Summer 2017 Flight Deals to the Caribbean

We’ve discovered several great flight deals to the Caribbean for summer 2017.

-American Airlines flights as low as $174 round-trip from BOS (Boston) to BGI (Barbados), select dates starting in May (these flights have overnight connections)

-American Airlines flights as low as $182 round-trip from BOS (Boston) to AUA (Aruba), select dates May-June

-JetBlue flights as low as $312 round-trip from JFK (New York City) to BGI (Barbados), select dates May-June

-Delta flights as low as $390 round-trip from JFK (New York City) to SXM (St. Maarten), select dates in May

Information is valid at the time of writing. Sometimes you may not find the price mentioned in this post (for example, several days after the original posting date). It means that the airline has changed the price.

Island Adventures: Escape from St. Maarten for a Day

escape from st. maarten for the dayStarting to feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? St. Maarten offers so much to do and see—but even if you somehow weary of its unique half-French, half-Dutch makeup and its stunning beaches, this amazing island still has a few surprises up its sleeve. St. Maarten is nestled close to some of the most beautiful spots in the Caribbean. From St. Barts to Saba, the perfect escape is out there for pretty much everyone.

Aqua Mania Adventures, the water sports and tour provider that partners with Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, currently offers six day trips off-island.

Edge to Saba — Enjoy a quiet getaway with plenty of time for sightseeing in picturesque villages, hiking in the rainforest or scuba diving in world-renowned dive spots.

Edge to St. Barts — St. Barts has gained a reputation as a decadent vacation hideout for the rich and the famous. Don’t worry, though—ordinary folks are welcome, too. You might even spot a familiar face from TV or film! Enjoy fabulous boutique shopping and some of the finest cuisine in the Western Hemisphere.

Lambada to Prickly Pear & Anguilla — Experience the pure, unspoiled splendor of Anguilla and its tiny neighbor, Prickly Pear Cay. Spend the day snorkeling, swimming and just relaxing.

Tango Dolphin Discovery — Visit Dolphin Discovery’s new park on Anguilla, the largest natural habitat dolphin park in the Caribbean. This is your chance to swim with dolphins.

Tango to Cove Bay — You’ve definitely earned a trip to Cove Bay on Anguilla. The white sand beach is your home for the day as you enjoy the view of St. Maarten’s lush, tropical hills.

Tango to Shoal Bay — Shoal Bay on Anguilla is considered to be one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Land at Cove Bay and travel by taxi to Shoal Bay, touring the length of Anguilla. Then sit back, relax and spend the day in paradise.

Barbados Will Host the Caribbean’s Largest Arts Festival

Caribbean Arts Festival CARIFESTA 2017

Courtesy of the Caribbean Journal

This summer, Barbados will host the 13th edition of the Caribbean’s biggest arts festival, CARIFESTA. More than 3,000 artists and craftspeople will come to the island August 17-27, 2017 to showcase their best work. The festival features an incredibly diverse range of artwork, from dance, theater and music to the visual arts and fashion to food and literature. The theme is “Asserting Our Culture, Celebrating Our Selves.” The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at Bridgetown’s well-known cricket stadium, the Kensington Oval, a short drive from Divi Southwinds Beach Resort. If you’re traveling to Barbados in late August, consider yourself very lucky!

3 Off-the-Beaten-Path Day Trips on St. Croix

day trips on st. croixWhen you’re staying at Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort & Casino, you may want to spend your entire vacation relaxing by the pool, but if you decide to venture beyond the resort, there are plenty of unique day trips on St. Croix to satisfy your taste for exploration and adventure.

Drink with Pigs at Mt. Pellier Hut Domino Club — Yes, it’s true. You can share nonalcoholic brews with the two resident pigs at this charming, tucked-away restaurant and bar. Journey to the rainforests on the island’s west side for this quirky experience. The pigs will greet you from the safety of their pens, and if you offer up an O’Doul’s, one of them will cheerfully accept it, chomp down on the can and enjoy a cold one with you. The restaurant and bar is open seven days a week.

Hike the Annaly Bay Tide Pools — If you’re an outdoorsy type, try hiking the two-mile trail between Carambola Beach and the Annaly Bay Tide Pools. The path winds through the stunning rainforests along St. Croix’s northwestern coast. Be sure to stay hydrated and bring snacks. You’ll be rewarded with a beautiful array of natural tide pools that you can swim in (but don’t forget your water shoes to guard against the rocks!).

Kayak Salt River Bay at Night — Experience the breathtaking natural phenomenon of bioluminescence on a guided nighttime tour of Salt River Bay. Salt River Bay is home to millions of microorganisms that give off light when the water around them is disturbed. It’s mesmerizing to watch the water light up like a glow stick when you dip your kayak paddle into it.

There’s no shortage of fantastic day trips on St. Croix! Share your favorites in the comments below.

Bonaire, Home to One of the Natural Wonders of the Caribbean

About.com Travel recently named Bonaire’s National Marine Park one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the Caribbean. If you’ve been scuba diving or snorkeling with Divi Dive Bonaire, you’ve visited the Marine Park—it encompasses the entire island from its shoreline to a depth of 200 feet. From the vibrant diversity of underwater life that makes its home in the park, the healthiness of the area is clear. It’s considered to be the most well-protected reef system in the Caribbean.

Aruba Vs. The Bahamas: Why Aruba Is Better

aruba vs. the bahamas“Aruba vs. the Bahamas” is a matchup that plays out frequently in the minds of many would-be Caribbean travelers. They both rank consistently among the most popular Caribbean destinations, and it can be hard to figure out the right choice. In a knockout round between the two, however, we think it’s pretty clear which one comes out on top. These travel favorites have much in common, but Aruba has the most return visitors each year in the Caribbean, and we think there’s a good reason for that.

While the travel times between the U.S. East Coast and each of the locations is fairly similar, both places are considered to be reasonably safe and both have a similar quality of nightlife, Aruba tips the scales in its direction in many other categories. As an article from consumer travel website Oyster.com points out, Aruba has plenty to do and see both above and below the water. It boasts fantastic cuisine from every corner of the world. It is also located outside the Hurricane Belt, meaning the chance for hurricanes ruining one’s travel plans is close to zero. Its constant tradewinds help keep mosquitos at bay, and temperatures average in the mid-80s Fahrenheit all year round.

Plus, it’s pretty impossible to compare Aruba’s white sand beaches to any other island in the world. With their shallow turquoise waters and calm waves, they are the kind of beaches that travelers can’t stop dreaming about. Eagle Beach, near Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort and Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort, was recently voted the third best beach in the world in the 2017 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards. And Palm Beach, home to Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, is perfect for families to introduce their young children to the ocean for the first time. In the “Aruba vs. the Bahamas” matchup, we think Aruba wins every time.