Tropical Tidbits by Sue C Travel- CWT Summer

40

Tropical Tidbits Photo: Dominican Republic Tourism

by Sue C Travel

Award-winning travel journalist Sue Campbell is based in Montreal but makes it her business to be on top of everything cool, hot, and new under the sun throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

Canadian World Traveller welcomes her as a new regular columnist. Follow her on Ttwitter @suectravel.

For one, top resorts in paradisiacal locations typically cut their rates to the bone during low season, sometimes throwing in extra nights or kids-stay-free packages and even going so far as to offer airfare credits, too! Another good reason is the parties!

Photo: Jamal Gumbs Anguilla

Some islands have their biggest blowouts during this time of year like Anguilla’s August Summer Festival and Barbados’ Crop Over. You haven’t really experienced authentic Caribbean until you’ve learned to “jump up” with the locals!

Dominican Republic Targets More Adventurous Travellers Canadians love to travel to the Dominican Republic to escape winter due to the excellent deals and affordable all-inclusive packages, but today’s savvy traveller also wants to explore beyond the resort and discover the surrounding communities and

landscapes. And according to Dominican Tourism authorities the government is out to help make that easier.

I learned about these plans at the recent 2016 Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), the country’s official and biggest trade show for media and the travel industry. Strategies include new roads throughout the country connecting the lesser known interior regions and new activities focusing on nature explorations to get visitors off the beaches and into more active adventures.

Tour operators will be offering more activities such as river rafting, mountain biking, zip-lining, paragliding, rappelling and hiking. Also planned is increased air access to lesser-known tourism destinations like Puerta Plata and Samaná. Plus, resorts like the new Sunscape Puerto Plata are offering excellent opening deals and packages with direct flights from Canada by Air Transat.

Visit: www.godominicanrepublic.com

Photo: Dominican Republic Tourism

Now that we Canadians are finally getting our fair share of warm weather during our criminally short summer, one might think that it’s not the time to head to tropical climes. But there are some very good reasons to do so.

But one of my favourite reasons for heading south during the summer is to experience sea turtles in the wild! Summer is sea turtle nesting time on beaches throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. This is when the female turtles return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs, and many resorts have sea turtle protection and conservation programs to protect them that visitors can participate in. Witnessing hatchings and helping baby sea turtles reach the sea in release programs when they need protection are truly magical experiences that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Photo: Turtugaruba

S

ummer is Prime Time for Caribbean Travel!

I’m always seeking out fellow countrymen (and women) who have decided to start a new life in spots where snow is a foreign concept. If you are visiting these destinations seek out these ex-pat Canadians doing great things in their new island homes.

Photo: Substation Curacao

Ontarian Bryan Horne works with the unique 4-person submersible called Curasub at the Curacao Sea Aquarium complex (founded by ex-pat Canadian

On “Provo” (Turks and Caicos’ Providenciales) it seems you can’t throw a seashell without hitting an expat “canuck”.

There are SO many of them they even have their own hockey league! (Though they skate on roller blades due to lack of ice.)

The gorgeous new dining room off Grace Bay beach at The Somerset is run by acclaimed Canadian chef Brad Townsend, and the owner the famous Da Conch Shack

Photo: Jessica Percy Campbell

A New Nature Focused Panama Stay Last January I’d been invited to be a keynote speaker at the annual Latin American Travel Writer’s conference in Panama City, Panama. It was a great event in the heart of the bustling, cosmopolitan city, and my adult daughter who also writes travel as the “Vegan Vacationista” had joined me. But once it was over, we were in dire need of some beach time and downtime in nature. Fortunately, the new upscale Secrets Playa Bonita Panama Resort & Spa had just opened nearby so it was a natural choice to check out.

All 310 rooms are oceanfront overlooking a gorgeous water circuit with a seaside infinity pool and a peaceful protected bay ideal for kayaking. And the surrounding rainforest and mountain beside it are alive with tropical wildlife including adorable little monkeys and ever-smiling sloths! Like all Secrets resorts they are adult-only allinclusive offering an Unlimited-Luxury® experience that includes gourmet food, top spirits, no-reservation dining and 24/7 room service. They also have a luxurious full-service spa. It was just the kind of pampering we needed for a few days before retuning home, but we will certainly return for a longer stay another time.

Visit: www.secretsresorts.com/playa-bonita

Secrets Playa Bonita Panama

Canadian Connections in the Caribbean

Expat Canadians are also really embedded into the culinary scene throughout the Caribbean. Chef Tim Tibbetts and his sommelier wife Rebecca - both from Canadaare making big waves on the fusion front at their trendy award-winning restaurant Flying Fish in Freeport, Bahamas. And if you visit Grand Turk by cruise, walk right on by the too touristy Margaritaville to find Jack’s Beach Bar for authentic island BBQ and superb hand crafted cocktails made by Janet Batchelor from Quebec’s eastern townships.

Photo:Flying Fish

I had the opportunity to attend the Sunscape Puerto Plata’s opening in the Dominican Republic last March, and I was very impressed. It’s a lovely family friendly and very affordable all-inclusive resort on picturesque Playa Dorado beach. They also offer an adult-only section and pool, which adds to its allure for those seeking a more serene escape. It’s not a new complex, but it has been beautifully refurbished to enhance the grand colonial style charm and it also crests an inviting Robert Jones Trent designed 18-hole golf course.Though none of the 585 rooms are oceanfront since a protected mangrove forest separates the resort from the sea, it’s a very short walk to the beach and the trek through the ancient trees is well worth it.

They also have an excellent kid’s club and they were putting the finishing touches on a their new Spa by Pevonia which will be comprehensive and luxurious when complete. www.sunscaperesorts.com/puerto-plata .

is Torontonian John Macdonald. And 41 if you’re on Aruba, visit Cuba’s Cookin’ for a surprisingly authentic taste of Old Havana on “One Happy Island”, and say hi to owner Douglass Markus originally from Montreal.

On Anguilla, the founder of the Arijah Foundation’s Blossom Centre- a school for the island’s children with special needs is Renuka Harrigan from Ontario. And the centre is always happy to welcome visitors seeking to volunteer while on holiday.

Photo: Cuba’s Cookin'

Photo: Sunscape Puerto Plata

New Sunscape Puerto Plata is Alluring and Affordable

Adrian “Dutch” Schrier) where visitors can go 1,000 ft. below to witness magnificent marine life without even getting wet! It’s a bucket-list experience. They’ve also used it for marine life research and have discovered new species of fish! In St. Maarten, Olivier Auvrey from Montreal runs the popular snorkel excursions called Rhino Riders, or if you check-into the St. Kitts Marriott, look for General Manager Jacques Hamou also from Montreal.

Canadian World Traveller Summer/Fall 2016