A taste of the Caribbean

Luxury holiday for many people are very few and therefore when we decided to drop beads a bit and enjoy an exclusive we know that our experience will be something special, something memorable and something out of the ordinary.

As a luxury vacation destination in the Caribbean is perhaps without equal in the entire planet. A region rich with history and myth. These are land shrouded in tales of buried treasure, pirates, rum and adventure now pitched. The area was originally called naturally the West Indies, a miscalculation by Christopher Columbus, who believed that he had arrived in Asia, the West 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 considered part of North America lies largely in the Caribbean Sea, South East of the United States and Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Although categorization of the Islands is often regarded as a rather complex set of groups there are really three main communities of the Islands that comprise the Caribbean; The Greater Antilles, Netherlands Antilles (including three sub groups, the Leeward Islands, Windward Islands and Leeward Antilles) and the Lucayan archipelago. In general the Caribbean consists of 7000 separate islands, islets, reefs and Cays that arch around the southeastern tip of Mexico and the Straits of Florida to the coast of Venezuela.

Islands throughout the Caribbean have become synonymous with exotic seclusion and natural beauty; the reputation of the likes of Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Barbados and St. Lucia to mention only a few have all established as privileged holiday destinations. It's no surprise then that representatives of the Caribbean tourism industry swept the gongs at World Travel Awards last year, triumphing in such categories as the primary destination of beach in the world, leading cruise destination, complete family and family resort; The world's leading golf resort, honeymoon destination, private island resort and the most romantic resort. With such accreditation is easy to see why this collective remains such a luxury vacation destination favored. There's something for everyone, whether you are looking for intimacy, romantic or family fun, want to explore the impressive flora dense tropical Interior or dive into the warm turquoise waters and discover a kaleidoscope of coral gardens.

Caribbean people are renowned worldwide for its friendly and warm nature and undoubtedly you feel at home as soon as you touch down in the Caribbean. Culture of the West Indies generally follows a fun, vibrant ethos and relaxed with every island and every community injecting a unique sense of life and joviality. West Indies are immensely proud of their heritage and take every opportunity to celebrate the Islands feel blessed with Cook Caribbean also offers a fascinating and delicious mixture of herbs, spices, meats, fresh fish and vegetables that undoubtedly will influence your kitchen too long after leaving the region

The only difficulty comes when you have to decide where in the Caribbean you must travel to. With so many renowned and highly regarded destinations to choose from Antigua to Aruba; Trinidad and Tobago to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the choice is really up to you.

Take a vacation Caribbean Beach in Key West (Florida)

People tend to get confused about Key West beaches, don't know what to expect, and really do need a Key West Beach Guide. Especially if they've never been to Florida Keys, they tend to remember pictures I saw of Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Fort Meyers on mainland Florida. While the mainland coast of Florida tends to be long and sweeping with running or crashing waves, Florida Keys provide a completely different experience. More like what you find in the Bahamas than the continental United States, Key West beaches are really like the Caribbean.

When you think about the geographic location of sub-tropical island everything makes sense. Florida Keys are actually an archipelago of more than 1000 small coral islands in shallow water about 200 miles from Bahamas, depending on where you land. Vacation island of Key West provides an excellent opportunity to experience the beaches of coral reef, tropical Caribbean style first hand. This is because they are flat top Islands, remnants of ancient coral reefs.

Florida Keys beaches look pretty the Bahamas, with white rocks, sand, coral reefs and shallow life of turquoise water with tropical fish right off shore. The living coral reef in the sea is 7 km and protects the flat islands of the Florida Keys from crashing waves. This creates fantastic swimming and diving, where you can wade out into the water a considerable distance and in many places snorkeling a reef of life without even getting into a boat. Another amazing thing about Key West is that on a small island of only 2 miles by many different beaches to enjoy 4 kilometers.

There are so many things to see and do in Key West, is it really possible to plan their vacations around the beach experience and find something to do for all family members. Smathers beach is known for its long stretch of white sand, wind and kite surfing and volleyball. Higgs is beloved Beach for swimming, Marco White Street Pier, a popular restaurant and childish Astro City. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and is generally considered the favorite snorkeling beach with striking a strong pre war, stands of pine trees and trails to explore.

Then you have one-of-a-kind little Island spots as South Beach that has a fantastic restaurant scene, the dog's beach resort, where you spend the day with your four-legged family member, beach rest, where you can meander through the vegetation, and tiny Simonton Gulf beach side of the island that offers a peak point of sand on the small island Christmas Tree off-shore.

The island also has beaches that are a little away from the island. Bahia Honda State Park really feels like the Bahamas, includes over 500 acres of sand and water and is 30 miles to the North outside of United States Highway 1. And then there's Fort Jefferson National Park and the Dry Tortugas is 70 miles off-shore and is reached by boat or aircraft at sea. Many consider this place the "jewel of Key West."

The coast of Key West is also a popular destination for weddings of the island. Especially at sunset, couples have their dream wedding on the island and they say their vows in the sand. Many choose to stay in private accommodation vacation for your planners and wedding car hire professionals who know how to set the perfect wedding on the beach.

So there you go. To plan your beach vacation, don't think ' long stretches of sand with waves crashing ' like you find on the Mainland of Florida. Think ' my ' Caribbean vacation. And as a bonus-remember, beyond the white coral and Coast, you can explore life underwater coral reefs in the Atlantic side and dip in the Gulf of Mexico side of the island ' back country '.

3 signature Caribbean Dishes

There is plenty of fine food on offer when you stay in the finest 5 star Caribbean Hotels. Regardless of what Island, or a combination of the Islands, you decide to visit, each one is guaranteed to have an amazing meal for you to discover. Many of the Caribbean Islands are famous for their signature dishes and each visitor hoping to get a taste of "real Caribbean ' will usually discover when they sample some of the unique food available. If you run your preference for meat or vegetarian dishes, a hearty breakfast or a light dinner, you will be able to find something that fits, while traveling in the Caribbean. Here are three of our favorite meals that you may encounter.

Pepperpot

If your travels take to in Trinidad or Guyana, is certainly a good idea to do a small amount of time that he served in the pepperpot your 5 star Caribbean Hotels. It is a dish stewed meat flavoured with cinnamon, hot peppers and a special sauce cassava root with the name ' cassareep. Traditionally, Cassareep was soft boiled in the POT (real "pepper pot") which will absorb the flavours, and then to give them food cooked later-as the rice and chicken. An unusual quality of Cassareep is that acts like an antiseptic, allowing food to be cooking for unlimited periods of time. According to local legend, Betty Mascoll of Grenada was a pepperpot was retained as this for more than a century.

BYB-Byb and Flying Fish

The national dish in Barbados is BYB-BYB and flying fish, a name which tends to pikarw the curiosity of people who want to sample the most exotic food offered by the 5 Star Caribbean Hotels. BYB-BYB, itself is a mixture of cornmeal and okra, and is usually prepared with the help of a stick special BYB-BYB, a unique wooden utensil with a long, flat rectangular shape. Many people say this reminds me of a miniature Cricket bat. Flying fish is a great spectacle, when they leap from the water, launching a short gliding flight to escape predators. As Barbados national fish, occurs on coins, artwork, and more important in 5 star Caribbean Hotels, on the plate!

Mountain chicken

Although eat ' mountain chicken ' discouraged these days, special mention must go to the Dominican meal. It can be quite a surprise for those who stay in 5 star Caribbean Hotels when they discover that, despite the name, the mountain chicken is actually a race of frog.

The Caribbean Reef

When staying in a 5-star Caribbean Hotels, the opportunity to visit the Caribbean coral reef. Flight of the reef area contains nearly 10% of coral in the world, and is in the center of many conservation efforts. The reef covers about 20,000 square miles, but it is particularly sensitive to environmental damage, as well as the relic of a periodic hurricanes in the region. The reef makes a fantastic excursion and enjoy holiday luxuriating in 5 star Caribbean Hotels, allowing visitors to get a better understanding of the problems affecting the region. Environmentally, the carbon dioxide emitted by mankind is not only a pollutant in the air-gas dissolve in the sea, the water grows more bitter. This, combined with a gradual increase in temperature of the Caribbean Sea, had serious repercussions on the reef.

Conservation of Reef

Visitors to 5 star Hotels in the Caribbean region can play a vital role in helping to preserve the world's second largest barrier reef. Tourists travelling on reef dive excursions, allowing them to explore the wonders under water, and the revenue it brings tourism has become extremely important in helping to maintain in the region.

It is possible to take a look on the outskirts of coral life and containing just by walking into the sea, but diving offers a chance to get really close. Dive group will be offered, i.e. your best points and provide a wealth of information about the range of animals, plants and the environment shall issue faces an expert for the local area.

The reef wildlife

Most 5 star Caribbean Hotels will be able to provide visitors with information about how to treat the reef for themselves. Those who will investigate the area you will find an amazing array of underwater life. There are more than 65 species of stony Coral Reef, and in more than 500 species of fish. Along with hundreds of species of molluscs and their larger populations of manatees in the world, there are some protected species, and the turtle Green Sea Turtle, the leatherback turtle species, and many others.

Some of the darker creatures found in reef include unclear and strange looking ' splendid toadfish '. Both the American and the morelet crocodile is endemic in the region, such as the shark whale-the largest fish in the world, with a record length over 12.5 metres.

Help support the Caribbean coral reef

Luxury stay in any one of many 5 star Caribbean Hotels will give you the perfect excuse to visit this delicate but vital ecosystem, and at the same time does little to protect for future generations.