Nonstop flights make Caribbean, Bahamas just a hop away

Tag : Print Flock

Getting to the sandy beaches of a Caribbean or Bahamian island isgetting easier for South Floridians.
More nonstop flights than ever from Miami and Fort Lauderdale willspeed vacationers to their island destinations this fall. Whilesome islands still can only be reached with a change in planes, thedays when almost every Caribbean-bound flight went through a hubcity are gone.
With the economy in a downturn, airlines have sharply reducedservice from other United States cities to the Caribbean, but notfrom South Florida.
''We are not only holding steady with our Caribbean schedule, butwe are increasing it,'' said Martha Pantin, director of corporatecommunications for American Airlines, the largest carrier to theCaribbean. ``We believe the Caribbean continues to be an attractivedestination for U.S. travelers, especially in light of the cost ofthe euro and pound.''
American is adding new flights from Miami to Antigua in Septemberand to Grenada in November, and is increasing service to St. Kittsto daily on Nov. 3. That means the airline will serve 27 of the 29nonstop flights to the islands from Miami.
In Fort Lauderdale the story is different. The nonstop count is 24,divided among several airlines. The most destinations are served bySpirit with 11, Continental Connection with 10 and Lynx Air withnine.
Service reductions are few. American has quit flying from FortLauderdale to San Juan and Nassau, and Spirit has droppedProvidenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. But both Spirit andCaribbean Airlines have added service to Trinidad in the past threemonths, and Zoom Airlines launched twice-weekly FortLauderdale-Bermuda nonstop service in June.
As for cost of air travel to the islands, it is impossible topredict what it will be in the months ahead, though the generaltrend is that fares everywhere are on the rise because of soaringfuel costs. ''We cannot assume anything regarding fares [to theCaribbean] -- some might be lower, some higher and some stable,''said American's Pantin.
Here are short updates of some of the island destinations you canreach nonstop from South Florida:
BARBADOS
Via American
from Miami
Cricket is the national sport, traffic drives on the left and theliteracy rate is the highest in the Caribbean (and higher than theUnited States). Barbados is the most English of all the Caribbeanislands, except that rum, not tea, is the national drink.
Among new features awaiting travelers is the recently reopenedHarrison's Cave, the island's most popular attraction; thespruced-up Casuarina Beach Resort, winding up a $30 millionexpansion; and a renovated Oistins Fish Market, site of a famousweekend fish fry.
Information: Barbados Tourism Authority, 305-442-7471; www.barbados.org .
BERMUDA
Via AA from Miami,
Zoom from Fort Lauderdale
Pink-sand beaches, tony boutiques, classy pink hotels -- these arethe hallmarks of Bermuda, the upscale British island in theAtlantic that long has been a favorite haunt of well-to-dovacationers from America's Northeast. Now, with nonstop flightsfrom both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, more South Floridians canenjoy the charms of this temperate isle.
For one, they can don Bermuda Shorts, which were invented here.Sample the national drink, a Dark and Stormy, made of dark rum andginger beer. Take high tea, offered in many hotels. Walk through amoongate -- a limestone arch that is said to grant everlastinghappiness to those who pass through it.
No rental cars are allowed here, but taxis are everywhere and theterrific public bus system gets you all around the island. (Evenvisiting golfers use it, clubs and all). If you live dangerously,you can rent a scooter.
OK, maybe pink sand is hard to find, but you'll have fun lookingfor it.
Information: Bermuda Dept. of Tourism, 800-BERMUDA, www.bermudatourism.com .
BIMINI, BAHAMAS
Via Continental Connection and Lynx Air
from Fort Lauderdale
Just 50 miles from South Florida, this funky island features afascinating history. Rum runners used it as a base for jaunts toMiami during Prohibition. Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote there inthe 1930s. Colorado Sen. Gary Hart's presidential bid was derailedwhen photos of he and model Donna Rice in a cosy pose in Biminiwere published.
Hemingway's favored hangout was the Compleat Angler, a hotel whosetreasure of Hemingway memorabilia regrettably was lost when itburned to the ground a few years ago.
Bimini today is a favored getaway spot for South Floridians, whofind equal pleasure in roaming along Alice Town's funky mainstreet, trolling the surrounding waters for big game fish, andenjoying spectacular diving.
Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, which opened a major resort few yearsago in North Bimini, has expanded with a pool, spa and conventioncenter; a casino is in the works.
Information: Bahamas Tourist Office, 800-BAHAMAS; www.bahamas.com .
CAT ISLAND, BAHAMAS
Via Continental Connection and Lynx Air
from Fort Lauderdale
Cat Island, in the central Bahamas, is much less known than otherBahamian tourist centers such as Nassau and Grand Bahama island.But much of the Bahamas' music and folklore originated on theisland, which once was a prosperous British colony with numerouscotton plantations.
It also possesses the highest point in the Bahamas chain, a206-foot hill topped with a monastery that provides a marvelousview of Cat's woodlands and 60 miles of beach.
You won't much of the trappings of mass tourism here -- no hugehotels, traffic jams or hordes of shoppers. This is a place to winddown, to smell the roses, to lay back in pleasant surroundings --not a bad combination.
Information: Bahamas Tourist Office, 800-BAHAMAS; www.bahamas.com .
GRENADA
Via American from Miami
beginning Nov. 2
They call Grenada the ''Spice Island'' because so many savoryseasonings are grown there, but most visitors come for its beaches.In particular they flock to the lovely crescent called Grand Anse.Its sands are golden, the Caribbean waters are clear and gentle,and many of the island's top hotels, understandably, line theshore.
Many new tourist developments, however, are under way here andelsewhere on the island as it works to recover from the terriblebeating it took from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. One of them is a550-acre Four Seasons resort that will become that company'slargest. Also under construction are resort homes, some selling foras much as $3.5 million.
Part of Grenada's charm is its lush vegetation, nestled in rivers,waterfalls and rainforests. Nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cacao andcinnamon grow riotously here, and spice plantations tours are onmany tourist agendas.
Information: Grenada Board of Tourism, 800-927-9554; www.grenada.mot.gd .
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Via AA and Air Jamaica from Miami,
Air Jamaica and Spirit
from Fort Lauderdale
A new Jamaican playground for tourists is growing in the Rose Hallarea of Montego Bay, where several major developments are nearingcompletion.
Heading for a November opening is Solis, The Palmyra Resort andSpa, a complex that includes a hotel, a resort village with 500condos and villas, spa and convention center. Opening in Novemberas well in the region is a new 350-room hotel, Phase II of GrupoIberostar's 950-room all-inclusive development. Also underconstruction is the Jamaican government's new $51-million,300,000-square-foot Montego Bay Convention Center, scheduled toopen in December of next year.
In Montego Bay itself, the new Hotel RIU Montego Bay will open itsdoors Aug. 29. The all-inclusive complex will have 681 rooms, allwith balconies or terraces.
Information: Jamaica Tourist Board, 305-665-0557; www.visitjamaica.com .
PUNTA CANA, D.R.
Via AA and Lan from Miami,
Spirit from Fort Lauderdale
There seems to be no end to growth of Punta Cana as a favoredCaribbean destination. Luxury developments like Roco Ki and CapCana are opening this year and Four Seasons, Fairmont, Ritz Carltonand Westin also will be coming on the scene later. New golf coursesalso on springing up, nudging the Dominican's east coast towardbecoming the golf capital of the Caribbean.
And making the getting there easier, the highway from the capitalcity of Santo Domingo to Punta Cana is undergoing improvements thatwill cut travel time from 3 ½ hours to just two.
Information: Dominican Republic Tourist Office, 305-444-4592; www.dominicana.com.do .
ST. CROIX, U.S.V.I.
Via American Airlines
from Miami
Sister island St. Thomas gets more attention, but bigger St. Croixis a charmer as well. Christiansted, former capital of the DanishWest Indies, wears its heritage well and has dozens of shopsoffering perfumes, china, crystal and jewelry. Just offshore isBuck Island and its famous underwater marine park. Frederiksted, onthe west coast, is also a cruise port and lies close to a rainforest.
Under Danish rule, St. Croix was a rich sugar-producing island andyou can still see windmills, beautiful great houses and churchesfrom that period. The island's landscape varies widely, from lushforests to dry plains.
St. Croix has a unique advantage over most other Caribbean islands:It's a U.S. territory, so American travelers don't need passportsto visit there.
Information: U.S.Virgin Islands Tourism Office, 305-442-7200; www.usvitourism.vi .
ST. LUCIA
Via American Airlines
from Miami
Easily recognized by its dramatic Piton Mountains -- twin peaksthat rise 2,000 feet above the island's southern coast -- St. Luciais one of the most romantic Caribbean islands. Its lush landscapes,fine beaches and accommodations ranging from luxurious resorts tointimate inns have made it one of the region's most popularislands.
Several new luxury developments are coming on line. On Praslin Bay,the 600-acre Le Paradis Beach, Golf and Marina Resort with a GregNorman golf course is scheduled to open this fall. Recently openedon Rodney Bay, the five-star Landings at St. Lucia offers 62suites, a RockResorts spa, yacht harbor and other amenities. PhaseII with additional lodgings and facilities will open this fall.Opened just last month was Cap Maison, a boutique hotel andresidence complex on the north shore looking across to neighborningMartinique. In the offing next year: A new Ritz-Carlton on HalfMoon Bay and a huge Raffles resort.
More adventurous visitors can go zip-lining through the rainforest, walk amid bubbling sulphur pools on Mount Soufriere, theworld's only drive-in volcano, go hiking or biking on the island'smany trails.
Information: St. Lucia Tourist Board, 212-867-2950; www.stlucia.org .