1. “It’s lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during ‘siesta’ time — this should be banned.”

2. “We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swim suits and towels.”

3. “Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women.”

4. “I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts.”

5. A tourist at a top African Game Lodge overlooking a water hole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of    this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel “inadequate.”

6. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she’d been locked in her hotel room by staff. In fact, she had mistaken the “do not disturb” sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room.

7. “The beach was too sandy.”

8. “On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food at all.”

9. “We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white.”

10. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.

11. “We bought ‘Ray-Ban’ sunglasses for five euros from a street trader, only to find out they were fake, that is not acceptable.”

12. “No one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled.”

13. “It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England, it only took the Americans three hours to get home?”

14. “I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends’ three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller.”

15. “The brochure stated: ‘No hairdressers at the accommodation.’ We’re trainee hairdressers — will we be OK staying there?”

16. “There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad.”

17. “We had to walk outside with no air conditioning.”

18. “It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel?”

19. “I was bitten by mosquito’s, no-one said they would bite.”

20. “My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked.”

SXC was founded in 2008 to offer suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions from the Caribbean island of Curacao in the next two years. The Space Expedition Curacao intends to lead the world in providing commercial space launch facilities and suborbital flight services from its Space Port Curacao, said its goal was to sell 50 spaceflights before the holiday season.

“A number of celebrities and notables have already signed up for this amazing experience, including Victoria’s Secret model Doutzen Kroes , World Series Champion San Francisco Giants batting coach and Curacao native Hensley Meulens, and celebrity DJ Armin van Buuren, host of the weekly radio show ‘A State of Trance,’ which attracts a reported 30 million listeners in 40 countries. It’s not hard to get people excited about what will be a life changing event,” said SXC co-founder Michiel Mol.

Through the new multi-million dollar transaction, SXC has secured the wet lease of production Lynx tail number two for operation on Curacao, pending export licensing action. Mol said: “The Lynx is unique in that it provides a one-on-one ‘co-pilot’ experience with an amazing panoramic view of the Earth and sky through large cockpit windows. It will be an unforgettable and very personalized experience for everyone who takes the trip.”

SXC also has a number of business channel partners lined up including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. KLM will purchase flights to offer as frequent flyer rewards, support educational initiatives in the Netherlands through the use of flights for scientific discovery by students, and include flights as part of vacation packages to Curacao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“We’ve been working hard on the infrastructure end of things as well,” commented Ben Droste, president and co-founder of SXC. “Our relationship with Curacao Airport Holdings continues to be strong as they ready the facilities necessary to make this vision a reality. Things are now moving at an accelerated pace.”

Look out George Jetson…here we come!

The Tides Riviera Maya is excited to announce the addition of their new Saasil Villas to the property’s luxurious accommodations. Nestled in the serene Riviera Maya jungle, these three private villas feature secluded wood sunbathing decks allowing guests to relax and unwind while being completely surrounded by nature.

Mayan for “Ray of Light,” the Saasil villas offer an unparalleled, intimate experience with unique services specifically created for these accommodations, including authentic wood terraces for sunbathing, a specialty Saasil fragrance provided in room and a romantic turndown service. To demonstrate the attention to the guest, a soap concierge also hand cuts locally made soaps for guests upon arrival…this takes welcome basket to whole new level.

Other inclusions are butler service, a VIP welcome amenity, outdoor hammock and pillow menu. These private villas provide the ideal setting for those desiring an authentic Mayan experience, as each has been designed to respect and accentuate the pristine qualities of the dramatic jungle and seaside location. This is truly a luxury experience.

Located on seven miles of white sand beach, The Tides Riviera Maya is the ultimate resort refuge. Guests can venture through the mazes of pathways that meander through the landscape, showcasing both the dense vegetation of the jungle and the vastness of the wide open beach. The property also offers a range of activities including boating, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and yoga on the beach, among others. The Maya Spa also draws from the resources of its jungle-seaside setting, specializing in signature herbal and mud treatments. For additional information or to book a reservation at The Tides Riviera Maya’s Saasil Villas, please call 800-578-0281 or visit www.tidesrivieramaya.com.

Under a policy change issued by the Obama administration, U.S. groups can travel to Cuba as long as they meet with local Cubans in the “people-to-people” category of educational and cultural travel. In June, Insight Cuba was the first operator to announce people-to-people itineraries for Cuba.

A&K, based in the U.K., has operated in Cuba for five years with custom and group tours for non-Americans. Its new series of Cuba programs, now available to U.S. travelers through its partnership with the Foundation for Caribbean Studies, are escorted motor coach programs headed by a local in-country host/guide.

The 11-day inaugural trip departs Sept. 30, followed by departures Oct. 14 and 17; Nov. 23; and Dec. 12 and 22. Departures in 2012 “could at least double this year’s number, based on early forecasts,” according to Scott Wiseman, A&K’s president in the U.S.

“Guests on our programs will discover Cuba at its most intimate and authentic, and in complete comfort. Each tour is limited to 24 participants and includes contact with Cuban people in all walks of life, from artists and architects to musicians and farmers,” Wiseman said.

Priced from $4,325 per person, double, the itineraries will visit Havana, the town of Trinidad, the cultural city of Matanzas, the Cuban countryside, historic sites, sugar mills, a cigar factory and a rum plantation as well as special sites open only to A&K participants.

The price does not include a charter flight from Miami, priced at $449, as well as a $200 fee to the foundation and $55 in visa costs.

Tour participants fly into Cienfuegos near Trinidad on Cuba’s south coast, spend three nights at the Iberostar Gran Hotel Trinidad and explore the area before moving on to the Hotel Nacional in Havana for seven nights.

The tour price includes an expedited immigration process upon arrival; meals; accommodations; and air-conditioned motorcoach transport throughout Cuba.

“The new villas represent a fairly significant new direction with clean lines and a vibrant design that is simple and elegant, each with a commodious space that includes a living room with sectional sofa, oversized king bed, espresso machine, 47-inch TV, iPod docking station and of course each with a private pool and outdoor sheltered pavilion, all providing luxury living in paradise,” said General Manager Anthony Syrowarka. “And perhaps equally exciting is the upcoming launch of our tennis and yoga centers, both carefully designed amongst an exotic tropical backdrop.”

To ensure that equally impressive service meets its high standards in accommodation, newly appointed Guest Service Manager, Jonathan Sweeney-Lowe will give burnish to the guest experience. “We noticed the small luxury category on Bali often goes without a concierge or guest service manager, duties merely lumped into those of a general manager,” said Sweeney-Lowe. “As the bar is raised quite high here at the Viceroy, what with an on-site helipad and one of the top dining venues on the island, this new position provides a level of service that is as luxurious as the accommodation itself.”

Like its Lembah spa and Cascades restaurant, each villa faces a primary palm forest with untamed views and sights and sounds of tropical flora and fauna. In contrast, the busy village of Ubud with its welter of galleries and bric-a-brac shops and free-spirited air is only minutes away.

The Viceroy Bali is an ultra-luxury all-villa resort majestically situated on a secluded ridge of the Petanu River gorge along Bali’s “Valley of the Kings,” an appellation given by locals for the generations of Balinese royalty who have resided in nearby villages. With its proximity to royalty, the serene tropical valley located near the popular village of Ubud, provided the Australian owning family with an apt brand. The resort is regarded by sophisticated international travelers as one of the world’s most respected tropical hideaways with beautiful valley views, impeccable service and standards and peerless facilities including the feted restaurant and bar, Cascades and opulent spa and beauty center, Lembah. To complement its 25-luxury pool villas, restaurant, spa and gym and onsite helipad, a tennis facility and a yoga pavilion are currently under construction and due for completion in 2011. The Viceroy Bali is a member of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) www.viceroybali.com

Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana has announced the opening of the new Secrets Spa by Pevonia at the luxury resort in the Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The 20,000-square-feet facility offers a complete spa experience with nine treatments rooms, a thermal hydrotherapy circuit, fitness center, yoga and pilates studio, full-service salon, beauty boutique, juice bar, outdoor relaxation garden and locker rooms.

The design of the spa sets a restful tone with the use of rich materials like natural stone and wood and hand-made blown glass chandeliers. Treatment highlights include the Myoxy-Caviar High Performance Facial with pure caviar pearl and a blend of phyto extracts; the Tropical Oasis Body Wrap which uses mango and passion fruit extracts for smoother, firmed and vividly brighter skin; and Sabai Mineral Therapy that blends micronized minerals of malachite and zincite with the guest’s choice of neroli, lavender and rosemary essential oils to stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation.

The nine treatment rooms, inclusive of 13 massage tables and two treatment tubs, are divided between the main spa building (three) and exterior private spa suites (six). The spa’s thermal hydrotherapy circuit consists of a sauna and steam bath, cold rain showers, whirlpool bath, cold plunge bath, swimming pool with cascading waterfalls and a tubular air lounger.

Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana offers guests 14 different suite categories, an array of dining options, 24-hour room and concierge services, pool and beach wait service, activities and live evening entertainment. The resort has a variety of amazing amenities as well as some of the Caribbean’s best luxury real estate. They also have special offers including girlfriend getaways and golf packages.

Years of tiresome and painstaking research went into the compilation of Luxury Living International’s top Caribbean beach bars. It was a grueling process, but somebody had to do it. Thankfully, we were up to the task, and in the end we hope to at least have piqued enough interest for some individual studies abroad. There is nothing that takes your mind off the rest of the world more than laying in a hammock under swaying palms, watching clouds float by, while sipping an adult beverage with a name like “painkiller” or “rum runner” from a hollowed out coconut.

When you arrive at one of the bars that made this list, you’ll have that “ah-ha” moment and find yourself enjoying the company of new friends from around the world over an exotic drink and in a setting that you will never forget for as long as you live. These are the best places to leave your worries and your shoes behind.

When the results of all our hands-on research were tallied, the The Soggy Dollar won the most votes, again!. “The Dollar,” as it’s called by regulars, is the original home of the Caribbean’s signature drink, “The Painkiller”. This wickedly delicious concoction is a mixture of dark rum, coconut, and fruit juices, with fresh nutmeg sprinkled on top and is perfect for this magical setting. The drink is $6, the experience; priceless. Located on White Beach (the name says it all) on Jost Van Dyke, The Soggy Dollar has recently become accessible by road, but most patrons still swim up from their anchorages. Because of their journey, the dollars are often wet, hence the term “Soggy Dollar.” In fact, there is a line where the bills are clipped up so that they can dry off. Hammocks are strung from the trees providing a tropical experience to sip and sun, or partake in any number of bar games, provided before swimming back to your boat. Don’t be surprised to find Kenny Chesney strumming his guitar as he sips a cold one.

Willie T’s There cannot be a discussion about beach bars without referencing the amazing Willie T’s in the BVI. The bar is a floating pirate ship anchored in Bight’s Cove off Norman Island, near the fabled treasure trove of Long John Silver. If drinking on a pirate ship in the Caribbean isn’t impressive enough, try some of their notorious drinks, such as the “shotski” or their infamous “bodyshots”. As the day goes on at Willie T’s, the crowd gets rowdier and clothing becomes optional. Many pirates-in-training end up jumping off the stern, clad only in their birthday suits to the delight of their fellow onlookers below.

The Office Hunkering down for a day at The Office in Cabo San Lucas isn’t exactly a desk job. The Office has some of the best finger food around, especially their ever-popular breakfast served on tables 25 feet from the surf. Lounge around on their portion of Mendano Beach and then head up to a table for one of their bar specials. In addition to the “toes in the sand location”, at night the beachside dance floor is packed with happy-and tipsy-tourists. The Office is the perfect mix of sun, sand, food and fun.

Lola’s, In Guanacaste, Costa Rica, just a few miles down from the new J.W. Marriott, is a long and wonderful stretch of miles of undeveloped beach, with incredible surf break after surf break and the most consistent beach waves in an area that is famous for them. Lola’s, an open air bar that is an exact replica of the one you have in your head: relaxing chairs and hammocks, palm trees and white sand, surfer girls in bikinis, amazing sunsets and ice cold beer and cocktails. Sundays are local’s day, and surfers’ fuel up before the high tide with one of Lola’s amazing fresh fruit smoothies, then veg out after their session. People of all ages come from all over, dogs too, and every sunset is a big, protracted, low-key party. Just perfect. Just don’t freak out when the giant pig the place is named after comes over to say “hi”.

Savor a slice of the fabulous life at Nikki Beach in St. Barth’s, beach bar to the beautiful and famous. Nestled up to the beach of St. Jean, Nikki Beach is the place to be on the island. White on white beds, drapery and an abundance of pillows complement the chic European beach oasis. Expect to be rubbing shoulders with the VIPs and celebrity clientele at this stylish hotspot. Resident DJ Jacques Dumas spins a mix of music from around the world while models and tourists alike delight in the tunes, dance on tables and shower each other with champagne. This is some serious St. Barth’s real estate with a twist.

Nikki Beach – Cabo San Lucas
Nikki Beach, the “Sexiest Place on Earth” brings its world-renowned fame to one of the world’s most exquisite dream destinations, Cabo San Lucas. It is located on the popular Medano Beach at ME by Melia Cabo, the incredible view and design raises eyebrows. Nikki Beach, the perfect mix between refinement and avant-garde awaits you, while some of the world’s most beautiful people enjoy exotic cocktails and relax languidly in our signature white teepees and plush lounge beds. If you like pretty people, this place is nirvana.

Foxy’s is an institution on Jost Van Dyke. Hosting one of the world’s top New Years Eve parties, they are no strangers to a good time. Foxy Callwood himself, a sixth generation Jost Van Dyke native is renowned for his original songs and jokes. The bar hosts many regattas and is always jam packed with people looking for a great time, a rocking band and a unique cold drink. Foxy offers his own microbrews (ask him for a tour of the brewery) and many of the drinks on premise are made this his own unique rum. Foxy’s is a perfect destination on the beach to enjoy great music, high spirits, and colorful characters.

Imagine a perfectly round fort, made of scrap and driftwood, with a thatched palm roof, on stilts, in the middle of a sandbar. That would be Floyd’s Pelican Bar in Parrotte Bay off the south coast of Jamaica. Floyd Forbes, a local Jamaican fisherman, dreamt one night about building a bar out at sea. So vivid was his dream that he began transporting wood in his fishing boat to build Floyd’s Pelican Bar. There are plenty of locals who are willing to provide a lift out to the bar, where lunch is caught and cooked to order. Snorkel around, catch some sun, play dominos and soak in the surroundings of the most unique bar around. As fall starts to settle into the States, we hope that these bars serve as an inspiration for a personal educational Caribbean adventure. Whether posh, casual, adventurous, or a little bit of each, it is always best to research these topics thoroughly, and leave no drink un-drained on the noble path to knowledge.

Dune Preserve, Rendezvous Bay – Anguilla
There’s only one degree of separation between Kevin Bacon and the Dune Preserve bar on Rendezvous Bay—this is where the Hollywood star comes to play live music when he’s in Anguilla. But this ramshackle bar set in the sand dunes and constructed of driftwood and material scavenged from shipwrecks is not cool because it attracts celebrities. It is cool because it is a ramshackle bar in the sand dunes made from driftwood and shipwrecks and because it doubles as the home of reggae artist Bankie Banx and because it has one of the best music scenes in the whole of the Caribbean. Of course, being right on the beach and serving up cold beers helps too.

Infiniti Bar, Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos
The longest bar in the Caribbean is also one of the coolest. The 28 meter (90 foot) long Infiniti Bar stretches its black marble from the restaurant at the Grace Bay Club all the way to (and, seemingly, into) the ocean. The bar is the most active in the evening though it is a great place to hang out during the day when it is covered by what we assume is some of the Caribbean’s finest real estate.

Not incidentally, the Grace Cay Club is a cool place to stay for more reasons than the Infiniti Bar. This elegant Spanish-style villa sits on one of the best beaches in the Turks & Caicos. The scene is chic and sleek, decorated with blazing blue and gold Bisazza glass mosaic tiles, was designed by Keith Hobbs of United Designers, known for his work with Nobu and London’s W Hotel. You shouldn’t have trouble finding a seat here, because according to Grace Bay, this is the longest bar in the Caribbean. The black marble construction stretches 90 feet across the beach and true to its name, Infiniti, seems to extend indefinitely into the ocean.

The Dune Bar, One & Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Want to drink and dine like James Bond, saddle up to the sexy Dune Bar at the One and Only, a very cool, open-air beach bar on Paradise Island where parts of Casino Royale were filmed. Attracting world-class athletes, actors, filmmakers, and musicians, the place is a celebrity magnet. They have created a classy colonial feel that’s topped off by a white marble bar. The bar menu fits the upscale atmosphere, and be sure to try the lobster and the conch salad for dinner. Although some items are expensive, the decor and the view make the experience worth it! For a romantic dinner while the sunsets, this place is pretty amazing!

Basil’s Bar on Mustique Island
At Basil’s Bar on Mustique Island in the West Indies, bar owner Basil Charles says that despite his establishment’s celebrity following (Mick Jagger, Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp), right now it’s all about value and keeping it real. Contributing to the unpretentious vibe is the bar’s thatched roof, open-air dance floor, and wood deck, which is perched on bamboo stilts over the water.

At this world famous Beach Bar is one of those places where every night which has been open for around 30 years and is part of the fabric of Mustique life. Basil welcomes sailors, business tycoons, film, fashion and rock stars, and Caribbean islands holidaymakers. It is said that Basil’s Bar is a leveler of people from all walks of life and it’s mantra is to “live for the moment”. The bar is constructed on stilts over the beach on the waterfront with wonderful views of Britannia Bay and the Caribbean Sea. Basil’s may well be the most famous bar in the world.

Whether you’re looking for upscale or down-home, the Caribbean and Mexico offers a treasure trove of beach bars where you can relax, rejuvenate, party and toast to a future full of possibilities—or just enjoy living in the present.

There are a lot of great resorts in the Los Cabos area, but the One & Only Palmilla stands out for the only true swimmable beach in the region, as well as a host of other great amenities, including a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course, complete with air conditioned golf carts. There is also a world-class spa and several restaurants, notably one run by famed Michelin 3-starred chef Jean Georges Vongerichten.

But thanks to Del Mar Development, you do not need be a guest at the resort to enjoy all these facilities. There are three high-end residential communities immediately adjacent to the hotel property, all by Del Mar, all within the 1000-acre master planned Palmilla community, and all with full run of the resort’s offerings. In addition to the One & Only’s great facilities, buyers receive exclusive amenities unique to Del Mar, including a private staffed beach club on the most desirable beach in Los Cabos, a new private tennis club, and the new Club Espiritu fitness center.

Club Ninety Six, the beach club, is exclusively for use by Del Mar Development homeowners and offers luxurious, family-friendly access to the best swimming in Los Cabos with a sea view infinity pool, a members-only wine cellar, and poolside food and beverage service from casual to fine dining, plus a cocktail lounge. The club has a private 50-foot sailing catamaran which leaves from the beach, as well as other watersport options including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and snorkeling. The new full-service Palmilla Tennis Club is the first of its kind in all of Mexico, with a mix of state-of –the-art Har-Tru Hydro-Grid and Plexipave Plexicushion courts.

Club Espiritu is Los Cabos’ finest private fitness club, a brand new $8 million, 10,000-square-foot hillside retreat with panoramic sea and mountain views. It has a full range of cutting edge fitness equipment, a Spinning studio, Pilates studio, Yoga pavilion, massage services, steam room, sauna and lap pool, and is situated at a trailhead leading to more than three miles of well-marked walking paths.

Villas Del Mar was the first of the three communities, and has been thriving for 15 years as a well-established and prestigious gated development with a large array of ocean-view homes spread along a two-mile stretch of pristine sand. In addition to vacant land for custom building, there are currently about half a dozen developer homes for sale within the community, from $1.5 million for a one bedroom cottage to just over $6 million for a five bedroom home. Resales of existing four and five bedroom homes run up to nearly $10 million. Perched at the highest point within Villas Del Mar is a newer and very exclusive sub-community, La Montaña, featuring 14 larger home sites with spectacular, unobstructed views of the Sea of Cortez. These are among the highest-view home sites in the entire Los Cabos corridor, for custom built dream homes, two of which have been finished, with the remaining lots starting at $3.5 million.

Oasis Palmilla was Del Mar’s second gated, sea-view community. It is composed of 40 one-acre lots, larger than almost every other Los Cabos development, intended for one story, ranch-style, 3500-6500 square foot custom homes overlooking the Palmilla Golf Course with views to the Sea of Cortez. The master-plan harmoniously integrates the home sites with the natural beauty of the Sonoran desert landscape. Currently there are only lots available, no spec homes.

Espiritu Del Mar is the newest of these gated communities, carved into the hillside near the new health club, with sweeping sea views and plenty of privacy. This community places an emphasis on open space, with more than a fourth of its 75 acres devoted to green parks, a citrus grove, manicured gardens, and miles of walking paths. The plan calls for a build out of 150 homes, and right now there are lots and a dozen developer spec homes either finished or under construction, in the same price range as at the adjacent Villas del Mar. Between these three developments and all their options, there is something for almost anyone considering a high-end custom home in the popular Los Cabos region, and the activities and amenities are unparalleled.

“Lights are blowing from the palm trees, stockings hanging from the mast. Santa riding on a dolphin, don’t you want to make it last. It’s Christmas in the Caribbean.” – Jimmy Buffett, Christmas in the Caribbean

In 1996, Jimmy Buffett brought a tropical Christmas to life with his hit “Christmas in the Caribbean.” He was not the first to trade-in snow for sand during the holidays, and he certainly won’t be the last. Shoveling icy slush in biting winds grows quickly tiresome, as do days that are short and bleak and nights that are dark and long. With Christmas and New Year’s so close together, the holiday season is the perfect time to gather-up friends and family and head for the tropics to create a new holiday tradition.

Tropical Christmas

The best part of a holiday trip to the tropics? Many cultures rich in island tradition hold holiday festivals and many encourage participation of visitors from around the world. This is a great time of year to experience the cultural diversity found in the Caribbean and Latin and Central America and to celebrate and shed inhibitions, even for a moment, during this wonderful time of year. If you choose not to dance and celebrate, it will not be for lack of opportunity. Luxury Living International has located the new winter wonderlands in paradise.

Bursting with music and festivity, St. Kitts is a fantastic place to experience a blend of celebrations. The St. Kitts National Carnival, a two-week festival starting on Dec.18, is a mix of African, European and regional influences resulting in a lively display of unique folklore and tradition. A conglomeration of celebrations including art, dance, poetry and drama, Carnival is a fun-filled event that runs through New Year’s. Revelers fill the streets to enjoy elaborate displays that comprise the heart of the festival with Masquerade, Mocko-Jumbies and clowns entertaining the crowds. The Masquerade is a showcase of dancers in intricate headdresses, while the Mocko-Jumbies are stilt-walkers that dance about in brightly colored costumes. The Bull is a comedic interpretation of an incident from the early 1900′s involving an errant prize bull running wild through the streets. A more traditional Christmas is revealed through music. Steel and brass drum bands add a Caribbean sound to carols as throngs of gospel choirs sing in downtown Basseterre. A jubilant experience for locals and visitors alike, Carnival in St. Kitts combines exuberant festivities with the Christmas holiday, something to provide a different “flair” to the typical, more traditional festivities.

Beach parties, private light displays and homecoming gatherings prove that there is something to help everyone find the holiday spirit in The Grand Cayman Islands. Traditionally the season was a time for sailors to return home from their nomadic lives aboard shipping vessels. Native Islanders would create their own “White Christmas” by piling sand for weeks-on-end into backyards until finally, on Christmas Eve, the piles were swept flat so that the entire yard was white and undisturbed. Tradition required that the sand not be walked on until Christmas Day and, even today, there are yards of white sand that still exist to keep the tradition alive. Church is central to the Cayman interpretation of Christmas, as well as holiday songs and poetry. Santa and Christmas Trees made their way to the Caymans in the early 1900′s and have been a mainstay ever since, the main difference being that Santa arrives via boat instead of sleigh. The Cayman locals have embraced the spirit of Christmas decor. Their increasingly extravagant “Griswold” light displays will make any traveler feel at home.

Festival, the biggest party of the year in Montserrat, takes place in December, the highlight of which is Christmas Week. Festival runs from Dec. 4 until New Years Day. Dedicated to celebration, Christmas Week is a culmination of a number of fun-filled activities. The Miss Festival Queen Pageant, a Calypso King Competition and musical extravaganzas comprise some of the events, as well as caroling on Christmas day. The origin of the festival lies in the history of plantation life, when slaves would get three days off to celebrate Christmas. Since the abolition of slavery, the three-day festival has grown into a month-long jubilee, ending on New Year’s Day. Visitors flock to Montserrat for the yearly festival, even more so now that flights from Antigua have become available to make travel that much easier.

Costa Rica is home to one of the most traditional Christmas celebrations in the region. Children are on a month-long break from school, and all working adults receive their mandatory end-of-year bonus. There are three Christmas parades; El Carnival with dancers and musical groups from all across the country, El Tope, a parade of show horses and decorative hand-painted ox carts, and the favorite, El Festival de Luzes, a nighttime parade filled with thousands of decorative lights. Many of the floats in the Festival de Luzes feature fluffy white decorations to imitate snow. Toros a la Tica, or bull fighting, is also a favorite tradition for many native Costa Ricans, and gringo visitors or residents are encouraged to participate in all festivities. Christmas is celebrated with fervor, and feasts are prepared for days and enjoyed well into the nights. They finally end on Jan. 6, symbolizing the arrival of the three wise men.

The British Virgin Islands are a perennial favorite for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, with plenty of fantastic parties. Celebrations include feasting and caroling as well as a unique and native “Christmas” tree. Known as a Fishing Rod Tree, the tall succulent plant blooms in April and by December has seed pod clusters that are decorated silver to add to the aura of the celebration. Spiced Guavaberry rum is the traditional drink, and streets are filled with calypso and reggae music as shoppers hunt for last minute gifts. In anticipation of New Year’s, yachts jostle for prime anchorages. It’s hard to go wrong and the weather and winds are, typically, ideal

Last-minute travel deals mean it’s never too late to plan a Christmas abroad. Start a new tropical holiday tradition searching for sleigh tracks in the sand on a beautiful sunny beach this Christmas morning. Why not start 2010 tanned, refreshed and the envy of the town!

Opened in 2006, Punta Espada has the distinction of being the first golf course in the Dominican Republic to host a PGA TOUR sanctioned event, having been the site of The Cap Cana Championship, a golf tournament on the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour, since 2008. The third annual Cap Cana Championship golf tournament is scheduled for March 22 to 28. Punta Espada is the first of what is expected to be three Jack Nicklaus Signature courses located within Cap Cana. Las Iguanas, the second Nicklaus Signature golf course, currently under construction, is due to open next year.

Cap Cana is a 30,000-acre, master-planned luxury resort and real estate community located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. The community is fully operational with championship golf and yachting facilities, a hotel, beaches, dining and retail establishments and more. Since breaking ground in 2002, Cap Cana has invested approximately $800 million in infrastructure and other improvements and has entered into contracts with aggregate value of approximately $1.4 billion for the sale of approximately 1,500 units of real estate properties. Throughout this period, Cap Cana has delivered approximately 700 real estate properties to buyers, including retail and developer hotel lots, condominiums and villas. Call 809-227-2262 or visit www.capcana.com.