For many people, luxury vacations are sporadic, and so when we decide to let go of the strings a bit and enjoy an exclusive break, we want to know that our experience will be something special, something memorable and something out of the ordinary. normal.
As a luxury vacation destination, the Caribbean is perhaps unrivaled anywhere on the planet. A region of the world rich in history and myth; These are lands shrouded in tales of buried treasure, pirates, rum, and far flung adventures. The area, of course, was originally known as the West Indies, a famous miscalculation by Christopher Columbus, who believed that he had reached Asia, west of the Indies. Today, the Caribbean is one of the most popular and sought after tourist hotspots attracting a global audience of discerning travelers.
The region itself, which geopolitically is often thought of as part of North America, lies largely in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of the United States, and east of the Gulf of Mexico. Although the categorization of islands is often thought of as a fairly complex collection of groups, there are actually three main island communities that make up the Caribbean; the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles (including three subgroups, the Leeward Islands, the Leeward Antilles, and the Windward Islands), and the Lucayan Archipelago. Overall, the Caribbean consists of 7,000 separate islands, cays, reefs, and islets that arc from the southeastern tip of Mexico and the Straits of Florida to the coast of Venezuela.
The Caribbean islands have become synonymous with exotic isolation and natural beauty; The likes of Cuba, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Saint Lucia, to name just a few, have established reputations as premier vacation destinations. It’s no surprise then that representatives of the Caribbean tourism industry swept the gongs at last year’s World Travel Awards, triumphing in categories such as world’s leading beach destination, leading cruise destination, family all-inclusive and family resort; The world’s leading golf resort, honeymoon destination, private island resort and most romantic resort. With such accreditation, it’s easy to see why this group remains such a favored luxury vacation destination. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re seeking romantic intimacy or family fun, exploring the stunning flora of dense tropical interiors, or diving into the warm turquoise waters and discovering a kaleidoscope of coral gardens.
Caribbean people are renowned the world over for their friendly disposition and welcoming nature, and you will certainly feel at home as soon as you land in the Caribbean. West Indian culture generally follows a fun, vibrant and laid-back spirit with each island and each community injecting a unique sense of life and playfulness. West Indians are very proud of their heritage and take every opportunity to celebrate the islands they feel blessed with. Caribbean cuisine also offers an intriguing and delicious mix of spices, herbs, fresh fish, meats and vegetables that are sure to influence your cooking long after you’ve left the region.
The only difficulty arises when you have to decide which part of the Caribbean you should travel to. With so many renowned and highly regarded destinations to choose from, from Antigua to Aruba; Trinidad and Tobago to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the choice is really up to you.