Hiking Nevis

Recently, I blogged about Nisbet Plantation's unique video amenities that allow guests to record their vacations for free; But now the boutique resort has added another cool amenity that I think is pretty great for the active set. Guests of the 36-room luxury resort can take advantage of complimentary Garmin eTrex GPS units for hiking around nearby Nevis Peak, making it easy to track your distance, coordinates and altitude during your trek...you know, just in case you're curious just how far you've made it on the 3,232-foot peak. And if hiking isn't your thing, you can always just hop on one of the resort's free Vespa scooters instead. Not a bad alternative.

To book a room, just surf over to nisbetplantation.com – and stay tuned here on the blog for upcoming Nevis deals. 

With Pomp and Circumstance, Antigua Honors Obama

On the island of Antigua, Shirley has his Heights, Nelson has his Dockyard, and now Obama has his Mount — radio antenna and all. Last August, in a ceremony brimming with Antiguan pomp and circumstance, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer made good on his promise to rename his island’s loftiest summit — 1,300-foot Boggy Peak — after the 44th president of the United States. “This great political achievement by Barack Obama resonated with me in a way that I felt compelled to do something symbolic and inspiring for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the Caribbean,” he said.

And that’s just what he did. But there’s more to recommend a visit to Mount Obama than just the chance to admire the plaque-affixed stone monument at the base of the hill. The area constitutes the nascent Mount Obama National Park, a woodsy haven aflutter with birds and thick with rare plants. Two hiking trails and a narrow access road squiggle toward the summit. From there, you’ll enjoy a pretty dramatic panorama of Antigua, as well as views of neighboring Montserrat, Redonda, Nevis and Guadeloupe.

Get some fresh advice on where to stay, where to play, and where to eat on Antigua: Check out the January/February issue of CT+L — on newsstands December 22 — for my full report.

News and Deals in the Cayman Islands

I recently blogged about the Peppered Pickled Pirate Party that's coming up in November on the island of Nevis – but for even more swashbuckling action this Fall, don't miss the Cayman Islands' 32nd Annunal Pirates Week from November 12-22. Held across Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, the event includes a staged "pirate invasion" of George Town Harbor, plus street parties, food festivals, a pirate costume competition, and even 5K and 10K runs throughout the week. Most events offer free admission, but to find more information and the full event calendar, just surf over to www.piratesweekfestival.com.


And for all of you pirates out there just trying to save a buck, you're in luck with the new island-wide Free Fallin' promotion. Through December 15, you can cash in on upgrades and savings around the Cayman Islands – like fourth-night-free offers at a variety of hotels; special discounts on Cayman Airways; and a $200 American Express gift check when booking your stay on your American Express card. Fore more information and a full list of participating partners, check out the official site at www.caymanislands.ky/freefallin.

Relive Your Nevis Vacation - Free

The lovely Nisbet Plantation on Nevis is offering a cool new way to capture your vacation memories: Guests of the luxury resort will now receive a complimentary Flip Mino mini-camcorder to use throughout their vacation. The uberportable cameras are easy to tote along from beach to excursion, and can record up to 60 minutes of video, so you can produce your own mini-movie just like this couple who recently stayed at Nisbet...



What to do with all that footage? When check-out rolls around, just transfer the video to your laptop via USB port, or hand it off to the guest services staff who will burn a keepsake DVD of your entire romantic stay for you. But, um...be careful what you record on that romantic getaway, ok? These are shared cameras.

Nevis Pirate Parrrrty

From Blackbeard and Calico Jack to Black Bart and Captain Kidd, pirates and the Caribbean go together like...well, pirates and rum.

For all their dastardly deeds, pirates were the rock stars of their time, and to commemorate the history and culture of these swashbucklers, the island of Nevis will be hosting a quirky new event twice this Fall: the Peppered Pickled Pirate Party! It's a mouthful to say, but the week-long event - slated for October 25 to 31 and again November 22 to 28 - will be packed with peppy pirate pastimes the whole family can enjoy. The celebration will unfold island-wide, including stops at some of our personal favorite hotels - Nisbet Plantation and Hermitage Plantation - and will include interactive games, beach barbecues, rum mixers (!!) and even pirate costume parties.

I don't know about you, but I'll use pretty much any excuse to dress up...throw in an eye patch and a sword and I'm definitely there. To join the festivities yourself, just log on to the official Peppered Pickled Pirate Party web site or email pppptnevis@live.com for more information.

Caribbean Travel + Life Awards

We're proud to announce that two of our contributors won big awards today from the Caribbean Tourism Organization...

David Swanson took Best Magazine Feature for our Top 25 All-Star Affordable Hotels from the May 2008 issue, and Jim Schnepf won the award for Best Photograph for the opener to our October 2008 feature on Nevis.

Congratulations to the two of them, and many thanks for making us look good.

For What it’s Worth

In these times of economic stress, it’s important to break down your budget before a vacation, see what you can really afford and what you want to splurge on. The island of Nevis has helpfully compiled a list of activities available on-island that won’t break the bank.

Free: Wander the waterfront capital of Charlestown’s Saturday morning fruit and vegetable market — go ahead, pick something up for breakfast, it’ll still be a low-cost excursion.

Under $50: Check out what’s going on underwater with a snorkeling lesson from Under the Sea Sealife Centre for $25 per person. You’ll get a semi-private lesson and a little over an hour in the water. undertheseanevis.com; 869-469-1291

Under $100: After your snorkel lesson, check out the action from horseback. Guided trail rides are available from The Hermitage Plantation Inn’s stables for $55 per person for 1 and ½ hours. hermitagenevis.com; 869-469-3477

Priceless: Enjoying your Nevis vacation, knowing you’ve saved money without having to sacrifice any fun.

What are some of your cost-cutting tips when you go on vacation?

It's Good to Be King

For the aspiring royalty out there, this picturesque little islet seen just offshore from Montserrat (with Nevis silhouetted beyond) is Redonda - an uninhabited volcanic rock whose empire is up for grabs. While no one actually owns the land or rules here, a fuzzy lineage of power has been passed down from one wannabe-king to the next...always verbally.

Right now, the "throne" is actually in dispute: One man claims Rendonda was given to him long ago while sharing a few pints with the reigning king, while another man claims it's his instead; Never mind how. Troy, the owner of the Green Monkey bar and dive shop on Montserrat, told me he has plans to sail over there, plant a flag and stake his claim to Redonda this summer (shh), so this superpower is just about to change hands again. But there's still time to begin planning a coup of your own.

I just posted an album from my trip to Montserrat - including this shot of Redonda - so check out our new Facebook page to view the full gallery.

Cinderella Story

When I picture fairy tales, pretty much the last thing that springs to my mind (besides maybe the dentist) is basketball. Idyllic settings, yes…romance, definitely. Just generally not sports. But Nisbet Plantation Beach Club’s latest promotion is out to prove that hoops and fantasy really can go hand in hand.

To coincide with NCAA March Madness this year, the resort has launched the First Annual Cinderella Hoopla Contest, serving up a complimentary stay at the dreamy plantation inn for two lucky fans and their guests. Just log on to the official contest site by midnight on March 17th to pick your favorite Men’s and Women’s “Cinderella Team” – to be determined by how long the teams remain in the championships and in their respective seeds – and Nisbet will draw one prize winner for each.

The fairy tale ending? Two five-night vacations for two, including luxury accommodations, daily breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner. For official rules, click here.

Maybe it’s not a fairy tale I’ve ever imagined, but taking a free trip to Nevis sounds like my kind of sport.