Everyone is going crazy for the beautiful island of Antigua and it is not difficult to see why people are singing its praises. Located in the West Indies, Antigua is English speaking so is very attractive to British tourist. Antigua offers brilliant weather,stunning beaches and fantastic hotels. There are also plenty of excursions to keep yourself busy such as unique eco tours through the rainforest canopy, great golf clubs and safari excursions.
If you fancy a relaxing holiday you can close your eyes and relax on one of the many beaches, the warm weather and serene blue sea are great for releasing any stress!
Windsurfing, waterskiing, beachcombing, surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving are great watersports that can be done when you are over there.
Something very unusual that is done in Antigua is crab racing, I think this sounds great and is a very laid back past time perfect for relaxing on vacation, it is staged in bars once or twice a week and is an eccentric past time that lots of people enjoy. Try a holiday in the Caribbean and let us know how if crab racing turns out to be entertaining…
Archive for October, 2008
Antigua Fever
Friday, October 31st, 2008Game for a lion hunt?
Friday, October 31st, 2008Anyone keen on a spot of adventure during their holidays might be interested in an article written by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Robert Ure about his recent escapades on safari.
The intrepid explorer headed to Johannesburg for his trip, where he joined a group headed by a Zulu tracker to help find some of Africa’s most well-known creatures, including most of the real-life cast of The Lion King.
“There are usually two outings a day: the first at sunrise, the second in late afternoon. The routine on safari is to stay with the same guide on each drive. The vehicles do not have doors or roofs and it is possible to creep close to animals,” Mr Ure enthused.
And it seemed to work – the lucky visitor was able to spot hyenas, lions, rhinos and zebra. However, he seemed pleased that there was no sign of his arch nemeses, the Black Mamba.
Summing up his experience on the last night, Mr Ure said: “I sip on my G and T and chew on South Africa’s favourite cured salty meat, biltong, while the sunset throws hues of yellow and orange across the grassy plains.”
When can we leave for the airport?
Earlier this month, we reported how people on holidays in South Africa are combining the safari trip with the chance to have medical procedures or treatments.
The world is our oyster…
Friday, October 31st, 2008People are becoming more adventurous in their choice of holiday destination, with most now seeing destinations that were once considered as only for the rich and famous as de rigeur.
This is according to a source from the Association of Independent Tour Operators, who pointed out a trend noted by many experts in recent times – that our wide world seems to be becoming a global village.
“The world is becoming a smaller place and becoming more accessible. People are more aware of what’s available now – it’s not the end of Earth like it used to be,” the source remarked.
His view seems to be shared by many Brits – the Office for National Statistic found that ten million people went on trips to luxury destinations that were not in either the US or Europe in the 12 months to August 2008.
Luxury Travel magazine editor Alison Cook recently said that people thinking about booking holidays to Thailand should not be put off by its backpacker image, since it now appeals to a wide range of audiences, including those on their honeymoon.
A wide range of accommodation is available in the south Asian country, ranging from £2.50 a night hostels to five-star eco-tourism resorts.
Snow suit? Check. Goggles? Check. Insurance … ?
Thursday, October 30th, 2008With thoughts turning to winter holidays again, the more adventurous among us may be thinking of ski breaks rather than sun breaks.
But is seems that people going on luxury holidays to winter sports resorts may be forgetting one vital piece of kit – their insurance.
Insurance firm esure has found that while people are determined to escape onto the pistes, a growing number may be reacting to the credit crunch by not buying a travel insurance policy.
The company’s Mike Pickard warns that this could be a potentially disastrous mistake, since the chance of injury is probably higher when whizzing down a ski slope than it would be when lying on a beach somewhere.
“Any winter sports holiday – no matter how long the trip or how close to home – comes with a certain element of risk. It’s crucial to ensure you’re fully covered if you have an accident on the slopes,” he warned the 18 per cent of people who say they intend to accidentally on purpose forget to buy insurance.
Mr Pickard added that medical and rescue services may not be equal in all parts of the world, making a comprehensive policy even more important.
The Guardian recommended earlier this month that getting fit either by joining the gym, doing hill walking or practising pre-ski exercises before heading off on holiday, could minimise the risk of injury on the slopes.
Brits abroad ‘want Christmas traditions’
Thursday, October 30th, 2008Although Brits may be willing to jet off to foreign shores at the first signs of cold weather, it seems we are not quite so willing to give up on home comforts and traditions.
A spokesperson for the Association of Independent Tour Operators said that in his experience, people who choose to go abroad over the Christmas period opt for destinations that can offer them a little bit of Britishness – although chances are he doesn’t mean Brussels sprouts and arguing over whether to watch the Queen’s Speech or play charades.
“The traditional favourite [is] the Caribbean … a lot people want to go there. [It has] great beaches and hotels and it still has a traditional British feel in many of the places as well. Even though we’re away from home, people still want the feeling of home,” the source said.
We’re not quite sure that the Caribbean bears much of a resemblance to Britain, particularly just now as the weather is wondering whether to rain, snow or both.
However, people do get together to exchange gifts and put up trees, so perhaps people choosing to escape there over the festive season may still be able to pull a cracker or two.
Would you go abroad for Christmas to escape the British winter, or does waking up to a cold, frosty morning epitomise the big day for you?
Luxury holidays ‘are all about the experience’
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008Although the news on television and the radio is currently full of doom and gloom bulletins about how people are having to cut back to save money, it seems the travel industry is more optimistic when it comes to people booking luxury holidays.
Speaking at the recent travel convention held by the Association of British Travel Agents, Martin Lomax, who runs a travel firm, said that the people who take such breaks do so for the experience and so are less likely to be bothered about the cash.
Travel Mole quotes him as saying that five million people in the UK have a yearly wage of over £50,000, meaning that there is still a large market for luxury breaks.
In fact, it seems the more wealthy are even treating others to five-star holidays – Mr Lomax said that 16 per cent of the holidays his company has sold are for three people; the couple and their nanny. Although what they do with the child is anyone’s guess.
The comments follow news in August that 43 per cent of people see holidays as essential for their mental wellbeing.
Private bank Cater Allen also found that 17 per cent said they live for their holidays.
What do you think? Would you crack up without a holiday every year, or are you having to cut back and forego luxuries?
Why not hire an island for your wedding?
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008If you’re among the couples who have dreamt of a wedding abroad, but then discounted it at the thought of having to wed among throngs of half-term holidaymakers, you may want to think again.
Another possibility that would eliminate this would be to hire out your own island, it has been suggested.
Although this may sound like the prerogative of people like Paris Hilton only, Ionian Wedings says it is actually an affordable option, especially among the Greek Islands.
The company points out that for around £1,475, couples can hire a small place like Cameo Island – just off the coast of Zante – and can then cross over to the mainland for the party afterwards.
This is quite a saving, since it includes the photos, the flowers, the champagne and the cake!
“The Greek islands are becoming an increasingly popular destination for UK couples marrying abroad as the cost of UK weddings are becoming more and more prohibitive for many couples,” said a company spokesperson.
A study by easier.com recently found that 57 per cent of Brits would get married abroad to solve family arguments or to cut costs.
Is this something you’d consider? As usual, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the section below.
Travel Far with Safari’s
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 
Safaris make perfect holidays, the mixture of excitement, great locations and beautiful sites make them the ideal vacation. A safari holiday in Kenya or South Africa will leave you wide eyed and exhilarated.
Great places for a safari holiday are Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana and Cape Town.
Safaris can make an ideal romantic holiday with you and your other half snuggled under the stars or make an exciting fun filled family adventure with neither you or your children ever being bored!
An adventure not to be missed and you can literally tick off all the stunning animals and landscapes you will see. Lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants, to name a few will cross your path daily making every day different from the last. There are no negatives to a great Safari holiday, unless you count being slightly bored when you get back to your everyday life.
Barbados, get carried away in the Caribbean!
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 
Barbados is the perfect getaway and has always been very popular with the English for several reasons. The friendly local people are very welcoming and the location will make all your holiday pictures look like they have been taken in paradise.
There are great rum shacks that you can visit or for a sober activity you could try watching a cricket match. Cricket is the national sport of Barbados and the West Indies and you can catch a great game nearly every day! Mullins Bay in Barbados is known for its great horse riding activities so if you fancy saddling up, make sure you don’t miss this, as it is a great way to see the picturesque beaches.
Another way to get to know Barbados is diving, it is one of the best places in the world to go diving and is a once in a life time experience. There are several types of reefs which all are different in their own little ways, and Barbados is ideal for year round diving.
Night time is meant for relaxing with local reggae music and friendly locals and there is a lot of live entertainment and with a fantastic variety or bars and restaurants, you will be spoilt for choice and possibly never want to return home from the Caribbean!
The Maldives en famille?
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008Having kids in tow may no longer mean that people on their honeymoons are restricted to bucket-and-spade locations like Skegness or, if you’re really pushing the boat out, Benidorm.
If a new trend in the Maldives is anything to go by, destinations well-known for luxury holidays could also soon become well-known for their ability to cater for the little ones.
Susan D’Arcy, writing for the Times, points out that a number of resorts are now opening in the Maldives to cater for people who – shock, horror – have had children before they got married, complete with kids’ clubs, games rooms, computer games and even discos for slightly older children.
One such haven is the new hotel Diva, which opened in May this year on Baa Atoll – the general manager says that the Maldives are ideal for families.
“The Maldives don’t require a string of vaccinations and the shallow lagoons here mean that the beaches are incredibly safe for kids,” he comments.
However, the best bit might be that some areas of the resort are adult-only, including the six bars and restaurants.
Well in that case, it would be rude not to try it, what do you say? Why not share your own experiences of travelling with a young family in the comments section below.