Summary
•Days1&2,Fri29Mar(NZ/UStime):FlyNZtoChicago;Hilton airporthotel;LTraindowntown;deepdishpizza;riversidecraft beer;riverwalk;MagnificentMile;Hancockbldg;bluesshow.
•Days3-6,Sat30MartoTue2Apr:FlyChicagotoSanJuan PuertoRico;AirBnBinOldTown;OldTownvibe/rumbars; toursofCasaBacardiandRondelBarralito;beachvisitsincl snorkeling;dinnersatrumfocusedrestaurants
•Days6-9,Tue2AprtoFri5Apr:FlySanJuantoMartiniquevia StMaarten/StMartin,incl.stopforrumtastingandmaybe beach;HotelBakouabeachfrontresortinTrois-Ilets;rentalcar; 2xroadtripsofdistillerytours,townsandbeaches
•Days9-12,Fri5AprtoMon8Apr:FerryfromCastriestoFort deFrance,StLucia;taxitoStarfishResort,RodneyBay;Friday GrosIsletstreetparty;speedboattourofWestcoast;Sunday tourofStLuciaDistillerstour;swimming/snorkelingoffresort
•Days12-16,Mon8AprtoFri12Apr:FlyCastriestoBarbados; earlycheckinWorthingBeachcondo;MtGaypremiumrum tour;otherrumtours,beachvisits,excursionstobeplanned
•Days16&17,Fri12AprtoSun14Apr:FlyBarbadostoMiami, toHouston,toAucklandtohome.
Day1:Fri29Mar(NZTime),AucklandtoChicago
•From2:45pm:BeatairporttomeetUSsecurityrequirements(Ithinkthey’llsay3hbefore flightleaves,butIcutitfinerthanthatasit’susuallycompletedquitequickly)
•3:15pm:Wellingtonbagdropcloses;3:20pm:Taurangabagdropcloses
•5:15pm:SteveleavesWellington;5:20pm:Taurangatravelersleave
•6:00pm:TaurangatravelerslandinAuckland;6:20pm:Stevelands
•Gotointernationalterminal,throughsecurityandbeatgateby7:45pm
•8:20pm:FlyAucklandtoChicagoonAirNZ(14h45m)
•5:05pm:ArriveChicagoO’HareTerminal5,clearcustoms+immigration
•WalktoGateM13andtakefreeAirportTransitSystemtoTerminal2
•6:30pm:WalktoHiltonHotelandcheckin
Day2:Fri29Mar(UStime),Chicago
•Aftercheckingin,walktoLTrain/BlueLinestationatTerminal 2andtaketraindowntowntoClark/Lakestop(40m,leaves every10m)
•WalktoLouMalnati’sfordeepdishpizza(14m)
•WalktoChicagoBrewhouseforriverbankcraftbeer(8m)
•WalkuptheMagnificentMiletotheJohnHancockBldg (22m),gototheSignatureLoungeonthe95thfloorfordrinks andview(openuntil11pm)
•WalktoBlueChicagoforlatenightblues(21m,lastentry1am)
•WalktoPortillosforhotdog(2m)
•Uber/taxitohotel
Day3:Sat30Mar,ChicagotoSanJuan,PuertoRico
•6:00am:CheckoutofhotelandwalktoTerminal3
•6:25am:Recommendedtimetobeatairport;7:25am:Latestbagdrop
•8:25am:FlyAmericanAirlinestoSanJuan,PuertoRico
•1:55pm:LandSanJuan,collectbags–nocustomsorimmigration
•2:30pm:UbertoOldSanJuan(US$30,14m)andcheckintoAirBnB
•WalkCalledelaFortalezathroughtheOldTown
•Drinksbars…ElBateydivebar,BarCatedralRooftop, DecanterHotel
•DinnerandrumatLaCasitadeRones
Day4:Sun31Mar,PuertoRico
•BreakfastattheAirBnB
•WalktotheOldTownferryterminal
•CatchtheferrytoCataño(10m)
•Uber/taxitoCasaBacardi(10m)
•10:00am:RumTastingtour(75m)–fullFounders touronlyWedandFri,butthisissamerums
•Afternoontaxi/uber/bustoEscambronbeach
•Beach/snorkel
•Eveningoldtown
Day5:Mon1Apr,PuertoRico
•BreakfastattheAirBnB
•WalktotheOldTownferryterminal
•CatchtheferrytoCataño(10m)
•Uber/taxitoRondelBarrilito(10m)
•Rumtastingtour(60m)
•AfternoonContradoBeach
•DinnerandrumatLaCentralbyMarioPagáninTMobiledistrict
•Eveningoldtown
Day6:Tue2Apr,PuertoRicotoMartinique
•???am:CheckoutofAirBnB.UbertoLuisMuñozMarínAirportandcheckin
•11:00am:FlySilverAirlinestoStMaarten
•Midday:LandPrincessJulianaInternationalAirport,StMaarten
•TaxitoRhumIslanddistillery(stoptowatchplanesarriveoverthebeachonthe way)(25m)
•TasteRhumGouverneur1648atRhumIsland
•TaxitoGrandCase-EspéranceAirport,StMartin,(5m)andcheckin
•Iftime,taxitoPinelIslandFerry(7m)andferry(10m)orkayak (20m)toPinelIsland,swim/beach/beachclubandferry/kayakback
•TaxitoGrandCase-EspéranceAirport(7m)
•5:45pm:FlyAirCaraibestoMartinque
•7:50pm:LandMartiniqueAiméCésaireAirport,Martinique
•ShuttletoStPierreLocationcarrentalandcollectrentalcar
•DrivetoHotelBakouainTrois-Iletsandcheckin
•Dinnerthereornearby
•RumathotelbarLeGommier
Day7:Wed3Apr,Martinique
•Breakfastathotel
•Driveto:
TwinbeachesAnseDufourandAnseNoire(21m)forsnorkeling
LesAnsesd’Árlet(12m)formoresnorkeling
Trois-RivièresDistillerie(26m)fortourandrumtasting(40mevery houronthehourfrom10amtomidday)
Sainte-Anne(28m)forlunch
PlagedesSalines(9m)forbeach
HabitationClément(45m)–Guided toursWedandSat3pm,sentfbook msgremthlyrumworkshop
HotelBakoua(40m)
•Dinner
•Rum
Day8:Thu4Apr,Martinique
•Breakfastathotel
•Driveto:
DistillerieNeissonfortourandrumtasting(1h7m)–Closedfor tours?Sentemail
LeCarbet(4m)forbeach
Saint-Pierre(7m)forbeachandlunch
DistillerieDepaz(6m)–Chateauopenforself-guidedtourand tastingTue-Fri10am–4:30pm,closednoon-1pm
DistillerieJM(40m)–Selfguided+tasting9-5
DistillerieSaint-James(35m)–Openforselfguidedtours9-5
HabitationSaint-Etienne(25m)–Visitdistillery andmuseum9-5,tourat2:30pm
HotelBakoua(48m)
•Dinner
•Rumat???
Day9:Fri5Apr,MartiniquetoStLucia
•72hoursbeforeflighttoBarbados,completeonline customsandimmigrationformhttps://travelform.gov.bb/
•Bymidday:CheckoutofHotelBakoua
•TaxitoFortdeFranceferryterminal(37m)
•1:15pm:ExpressdesIlesferrytoCastres,StLucia(1.5h)
•2:45pm:ArriveCastries,collectluggageandclearcustoms
•TaxitoStarfishresort,RodneyBay,andcheckin
•BustoGrosIslet
•Fridaynightstreetparty
Day10:Sat6Apr,StLucia
•Breakfastatresort
•Bus/taxitoStLuciaDistillers,Roseau(46m)
•???am:Distillerytourandrumtasting
•Bus/taxibacktoresort
•AfternoonReduitBeach
Longroundtrip,maybewouldbebetterdoing4pm
Fridayonthewayfromtheairport,which appearedtobeanoption,orhiringacarand addingothertouriststopstothistrip.
Day11:Sun7Apr,StLucia
•Breakfastatresort(included)
•8:15am:TaxitoRodneyBaymarina
•8:30am:PickupfrommarinaforspeedboattourofWestcoast:
oMarigotBay
oTheCanaries
oAnseChastanet(incl.snorkeling)
oSugarBeach(incl.snorkeling)
•2:30pm:Dropoffatbeachinfrontofresort
•Beach/snorkelReduitBeach
•Dinner/rumsomewhere
Day12:Mon8Apr,StLuciatoBarbados
•Checkoutofresort
•TaxitoGeorgeF.L.CharlesAirport,Castries(13m)and checkin
•9:25am:FlyInterCaribbeanAirlinestoBarbados
•10:10am:LandGrantleyAdamsInternationalAirport, Barbados.Collectluggageandclearcustoms
•Uber/taxitoAirBnBatWorthingBeach,Oistins(12m)to storeluggage
•TaxitoStLucy,northofBarbados(38m)
•1:45pm:CheckinforMountGayPremiumRumFlight Experiencetour(3h)
•TaxibacktoAirBnB
•Dinner/rumStLawrencetouristareainOistins,e.g. JohnnyCoolJazzandBluesBeachBar
Day13:Tue9Apr,Barbados
•BustoBridgetown(20m)
•Historicwalkingtour
•BustoWestIndiesRumDistilleryfortourandtasting
•BusbacktoCarlisleBayforsnorkelingamongtheshipwrecks
•BustoWorthing/StLawrence
Day14:Wed10Apr,Barbados
•TaxitoFourSquareRumDistillery(20m)
•Free,self-guidedtoursbetween9amand5pm
•Tasting($10for6tastes)
•TaxibacktoDreadhopbreweryStLawrence
•BustoDoverbeach(25mwalkfromAirBnB)
•DrinksJohnnyCoolJazzandBluesBeachBar
Day15:Thu11Apr,Barbados
•TaxitoStLucy(42m)
•StNicholasAbbeyRumExperiencetour:
11:00A.M-ArrivalatRailway
11:30A.M-DepartureofTrain
12:15P.M-DisembarkatGreatHouse,30minguidedHeritage Tour,viewingof1930’smovieoflifeontheplantation.
12:45-LiveMusicontheTerraceandopportunitytohave lunchatTerraceCafé.
2:00P.M-RumExperienceTourPersonalguidedtourof Factory,SteamMillcirca1890andDistillery”Annabelle”with LarryWarren,OwnerandDistiller.
OfficialRumTastingofuniquesinglecaskRumsofSt.Nicholas Abbey—White,5YR,8YR,15YRRums&SugarCaneSyrup. EducationonthehistoryofRumandspecificallyasitrelatesto theAbbey.
•TaxibacktoWorthingBeach,viaHoletown?
•Beachthendinner/drinksStLwrenceGaporWorthingSquare Orcutdownrumtastingon MondaybeforeMountGay
Day16/17:Fri-Sun12-14Apr,BarbadostoNZ
Friday
•CheckoutofAirBnB
•Uber/taxitoGrantleyAdamsInternationalAirport,Barbados(12m)
•???CheckintoflighttoMiami
•8:11am:FlyAmericanAirlinestoMiami(3h54m)
•12:05pm:LandMiamiandtransferforflighttoHouston (immigration?)
•3:30pm:FlyAmericanAirlinestoHouston(2h47m)
•5:17pm:LandandtransferforflighttoAuckland
•9:55pm:FlyAirNZtoAuckland(14h35m)
Sunday
•5:30am:LandAuckland,collectluggage,clearcustomsand immigrationandtransfertodomesticterminal
•8:00am:StevefliestoWellington(1h10m)
•8:30am:TaurangatravelersflytoTauranga(40m)
