Fashion Friday :: Romantic Caribbean

[trip style = beach + sun] Let me fill you in on a little secret about packing for a romantic Caribbean vacation: you don't need much {see: romantic + Caribbean}. Hey there overpackers - you really can travel with only carry-on luggage since the only items you'll be wearing are swimsuits and sarongs. And if you're like a friend of mine, who recently returned from a romantic Caribbean vacation with her husband, you don't need to worry about covering up much at all, because "when are you ever going to see these people again?" Wise words. Then again, don't think you won't be on display.

Several years ago, I travelled to the Dominican Republic with a group of 20 friends and family. There was a French couple at our resort, and we came to call the man "Hot Euro" for his, um, extreme hotness. Imagine you're laying out on the beach with your girlfriend and every time you look down the beach, 20 heads snap away. This was, of course, before I mastered the art of staring and not getting caught {the secret is to keep looking when your subject looks at you, as though you're staring at something just past them. This works especially well with sunglasses}.

Moral of the story? On a romantic vacation, who cares who's staring, they're probably just smitten with you. Unless of course you opted for beach braids. Then they're probably staring for another reason.

Now what to pack? Men (clockwise from top left) Orlebar Brown bulldog swim shorts, Penguin volley swim shorts, Costalots diego grey sunglasses, Soludos costa, Free Authority paper dress straw fedora

Women (from top centre) Zimmerman printed underwired bikini, Ray-Ban wayfarer acetate sunglasses, Topshop tie dye cover up, Norma Kamali walter mio ruched bandeau swimsuit, Pachacuti panama fedora, ASOS chiffon beach playsuit, ASOS fiji leather tie up sandals, Gregory Parkinson bag08, Target merona shirred 1-piece, ASOS floral beach dress, TM by Tara Matthews cheetah-print cotton sarong

{Trip Styler Tip: Two of my favourite online retailers have sunny vacation shops within their online shops: Net-A-Porter's Vacation Boutique and ASOS's Holiday Shop for Women & Men.}

More Fashion Friday Shoulder Season Cabin Fever Buoy Oh Buoy Festival Style Tribal Inspiration

{Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month and written by fashion blogger Heather.}

Romantic Caribbean :: Wallet Friendly {2/2}

[trip style = budget conscious + beach + sun + cruise]

Yesterday we talked about our high-end hotel picks for romance in the Caribbean; think of these as a pair of red-soled Louboutins. Today we're taking it down a notch in price point, but not quality, with wallet-friendly escapes. Think of these as a comfortable, yet stylish pair of Cole Haans. Catch my stride?

{Trip Styler Tip: $1,000+/night rates don't necessarily indicate a hotel is that much nicer than a $250/night hotel. The lower price point could just mean the property is in an area with less cache or acclaim, a smaller marketing or PR budget, or a lack of direct airline routes.}

1} St. Lucia Ladera: Crowned by the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List 2010 + 2011, plus a ton of other major designations, this resort prides itself on three walls with an open air space to gaze at the view. Nine villas and 23 suites {many with their own plunge pools} are dotted throughout this rainforest retreat. Cost: from $480/night

2} Jamaica RockHouse: With facilities and villas connected by bridges and boardwalks, this boutique hotel and spa sits on the rocky cliffs of Negril. It's one of the Travel+Leisure editor’s fave hotels in the world, plus it has an award-winning restaurant. With thatched-roof villas and private sunbathing decks, privacy abounds. Has consistently won best boutique resort in the Caribbean for many years running. Cost: From $160/night

3} Virgin Gorda, BVI Bitter End Yacht Club: We featured this property in last week's Roam+Board, and wanted to mention it again for the romance factor. Yes, it allows kids, but if you go in the fall or late spring, you won't encounter the Spring Break rush, and can take advantage of off-peak prices. A garden room starts at $500, but that includes three meals per day for two. Cost: from $500/night

4} Turks and Caicos Parrot Cay: With a mile-long white powdery beach, this private island retreat draws those who really want to slip away in style. Case in point, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck got married here. Cost: from $450/night

5} Caribbean Cruise Mega ships that weave their way throughout the Caribbean Islands don't exactly create a secluded, romance-filled experience, but book a Caribbean itinerary with a smaller cruise line and you may find that romance you're seeking---and be able to visit multiple islands in one trip! Smaller cruise lines have the price tags to go with them, but if you search via VacationsToGo.com {click on the "90-day ticker" link for best deals} you can find reasonable rates on exceptional boutique lines like Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal, Windstar, Regent and Oceania.

Related Romantic Caribbean :: Luxury Tips For Planning A Caribbean Vacation Hidden Hideaways

[photos of mentioned resorts]

Romantic Caribbean :: Luxury {1/2}

[trip style = luxury + beach + sun]

Recently a friend asked about Trip Styler's top picks for luxury and romance in the Caribbean. Knowing sun-n-sand-aholics are in the process of either dreaming about or planning their fall and winter getaways, here's a look at some dashing destinations, each with its own special distinction and awards.

Tomorrow I'll post some trip style = budget conscious romantic Caribbean picks, so there's something for everyone's wallet!

1} St. Lucia Jade Mountain: This luxury, architectural wonder sits atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and foliage-covered hills. Frequently mentioned in Conde Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure as one of the most romantic resorts in the Caribbean, there are no rooms at this resort, instead they have sanctuaries. Enough said. Cost: from $1,050/night

2} Jamaica Golden Eye Resort: Golden Eye is aptly named; it's where the writer of the James Bond series penned much of the fictitious hero’s adventures. It was purchased by a music producer {the British founder of Island Records} and re-opened last year with A LOT of buzz. With 11 beach or lagoon cottages, its fanfare continues. Cost: from $495/night {Trip Styler Tip: Golden Eye is currently on offer via Jetsetter, one of our recommended travel flash sale websites, for $295/night. It's a members-only site, so join here and act quickly!}

3} Bahamas Kamalame Cay: Celebs and honeymooners have chosen this tucked-away, barefoot-chic resort since 1998. Meet for meals in the Great House at night and laze on your private veranda by day. Just a short jaunt from Nassau's resort-lined shores, three miles of your own private and deserted beach await. Cost: from $395/night

4} Antigua Hermitage Bay: The discerning vacationer will appreciate this award-winning and highly acclaimed property. This all-inclusive resort redefines the North American impression of a luxury all-inclusive---no logoed pools, white columns, Teppanyaki restaurants or large-scale buffets found here. Cost: from $703/night

5} Turks and Caicos Amanyara: Sleek and secluded, this resort evokes a sense of harmony with nature where the understated contemporary design blends into the edge of the Caribbean. Voted one of the 100 best hotels in the world by the UK's Sunday Times Travel Magazine. Cost: from $1,200/night

Related Tips For Planning A Caribbean Vacation Hidden Hideaways

[photos via mentioned resorts]

Tech Tuesday :: Get A Callback

[trip style = any] When an online form or email just won't do the trick...

Calling companies to resolve a travel issue is rarely a pleasant experience. And what's worse, pressing "zero" no longer works as a fast-track way to skip the phone tree to speak with a real person. Press 1 for.., press 3 for..., press 9 for... phone systems are getting too smart with their convoluted pathways, lengthy wait times and elevator music. Thankfully, there's an app that's smarter.

Fast Customer, whose tag line should be "your call is important to us, really" eliminates the customer service queue and gives you back the 30-minutes to 2-hours you just wasted waiting for a 3-minute resolution. After registering your number with the app, you can call one of 2000+ companies listed in their database to resolve "the" issue. Once an operator is on the line, you'll get a callback from Fast Customer's 800-number and speak to a representative right away. If the company you're trying to reach isn't yet listed, add it for approval so others can call too.

I can think of a bunch of times when I wish this app would have been invented! Either way, now we can call every company from CheapOair to Hawaiian Airlines with the touch of a button! {Note, you need to re-enter your phone number every time you use the app.}

This free app is available for iPhone or Android.

More Tech Tuesday Google Flight Search Hotel Tonight Getting There Direct Airline Alliance Apps Google Hotel Finder

Tips For Planning A Caribbean Vacation

[trip style = beach + sun]

This week the steel drums are clanging, the dreadlocks are bouncing and the sun is shining....in our world. Why? For most of the week, we're going to be talking about the Caribbean. Today we list tips and considerations for planning a trip to de islands and on Wednesday and Thursday we'll share our top picks for luxury and wallet-friendly romantic getaways.

The zillions of islands and cays that span 2736km in the Caribbean Sea beckon everyone from boaters to Beyonce and bevvie lovers to beach bunnies. Visit St. Barth's at Christmas and you're likely to spot more celebs than at The Grove {outdoor mall in LA} on a Saturday, or opt for something a little less opulent and stay on the less developed shores of The Turks and Caicos. Regardless of which trip style or island's geography you enjoy most, here are some thought starters for planning your future getaway under the jungle's canopy or the shade of an umbrella in the Caribbean.

Considerations

• Non-stop flight? If so, here's how to find direct flights on a month-by-month basis out of your home airport.
• Family fun, girlfriend getaway, mancation or couples trip? Book yourself into the right resort and it's bliss, end up at the wrong resort and your vacay could be a miss.
• Want an all-inclusive or a la carte experience?
• Mega resort or boutique property?
• Stay close to town or go castaway style?
• Adventure junkie or beach break?
• Saver or spender? The Dominican Republic and Jamaica tend to have the best values, due to a high influx of flights, whereas harder-to-reach islands are often harder on the pocket book

Tips

• Choose your travel dates wisely, mid-December to April is high season, yet there's usually a small lull in resort occupancy just after New Year's, so this can be a reasonable time to travel in winter.
• Bring small USD bills for tipping.
• Don't expect North American customer service, each island has its own distinct culture and this will come out---for better or for worse---at each resort.
• if you want to save money, consider doing a vacation rental, but stay near a town centre so grocery pick-up is easy
• Know in advance about extra fees and incidentals. Most resorts will charge a daily resort fee unless it's included in your price. Furthermore, some countries charge a departure tax, only payable in cash.
• If you have 5 days or less, opt for a direct or one-stop flight to maximize time at your destination. In addition, bring a carry-on so you can go from plane to pool in a flash.
• Get to know the country you're visiting as well as their entry and exit requirements, for example, in Cuba you need physical proof of your medical insurance to enter the country.
• We all remember sunscreen, but most people forget bug spray! With the dense topical foliage surrounding most beach regions, bugs and sand fleas like the beach just as much as you do!  I've been the the Caribbean more times than I can count, and generally the bugs aren't bad. The only time I was badly, badly bitten by noseeums---to the point of getting swollen ankles---was in the densely forested mountainous region of the Dominican Republic.

Related Content Packaged VS Unpackaged Vacations All-Inclusive Tricks Of The Trade All-inclusive Month :: Introductions All-Inclusive Month :: Matchmaking Don’t Judge an All-Inclusive until Day 3 {7 Reason to Wait to Evaluate} A Redo trip {What to do when an all-inclusive experience goes belly-up} Update on my Redo Trip {An overview of the highs and lows of the Sandals WhiteHouse}

[photo by mdanys]