No Passport...No Problem

Are you in need of a vacation but don't have a passport or you want to keep it in the US but still have a tropical feel...no problem.

The destination for you is Key West! It is just a beautiful 129 mile drive from Miami and is actually closer to Cuba than the United States.

Discover a city where real estate titles date back to the Kings of Spain. Stroll the palm-lined streets and discover gingerbread mansions, tin-roofed conch houses, the John Audubon House and Ernest Hemingway's home. Walk in the footsteps of Thomas Edison, Lou Gehrig, Harry Truman, and Tennessee Williams.

In Key West, you can visit these and a host of other attractions by taking advantage of convenient public transportation, taxis, pedi-cabs, tour trains, trolleys, bicycles or even your own two feet.

With its balmy weather (it is currently 75 degrees as I write this) and crystal blue skies, the island is famous among the outdoors set for its diving, fishing, watersports and golfing at the nearby Key West Golf Club, a course designed by Rees Jones.

But only in Key West would the sun shine the brightest when it sets. Everyone gathers for the never planned, always varied Sunset Celebration on the Mallory Dock.

Once the sun is safely tucked away by jugglers, mimes, musicians and street artists, the city moves to a different beat. A night beat. The streets, filled with sidewalk cafes, open-air bars, legendary pubs and world-class restaurants come alive. Gourmets and gourmands alike treat their palates to island specialties. Drama, musicals and comedy flourish on the stages.

As you enjoy these sights, you'll discover that modern Key West is a warm-hearted place where all are welcome. The city's vibrant Gay and Lesbian Community helped spearhead the island's economic and social revival in the 1980's.

One human family is the official philosophy of the island community of Key West and Monroe County; a simple motto which serves not only as a shining example of daily life here, but as one that is openly shared with global neighbors throughout the world.

However you choose to see the town, you'll discover that old town Key West is one of America's true architectural and botanical treasures. On even the tiniest lanes, the locals have faithfully restored old wooden homes and adorned them with lush tropical trees and flowers.

New restaurants and stores are popping up in the historic Bahama Village neighborhood, which was settled in the 19th Century by Bahamian immigrants. Hemingway loved coming here to mix with the hard-working locals at boxing matches and arm-wrestling contests.

The island's seafaring tradition lives on at the renovated Historic Seaport district, known locally as the Key West Bight. Dozens of shrimp boats once called this harbor home.

These days, "the Bight" is a popular place to arrange a day on the water, whether you are a diver, snorkeler, fisherman or eco-tourist. Others come just to stroll along the harbor walk or dine at one of the many restaurants.

In this city of fascinating contrasts, you could easily find yourself wanting to let go of mainland hassles permanently.

If you would like to find out more about Key West or book a trip to this amazing location, please call or email us for more information.

Island Oasis Travel
618-222-9420
janice@islandoasistravel.net

Bermuda Bahama Come On Pretty Mama

Have you dreamed of sticking your toes into a pink sand beach while listening to music that is a cross between calypso and reggae...than Bermuda is the place for you.

Bermuda's unusual pink sand beaches and clear, cerulean blue ocean waters are popular with tourists and many of Bermuda's hotels are located along the south shore of the island. In addition to its beaches, there are a number of sightseeing attractions. Historic St George's is a designated World Heritage Site. Scuba divers can explore numerous wrecks and coral reefs in relatively shallow water (typically 30–40 ft in depth) with virtually unlimited visibility. Many nearby reefs are readily accessible from shore by snorkellers, especially at Church Bay.

Bermuda's most popular visitor attraction is the Royal Naval Dockyard, which includes the Bermuda Maritime Museum. Other attractions include the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, the Botanical Gardens, lighthouses, and the Crystal Caves with its impressive stalactites and underground saltwater pools.

If you are looking for things to do in Bermuda, there is not a shortage. Spend a day on a beautiful pink beack, a day shopping designer stores and local crafts, and after a day of shopping a day at the spa is always in store? For the sport enthuasits there is always beautiful golf courses, horse back riding, any water sport under the sun and amazing SCUBA diving to over 400 shipwrecks dating back to the 15th century.

It is not possible to rent a car on the island; however, visitors can hire scooters for use as private transport, or use public transport.

Although Bermuda's latitude is similar to that of Savannah, Georgia, it is warmer in winter, and slightly cooler in summer. Its humid subtropical climate is warmed by the nearby Gulf Stream, thanks to the westerlies, which carry warm, humid air eastwards over Bermuda, helping to keep winter temperatures above freezing. The climate is humid and, as a result, the summertime heat index can be high, even though mid-August temperatures rarely exceed 86 °F. Winters are mild, with average daytime temperatures in January and February around 68 °F.























So what are you waiting for pretty mama...you should experience Bermuda and all it has to offer.

If you would like to find out more about the Bermuda or book a trip to this amazing location, please call or email us for more information.


Island Oasis Travel
618-222-9420
janice@islandoasistravel.net

Caribbean Secrets

The Caribbean isn’t all just yachts and cruise ports. Here are a handful of the region’s great experiences that don’t get as much press, but deliver unbeatable trips. If you are looking for adventure on your Caribbean vacation, check out the hidden gems below.

Dominica’s Boiling Lake
One of the Caribbean’s best destinations for rugged adventures, mountainous Dominica sports an incredible hike. It’s a tough six-mile path clinging to narrow ridges of the ‘Valley of Desolation.’ The destination? Boiling Lake. The 207-foot-wide lake is veiled in steam, with bubbly burps on its grayish surface. The valley is the remnants of an 1880 volcanic eruption. Expect to get dirty.

The "Caribbean Pompesi"
In 1995, after 400 years of silence, a volcano in the Soufriere Hills blew its top and obliterated Montserrat’s capital Plymouth in a sea of ash. Eventually all the island’s 11,000 inhabitants relocated. Today, visitors can visit, with a 4WD vehicle, the surreal scene of abandoned mansions around Olde Town and get an eerie view from Garibaldi Hill.

Meanwhile, Martinique’s ex capital had a similar fate. St-Pierre was wrecked by an eruption in 1902, killing all of the city’s 30,000 inhabitants but three; today, you can see blackened ruins, including a mostly destroyed 18th-century theater.



Puerto Rican Christmas Carols
Those wanting to give up the cold at Christmas, but keep the Yuletide on 10, can spend it in Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan, where you’ll find a month-long sing-songy celebration. Churches conduct dawn masses rich with aguinaldos (Puerto Rican Christmas carols), while exuberant groups of carolers travel house to house and make merry. Along the market-lined Paseo de la Princesa, pick up wooden santos figurines (saints carvings) for Christmas souvenirs.

Cycling in Guantánamo
At Cuba’s east end – near the notorious Guantánamo Bay – lies one of the country’s greatest engineering marvels. The 55km La Farola, finished by revolutionaries in 1964, is a rugged, rollercoaster-style road that reaches one of Cuba’s weirdest town, Baracoa. Relatively isolated since its 1511 birth, Baracoa is known for haunted legends, a hike up the flat-top mountain El Yunque, and really really good coconuts, which appear in cucuruchu (grated coconut mixed with sugar, honey and guava, wrapped in a palm frond).

Haitian ‘Vodou Rock’
At the Hotel Oloffson in chaotic Port-au-Prince, made famous by Graham Greene’s The Comedians, you can watch weekly ‘Voudou rock’ concerts of the band RAM (named for hotel owner Richard A Morse), featuring rara horns, guitar and keyboards. Morse, who says he bought the hotel after it was offered to him from a loungan (Vodou priest) for $20, says they ‘take African roots as a starting point.’ It’s a real juke joint experience, he says, ‘I can’t believe I’m in the middle of it.’

Flying off Saba’s cliff
Saba’s Juancho e Yrausquin Airport has the world’s shortest runway (400m). When departing, planes don’t technically lift off the ground; instead, the runway suddenly stops and the pilot literally drives the aircraft off the edge of a cliff. It’s an equally butt-clenching experience to land here.

Hidden Beach in the Dominican Republic
Bávaro and Punta Cana, in southeastern Dominican Republic, may be the epicenter of beach travel here. But there are ways to escape the hordes. Take the lovely Hwy 104 west through mountains to Playa Limón, a two-mile, isolated beach lined with coconut trees. You’re likely to have the spot to yourself most of the day and the drive alone justifies the trip.

Trinidad Birding
Trinidad and Tobago is excluded from many Caribbean birding books, partly because the sheer number of species here – about 430 – overwhelm their editors. Non-birders will be considering a new hobby after visiting Trinidad’s Asa Wright Nature Center, one of the world’s great birding outposts, with all-inclusive lodges in the Northern Range rainforest. It’s a 90-minute drive from the capital, Port of Spain.

Captain Jack Sparrow’s ‘Black Pearl’
On Union Island in the Grenadines, you can sail the ship used by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

The ‘James Bond Hotel’
It’s not officially the ‘007,’ but Jamaica’s Goldeneye Resort – easily one of the Caribbean’s most glamorous destinations – is the former estate of Ian Fleming, who hatched up the Bond concept in the 1950s and ’60s while entertaining a stream of A-list celebs. These days it’s run by Island Records’ owner Chris Blackwell, but the stars keep coming (Johnny Depp, Bono, Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson).

Can The Beaches of Cancun Get Better?? Yes They Can!

The beaches of Cancun are recongized around the world for their unique beauty. Cancun has invested $71 Million into a beach recovery porject and the results are visibly astounding.

The project continues to progress in a timely manner.

Sponsored by the state and federal government, local municipalities and private investors, the project's purpose is to replinsh more than 6.8 miles of sand between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc within a 70 to 80 day period of time. As a result, a spectulat beach oasis of more than 131 feet in width is expected.

The project set forth on Seoptember 4, 2009 began with the arrival of more than a thousand tons of specialized equipment. The preoject is to be completed in February 2010.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Are you looking to lay on a white sand beach and stare out at turquoise waters and forget about everything in that moment? Than your vacation spot is the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

The Riviera Maya lets you escape it all but still puts you close enough to everything.

The Riviera Maya is famous for its large scale all-inclusive resorts and a historical tourism base of smaller boutique hotels as well as the many fine-dining strip joints available along the highway 307 and on or near the beaches. Luxury travel entities have been instrumental in increasing luxury villa rentals and yacht charters in the area however these only represent a small fraction of the total tourism accommodation available.

A major attraction throughout the Riviera Maya are coastal and reef aquatic activities dependent on the coastal water and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System which begins near Cancun and continues along the whole length of the Riviera Maya continuing southward to Guatemala. This barrier reef system is the second longest in the world, only smaller than the Great Barrier Reef.

Activities include jet skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming in cenotes (freshwater caves), swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, horse riding in the ocean, sailing, and guided jungle tours. Archeology is also a big tourist draw in the area, including the popular archeological sites operated by the Instituto Nacional de Archeological such as Tulum on the coast, and Chichen Itza and Coba located inland. The self-named ecoparks of Xcaret, and Xel-Ha also include some smaller archeological ruins as part of their attractions, but these natural water theme parks operated by private business consortia attract much larger crowds due to the diversity and range of activities provided, such as swimming with dolphins.

But you can't leave out the shopping experience at Fifth Avenue. This outdoor shopping district offers everything from high end jewelry and clothes to local art and glassware. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore this area as it is rather large and you will get caught up in looking at everything and everyone there.

The mean annual temperature is 75–77 °F.








































If you would like to find out more about the Riviera Maya or book a trip to this amazing location, please call or email us for more information.

Island Oasis Travel

618-222-9420

janice@islandoasistravel.net

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana is in the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The area is best known for its beaches, which face both the Caribbean and Atlantic Seas.

Punta Cana has one of the busiest and best connected -private- airport in the Dominican Republic's eastern region, serving about two million tourists per year.

The weather is fairly constant, with an average temperature of 86°F. The hottest -and humid- season lasts from May to October, and during the day temperatures might reach 95°F. From November to March, temperatures during the evening are around 20°C (68°F). Very little rain falls around the area, mostly because of the mostly flat landscape, a combination of savanna and mountains.

Punta Cana is considered the major resort area in the Dominican Republic with 28,000 hotel rooms.

Punta Cana has 12 professional golf courses that have already been built, from designers such as Jack Nicklaus, P.B. Dye, Tom Fazio, Nick Faldo and Nick Price...all within one hour drive from each other. The very first 18-Hole golf course was built in 1991 for the BARCELO complex. It was designed by Spanish Jose -Pepe- Gancedo, a former pro. Then, in 2000 it was followed by the La Cana Golf Course from P.B.Dye. In 2005, Cap Cana complete the first of their 5 golf courses (three Nicklaus-signature), the Punta Espada Golf Couse, a Nicklaus' masterpiece. Punta Espada, along with Teeth of the Dog in Casa de Campo figure among the very first 50 best golf courses in the world.

The nightlife inside the resorts is very lively with Las Vegas-style shows mostly from native artists. Outside of the hotels, half a dozen of high-quality discotheques allow tourists to interact with local residents. Besides, 80+ restaurants and bars, with exotic international cuisine from China, India or Thailand complete the Punta Cana-Bavaro's gastronomic offer.

Other tourist attractions have also been installed in the area, among them, Manatí Park (a waterpark built in the 90s), Puntacana Shopping Village, the Cap Cana 500+ docks Marina, Palma Real Shopping Village (one mile long) in Los Corales, Bávaro, with well-known retailers such as Hard Rock Cafe-Punta Cana, Tony Roma's, Tomy Hilfiger stores, Puma...plus theather, local discos like Montecristo, MovieMax's store and others.

Other tourist attraction are the ATV/UTB/buggies all-terrain tours (the La Altagracia Province has 3,000 sq. Kilometers with 50 kilometers of sandy beaches, lakes and ponds, natural reserves, canopy/zip line adventure services and two Paintball/Speedball facilities)and some equestrian ranchs for horseback riding. Also, it has a Motocross/Enduro/Trail Riding Club and Mountain Bike Club.

Along the coast, Punta Cana-Bavaro has 22 diving sites, with year-long rent services plus catamaran party boats, fishing yatchs, speed boats... One of the most popular tours is to Saona Island (real Taino name Adamanai) located about 100 Kilometers west, which is popular for scuba diving.





If you would like to find out more about Punta Cana or book a trip to this amazing location, please call or email us for more information.