The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. It is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, east of Central America and north of South America. Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays. These islands are called the West Indies as Columbus believed he had reached the Indies (in Asia) when he landed there in 1492. The region includes the Antilles, divided into the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The region takes its name from the Carib, an ethnic group present at the time of European contact.
Since there are more than 7,000 islands in the region, narrowing down which location is best for you may require some forethought. While each of the major tourist sites offers similar amenities, such as hotels, beaches, restaurants and evening entertainments, some of the locations in the Caribbean offer a little bit more. Here are some of the top destinations:
Punta Can
Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is what Caribbean postcards are made of: twenty-five miles of white sand, swaying coconut trees and more than 35 resorts (which by law cannot be taller than a palm tree). European tourists long ago discovered Punta Cana and Americans are now catching on. At this affordable tropical getaway, most guests choose to stay in all-inclusive resorts. The town itself isn't a tourist draw; the primary purpose of Punta Cana is relaxation by the sea.
Negril
Hedonistic Negril beats to a reggae pulse. Major tourist areas are Seven Mile Beach, home to adult-oriented resorts, and the West End, with smaller, more laid-back accommodations and beaches, shops and restaurants within walking distance. Get a cool drink and watch the sunset from Rick's Bar. Gaze at dramatic Negril Cliffs, which provided backdrops to James Bond's "Thunderball." If your hotel doesn't offer a shuttle, take minibuses. Or set a different pace and trot off on a horseback tour.
Montego Bay
Low-key and relaxed, Mo-Bay (as the locals call it) is warm year-round. Swim and snorkel in clear water at Doctor's Cave and Fletcher Beach, dive in the ominously named Widowmaker's Cave, golf on courses such as Half Moon and Tryall. Off the beaten path, feed a hummingbird at the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary and tour Rose Hall Great House, a former sugar plantation with a spooky past. After dark, feast on jerk chicken, dance to a reggae beat and gamble on Gloucester Avenue, a.k.a. the Hip Strip.
Puerto Plata
When visiting this Dominican Republic town, most will actually stay in one of the all-inclusive resorts in nearby Playa Dorada. The usual water sports are available in Puerto Plata, although the beaches are better at Dorada. Travelers will enjoy the Amber Museum, the 16th-century San Felipe Fortress, the cable car to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres and the fresh produce and handicrafts at a market geared more for locals than tourists. Be aware that winter brings rain, so plan accordingly.
Palm/Eagle Beach
Inhabited since the year 1000, Aruba is an island rich in history and culture. Eagle Beach is an idyllic Caribbean beach, with white sands and turquoise waters, and is frequented by water sports enthusiasts. Palm Beach, on the island's west side, offers perfect swimming conditions and powdery sand. Those more concerned with conditions under the waves won't want to miss the wreck of the torpedoed tanker Pedernales, a popular diving site. Aruba is only 20 miles long, thus easily explored by bike or moped.
Bermuda is great for its restaurants and pubs, sophisticated resorts, and convenience. Jamaica is the place to go if you're looking for an all-inclusive, couples-only resort. And St. Lucia's dramatic cliffside resorts, unique dining options, and dramatic geography make it an idyllic couples' paradise, reminiscent of the South Pacific.
It's hard to beat the Bahamas for a family Caribbean vacation: the Atlantis on Paradise Island and Our Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island are two of the most complete resorts in the region. Aruba also is an excellent family destination, with its friendly population and many options for off-resort activities. Families looking to go off the beaten path should consider St. Kitts and Nevis, which has old forts, haunted plantations, and a vintage railroad to explore.
Families love Palm Beach in Aruba for its gentle surf and wide array of water sports. Barbados is famed for the exquisite stretches of sand along its Gold Coast, home to fabulous luxury resorts like Sandy Lane. If you're looking for solitude, check out the Grenadines, where you can still find a secluded beach to call your own for a day.
The Caribbean may be best known for its diving: top destinations include Bonaire, Virgin Gorda, Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, and St. Croix; snorkelers prefer Antigua, St. Croix, and St. John. The trade winds that caress Aruba and Curacao make these islands ideal destinations for windsurfers; sailors tend to set course for the Grenadines or the British Virgin Islands.
The best known casino in the Caribbean -- and the most "Vegas-like" -- is the Atlantis on Paradise Island, which is also the largest hotel in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico has long been a gambler's mecca; the Wyndham El San Juan is perhaps the best-known casino, the Wyndham Rio Mar one of the newest and nicest. The Dominican Republic has the most casinos in the Caribbean, but I prefer the laid-back atmosphere of Aruba, which has a nice concentration of upscale hotel/casinos on Palm Beach.
With so many destinations to choose from, it is a safe bet that you will be able to find exactly what you're looking for, as long as you know what that is!
Since there are more than 7,000 islands in the region, narrowing down which location is best for you may require some forethought. While each of the major tourist sites offers similar amenities, such as hotels, beaches, restaurants and evening entertainments, some of the locations in the Caribbean offer a little bit more. Here are some of the top destinations:
Punta Can
Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is what Caribbean postcards are made of: twenty-five miles of white sand, swaying coconut trees and more than 35 resorts (which by law cannot be taller than a palm tree). European tourists long ago discovered Punta Cana and Americans are now catching on. At this affordable tropical getaway, most guests choose to stay in all-inclusive resorts. The town itself isn't a tourist draw; the primary purpose of Punta Cana is relaxation by the sea.
Negril
Hedonistic Negril beats to a reggae pulse. Major tourist areas are Seven Mile Beach, home to adult-oriented resorts, and the West End, with smaller, more laid-back accommodations and beaches, shops and restaurants within walking distance. Get a cool drink and watch the sunset from Rick's Bar. Gaze at dramatic Negril Cliffs, which provided backdrops to James Bond's "Thunderball." If your hotel doesn't offer a shuttle, take minibuses. Or set a different pace and trot off on a horseback tour.
Montego Bay
Low-key and relaxed, Mo-Bay (as the locals call it) is warm year-round. Swim and snorkel in clear water at Doctor's Cave and Fletcher Beach, dive in the ominously named Widowmaker's Cave, golf on courses such as Half Moon and Tryall. Off the beaten path, feed a hummingbird at the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary and tour Rose Hall Great House, a former sugar plantation with a spooky past. After dark, feast on jerk chicken, dance to a reggae beat and gamble on Gloucester Avenue, a.k.a. the Hip Strip.
Puerto Plata
When visiting this Dominican Republic town, most will actually stay in one of the all-inclusive resorts in nearby Playa Dorada. The usual water sports are available in Puerto Plata, although the beaches are better at Dorada. Travelers will enjoy the Amber Museum, the 16th-century San Felipe Fortress, the cable car to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres and the fresh produce and handicrafts at a market geared more for locals than tourists. Be aware that winter brings rain, so plan accordingly.
Palm/Eagle Beach
Inhabited since the year 1000, Aruba is an island rich in history and culture. Eagle Beach is an idyllic Caribbean beach, with white sands and turquoise waters, and is frequented by water sports enthusiasts. Palm Beach, on the island's west side, offers perfect swimming conditions and powdery sand. Those more concerned with conditions under the waves won't want to miss the wreck of the torpedoed tanker Pedernales, a popular diving site. Aruba is only 20 miles long, thus easily explored by bike or moped.
Bermuda is great for its restaurants and pubs, sophisticated resorts, and convenience. Jamaica is the place to go if you're looking for an all-inclusive, couples-only resort. And St. Lucia's dramatic cliffside resorts, unique dining options, and dramatic geography make it an idyllic couples' paradise, reminiscent of the South Pacific.
It's hard to beat the Bahamas for a family Caribbean vacation: the Atlantis on Paradise Island and Our Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island are two of the most complete resorts in the region. Aruba also is an excellent family destination, with its friendly population and many options for off-resort activities. Families looking to go off the beaten path should consider St. Kitts and Nevis, which has old forts, haunted plantations, and a vintage railroad to explore.
Families love Palm Beach in Aruba for its gentle surf and wide array of water sports. Barbados is famed for the exquisite stretches of sand along its Gold Coast, home to fabulous luxury resorts like Sandy Lane. If you're looking for solitude, check out the Grenadines, where you can still find a secluded beach to call your own for a day.
The Caribbean may be best known for its diving: top destinations include Bonaire, Virgin Gorda, Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, and St. Croix; snorkelers prefer Antigua, St. Croix, and St. John. The trade winds that caress Aruba and Curacao make these islands ideal destinations for windsurfers; sailors tend to set course for the Grenadines or the British Virgin Islands.
The best known casino in the Caribbean -- and the most "Vegas-like" -- is the Atlantis on Paradise Island, which is also the largest hotel in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico has long been a gambler's mecca; the Wyndham El San Juan is perhaps the best-known casino, the Wyndham Rio Mar one of the newest and nicest. The Dominican Republic has the most casinos in the Caribbean, but I prefer the laid-back atmosphere of Aruba, which has a nice concentration of upscale hotel/casinos on Palm Beach.
With so many destinations to choose from, it is a safe bet that you will be able to find exactly what you're looking for, as long as you know what that is!
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