p30-38 ttg_lux_caribbean 5/3/10 11:48 Page 34
SIX WAYS TO WOW
IN THE CARIBBEAN
1
Turtle tagging: Jumby Bay in
Antigua is a haven for nesting
hawksbill turtles – an
endangered species that only reaches
sexual maturity at 20-30 years old,
with just one in 1,000 hatchlings
surviving to reproductive age. Guests at the newly
re-opened Jumby Bay resort can opt to be woken to see
night-time hatchings take place. They can also see
researchers carry out tagging and measuring of the adult
turtles, which takes place between June and November
each year. jumbybayresort.com.
2
Lessons with Pat Cash: Many
resorts offer tennis tuition, but
there aren’t many where
clients can learn from legends like
Pat Cash. The first Pat Cash Tennis
Academy is to open at Buccament
Bay in St Vincent, a development by Harlequin Hotels &
Resorts. Guests of all ages and abilities will be able to
take classes, including video analysis of their technique.
Cash will often be on-site, playing exhibition matches.
harlequinhotelsandresorts.com.
3
Private shark dive: Few wildlife
experiences can beat the thrill
of coming face to face with
a shark – albeit a relatively friendly
Caribbean Reef Shark as opposed
to a Great White. Stuart Cove’s Dive
Bahamas are the experts, and can customise private shark
dive experiences for your client. As a guideline, a two-day
private Shark Feeder course – including shark awareness
training and actually feeding the sharks yourself – costs
from $2,160. stuartcove.com.
4
VIP Antigua: Clients flying
home from Antigua with
British Airways can get the
VIP treatment using a lounge at
a gate previously available only for
government ministers and private-jet
passengers. Security checks and check-in take place in
Previous pages: the dock
at Jumby Bay in Antigua
the lounge before being driven straight to the aircraft,
Clockwise from top left:
with priority boarding. Caribtours can book lounge access
Half Moon in Jamaica;
for £59 per person. The same service could be available
Cap Maison in St Lucia;
to Virgin Atlantic passengers soon. caribtours.co.uk
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana
in Dominican Republic
5
Ride the Necker Nymph:
Guests at Necker Island can
explore the underwater beauty
Hobbs believes Caribtours clients Rise and shine of the BVIs on Necker Nymph, a new
might go short-haul instead, where the tax The Caribbean Tourism Organisation “aero submarine” that can dive to
rise isn’t so great. “We might see a shift (CTO) is far more optimistic than the depths of 30 metres. The underwater
towards Europe and the Middle East,” she CHTA. Figures released recently predicted aircraft can do 360-degree turns and travel at up to six
says. “Oman is already flying for our sister tourism would grow by 3% in 2010. knots. Passengers sit in an open cockpit and wear scuba
firm, The Private Travel Company, so people And whatever November’s APD hikes gear, accompanied by a pilot. Necker Nymph comes
are obviously still keen to travel, but we may bring, operators report that forward alongside Necker Belle, Richard Branson’s new
would, of course, rather see lower APD to bookings over the first two months of the catamaran, and costs $25,000 a week when taking the
favourites such as St Lucia and Antigua.” year have been strong, with Caribtours Belle on an all-inclusive basis. neckerisland.virgin.com
ITC’s Tabois agrees that the higher APD 30% up on the same time last year.
could impact clients’ decisions. Where clients Antigua is coming back after a tough
may have requested the Caribbean year after 2009; St Lucia and Barbados are both
year, they are now happy to consider other, selling steadily; British Airways’ doubling 6
Cricket with the pros: Cricket
fans can get the inside track on
the ICC World Twenty20 in the
more competitively priced destinations. of capacity into St Kitts has given both West Indies this May on an ITC Sports
“They’ll look at the Indian Ocean, Dubai, Egypt, St Kitts and Nevis a boost; and BA’s new tour. The five-day package includes
as long as it delivers routes to Punta Cana and Montego Bay welcome cocktails with Bajan former
the experience have already proved popular. England cricketer Gladstone Small. He travels with the
they’re looking for. The bookings may be coming in late, group to the four Super 8 matches, sharing his anecdotes
There’s sun and but they are still coming in. Perhaps the and insight. Packages cost from £1,809 per person,
beach elsewhere,” Caribbean tourism industry will weather including five nights at Bougainvillea Beach Resort in
34
she points out. the storm after all. ■ Barbados and British Airways flights. itc-uk.com
feature caribbean
spring 2010 ttgluxury.com
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