On the Dominican Republic’s east coast, the small region of La Romana offers an unspoiled, quite area that lacks the commercial elements found in the more popular destinations, which makes it ideal for relaxation and getting away, and is one of the most authentic regions in the country.  La Romana is covered in hidden beaches and miles of natural landscape, making it an extremely beautiful destination. 

 And in La Romana, you will find the 7,00-acre Casa de Campo resort.  Built in 1990, it was designed to resemble a 16th century Mediterranean village.  They achieved this goal with cobblestone streets, stone carvings, fountains, shaded pathways, and arts to celebrate the culture of the Dominican Republic.

 Within this village you will find 300 hotel rooms, 1,600 villas, 10 restaurants, eight bars, 250-slip marina and yacht club, 18 swimming pools, shopping plazas, the private Minitas beach, a 5,000-seat open-air amphitheater, an equestrian center, museums, the luxury Cygalle Healing Spa, the artist’s community of Altos de Chavon, and golf carts provided for free for you to easily commute through the resort.

 All 300 hotel rooms come with patios, large bathrooms and all-inclusive options.  Their Los Altos residence features one, two and three bedroom, luxury units.  And most of their 1,600 villas have their own private pools and butlers, and some come with beachfront locations.  They are looking to add more villas through their renovation.  Celebrities such as Sammy Sosa, Oscar de la Renta and Beyonce, have chose to stay in these rooms and villas in the past.

 Casa de Campo is also known for its three award-winning, 18-hole, Pete Dye designed golf courses.  Top golfers visit here regularly for both tournaments and leisure.  And their legendary “Teeth of the Dog” course is the only known course with seven holes along the Caribbean Sea.

 St. Barts is an eight-square-mile island in the French Antiles, and home a wide selection of luxury boutique hotels.  Here, you can find properties ideal for anything from solitude and romance, to being in the middle of it all, to laid-back and relaxing.

 Relais & chateaux has two properties on the island, Eden Rock and Le Toiny.  Eden Rock is a glamorous resort placed right in the middle of the St. Barts’ jet-set scene.  The accommodations here are unique, and there are villas complete with a butler and car collection, if you are willing to go all out.  The beachfront Sand Bar restaurant is perfect for lunch and for people watching, and their beach is perfect for lounging throughout the day.  Le Toiny is more off the beaten track, and is more towards the windward side.  To get here, you wind down back roads, but due to the excellence of their restaurants, you will have no need to leave.  The Le Gaiac is one of the best restaurants on the island, and is searched out for by tourists and locals.  There are 15 villas within the hotel and offers private pools for all villas along with some of the most luxurious accommodations on the island.  This hotel is ideal for honeymooners and those planning to never leave their room.

 Hotel Le Sereno is on one of the island’s most secluded beaches, and offers 27 suites and villas that come complete with a private terrace, just steps from the beach, for each room.  The hotel’s pool is surrounded by daybeds, where you can relax all day while cabana boys serve you.  Here you will also find the Hotel’s Restaurant des Pecheurs, which serves some of the finest food on the island in their open-air dining room.  Another great resort is locally owned St. Barth Isle de France, and is set on a beautifully landscaped hill that leads down to the exquisite Flamands Beach.  This colonial-style surf and sand resort offers 33 rooms, suites and bungalows, two pools, a flood-lit tennis court and a Molton Brown spa with outdoor treatment rooms.  The Guanahani boasts their rank as one of the Leading Small Hotels of the World, and is located on a 16-acre private peninsula, which slants into a shallow lagoon.  This beach is perfect for young children and wading.  You can stay at one of their 75 rooms or suites, dine at one of their two restaurants, play in their tennis courts, and relax in their new Clarins spa.  And the 14-suite Preferred Boutique’s family-run Carl Gustaf features wonderful views and a private plunge pool in each of their suites.  And from the hotel you are able to walk to the shops in Gustavia, take a short trip to Shell Beach by foot, which is the best swimming beach on the island, and watch the sunset at the hotel bar.

 San Juan is remembered for its rich history, hot salsa clubs, and its cosmopolitan Caribbean charm.  Here, in this modern, beautiful city, English is widely spoken, the U.S. dollar is accepted, and it is easily reached from the states. 

 And in Old San Juan, there is a raging culinary and fashion scene emerging everywhere, with amazing restaurants sprouting from Fortaleza Street, and high name shops, such as Gucci and Dior, have opened their doors in the Condado neighborhood.

 Also, in Old San Juan you will find the glitzy beachfront resorts it is known for, including the upscale Ritz-Carlton.  This is one of the most luxurious in the area, and is places on an exquisite stretch of beach on Isla Verde and is located just minutes from the airport.  Between their excellent restaurants, beautiful pools and beach, high-class casino, and relaxing spa, you will find no time to do anything but relax and enjoy yourself.

 They recently added two first-rate restaurants, which have gained the awe of Ritz-Carlton guests and other visitors alike.  First of which is the BLT Steak.  This restaurant is the third branch of chef Laurent Tourondel’s modern steakhouses that are also located in New York and Washington D.C.  In this warm and inviting environment you can order such delights as braised short ribs, Kobe strip steak, and porterhouse, among others.  You can also order their tropical pina colada sundae.  Second, is Il Mulino, which is a branch of the popular restaurant in New York’s Greenwich Village.  This Italian restaurant has a recently been redone, along with their lobby bar, which has grown as a hub of activity for tourists and locals, and where bands playing anything from jazz to pop to salsa, will entertain you.

 The hotel boasts 416 guestrooms designed in soothing yellows and greens, with tropical-style artwork placed beautifully.  Many of their rooms overlook the beach from large picture windows and feature perks such as flat-screen TVs, full-length mirrors, Bulgari amenities, and marble baths.  Their garden suites provide you with your own pool-level patios that are surrounded by shrubbery to offer privacy.  Their presidential suites have been used by big names such as Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony, and feature a dining room, kitchen and whirlpool bathtub.  They are also located on the ninth floor, or ‘Club Level,’ where you have access to a private lounge with complimentary snacks and cocktails served all throughout the day.

 Also in this resort you will find the beautiful pool area, which is surrounded by tropical gardens, and that feature a large marble fountain along with six coralstone water-spouting lions (which are the Ritz-Carlton’s symbol).  You will also find their outdoor hot tub located just steps from the beach, and the breath-taking beach where there are hammocks and many watersports that are available. 

 And the last of the Ritz-Carlton’s perks is their 12,000-square-foot spa.  At this spa you can indulge in treatments such as their detoxifying coffee and coconut milk scrub, their rainforest stone massage, or their papaya and mango facial.

 For over a decade, entry to the Roman Forum has been free to everyone, and in March of this year, the archaeological officials have decided to start charging everyone for entry to this ancient central area. 

Access to the Forum will be included in the $16 ticket that visitors already pay in order to enter into the nearby Colosseum and Palatine Hill.  The proceeds from the tickets will go towards increasing security, and the restoration of sites such as the Forum and other sites of Rome.

The Forum allows you access to the remains of several key buildings from Roman times, such as the Senate, the basilica which was built by the Emperor Maxentius, temples and many others.  And though the resources and budget is small for the archaeological office, they are working to open up long-closed sites and new exhibitions.  Most of their budget at the time goes towards new discoveries, digs and conservation projects.

Also, March signaled the reopening of the Emperor Augustus’ frescoed palace to the public after decades of restoration.  This palace atop the Palatine will allow you to walk through decorative marvels in the studio, and to view the hall where Augustus received guests, and the rooms in the nearby palace that was built for his wife, Livia.

 The Loire Valley is home to a countless amount of chateaus.  Choosing between the many castles may be quite the task, but it is worth it.  It is recommended to only plan two or three castles in a day, and not to try to cram too many stops within one excursion.  These beautiful fields are crossed by rivers and covered in castles, ranging from the Medieval to the Renaissance.  In Medieval times, many castles were important during the hundred years’ war, when France and England battled throughout the 14th and 15th centuries.  In Renaissance times, palaces were built rather than castles, and were fashionable among the rich and royal.  This area is also home to many good wines.  You will spot many “Degustation” (or “tasting”) signs that will lead you to many wineries.  Many tourist centers will give you information on winery tours and tasting details, and the towns of Vouvray and Chinon have many hospitable family wineries.  It would take forever to name and describe all the chateaus in the Valley, so here is an outline of the 3 most interesting.

 The first is Chenonceau.  This 15-century Renaissance palace arches over the Cher River, and was home to Henry II.  It was femininely designed by Diane de Poiters, mistress of Henry II, and Catherine de Medici, the wife of Henry II.  Diane added the arched bridge that stretched across the river, but after Henry’s death, she was kicked out by Catherine, into the nearby chateau of Chaumont.  Catherine later added a three-story structure atop the bridge, and turned this palace into the popular meeting place to be seen.

 Second is the large Chambord.  This castle is surrounded by a lush park, which is filled with wild deer and bore.  Originally built as a hunting lodge, after Francois I brought in 1,800 workmen over 15 years, it became his weekend retreat.  Many highlights include the second-floor vaulted ceilings, enormous towers on all the corners, 100-foot-tall lantern, 365 fireplaces, and 440 rooms (though only 80 are open to the public), also, if you look, you will see Francois’s signature salamander integrated throughout the castle.  And one of the most noted attractions here is the Leonardo da Vinci designed huge double-spiral staircase.  He spent his last years as part of the king’s court and lived nearby (a museum can be toured in his home in nearby Loire in Amboise).

 And last is the palace of Cheverny.  This hunting palace was built in 1634, and has been in the same family for nearly seven centuries.  The family shows their pride in the palace through its flawless preservation and intimate feel.  The family still lives on the third floor, and it is apparent that hunting is still a large part of their life.  It is easy to see their dedication to hunting by simply visiting their kennel of 70 hounds, or the trophy room, which houses 2,000 stag antlers.

Hotels

Tobago is home to a large selection of hotels from the budget to the luxury.

Coco Reef Resort & Spa is located in Crown Point.  This 135 room property is conveniently located near some of the island’s best beaches, such as Pigeon Point, and offers amenities such as spa, tennis, watersports and golf.

Hilton Tobago Golf & Spa Resort is located just 15 minutes from the airport and includes many spa features.  The Equilibrium spa features the latest treatments, such as microdermabrasion, and electrolysis.  And through out the resort there are many amenities including championship golf, three pools, and kids’ club.  This resort is located next to 60 acres of protected mangrove forest, which will offer you all the exploration you could want.

Mount Irving Bay Hotel features an 18-hole golf course, a great beach (perfect for snorkeling, windsurfing, water-skiing and relaxing), three restaurants, six bars, tennis and more.

Golf

On the island of Tobago, you will find two golf courses that will easily feed your cravings for golf on your vacation.

The Mount Irving Golf Club is part of the Mount Irving Bay Hotel and is set on the grounds of a former coconut plantation.  Near the 18 holes, on the fairways lined by coconut trees, you will have view of the Caribbean sea from every corner, with a highlighting view of Bucco Point and Bucco Reef from the ninth hole.  They also feature a clubhouse, a restaurant and an equipment rental center.

Tobago Plantations Golf & Country Club features an 18 hole championship course, excellent attractions, such as the third hole, which is located on a peninsula, set between the Atlantic Ocean and a view of Scarborough (Tobago’s capital).

Both of these courses are located about 10 to 15 minutes away from Scarborough and the Crown Point Airport.  You should also go in the summer months, when the Tobago Open is held annually in June, also when the Southern Caribbean Open takes place in July.

Hiking

Not only is Tobago ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, birdwatching, and more, but it is also exquisitely picturesque for hiking.

The Main Ridge Rainforest Reserve is home to the Argyle Waterfall, which is the highest of falls on the island, and is located at the end of a beautiful and brisk 15-minute hike along a shaded trail lined by cocoanut trees, and is perfect for first-timers.

Kayaking

Kayaking is perfect in the turquoise waters of Bucco Bay and Bon Accord Lagoon.  The seas here are calm and protected by coral reefs, leaving you time to truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.  In places like Speyside, kayaking is more of a mode of transportation than just a leisure activity.

Diving

There are around 300 species of coral in the waters of Tobago, which are the home to the likes of tropical fish, sponges, dolphins, whale sharks, turtles and other marine creatures that populate the reefs.  The water is warm year-round here, and the currents are gentle.  The most popular places for diving are Speyside, the St. Giles Islands, Man O’ War Bay, Columbus Passage, and the Manta Reef, where it fills with giant rays during the months of March through J

 In Tobago you will find many scenic Beaches, Bays and Ports.  The island’s main city of Scarborough is the main drop off point for the ferry service and shuttles, along with the cruise port of the island.  Shops and restaurants fill downtown here, and is the starting point for exploring the rest of the island.

 There are numerous picture perfect beaches on the island of Tobago.  One of the most famous and popular beach, Pigeon Point has gained most of is popularity due to its powder white sands.  Here you can walk among the numerous food stands, watersports kiosks, picnic table and locals selling their arts and crafts.  This beach is very tourist-friendly, and has many facilities such as gift shops, restrooms with showers, small restaurants and a bandstand for live entertainment.  Here you can also sign up for snorkeling excursions that leave from the beach.

 More north from Pigeon Point, you will find many Bays and Beaches, among them are:  Back Bay, which is great for snorkeling and surfing; Great Courland Bay, which is known for the turtles that nest nearby; Englishman’s Bay, is known as the ‘deserted paradise’ of the area, where you can literally get away from it all; Man-O-War Bay, where you can watch the fishermen from the nearby town of Charlottesville fish, and then sell their catch of the day; and couples can find pink sands in a secluded beach at Lovers’ Beach, which is only accessible by boat.

 Charlotte Bay is where you can go off the beaten path.  This small fishing village is located on the northeastern coast along a beautiful stretch of sand and is ideal for diving.  This town is very laid back, and you will usually see the locals just sitting on the pier, beer in hand, listing to reggae and chatting with locals and visitors alike.

 Once a military base, Fort King George offers spectacular views of the ocean and port from its location atop a cliff.  Located here is a small museum which displays weapons, idols and other artifacts from the native Amerindian people.  Along with a fine arts center that displays local artists’ latest works.

 If you are looking for a scenic, relaxing beach, go to Store Bay.  This 640-ft. stretch is ideal for swimming with warm water and gentle currents year round.  There are also many comfortable facilities on the beach, such as changing rooms with showers, seating, local food vendors, and lifeguards that relaxingly police the area.

Here is a list of many of the festivals held on the island of Tobago:

The Plymouth Jazz Festival is held every year in April.  The Jazz Festival is a full weekend of music, dancing, performances and more.  The performances are by top names, and past performers include Elton John, Gladys Knight, Al Green and LL Cool J.

The Angostura World Sailing Regatta is the best party on the water, and is held in May.  This week long event consists of four days of yacht racing and three days of parties, games, and more.  Yachts from all over the world come to compete to become the fastest in their class.  Also on land competitors battle in categories other than racing, such as hula hoping, salsa dancing, limbo and slip-n-slide.

The Blue Food Festival is one of the to food festivals held each year on the island.  Cooks from the villages create dishes from local ingredients.  This festival takes place in October.

Tobago Heritage Festival takes place in the summer months, and is where they put culinary and cultural accomplishments on display.  This is a great chance to try new foods and experience the culture when visiting the island.

 Do you find it hard to figure out where to eat when on vacation?  In Trinidad and Tobago they offer such a diverse dining scene that you may not be able to distinguish between the good restaurants and the ones that aren’t worth your business.  But there is good news; here is a cheat sheet to all the great dining on the islands from the casual to the luxurious, along with tips on what it is you’re actually ordering.

 We’ll start off with Trinidad.  Trinidad is made-up of many ethnicities throughout it’s population, with cultures that range from India, Thailand, China, Spain and more, and is filled with experts on authentic cuisine from around that world.  History and the culinary often mix with each other, painting a picture of the reason why these dishes are served where they are, as it is in Trinidad.  Brought to the island from Africa ages ago, Creole food is a mix of African recipes made into dishes that are purely Trinidadian.  Dishes such as macaroni pie (a casserole of macaroni, milk, eggs, and cheese) and stews of caramelized chicken or red beans, are the most popular and authentic of Creole food in Trinidad. 

 East Indian influences are found through the island as well.  Curry is found flavoring everything from duck, to chicken, to goat.  Other favorites influenced from this region are roti (flatbread pastry stuffed with curried meat and vegetables), chokas (roasted and pounded vegetables usually served for breakfast), aloo pies (fried potato pies), barfi (coconut fudge), and ras gulla (milk balls served with sweet syrup.  The best area in Trinidad to find these dishes at their best is in the town of Debe, in the south of the island.

 Authentic Trinidadian cuisine can be found at one of the many vendors in crowded areas like Queen’s Park Savannah.  From these vendors, you can order jerk meats, homemade ice cream, Creole corn soup and more.

 Upscale dining in Trinidad can be found in many restaurants that serve dishes from around the world, such as Italian, French, Indian, Japanese, Thai and Spanish Cuisine.  Known as the “restaurant strip,” Ariapita Avenue is perfect for finding somewhere to dine, along with Woodbrook, St. Clair and around Queen’s Park Savannah.  In Queen’s Park you can fid excellent tastes of India at Apsara (“celestial dancer”), such as spicy curry, and tandoori flavored with Indian and Caribbean spices.  Inside the Coblentz Inn boutique Hotel you will find Battimamzelle Restaurant, which is one of the areas most upscale dining venues.  Here they serve up Caribbean-style cuisine with touches of European and Indian flavor and style.  Melange restaurant in Woodbrook serves international dishes like snapper risotto and other pastas.  La Grande Almandier offers authentic Creole food, with some of the freshest seafood around, with the local fishermen supplying them with the catch of the day.

 In Tobago, most of the dining gets its inspiration from the African heritage of its people.  The Creole cuisine found in Store Bay offers specialties like crab dumplings in coconut and curry sauce and pacro water (a local spicy libation) within some of the best restaurants on the island.  also in Crown Point, places like Buccoo are known for the international gourmet restaurants.  And excellent Creole cuisine set in the form of a 4-couse meal is served at the Arnos Vale Waterwheel in the Arnos Vale Hotel.

 There are also three food festivals that occur yearly on both the islands.  In Trinidad, you can go to the Taste T&T Festival, a 2-night event that brings the top restaurants and more under the same roof.  In Tobago, you can go to the Blue Food Festival in October, where cooks from the villages create dishes out of local ingredients.  And in the summer months you can go to the Tobago Heritage Festival, where they put culinary and cultural achievements on display.

 Also, many shops with serve the regular favorites, but the names don’t exactly explain what you will be eating, so here are a few definitions of local favorites:  Bake and shark is a sandwich consisting of deep-fried shark between fried dough, and is usually topped with the likes of vegetables, pineapple, ketchup, tartar sauce, spicy chutneys and more; Fruit chows are local fruits (such as plums, pineapple) cut up and mixed with lime juice, garlic, pepper and cilantro; Souse is boiled pig trotters or chicken feet, served cold in a lime, cucumber, pepper and onion broth; Chip-chip is a small shellfish (similar to clams) that is served curried or with a cocktail sauce; and Cascadura is a small freshwater fish that is usually served curried.

 Trinidad & Tobago offer a rich natural experience full of birdwatching where you will find spot bird species you won’t find anywhere else in the world, and lodging that is as devoted to the environment as you may be.www.hotmail.com

 There are over 430 species of birds in Trinidad, with more and more stopping by daily, making Trinidad the ideal destination for birdwatching.  One stop you should take is the Caroni Bird Sanctuary located at the Caroni Swamp.  This sanctuary is located on the west coast just south of Port of Spain, and is the protected home for scarlet ibis, one of the national birds.  Here you will also get the chance to see herons, egrets and cormorants.  Many companies operate daily tours in the area, including guides that will explain the ibis and its habitat.

 Located in the west is a nature conservatory devoted to preserving rare breeds of bird and waterfowl species.  They have reintroduces birds such as the blue and gold macaw, the red bellied macaw, purple and azure gallinules, yellow hooded blackbirds, and more.  This conservatory is located on 62 acres of land that surround two lakes, and also feature a Learning Centre, where you can access more in-depth information about the birds you have seen and the history of the area.

 There are many eco-lodges and conservatories located on the island that are devoted to the island and its environment, such as the Pax Guest House.  This eco-lodge puts you in arm’s reach of hummingbirds and tanagers, and is one of the oldest on the island.  one of the largest conservation areas on the island, the Asa Wright Nature Centre covers 270 acres of Trinidad’s Northern Range, and is home to over 400 species of birds.  This tropical, forested region is home to 97 native mammals, 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians, and over 600 butterfly species.  The Centre also offers a 27-room lodge, where you can spot many birds as soon as you wake up, such as the turquoise tanager, the channel billed toucan and the bearded bellbird.  From here you are able to explore the area as you please, all day or for just a little bit of time on your own trail or on guided walks.

 There are 240 species of birds on the island of Tobago, and many areas to spot them best at.  The Grafton Caledonia Sanctuary, a 200-acre former cocoa estate, offers beautiful hiking trails that offer you views of birds like the blue crowned motmot, the white fringed antwren, and one of the national birds, rufous vented chachalaca.  These birds are in plan view most of the day, especially around 4 p.m. each day, and are unafraid of the people, allowing you to get the change to hand feed them yourself.  Established in 1765, Tobago’s Main Ridge Rainforest Reserve is the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere, and is great for birdwatching.  Here you can spot bird species from the golden olive woodpeckers, to the streaked flycatchers, to the blue backed manakins.  Also, the island of Little Tobago (formerly called Bird of Paradise Island), is a 250-acre island that is home to sea birds such as the red billed tropic and the brown booby.