its booming popularity as a vacation destination, Cozumel has many all-inclusive style resorts that know exactly how to treat a guest. Stay at one of these and you will leave with a completely different notion of what hospitality should be.
