Book Shelf: U.S. Virgin Islands ALIVE!
By Harriet Greenberg and Douglas Greenberg
322 pages, $16.99
Hunter Publishing, second edition, 2006
Each island has its own beat and rhythm, and each offers a different experience for visitors. It's no different for the U.S. Virgin Islands, a trio of three islands (or four, if Water Island, right off St. Thomas, is included) flying under the same red, white and blue flag.
Make no mistake, however. St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas may be siblings, but they are not similar. In fact, it's their differences that make for a compelling destination experience.
The authors did a good job in the 2002 first edition of this guidebook in setting out the attractions, accommodations, sports, sightseeing and shopping options, as well as where to dine, wine and lime (hang out, West Indian style) -- all done in a chatty, personal style.
This version pretty much mirrors the first, although the content has been updated with new airlift, island tours, water sports operators, spa services, shops, villa rental companies, guesthouses and watering holes.
Detailed maps and stunning color shots round out this guidebook. It's a good read and a good buy. -- G.N.M.
LaSource, a Grenada resort still
grappling with insurance adjustors almost two years after Hurricane
Ivan pummeled the island, has pushed back its opening date to
February 2007 from December.
Initial
projections called for the reopening of the 100-room resort on Pink
Gin Beach late this year, but the problems with insurance adjustors
delayed the start of construction.
However, the wait
may be worth it. The resort will be all new, from pool decks to
beach bars and everything in between, including a new deli, air
conditioning in a section of the Great House restaurant, upgraded
guest rooms and bathrooms and the addition of a second pool and
Jacuzzi.
LaSource plans to
open its reservations lines in October. For more information, visit
www.theamazingholiday.com.
Delta to
launch Trinidad service
Delta will launch year-round service four
times a week from Atlanta to Port of
Spain, Trinidad, on Dec. 9. The flight will depart Atlanta
on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:50 p.m.,
arriving at 8:30 p.m. The return flight
will depart Port of Spain on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays at 9:05 a.m., arriving in Atlanta at 1:15 p.m.
Chopper
and champagne
Helicopter
transfers are complimentary for guests arriving at the 55-suite
Sivory Punta Cana resort in Punta Cana, Dominican
Republic, which opened last December.
The 15-minute
transfer, which includes champagne at landing and an immediate
check-in at the resort, comes with a few caveats, including a
booking deadline of Oct. 15 for travel by Dec. 15, a three-night
minimum stay, purchase of a meal plan and one-way travel from Punta
Cana airport only.
For more, visit
www.sivorypuntacana.com.
Labor Day
freebie
Bolongo
Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas is offering a fourth night
free when three are booked for Labor Day weekend in an oceanview
room with Sept. 4 as one of the nights.
Guests must book
through Bolongo's on-island reservations department at (800)
524-4746 or e-mail [email protected]. Rates are $180 per
room, double.
Bolongo now
offers wireless Internet access around its pool and lounge areas.
For those who do not want to travel with their laptop, phone cards
may be purchased in Bolongo's gift shop to use at the resort's
Internet kiosk.
Curacao
airport terminal opens
A new terminal
has opened at Curacao Airport. The terminal was
designed to accommodate approximately 1.6 million passengers per
year.
Along with the
new terminal, which provides direct access to aircraft via loading
bridges, the expansion included two interior gardens, a large
outdoor plaza and expanded areas for aircraft parking, passport
control, check-in and ticket sales.
Sandals'
circular suites to open
Sandals
Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort will open 10 of
its new Rondoval Suites on Sept. 10. The final
eight are scheduled to open in December.
The circular
units were first introduced at the opening of Sandals Grande
Antigua Resort & Spa in 1991.
Each of the
1,800-square-foot beachfront suites features a plasma TV, ceiling
fans, double sinks, seating areas, in-room Jacuzzi tubs, a separate
shower area and a private pool deck with an outdoor Jacuzzi or
plunge pool with a waterfall. Sandals' butler service is available
to guests booking Rondoval rooms.
As an incentive,
guests who book a minimum of six nights in a Rondoval suite by Aug.
31 for travel from Sept. 10 through Dec. 22 will receive a $250
resort credit that can be used for any item or services at the
resort, including treatments at the Red Lane Spa and private
candlelight dinners.
For details,
visit www.sandals.com.
Continental to fly
Newark-Bonaire
Continental Airlines will launch weekly
service between Newark and
Bonaire on Dec. 16, pending government
approval.
The flight will
depart Newark at 11:55 p.m. on Saturdays, arriving in Bonaire at
5:40 a.m. on Sundays. The return flight will leave Bonaire at 7
a.m. on Sundays, arriving in Newark at 10:45 a.m.
Continental also
offers weekly, nonstop service between Houston and
Bonaire.
You've
got mail
Great Bay
Beach Resort & Casino in St. Maarten opened its
Internet cafe in the lower lobby on the pool level. The cafe
features three computer stations with 17-inch, flat-screen
monitors, DSL connections and printing facilities.
Hours are daily
from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; rates are $5 for half an hour and $8 for an
hour.
For resort
details, visit www.greatbaybeachresort.com.
Sun and
Sand Dollars
Marriott
and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts are
offering the Sand Dollars package, with rates from $149 per night
through Dec. 16 and a $100 food credit at eight of its resorts in
Aruba, Curacao, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Cancun and Puerto
Vallarta.
For details, call
(888) 727-2347 or visit www.paradisebymarriott.com.
Villa
vacations
The
Westin St. John Resort & Villas in the U.S.
Virgin Islands is converting 186 of its 285 guest rooms \into 94
two- and three-bedroom villas.
The new villas
will join the 72 timeshare villas already on site.
Construction and
sales of the first 54 villas began last month, with a projected
opening date of late 2007, followed by the construction of the 40
remaining villas.
Montserrat hotels renovate
Hotel news on
Montserrat includes the renovation of the bar and restaurant at the
Vue Pointe Hotel, one of only two properties on
the island.
During the
renovation period, which will last until Oct. 15, the hotel is
offering a discounted rate of $60 per night, single or double,
which is 50% off regular rates, in a deluxe cottage with a
kitchenette.
The rate includes
a 10% service charge and 10% government tax. For details, visit www.vuepointe.com.
Renovations to
the 18 guest rooms at the Tropical Mansion Suites
Hotel, Montserrat's other property, will be completed by
Sept. 1, 2007.
The hotel will
not close during this period but will take one or two rooms out of
circulation during the renovation, which includes the addition of
air-conditioning units and bathroom upgrades in each
room.
For information
on the hotel, visit www.tropicalmansion.com.
Gay Nagle Myers is Travel Weekly's Caribbean editor. E-mail
her at [email protected].