All posts by Alberto Veloso

Lisbon and Madeira

Optional Tours

Classic Lisbon

Duration of the excursion: About 4 hours

A few hours to discover Lisbon, first of all we will cross the 25th April Bridge (if possible). On our return you get a fantastic view of Lisbon and its hills, and then we go on, to visit the Belém quarter, where you will find the most beautiful and historical monuments from the 15th and 16th centuries. A brief stop at the Belém Tower- world heritage by UNESCO (Torre de Belém), point of departure of some of the Portuguese maritime explorations, such as on the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), built to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the “death “ of Prince Henry the Navigator. Then we visit the church of S. Jerome Monastery – world heritage by UNESCO (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) a masterpiece of the “Manueline” style and the Coach Museum (Museu dos Coches) with one of the most important collection of old carriages in the world, (both closed on Mondays, replaced by the visit of Ajuda Palace or “Fundação Medeiros e Almeida”). Along the river we arrive at Alfama, an old and traditional district, where we have the opportunity to walk in its narrow streets, and visit a handicraft shop where we taste an aperitif of Port wine. We will pass by the downtown (Baixa) to admire the most important squares of Lisbon such as the monumental Trade Square (Praça do Comércio); Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon and the symbolic Restauradores Square. Then we drive along the Liberdade Avenue the “boulevard” of Lisbon to finish at Pombal Square with the statue of the statesman from the 18th century.

Sintra Deluxe

Duration of the excursion: About 8 hours
Departure: Marquês de Pombal / Parque Eduardo VI 09:00

We leave in direction of the majestic and romantic Pena Palace, an astonishing fairytale castle, located in one of the highest peaks of Sintra mountain range. At the end of the morning free time to walk in the streets of the village of Sintra (Cultural Landscape by UNESCO) that enchanted Kings and inspired poets to appreciate the several handicraft shops and tea-rooms to taste the delicious local sweets like the “queijadas”. We leave to Colares*, region demarcated and recognized for its table wines, following until Cabo da Roca, the most western point in continental Europe, passing for the beach of Guincho until Boca do Inferno always sea viewing enjoying the landscape until Cascais where we take a glimpse of the fishing port. We return to Lisbon by Estoril Coast where we can have a panoramic view of the Casino and its gardens.

Madeira

Funchal and Botanical Garden

Duration of the excursion: about 4 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Wednesday and Friday (morning)

We will start by presenting you the Old Town, including the Historical Nucleus of Santa Maria dated from 1425, when the settlement of Madeira began. From this period the nucleus still preserves the urban lines, the Chapel of Corpo Santo and a small door in manueline style. Then we visit the Fish Market, where you can see several types of typical madeirian fish like tuna fish, black scabbard fish and parrot fish, and the famous “Mercado dos Lavradores”, built in 1941, where flowers, fruits and fish are sold. In the inner court, you will find fruit and vegetable salesmen, which offer in wicker baskets exotic fruit and vegetables. The flower women in the typical costumes are offering orchids, birds of paradise, flamingo flowers and straw flowers of all colours. Not far from the market is an embroidery factory located. Here you will get acquainted with one of most beautiful handicrafts of Madeira and see how the embroidery is made. You will find here table cloths, napkins, handkerchiefs with monogram, among others, with the guaranteed seal from Madeira. The next Stop is in the Botanical Garden where you may enjoy a magnificent view over Funchal from the different sightseeing points. Here you can find, besides orchids, an enormous amount of tropical and subtropical plants from all over the world. To conclude, we will visit a wine cellar, where you have the opportunity to taste the famous Madeira Wine.

New Year

Santana

Duration of the excursion: about 8 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Saturday & Monday

Camacha is a wicker work centre located in the eastern part of Funchal. Here you cannot only buy wicker work products, but also appreciate the process of manufacturing. After passing by Poiso, we follow towards Pico do Arieiro, the third highest mountain in the island (1.818m).When the weather is clear you can see the neighbour island Porto Santo. We return through the same road towards the Natural Park Ribeiro Frio. Here, we have the opportunity to taste a typical Madeirian drink, poncha, made out of sugarcane brandy, honey and lemon juice (optional) and to visit a trout farm. After this stop, we continue towards Faial and Santana. In Santana you can admire the typical thatched-roof houses. The lunch is served in Santana (inclusive). Afterwards we continue towards Porto da Cruz and Portela, from where the impressive Penha d’Águia can be seen. Return along the southern coast, passing by the fishing village Machico.

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Spain Specials, Wine Specials Portugal

Castela and Rioja

25/05/12 Alberto Veloso

Includes

Tranfers from and to the airport or from and to the train station.
Luxury bus throughout the circuit.
Accommodation in charm hotels, in basis of bed and breakfast.
Includes visits to all mentioned venues, including wineries and tastings.
Guide coordinator (minimum 20 participants)
Local guides
Lunches according to the program.
Gourmet dinners according to the program.
Travel insurance.

Don’t includes

Any service not specified in the program.
Personal Expenses.
Drinks during meals.

For reasons of logistics, we recommend a minimum 12 and maximum of 30 participants.

Itinerary

1st Day – Madrid / Burgos

Departing from Madrid we go to Aranda del Duero. Stop for lunch. In the afternoon we travel to Burgos. Check in at the hotel. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

2nd Day – Burgos / Najera / Logroño

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the town of Burgos, including the Cathedral in a gothic style, built in the XII century and whose exterior has two remarkable towers; and also the Cartuja de Miraflores. After concluding the visit, lunch. In the afternoon we leave to Rioja. Arrival to Nájera, court and the birthplace of kings, the capital of the kingdom in the X and XI centuries. Visit to the Monastery of Santa María la Real. On to Logroño, which name comes from “Gronio” Celtic root meaning beam and refers to his birth on the River Ebro. The story turned Logroño, into the capital and heart of the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, a perfect example of interbreeding between ancient and modern, walking visit to the city. Check in at hotel with charm. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

3rd Day – Logroño / Monastery of Valvanera / San Millan de la Cogolla / Abadia de Cañas / Logroño

After breakfast at the hotel we begin our journey which will surely leave an indelible mark on.

We start by visiting the Monastery of Valvanera, where the patron of Rioja is kept, reason why this is a place of Marian pilgrimages. It was kept locked during the time of Leovigildo, but in this century it was rebuild and is runned by Benedictine monks, it is situated in a place of great natural beauty. The image of the Patroness, whose origin lies in the XI century is Romanesque. We go on to San Millán de la Cogolla, where we will visit the Monastery of Yuso. Lunch along the way. We continue to “Abadía de Cañas” dated from the XIII century, nowadays the Saint Mary Convent. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

4th Day – Logroño / Rota do Vinho / Briones / Haro / Sto .Domingo De La Calzada / Logroño

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Briones one of the most beautiful places in Rioja, with buildings dated from the XV until the XVIII centuries. Our journey continues to Haro, the most important shopping center of the wine region. Besides its world famous wineries, other highlights are the City Hall and the Palaces of Paternina and of de la Cruz, the old town popularly called “Herradura”, the “Judiaria” and the Baroque Palace of the Counts of Haro. Visit to a winery and tasting. Lunch will take place in the old town, during the route of “tapas” bars. In the afternoon we travel to “Santo Domingo de la Calzada”. Visit to this village Jacobean, and the Romanesque Cathedral of the XI century. After concluding the visit return to Logroño. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

5th Day – Logroño / Peñafiel / Valladolid

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Aranda del Duero and Peñafiel. Visit to one of the most important wine cellars at Ribeira del Duero, tasting included. Lunch. In the afternoon we continue to Valladolid. Check in at the hotel. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

6th Day – Valladolid

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the city of Valladoid, the first capital of the Spain kingdom, along its streets some important characters of Spanish history and culture were seen in ancient times, as Queen Elizabeth I, the Emperor Karl, Philip II or Christopher Columbus. Some of the most important pages of Spanish literature were written here, Miguel de Cervantes, José Zorrilla, Jorge Guillen, Rosa Chacel, Francisco Umbral, Jose Jimenez Lozano or Miguel Delibes. Visit to the National Museum del Colegio San Gregorio. Visit to a wine cellar. Lunch. Free afternoon. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

7th Day – Valladolid / Segóvia / Avila

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards departure to Segóvia. Free time to visit this city, which highlights are the Aqueduct, a superb piece of roman engineering; the Cathedral and the emblematic building of the Alcazar, built on a solid rock. Lunch in a typical Mesón, to eat the famous “cochinillo. In the afternoon we will continue towards Ávila, birthplace of Santa Teresa. It has a walled enclosure of 2 km, the best preserved in the world. There are nine doors, including the Door of Alcázar and the Door of San Vicente, near the Basilica with the same name, in a romanesque style. Gourmet diner. Accommodation.

8th Day – Avila / Madrid

Breakfast and departure transfer to the airport.

Prices per person in Euros €

Price per person in double room – € 2.350,00;
Single Supplement – please request.

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Spain Specials

Barcelona and Surroundings

25/05/12 Alberto Veloso

Includes

Tranfers from and to the airport or from and to the train station.
Luxury bus throughout the circuit.
Accommodation in charm hotels, in basis of bed and breakfast.
Includes visits to all mentioned venues, including wineries and tastings.
Guide coordinator (minimum 20 participants)
Local guides
Lunches according to the program.
Gourmet dinners according to the program.
Travel insurance.

Don’t includes

Any service not specified in the program.
Personal Expenses.
Drinks during meals.

For reasons of logistics, we recommend a minimum 12 and maximum of 30 participants.

Itinerary

1st Day – Barcelona

Transfer from airport or train station to the chosen hotel. City sightseeing tour. Rest of the day free. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

2nd Day – Barcelona / Vic / Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Vic, capital within the region of Barcelona – Osona, situated by the river Meder, near the impressive Sau swamp. Its remarkable Cathedral is home to an archbishopric. The temple, built at the end of the XVIII century, is of neoclassical style and one of its biggest attractions are the inside murals by Josep Maria Sert. In the Middle Ages, the city was divided into two sectors, one around the Castle of Montcada and another around the Cathedral. The route in Vic will also lead us to places as emblematic as the Palau Episcopal, built near the precincts of the Cathedral; the arcaded Plaza Mayor, the Roman temple, the convent of Sant Domenech or the Church of la Pietat. Lunch. In the afternoon we visit a production of sausages, typical of the region. Return to Barcelona. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

3rd Day – Barcelona / Montserrat / Terrassa / Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the mount of St. Montserrat. Arrinving at Monistrol of Montserrat we will take the “Cremallera”, (cable car) by which we ascend slowly to the top, watching a splendid panoramic view during the journey. Visit the Monastery of Montserrat is essential because it is a place of pilgrimage. The image of the Virgin, known as La Moreneta is a sculpture of the XII century, with the face and hands in a dark color (brown); has on the left hand the Child and on the right globe. Not to be missed is the daily singing of Escolanía, at 13hrs, specializing in Gregorian chant and famous throughout the world. After we go to Terrassa. Lunch. In the Afternoon visit to the “Iglesies Romániques Sant Pere” and “Modernista” Terrassa. Return to Barcelona. Rest of the afternoon free. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

4th Day – Barcelona / Zona Penedés D.O. / Barcelona

Breakfast at hotel and departure to Vilafranca del Penedés. Arrival to the area par excellence of wines and sparkling wines, visit to an important champagne cellar, with guided tour and tasting. We continue the journey to “Academy of Tastavins del Penedés” where a wine seminar will take place and we will have the opportunity of making wine, there will also be a blind wine tasting and the participants that guess which are the correct wines will go home with several products from that region. Countryside lunch. In the afternoon, after finishing the visit, return to Barcelona. Gourmet dinner. Accommodation.

5th Day – Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards we leave to a visit at to the Gothic quarter and an overview of the city, with a stop at the Holy Family. Free time. In the afternoon, at a fixed hour, departure to a taste of ham, where you can try the several different qualities and textures of ham and their flavors, according to the provenance, rearing and feeding of the pig. All hams tasted will be Iberian, with denomination of origin. We continue with dinner and at the end we return to the hotel. Accommodation.

6th Day – Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel and departute transfer to the airport or train station.

Prices per person in Euros €

Price per person in double room – € 2.020,00;
Single Supplement – please request.

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Minho North Wines

21/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our day with a visit to the Casa de Sezim, property of the family of the current owners since 1376. The cellar of the Casa de Sezim is located downstream of the main building and I t consists of a building with two bodies is equipped with the latest technology. In the first one, the processing and storage areas are located; in the second the laboratory, bottling line and storage. Lunch will be served on local restaurant and after lunch we continue our itinerary with a visit to the Casa do Valle, which began its present management in 1940, despite the fact that the estate is already in the family for several generations. The Casa do Valle has two cellars, one for white wine and rosé, located in a beautiful 18th century building, carefully restored, where the appropriate equipment to process the most modern winemaking was installed. The other wine cellar prepared for the red wines is located in an interesting stone building, where we can find the traditional granite wine vat.

Informations

Days of Operation: Monday to Friday
Wine Region: Minho
Wine Tasting at Casa de Sezim: 2 Table Wines (1 White and 1 Red)
Wine Tasting at Casa do Valle: 2 Table Wines (2 Whites)

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	160,00	125,00	105,50	95,50	90,50	85,50	80,00

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Minho South Wines

21/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our day with a visit to the Quinta da Aveleda, a family business for over three centuries, directed and guided by generations of the same family. Market leader in the Vinho Verde Region, Quinta da Aveleda is one of the largest wine producers in Portugal and annually exports more than half of its production to 60 countries around the world. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch we continue our itinerary with a visit to the Casa de Cello, a family business dedicated to the vineyard from their estates for 4 generations. It was in the 80´s that the existing structure was reorganized in order to implement the best vineyards and winemaking technology. Currently its vineyards spread along the heart of the Entre-Douro and Minho Region, near Amarante that capture the best expression of their “terroirs “in wines.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel in Porto)
Days of Operation: Monday to Friday
Wine Region: Minho
Wine Tasting at Quinta da Aveleda: 2 Table Wines (1 White and 1 Red)
Wine Tasting at Casa de Cello: 3 Table Wines (1 White and 2 Red)

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	160,00	115,00	100,00	90,00	85,00	80,00	75,50

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Dão Wines

21/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our day with a visit to Quinta do Perdigão, located in Silgueiros, on one of the slopes of the Dão River. The Quinta do Perdigão is the most awarded estate from Dão region, nationally and internationally since 1999. Despite having a high density planting, it only produces about 21.000 liters of red wine, 5.500 liters of rosé and 4.500 liters of white wine. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch we will continue our tour with a visit to the Quinta da Falorca , a family estate for over five generations. The wine cellar has modern facilities and is equipped with the latest technology. The stage of the wine is made either in French oak barrels or in bottle, and presently the bottle production is around 45.000. To finish our day we will visit the Paço dos Cunhas de Santar, located in the village of Santar. Built in 1609, in Italian Renaissance style, the Paços da Cunha de Santar was for generations a large estate house dedicated to the production of olive oil, fruit and wine to supply the markets of Porto. Converted into a wine tourism property in 2008, this century-old building blends perfectly modern architecture with the classic style of the region. From the vineyards of this structure come red and white wines that became top references from Dão Wine Region.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel in Porto)
Days of Operation: Tuesday to Friday
Wine Region: Dão
Wine Tasting at Quinta do Perdigão: 4 Table Wines (1 White and 3 Red)
Wine Tasting at Quinta da Falorca: 4 Table Wines (1 White and 3 Red/Wine Vat and 1 Red Special harvest)
Wine Tasting at Paço dos Cunhas de Santar: 3 Wines (1White, 2 Red) and 1 Sparkling

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	220,00	190,00	150,00	135,00	125,00	120,00	115,00

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Bairrada Wines

19/05/12 Alberto Veloso

Start the day with a visit to Luís Pato Wine Cellar, located in Anadia. Its wine bottling activity began in the 70´s and with the demarcation of the Bairrada region, the distinct character of the wines made it necessary to have the wine bottling from its own production. In the 80´s the local prizes gave encouragement to pursue the path of innovation that has been implemented since the birth of the region as a trademark. We continue our itinerary with a visit and lunch in the Quinta do Encontro. This wine cellar also located in Anadia, has a tradition of wine production dating back to 1930. The new wine cellar, surrounded by a serene landscape dominated by vineyards is inspired by objects and forms related to production and consumption of wine, which not only aims to increased ability to winemaking, but also to establish more direct contact with the consumer.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel in Porto)
Days of Operation: Monday to Saturday
Wine Region: Bairrada
Wine Tasting at Luís Pato Wine Cellar: 3 Table Wines (1 White and 2 Red)
Wine Tasting at Quinta do Encontro: 3 Wines (1White, 2 Red) and 1 Sparkling

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	180,00	135,00	115,00	105,00	100,00	95,00	90,00

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Quinta Santa Eufêmia & Quinta do Pôpa

19/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our day with a visit to the Quinta de Santa Eufêmia, founded in 1864 and managed by the fourth generation of the family, who has been producing these excellent Port wines, maintaining the ancestral know-how of winemaking and aging. Located on the left side of the Douro River, the vineyard produces grapes of the richest varieties, in the traditional way and fermented in granite vats in order to extract their fine essences and aging in oak casks. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch we will continue our tour with a visit to the Quinta do Pôpa, acquired in 2003 by the Ferreira Family. Located in the heart of the Douro, in the hot and dry region of Cima Corgo, this estate has a high quality soil, from which rise the vines planted on the terraced hills along the banks of Douro, with a favorable climate and noble castes. The production method reconciles the most sophisticated techniques with centuries of rigorous tradition, such as vinification by treading the grapes in granite presses at a controlled temperature.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel in Porto)
Days of Operation: Monday to Friday
Wine Tasting at Quinta Santa Eufêmia: 2 Porto Wines
Wine Tasting at Quinta do Pôpa: 4 Table Wines (1 white and 3 red)

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	160,00	120,00	100,00	90,00	85,00	80,00	75,50

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo & Quinta do Panascal

18/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our morning with a visit to the stunning Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, located near Pinhão and are integrated in the Demarcated Region of Douro since its inception in 1756. Over time, the whole heritage of the estate has been carefully preserved: the 19th century manor house, presently a wine hotel, the baroque style chapel, the orchards, the watermill and the wine cellar, dated from 1764. During this visit, guests will have the opportunity to learn in detail the wine production and also visit the underground cellar. In the Harvest Season, the possibility of participating in this activity is also available in this Estate. Lunch will be served on the premises. After lunch, guests will proceed with the visit to the Quinta do Panascal, a beautiful property overlooking to the Tavora River founded in 1822. Today, the company is in a leading position, as a producer of high quality Port Wines, aged in cask and Vintage wines. From their vineyards came the extraordinary grapes that produced the Fonseca Vintage Port 1994 (considered the best wine in the world). The reputation of the Quinta do Panascal dates from the 18th century when the wines produced on the banks of the Tavora River were considered among the best in Portugal. Quinta do Panascal suffered a re-planting program from 1987 to 1995, and is now one of the largest estates in the Douro valley.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of Operation: Daily
Wine Tasting at Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo: 2 Table Wines (1 White and 1 Red), 1 Porto Wine
Wine Tasting at Quinta do Panascal: 2 Porto Wines

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	155,00	120,00	100,00	90,00	85,00	80,00	75,50

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Quinta do Vallado & Quinta do Passadouro

17/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our day with a visit to the charming Quinta do Vallado, located in the heart of the Douro, near the Régua. This estate spreads out on both banks of the Corgo River, near its merging point with the Douro. With references dating back to 1716, the estate was owned by the legendary D. Antonia Adelaide Ferreira and remains in the family since then, presently going in the sixth generation. The high quality of their wines recognized by the most reputable international experts, makes Quinta do Vallado one of the best and indisputable references of what the Douro has to offer. Lunch will be served at the estate. Then we continue our itinerary with a visit to the Quinta do Passadouro, located in the heart of the Pinhão Valley. The origin of this estate dates back to the 18th century, when it was referred in the famous Douro map, prepared by the Baron of Forrester. In 1991, the Estate was bought and started not only to produce Port, but also table wines of high quality, with the aim of creating a premium quality red wine, as the highest expression of what this terroir can offer.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of Operation: Daily
Wine Tasting at Quinta do Vallado: 2 Table Wines (1 White and 1 Red), 1 Porto Wine
Wine Tasting at Quinta do Passadouro: 2 Table Wines (1 White and 1 Red), 2 Porto Wines

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	165,00	125,00	105,00	95,00	90,00	85,00	82,50

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Quinta da Pacheca & Quinta da Casa Amarela

17/05/12 Alberto Veloso

We start our morning with a visit to the emblematic Quinta da Pacheca, one of the best known properties of the Douro. This estate stands out for being one of the first ones to bottle wine under their own brand and it is characterized for being one of the few whose vineyard area is almost flat. Its history dates back to 1738, but it was only in 1903 that the family Serpa Pimentel decided to develop their own growing interest in winemaking, developing the property, the second largest in Portugal. Lunch will be served at the estate. After lunch we will continue our day with the visit to the traditional estate Casa Amarela, located on the left bank of the Douro River, halfway between Régua and Lamego. This estate belongs to the same family since 1885, with the current owner continuing the traditions of the centennial art of Port Wine production. The elegant yellow dwelling house lends its name to the property.

Informations

Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of Operation: Daily
Wine Tasting at Quinta da Pacheca: 2 Table Wines (1 White and 1 Red), 1 Porto Wine
Wine Tasting at Quinta da Casa Amarela: 1 Porto Wine

Prices per person in Euros €

Prices in Euros (€)

Nº PAX	8 – 13	14 – 18	19 – 24	25 – 30	31 – 37	38 – 44	45 – 51
Price	165,00	125,00	110,00	100,00	95,00	90,00	85,00

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Portugal Wines, Wine Specials Portugal

Wine Dream Tour

28/03/12 Alberto Veloso

As a wine-producing country, one of Portugal’s great strengths is its diversity.

Madeira is a Portuguese island, which lies several hundred miles southwest of the Portuguese coast, far into the Atlantic Ocean. Mountainous and dramatic, Madeira is a lush, fertile outcrop with a semi-tropical climate that supports a broad array of horticulture and agriculture, from banana plantations to exotic flowers.

It also grows grape vines, for the production of Madeira. Centuries ago it used to be a stop for ships headed to America. They would take on casks of the local wine- a fortified product- as ballast. When they arrived they found that the wine, which had been “cooked” during the voyage, actually became a superior beverage.

And thus Madeira became a very popular drink in the Americas. Similar to Sherry, Madeira ranges in flavour from a very dry version to very sweet.

The wine can last decades and because its popularity has waned, aged Madeiras are wonderful bargains. The island is stunningly beautiful. Most of the resorts are centered on Funchal.

Includes

08 nights’ accommodation as mention in the itinerary (3 nights/HB + 1 night/BB in Lisbon + 4 nights/HB in Funchal)
Flight LIS/FNC/LIS
Visit of Wine museum in Madeira + wine tasting
Lunch at Restaurant Café Apollo
Visit + wine tasting of Quinta de São João
Lunch at a local Restaurant at Porto Moniz
Visit + wine tasting + traditional lunch at Quinta do Furão
Cable car ride to Monte
Official English speaking guide for the whole circuit
Deluxe motor coach for the entire program + driver and all necessary expenses, taxes and tolls

Don’t Includes

Lunches in Lisbon
Porters at Hotels or airport
Tips & Extras
Entrance fees other than those mentioned in “package rates include” (please consult our table of supplements)
Everything else not mentioned in “package rates include”

Program

Day 1 – Lisboa

Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to a Hotel in Lisbon. Dinner and accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 2 – Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. In the morning half-day guided tour of Lisbon: starting with a panoramic of the main streets and squares of the city: Marquis de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade and the Rossio square. We will continue to one of the oldest quarters of the city: Alfama (walking tour, passing to Lisbon Cathedral). Our next stop will be at Sala Ogival, for a brief presentation of Portuguese wines,
including wine tasting.

We will proceed to Belém, stopping by the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument for photos. Still within Belém quarter we will visit the Jeronimos Monastery. Return to the Hotel. Free afternoon.

In the evening, transfer to a restaurant in Lisbon. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 3 – Lisboa / Funchal

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. Departure transfer to Lisbon Airport. Flight LIS/FNC.

Welcome by local guide – Transfer to the hotel. Welcome with a glass of Madeira wine, while check-in.

Dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 4 – Full-day tour discovering Funchal and the surroundings

At 09 am meet with your guide at the hotel reception. Start your tour today discovering the most interesting Funchal tourist attraction. Direct from your hotel door – first visit the Municipal gardens and the Blandy wine lodges opposite side to the Municipal Gardens. If Madeira is famous for one single thing, then it has to be its wine. And, Old Blandy’s Wine Lodge is perhaps the most famous of all Madeira’s wine lodges. Used to toast the occasion by the 55 signatories of the American Declaration of Independence on 4th July 1776, it is easy to understand just why Sir Winston Churchill commented: “To drink Madeira is to sip history with every glass.”

Enjoy a guide tour across the wine museum and learn its secular story. To finish the tour, you will be presented with a Madeira wine its own production. Across shops area first call to Largo do Colégio – the city town hall, and the Jesuits church – Igreja do Colégio a Manueline art peace, that deserves to be seen. Afterwards visit – Olivieras a different but not less important of the story of the Madeira wine development.

Enjoy a wine taste with the compliments of the wine lodges. Break time for lunch at the one of most famous and oldest Madeira restaurant – Cafe Apollo. Enjoy a delicious typical meal made of the famous scabbard fish fillet – Madeira gourmet. (Alternative it’s also available for those not eating fish). The Mercado dos Lavradores (Agricultural market) and delight yourself among benches of subtropical fresh flowers, vegetables, and also the daily fish catches. Across the road visit one Patricio Gouveia an embroidery factory and get in touch with its unique Madeira Island a secular handcraft tradition. By funicular drive to Monte hamlet situated 700 meters above Funchal, famous its church, public gardens, and the also very traditional – Madeira sledges, (carro de cestos).

We recommend you the toboggan ride a fun drive on board of a sledge for a maximum of 2 pax per sledge, from Monte till Livramento, 2.5 km downhill of pure adrenaline. Transfer back to the hotel. 3 courses menu dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 5 – Full-day tour to west and north – Madeira

After the breakfast at hotel, depart towards Câmara de Lobos, for a brief stop in the center of this beautiful fishing village. Uphill across the Estreito de Camara de Lobos, you will learn the most important Madeiras grapes homeland producers. Get in touch wine a private wine producer of Estreito the Camara de Lobos, visit a secular Quinta – called Quinta de Sao João, and delight yourself visiting a typical Madeira Quinta, and learn its variety of agricultural production, such as wine, bananas and flowers. Visit the wine cellar and taste its own wines. Wind up to Cape Girão, (cabo girão) 584 meters above sea with stunning costal and ocean views. Ribeira Brava on the southwest Madeiras it’s a popular village, known in Madeira as the “southwest capital”.

After a short stop, wind up to Encumeada, the mountain that separates the northern coast of the south coast in the direction of St. Vincent, you will cross the famous Laurissilva (laurel forest, classified by UNESCO as world heritage site), stop at Mirador Bride’s Veil, where you can admire a majestic waterfall, and watch the old road carved into the rock. Continuation of your trip to Porto Moniz, basically a rural Madeira village situated the very north part of the island, famous of its wine production, and as well, fishing village and for its natural pools too.

Break for lunch here where lunch will be served at a local restaurant with drinks included (Roast meat of pork). The return to Funchal will be made through the island’s highest plateau Paul da Serra, 1500 m altitude, passing by Bica da Cana, where they recorded the lowest temperatures of the island. Descending to the west coast, visit Calheta, Madelena do Mar the best Madeira banana homeland, Ponta do Sol, homeland of the Portuguese / American writer João dos Passos, visit its museum, (closed of Saturdays & Sundays) before returning to your hotel.

3 courses menu dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 6 – Full day tour to east – Madeira

After the breakfast at hotel drive to the Island tour. In this full excursion day, you will visit first Camacha, a place known by the industry of rattan and its folklore. Then you will climb to peak Arieiro, the third highest peak of the island (1.818m asl) where you can enjoy the lush countryside of the mountain. Down to the Ribeiro Frio, visit a trout pond, followed by a stimulating walk for 45 minutes along a flow, ending at Belvedere Branch – optional. The watercourses, irrigation channels of capital importance for the island’s economy, provide a unique communion with nature. Continuation to Santana, known for thatched roofs homes, traditional images of the island. Quinta do Furão an agricultural Madeira Quinta – also a wine producers with its private cellar, it’s also a rural hotel situated above a cliff with a stunning ocean view.

First visit the wine vineyards and taste its own wine at the cellar. Afterward on the same propriety, join for a delicious lunch made of tuna steak including beverages. The tour continues towards Porto da Cruz, stopping at the Portela viewpoint (670m altitude), where you will admire the views over to Penha de Aguia Mountain and the Porto da Cruz and Faial rural villages. Drive to Pico do Facho with a fantastic view point over to the Far East side Ponta de Sao Lourenço and the bay of Machico. Machico where the Island discovers first landed, it’s also an interesting tourist attraction that deserves to be visited. Visit the centre of Machico, the statue of the first captain donatory – Tirstão vaz Teixeira, as well the parish church. Return to hotel. 3 courses menu dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 7 – Funchal / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Funchal. Transfer to Funchal Airport.

Flight FNC/LIS. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Hotel in Lisbon. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 8 – Lisboa / Sintra / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon.

Full-day visit of Sintra – we will depart for an unforgettable day, discovering Sintra and its Mountains with its luxuriant vegetation framing our tour. We visit the charming Village Palace (entrance fee not included in the price, please check the supplements) in Moorish style with its conic chimneys and manueline style windows as well as its tile panels, reinforcing the interest for its interior.

After the visit free time for lunch and to enjoy the village centre with its souvenirs little shops. We will proceed to Cabo da Roca, the most western point of Europe to admire the beautiful landscape. The return will be made by the coastal road, passing through Cascais and Estoril. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 9 – Funchal / Lisboa

Free morning. Transfer to Lisbon Airport.

Prices per person inEuros €

Package 7 days – 6 nights.

Hotel 5* (in Madeira)

Number of person	Min. 10 pax	Min. 12 pax	Min. 15 pax	Min. 19 pax
Double room	€ 1.990	€ 1.775	€ 1.675	€ 1.550

Notes

Single Supplement 750,00 € p/ pax

Hotel Funchal 4* (in Madeira)

Number of person	Min. 10 pax	Min. 12 pax	Min. 15 pax	Min. 19 pax
Double room	€ 1.750	€ 1.650	€ 1.550	€ 1.450

Notes

Single Supplement 620,00 € p/ pax

Entrance fees at monuments

Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) € 7,00 p/ pax
National Palace of Sintra € 7,00 p/ pax

NOTE: these rates are subject to confirmation (valid until 31.12.2011; they can suffer changes without any prior notice and we cannot guarantee them for now)

Other suggestions

Fado Dinner at restaurant in Lisbon (3 course set menu with drinks) – Min. 10 pax € 65,00 p/ pax

Applying conditions to the above mentioned rates

Above rates are net, per person in DBL room – based on Hotel 5* in Lisbon, HB + Hotel in Funchal 4*, HB – accordingly with the chosen package);
The mentioned hotels are subject to availability;
Above rates include all taxes accordingly with Portuguese law;
Flights LIS/FNC/LIS are including all taxes to this date – please note that the Fuel Tax may change until the day that we issue the tickets;
These prices are valid for the following periods: September, October, November and February , March and April.
Additional dates available. Please ask for availability.

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Golf Specials

Vila Monte Relais & Chateaux

27/03/12 Alberto Veloso

Our hotels and restaurants don’t just sell rooms and meals. We like to go beyond the obvious, which is why we create welcoming scenarios of comfort and charm that are true sanctuaries of the art of fine living, where understated luxury blends with a dedicated and deeply personalized service.

Our staff members go above and beyond to please the people that we have the honour of serving. Each gesture, each word, each look, each detail counts in the wonderful world of entertaining guests.

Food is what we do best. We love eating, we love for people to taste what we prepare. Our restaurants and chefs are considered some of the best in Portugal. From gourmet restaurants to more casual concepts, all our properties share the quality of the ingredients they use, the care placed in preparing them and the friendliness of their service.

And above all, the hundreds of people that work with us daily are genuinely committed to a mission of hospitality and go above and beyond to provide our guests with a home away from home.

Location

Vila Monte is located in Olhao.

Hotel Features

Vila Monte features a restaurant, a poolside bar, and a bar/lounge. Room service is available during limited hours. The hotel serves a complimentary buffet breakfast. Recreational amenities include an outdoor pool. Spa amenities include spa services, massage/treatment rooms, and beauty services. This 4-star property offers a meeting/conference room and audio-visual equipment. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) is available in public areas. The property offers a roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge). Wedding services, concierge services, and tour assistance are available. Guest parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include a rooftop terrace, barbecue grills, and multilingual staff. The property has designated areas for smoking.

Guestrooms

Air-conditioned guestrooms at Vila Monte feature CD players and complimentary bottled water. Bathrooms feature bathrobes, slippers, and hair dryers. Dial-up Internet access is available. In addition to desks and safes, guestrooms offer direct-dial phones. Televisions have satellite channels. Rooms also include windows that open and blackout drapes/curtains. Guests may request in-room massages and wake-up calls. A nightly turndown service is offered and housekeeping is available daily.

Rooms

The rooms and suites are located in villas with different atmospheres: The charm of the Andalusian orange grove that protects the suites of the Orangerie, the peace of the Riad and its inner courtyard, the privacy of Villa Indigo, the exotic Kasbah wing. Experiencing Vila Monte is living the outdoors under the century old trees or on a terrace overlooking the sea.

Restaurant

Vila Monte’s restaurant, Orangerie, offers a cuisine based on Algarvian products, from honey produced on the Monchique hills to the fish brought from the market of Olhão. We also use ingredients organically grown on the estate, namely citrus fruits, figs, almonds and fresh herbs.

SPA

Hidden in the Vila Monte garden, the Kasbah Spa invites guests to a pampering experience in an atmosphere of floral scents, exotic massages and relaxing treatments for mind and body. The spa offers a true cocoon for the senses, with several massage rooms, an arab bath and a hamman. The luring fragrance of mint tea will be a permanent companion in this haven of peace and tranquillity.

Golf Courses

Quinta da Ria

A course designed by Rocky Roquemore to take advantage of the beautiful natural setting in a Nature Reserve with the blue sea as its southern boundary. A 475 meter par-5 hole sets the tone of the course taking the player down a gentle slope to the first of the several undulating green. The par-3 fifth hole is a challenging dogleg to the left with a lake to catch the short ball. The back nine takes the player close to the beach and the panoramic sea views. The interesting par-4 fourteenth of 333 meters which is another dogleg to the left presents water to the right on the drive and then again inviting water to your left to carry on the approach shot to the green. The eighteenth par-5 of 475 meters has a generous width to the fairway but the green is almost surrounded by guarding bunkers.

Quinta de Cima

This new sister course to Quinta da Ria is of a Championship character which will provide an enjoyable challenge for most players. Set in rolling land dotted with almond trees it provides open fairways, well placed bunkers and enough water to attract the odd misdirected golf ball. The first two holes indicate the true nature of the course emphasizing the need for good club selection combined with accuracy. Players are making their comments about the tricky Par-5 sixteenth hole and the the memorable eighteenth.

Benamour

This course is endorsing its growing reputation for its player enjoyment and with the recent improvement of the access from the “Via de Infante” to Tavira this makes the whole area much quicker to reach. The course is laid out on mainly undulating land the course offers pleasant views both to the Atlantic Ocean and the hills of the Serra do Caldeirão. Players accuracy is particularly called upon by the architects retention of as many of the old trees as feasible. These natural obstacles coupled with strategic placed bunkers and occasional water hazards make the course a worthwhile challenge.

Castro Marim

Located close to the historic town of Castro Marim the 3 nine hole courses runs through undulating hills dotted with pines and occasional views across the River Guadiana to neighbouring Spain. The three courses are named Atlantic, Grouse and Guadiana.

This course calls for careful play with strategically placed water hazards and fairway terrain that can place you in trouble. This is not mention the well placed bunkers waiting for an erring ball. The par-3 on the seventeenth is a hole that calls for special club selection with bunkers in front of the green and a lake behind, whilst at the same time subject to the prevailing winds off the sea.

Program and Prices

Download: Click here to learn more about the package and prices (PDF Format)

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Wine Specials Portugal

São Mamede Wine Tour

01/02/12 Alberto Veloso

Portugal

One of the oldest traditions in Portugal is wine. With fantastic history of rich winemaking, Portugal produces its wine vintages from over 500 different native grapes. The sheer abundance of varieties means that the country produces a wide selection of wines, and every single one of them has its own distinctive taste. The “Route of São Mamede” is the area covered by the Natural Park of S. Mamede mountain range, and includes some of the most beautiful and typical Alentejo cities, such as Portalegre, Marvão, Castelo de Vide, Crato, Alter do Chão, Avis and Sousel.

We propose an itinerary to discover this evocative corner of the Alentejo, rich in heritage, art and good wine. This tour will allow you to discover a little bit more about Portuguese identity, through its history, its traditions and its wine!

Includes

06 nights’ accommodation as mention in the itinerary (3 nights/BB in Lisbon + 3 nights/HB in Portalegre)
Official English speaking guide for the whole circuit
Visit + wine tasting at Herdade do Mouchão (Sousel)
Visit + wine tasting + lunch at “Abreu Callado Foundation”
Visit + wine tasting + lunch at Herdade da Torre do Cuco
Visit + wine tasting at Adega Mayor
Lunch at Restaurant Apertazeite or Similar
Visit at Royal Stud Farm (Alter do Chão)
Lunch at a Restaurant at Alter do Chão
Deluxe motor coach for the entire program + driver and all necessary expenses, taxes and tolls

Don’t Includes

Lunches in Lisbon
Porters at Hotels or airport
Tips & Extras
Entrance fees other than those mentioned in “package rates include” (please consult our table of supplements)
Everything else not mentioned in “package rates include”

Program

Program (#D&A – Cool)

Day 1 – Portugal (Lisbon)

Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to a Hotel in Lisbon. Accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 2 – Lisboa / Sousel / Avis / Portalegre

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. Departure to Sousel, where we will visit the “Herdade do Mouchão” – the winery is an elegant and functional building, the “Adega”, shaded by tall eucalyptus trees, works much as it did when it was first built, a century ago. The interior is cool and dark with beamed ceilings reaching 15 metres in height. The current cellar-master is the third generation of a family which has worked at Mouchão for over 80 years. Visit of the winery and wine tasting.

We will then follow to Avis, to “Abreu Callado Foundation”, where we will have lunch. After lunch visit of the whole Foundation – we will visit the vineyards and the cellar (depending on the conditions dictated by the season), the Rural Museum, the former wine-mats, the rooms Stage wines, Tasting Room (formerly of Slaughter House) and other rural attractiveness. There is also the Wine Shop where new visitor receive a free cup of white or red wine or liqueur as a courtesy of the Abreu Callado Foundation.

After the visit of the wine store we will continue to Portalegre. Portalegre is one of the largest manufacturers of tapestries in Europe, and there is a modern and fascinating tapestry museum located in the old part of the town. The castle, which dates back to the fourteenth century, has been largely destroyed to accommodate the modern town, though parts can still be seen forming archways over streets or walls of houses. There is also a cathedral which was founded in 1556. Also in Portalegre is the Robinson cork factory and museum.

Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Portalegre.

Day 3 – Portalegre / Monforte / Marvão / Portalegre

Breakfast at the hotel in Portalegre. Departure to Monforte. Monforte was a Neolithic hill town that was taken over by the Romans so both Neolithic and Roman remains abound in the area. Nearby are the ruins of a Roman town and of a fourth century Roman/Christian basilica. Here we will visit the “Herdade da Torre do Curvo” – Torre do Frade means ‘The Friar’s Tower’ and indeed this large estate had a very long monastic history. As far back as 1384, the land was given to the Hermits of the Order of Saint Augustin. The friars founded a convent here, which flourished until 1834, when religious orders were expelled from Portugal.

The descendants of the family that bought the estate in 1839 still farm here – three branches of the family working together. As well as wine, they produce the famous black pigs and Alentejano cattle, sunflowers, various cereals, cork and honey. The first wines were made in 2004 in a 17th century Italianate building. After the visit we will have lunch including some of the local wines.

We will proceed our trip to Marvão – Marvão sits 1000 metres above the plain, on a mountain top with sheer precipice all around. It is totally walled and its 13th century castle is at the tip of the pinnacle. The far reaching views in every direction are simply spectacular.

Return to Portalegre. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Portalegre.

Day 4 – Portalegre / Campo Maior / Portalegre

Breakfast at the hotel in Portalegre. Departure to Campo Maior. Campo Maior’s chief attraction is its Capela dos Ossos, a smaller version of the Chapel of Bones in Évora. Nearby, the 18th-century church of St John the Baptist contains good marble work.

The famous Flower Feasts are already a great highlight of this Alentejo town. However, a few years ago, a new attraction emerged in Campo Maior: the Coffee Museum, describing the history of this drink and the memories of the roasting’s built here by the Nabeiro family.

More recently, in 2007, the wine cellar Adega Mayor opened its doors, consisting of an innovative project conceived by architect Siza Vieira.

We will participate in a wine workshop, by visiting the Adega Mayor (where the visitor will have contact with the process of vitivinification, meet the building designed by Siza Viera, near and inside, and enjoy the wine produced in this winery. At the end, the visitor has at its disposal the Mayor shop where he can find many surprises and quality products); visiting the Coffee Museum; and have a nice lunch at the “Aperta Azeite” Restaurant (closed on Mondays). At the end of this workshop it will be offered to all the participants a pack of 2 bottles of Monte Mayor wine, coffee blend Mayor, sugar and chocolate.

Return to Portalegre. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Portalegre.

Day 5 – Portalegre / Alter do Chão / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Portalegre. Departure to Alter do Chão. Situated at a crossroads at the village centre, Alter do Chão castle is more a castle-like palace than a fortress.

Near the council’s headquarters, we find the famous Royal Stud Farm (visit), founded in the reign of King John V in 1748 to breed horses for the royal horsemanship. After being refurbished, it has recovered the Lusitano horse, Alter Real breed, while ensuring the continuation of the Alter breed, a horse with remarkable qualities for haute “école”. In this stud there is a training school, a museum and falconry.

Lunch at a nearby restaurant.

After lunch we will proceed to Lisbon. Rest of the day free. Accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 6 – Lisboa / Sintra / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. In the morning half-day guided tour of Lisbon: starting with a panoramic of the main streets and squares of the city: Marquis de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade and the Rossio square. We will continue to one of the oldest quarters of the city: Alfama (walking tour, passing to Lisbon Cathedral). Our the last stop here we’ll taste a typical Portuguese drink (Ginginha – cherry liquor). We will proceed to Belém, stopping by the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument for photos. Still within Belém quarter we will visit the Jeronimos Monastery. Free time for luch.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sintra (visit of National Sintra Palace), Estoril and Cascais, returning to Lisbon by the coastal route.

Accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 7 – Lisboa

Free morning. Transfer to Lisbon Airport.

Have a nice trip back home!

Prices per person in Euros €

Package 06 nights / 07 days

Nº PAX	Package in Double
20	950 €
25	900 €
30	850 €
35	800 €
40	750 €
45	700 €

Notes

Single Supplement 570,00 € p/ pax
Extra Bed – 6% (of the package in double)
HB supplement for Hotel : € 50,00 p/ pax – For each dinner (without drinks)

Tours opcionais (indicados no roteiro) – Min 20 pax

Half-day tour (tarde) de Sintra – 70,00 € (incluindo transporte + guia oficial)
Half-day tour (tarde) do Parque das Nações (Lisboa) – 55,00 € (incluindo transporte + guia oficial)

Entradas nos monumentos:

Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) € 27,00 p/ pax
National Palace of Sintra € 27,00 p/ pax

Note: these rates are subject to confirmation (valid until 31.12.2019; they can suffer changes without any prior notice and we cannot guarantee them for now).

Other Suggestions:

Fado Dinner at restaurant in Lisbon (3 course set menu with drinks); transfer to & from restaurant included – Min. 20 pax € 80,00 p/ pax

Applying conditions to the mentioned rates

Above rates are, per person in DBL room – based on Hotel Fénix Urban 4* in Lisbon, BB + Hotel 3* in Portalegre, HB);
The mentioned hotels are subject to availability;
Above rates include all taxes accordingly with Portuguese law;
These prices are valid from January to October 2019, except Easter period;
Reservations are all “on request

Video

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Wine Specials Portugal

Historical Route of Wines in Alentejo

21/01/12 Alberto Veloso

As a wine-producing country, one of Portugal’s great strengths is its diversity. The Alentejo is where Portugal’s climate finally escapes the Atlantic influence and the scenery changes to large, gently plains that experience hot summers and cold winters more typical of continental weather systems.

The culture of vineyards in the Alentejo dates back to ancient times and all who passed here recognized the special quality of the wine, which is now among the most appreciated in the country.

The Alentejo favourable climatic condition allows its grapes to create soft red wines and a bit acidic in terms of taste while the white wines are fruity in flavour.

The “Historical Route” is focused in Évora (World Heritage city), also covering Arraiolos, Estremoz, Borba, Vila Viçosa, Redondo and Monsaraz. We suggest you to discover the Alentejo through the originality of their artistic expressions, including the art of making wine!

Includes

06 nights’ accommodation as mention in the itinerary (3 nights/BB in Lisbon + 3 nights/Hb in Évora)
Official English speaking guide for the whole circuit
Visit + wine tasting + lunch at Herdade dos Coelheiros (Arraiolos)
Visit + wine tasting + lunch at Quinta do Carmo
Visit + wine tasting + lunch at Herdade do Esporão
Boat trip through Alqueva Lake
Visit + wine tasting + light lunch at Adega da Cartuxa
Deluxe motor coach for the entire program + driver and all necessary expenses, taxes and tolls

Don’t Includes

Lunches in Lisbon
Porters at Hotels or airport
Tips & Extras
Entrance fees other than those mentioned in “package rates include” (please consult our table of supplements)
Everything else not mentioned in “package rates include”

Program

“HISTORICAL WINE TOUR in Alentejo ” (REF # D&A – COOL 2019)

Day 1 – (Lisboa)

Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to a Hotel in Lisbon. Accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 2 – Lisboa / Arraiolos / Évora

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. Departure to Arraiolos, a worldwide recognized town for its carpets, totally hand made. Here we will visit the “Herdade dos Coelheiros” – you’ll be our guest and you’ll have a guided tour of the cellar, taste the wines, and walk or cycle through the vineyards. There’s also an attractive shop!! After the visit, free time for lunch.

We will continue our trip to Évora, declared by UNESCO, in 1986, World Heritage site because of its many beautiful and valuable monuments. Panoramic tour over the city, before arriving at the hotel.

Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Évora.

Day 3 – Évora / Eestremoz / Borba / Vila Viçosa / Évora

Breakfast at the hotel in Évora. Departure to Estremoz, known as “Cidade Branca” (white city), in part for its traditional white houses, but also for its white Marble deposits, that is such an ancient industry that even the Romans used it in their constructions in this area, centuries ago. We will first walk throughout the ancient castle, followed by the visit of the “Quinta do Carmo” – a typical property of Alentejo, with a total of over 1,000 hectares, of which 100 hectares are olive trees, cereals, plantations of oak trees and forests. Our visit will start from the outside and progress to the inside. We will first enjoy the gardens and the vineyards, and then pass through the cask cellars where top quality wines are ageing. The tour concludes with a wine tasting where you can appreciate the pleasure in the degustation of wines. After the visit, free time for lunch.

We will proceed our trip to Borba. This beautiful village shows the wealthy that the Marble production has provided throughout the years, with the predominance of this material in all the village’s architecture and decorative motifs. In Borba we will make a panoramic tour, and visit the “Adega Cooperativa de Borba”.

This well-organised and quality-conscious co-operative within the quiet town of Borba is one of the biggest wine producers in Portugal. During the visit, you will discover our winery and the Alentejo in a small film, which explains the history of our winery as well as the different works along the year in the vineyards, then you will walk through our vinification centre, cellar, bottling zone, and finally you will taste some of our wines.

Afterwards we will follow to Vila Viçosa, a beautiful village with a rich and important history and heritage, also known as the “Princess of the Alentejo”, where we will the most emblematic monument of the town: the Ducal Palace. Return to Évora after the visit.

Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Évora.

Day 4 – Évora / Monsaraz / Reguengos de Monsaraz / Évora

Breakfast at the hotel in Évora. Departure to Reguengos de Monsaraz, specially known for the quality of the wine produced in the region, due to the granite and schist soils and the local climate that are particularly favourable to vine-growing with distinctive characteristics. Visit of Herdade of Esporão – one of the first in Portugal to get involved in ‘wine tourism’. Still toDay they are one of the country’s top wine venues. There’s an excellent restaurant, “Galeria” and a wine bar with a view. The shop sells the estate’s olive oils and cheeses as well as the wines.

Around 13h00 it will be served an “enogastronomic” lunch, which includes the taste of olive oil and 3 different wines.

After lunch we will continue to Monsaraz, a medieval village surrounded by an astonishing landscape, and from the top of the Castle you can appreciate all its splendour.

Around 16h00 a boat trip through the Alqueva waters. The Alqueva dam is the largest dam in Portugal, situated in the Guadiana River, in Alentejo.

Return to Évora after the boat trip. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Évora.

Day 5 – Évora / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Évora.

Évora is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, an amazing town that provides culture, architecture, history, monuments, peace of mind and animation all year round. We will leave in the morning, making a tour throughout the city and visiting the most important places: Roman temple, bone chapel, and the cathedral.

We will then follow to Cartuxa Adega (wine cellar), a former Jesuit House located next to the Convento da Cartuxa, an ancient Carthusian Monastery recorded in 1776 as operating a significant wine press. The old cellars are now used to age the wines and to receive visitors. We will visit the “Adega” and taste 3 different wines, accompanied by beverage: local bread, sausages, cheeses and jams.

After this light lunch we will proceed to Lisbon. Rest of the Day free. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 6 – Lisboa/Sintra/Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. In the morning half-Day guided tour of Lisbon: starting with a panoramic of the main streets and squares of the city: Marquis de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade and the Rossio square. We will continue to one of the oldest quarters of the city: Alfama (walking tour, passing to Lisbon Cathedral). Our the last stop here we’ll taste a typical Portuguese drink (Ginginha – cherry liquor).

We will proceed to Belém, stopping by the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument for photos. Still within Belém quarter we will visit the Jeronimos Monastery. Free time for luch.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sintra (visit of National Sintra Palace), Estoril and Cascais, returning to Lisbon by the coastal route.

Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 7 – Lisboa

Check–out. Transfer to Lisbon Airport. Have a nice flight back home!

Prices per person inEuros €

Package 7 days – 6 nights

Number of person	Min. 20	Min. 25	Min. 30	Min. 35	Min. 40	Min. 45
Double room	€ 995	€ 955	€ 935	€910	€ 890	€ 770

Notes

Single Supplement 450,00 € p/ pax
Extra Bed – 8% (of the package in double)
HB supplement for Hotel : € 65,00 p/ pax – For each dinner (without drinks)
Supplement for A 5* Hotel in Évora: 195,00 € per person

Entrance fees at monuments

Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) € 27,00 p/ pax
National Palace of Sintra € 27,00 p/ pax

NOTE: these rates are subject to confirmation (valid until 31.12.2013; they can suffer changes without any prior notice and we cannot guarantee them for now)

Other suggestions

Fado Dinner at restaurant in Lisbon (3 course set menu with drinks); transfer to & from restaurant included – Min. 20 pax € 85,00 p/ pax

Applying conditions to the above mentioned rates

Above rates are net, per person in DBL room – based on Hotel 4* in Lisbon, BB + Évora 4* in Évora, HB);
The mentioned hotels are subject to availability;
Above rates include all taxes accordingly with Portuguese law;
These prices are valid from January to October, except Easter period;
Reservations are all “on request”

Video

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Portugal Specials

Pilgrim Portugal

06/01/12 Alberto Veloso

Pilgrimage is a way of looking forward; looking at the horizon line where the earth and heaven meet. Pilgrimage is a journey; a way of learning and know yourself inside.

This tour will show you the ways of faith in Portugal, revealing you the legends and the rich religious and cultural heritage of the country. An unforgettable journey through Portugal, meeting with Fado in Lisbon, with the religion in Fatima, and also enjoying to know a little bit of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Includes

08 nights’ accommodation as mention in the itinerary (3 nights in Lisbon + 1 night in Fátima + 1 night in São Pedro do Sul + 1 night in Guimarães + 1 night in Braga + 1 night in Porto)
Official English speaking guide for the whole circuit (or any other language)
Entrance fee at Saint George’s Castle (Lisbon)
Mini-cruise at Porto
Entrance fee at a wine cellar + wine tasting
Deluxe motor coach for the entire program + driver and all necessary expenses, taxes and tolls

Don’t includes

Any meals or drinks (besides breakfast)
Porters at Hotels or airport
Tips & Extras
Entrance fees other than those mentioned in “package rates include” (please consult our table of supplements)
Everything else not mentioned in “package rates include”

Program

Day 1 – Portugal (Lisboa)

Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to a Hotel in Lisbon. Accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 2 – Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. In the morning half-day guided tour of Lisbon: starting with a panoramic of the main streets and squares of the city: Marquis de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade and the Rossio square. We will continue to one of the oldest quarters of the city: Alfama, where we will visit the São Jorge Castle. We will proceed to Belém, stopping by the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument for photos. Still within Belém quarter we will visit the Jeronimos Monastery. Arrival at the hotel around 13h00.

As an optional program for the afternoon, we suggest a half-day tour, visiting Sintra, Estoril and Cascais. At night, our suggestion is dinner at a typical house of Fado (considered by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage). Accommodation in Lisbon.

Day 3 – Lisboa / Óbidos / Alcobaça / Batalha / Fátima

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. Departure to Fatima in the morning. First stop will be in Óbidos, a town surrounded by medieval walls. Continuing to Alcobaça, where we will visit its famous Monastery. We will follow to Batalha, where we will visit the Monastery of Our Lady of Victory. The journey continues to Fatima after lunch. Arriving to Fatima we will have time to visit the whole Shrine, which includes the Basilica, the Chapel of Apparitions, the Retreat House of Our Lady of Mount Caramel and Paul VI Pastoral Center, the venue of the prayers, the Retreat House of Our Lady of Sorrows. Rest of afternoon free. Accommodation in Fatima.

Day 4 – Fátima / Coimbra / Viseu / São Pedro Do Sul

Breakfast at the hotel in Fatima. Departure in the morning to Coimbra; walking tour through the oldest part of the town, visiting the University, the old cathedral and the break-down back to the bank of the river Mondego. Across the region of Beira Interior, we arrive to Viseu. Walking tour through down-town up to the Cathedral. We will follow our journey to São Pedro do Sul. Accommodation at São Pedro do Sul.

Day 5 – São Pedro Do Sul / Lapa / Lamego / Vila Real / Amarante / Guimarães

Breakfast at the hotel at São Pedro do Sul. Departure in the morning, being our first stop to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lapa. Then we will go to Lamego. From a central avenue of the city, towards the top of a hill, there is a magnificent baroque staircase with 686 steps to reach a rocaille sanctuary, built in honour of Our Lady of Remedies. Down the Douro Valley, we will cross the Marão Mountain Range to arrive to Amarante, a city where it’s settled São Gonçalo Convent, a Benedictine building of the 13th century. Visit of the Convent. Already entering in the Minho region, we arrive to Guimaraes, considered the cradle of the nation. Walking tour through the historic center of the city. Accommodation at Guimarães.

Day 6 – Guimarães / Santiago De Compostela / Braga

Breakfast at the hotel in Guimarães. Departure in the morning to Spain. Direct route overlooking the stunning landscape of Minho and Galicia, Valencia and Vigo until we arrive to Santiago de Compostela. Walking Tour and free time for lunch and shopping. After lunch we will follow to Braga. Visit the Cathedral of Braga, the oldest in the country. Near the town we can visit three major shrines dedicated to the Portuguese Marian devotion: the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Sameiro and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Accommodation in Braga.

Day 7 – Braga / Porto

Breakfast at the hotel in Braga. Departure from Braga for half-day tour of Porto. Porto, the second largest city of Portugal, industrial and monumental at the same time. Visit the main points of the city through the Avenue of Aliados, Clérigos Tower, Boavista Avenue and the whole district of Foz; the Stock Exchange Palace and Bridge of Dom Luis. We will still have time for a mini-cruise on the Douro River. We will have the afternoon free for sightseeing or shopping in Porto downtown. Accommodation in Porto.

Day 8 – Porto / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Porto. Departure from Porto to Lisbon. Rest of the day free. As an optional program for the afternoon, we suggest visiting the Nations Park, former EXPO’98 site, near the Tagus River and where we can visit the Lisbon Oceanarium. (one of the biggest in Europe).

Day 9 – Departure from Lisboa’s Airport

Transfer to Lisbon Airport. Return Home.

Have a nice trip.

Prices per person in Euros €

Package 08 nights / 09 days

Num. PAX	Package double
20	950 €
25	900 €
30	850 €
35	800 €
40	750 €
45	700 €

Notes

Single Supplement – 350,00 € p/ pax
Extra Bed – 6% (do pacote em duplo)
Frees 1 single free in double – with minimum 20 paying pax (max. 1 free p/ bus)
HB supplement: € 35,00 p/ pax – For each dinner (without drinks)

Optional Tours (mentioned in the itinerary) – Min 20 pax

Half-day tour (afternoon) of Sintra – 45,00 € p/ pax (including transport + official guide)
Half-day tour (afternoon) of Nations Park (Lisbon) – 35,00 € p/ pax (including transport + official guide)

Entrance fees at monuments:

Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) – € 7,00 p/ pax
National Palace of Sintra – € 7,00 p/ pax
Alcobaça Monastery – € 6,00 p/ pax
Batalha Monastery – € 6,00 p/ pax
Coimbra University – € 6,00 p/ pax
Bolsa Palace (Porto) – € 6,00 p/ pax

Note: these rates are subject to confirmation (valid until 31.12.2013; they can suffer changes without any prior notice and we cannot guarantee them for now)

Other suggestions

Fado Dinner at restaurant in Lisbon (3 course set menu with drinks);
Transfer to & from restaurant included
Min. 20 pax € 85,00 p/ pax

Applying conditions to the above mentioned rates

Above rates are per person in DBL room, including breakfast and all taxes accordingly with Portuguese law;
Guaranteed prices for a minimum of 20 pax per group;
The included hotels are all 4* units, except the Hotel in Fátima and in Braga which are 3* units

Video – Fatima

https://youtu.be/uWCb9SJAYr4

Video Braga

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Portugal Specials

Cultural Portugal

29/10/11 Alberto Veloso

Departures & Arrivals prepared a special “Cultural Package” to get to know all Portugal, in 14 days-13 nights as follow:

Introduction to Portugal

Portugal is a country situated in south-western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are part of Portugal. The country is named after its second largest city, Porto, whose Latin name was Portus Cale.

The land within the borders of today’s Portuguese Republic has been continuously settled since prehistoric times: occupied by Celts like the Gallaeci and the Lusitanians, integrated into the Roman Republic and later settled by Germanic peoples such as the Suebi and the Visigoths, in the 8th century the lands were conquered by Moors.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, as the result of pioneering the Age of Discovery, Portugal expanded western influence and established a global empire that included possessions in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America, becoming one of the world’s major economic, political and military powers. The Portuguese Empire was the first global empire in history.

Mainland Portugal is split by its main river, the Tagus that flows from Spain and disgorges in Tagus Estuary, before escaping into the Atlantic. The northern landscape is mountainous towards the interior with several plateaus indented by river valleys, whereas the south, that includes the Algarve and the Alentejo regions, is characterized by rolling plains.

Portugal is among the 20 most visited countries in the world, receiving an average of 13 million foreign tourists each year.

Tourist hotspots in Portugal are Lisbon, the Algarve and Madeira. Lisbon is, after Barcelona, the European city which attracts the most tourists. Porto and Northern Portugal, especially the urban areas north of Douro River valley, was the tourist destination which grew most.

Itinerary

5 nights in Oporto
1 night in Seia
1 night in Coimbra
1 night in Obidos
3 nights in Lisboa
2 nights in Faro

Hotels

Hotel Porto 4*
Hotel de montanha Casas da Lapa or similar
Hotel Coimbra 4*
Hotel Estalagem do Convento 4* or similar
Hotel Lisbon 4*
Hotel Faro 4*

Includes

5 nights of accommodation and breakfast, 4* hotel in Porto.
1 night of accommodation and breakfast, 4* hotel in Seia.
1 night of accommodation and breakfast, 4* hotel in Coimbra.
1 nights of accommodation and breakfast, 4* hotel in Obidos.
3 nights of accommodation and breakfast, 4* hotel in Lisbon.
2 nights of accommodation and breakfast, 4* hotel in Faro.
Bus en route from Porto to Faro.
Driver´s accommodation and breakfast with the group, outside of Lisbon.
English-speaking local guides for the following services: Oporto arrival transfer, Oporto visit, Douro full day excursion, Santiago de Compostela visit, Guimarães full day excursion, Barcelo, Guimarães & Braga full day excursion, cheese factory visit, Serra da Estrela park visit, Coimbra visit, Fátima visit, Alcobaça monastery visit, Obidos visit, Lisbon visit, Sintra full day excursion, Evora visit, Algarve full day excursion.
Winery visit with wine tasting and lunch in Douro region.
Cheese factory visit with cheese tasting in Seia.
Fado show with dinner in Lisbon.
Entrance tickets: Alcobaça monastery, Sagres fortress, Sé cathedral, Capela dos Ossos-São Francisco church and Evora cathedral.
Local taxes.

Prices per person in Euros €

Package 14 days – 13 nights

Number of Guests	30/40 paxs
In Double room	€ 2.225
Single Supplement	€ 830

Video Porto

Video Faro

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Honeymoon Specials

Patagonia

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Patagonia is a huge land of extremes — with ocean, glaciers, mountains, forests, volcanoes and valleys — which takes up one third of southern Argentina (and spans the Chilean border). One of the most famous areas is Tierra del Fuego, also known as the “Uttermost End of the World,” which is where the intrepid traveler can find the mountains that meet the sea at the gateway to Antarctica.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: Spanish
Flight time: To Buenos Aires, 15 hours from NYC, 22 hours from LA; plus 8 hours from Buenos Aires to Patagonia
Getting around: Car, boat, bus, horseback

When To Go: Patagonia at its best

Best weather: The seasons are the opposite of ours so head to Patagonia during its summer: November to March. Temperatures depend on what region you visit but you can expect the summer to go from 70s to 50s (and the days are long: the sun sometimes doesn’t set till 10 p.m.!)

What To Do

See amazing landscapes: Los Glaciares National Park covers 2,300 square miles, much of which is covered by ice fields that connect 13 major glaciers. The Perito Moreno Glacier is a nearly 200-foot-tall wall of ice framed by snow-capped mountain peaks — and it’s still growing every day. The Walichu Caves have authentic Paleolithic cave drawings that give you insights into life in Patagonia nearly 4,000 years ago. The remote Torres del Paine National Park has a huge range of environments to explore, from scrublands to tundra to forests — all home to diverse animals and birds.
Walk the ends of the Earth: Remember studying the explorer Magellan? Well, now you can walk where he did: He discovered the area know as Tierra del Fuego in 1520 (that’s why it’s called the Strait of Magellan). If you never considered glaciers to be exotic, the icy landscape will change you mind. Waddle along with penguins, watch condors soars and hike across this “Land of Fire.” — Alonna Friedman

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Honeymoon Specials

Mauritius

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

This 720-square-mile Indian Ocean outpost located east of Madagascar and the coast of southern Africa exudes mystery and romance. The sway of sweet-smelling sugarcane fields is punctuated by dramatic mountains and hemmed by soft beaches, colorful wooden boats, and swaying Casuarina trees. Located below the equator, Mauritius enjoys seasons opposite those of the United States. If you’re planning a two-week trip, consider connecting via one of many European gateways — Paris and London offer the most flights. Spend the first week in a cultural capital and the second on a beach in Mauritius. Another option:.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Languages: English, French, Creole
Currency: Mauritius Rupee (Rs)
Flight time: 4 hours from Johannesburg; 12 hours from London and Paris; 21 hours from NYC; 27 hours from LA

When To Go: Mauritius at its best

Best weather: June to October. December to March is best for diving; June to August is best for surfing; and October to March is best for big-game fishing

What To Do

Get cultured: Drive around this peaceful island and you’re likely to see a Christian church, Muslim mosque, and Hindu or Buddhist temple — all on the same street. Approximately 70% of the population is Indian and the remaining 30% includes those of Chinese, Creole, and European descent. Volcanic in origin and history, this island once served as a place of exile (lucky folks!) and has been occupied by the Dutch, French and, most recently, British. The melting pot of people creates an array of festivals, cuisines, languages, and traditions.
Hit the beach: You’ll love the sandy strands of Grand Bay, Pereybere, and Cap Malheureux on the northern coast; and Belle Mare on the east coast and Blue Bay on the south coast. Boating, water sports, and diving spots are abundant. Non-divers can take a ride in the Blue Safari Submarine or semi-submersible Le Nessee, both located near Grand Bay.
Take a hike: Many nature and animal parks dot the island, including Domaine les Pailles near the capital city of Port Louis, where you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride and visit a number of attractions and restaurants. Hike to Alexandra Falls or Black River Peak — one of the island’s highest vantages — at Black River Gorges National Park, or discover the huge water lilies and palm tree species at Pamplemousses Garden; the blue, green, red, and yellow tiers of earth at a site called Chamarel (the colors are believed to have been caused by natural weathering); and the 140 bird species, including the rare Pink Pigeon, at Casela Bird Park.
Taste the local flavor: Taste buds, start your engines: This is seafood and spice country. Mauritian food blends fresh fish with Indian, Chinese, and European spices and techniques for intensely flavorful food. Counter too much curry with a yogurt drink or Phoenix pilsner. Finish your meal with a cup of spicy, milky Indian Chai or the island’s homegrown vanilla tea.
Dance the Sega: Resembling a combination of swirling island dervishes and Hawaiian hula dancers, the soulful dance of Sega was invented by slaves. Sega pivots on hip swiveling and is accentuated by brightly colored skirts and the beat of a drum. The sexy Sega is best watched and danced on the beach — under the moonlight, as it was originally performed — or visitors can catch an indoor show at their hotels.
Enjoy the view: Nestled in lush, terraced hills on the eastern coast, Le Domaine du Chasseur is a park and estate that grows exotic fruits. Hike one of several circuits to a symphony of bird song. Hungry? Make a beeline to Le Panoramour (“View of Love”) for lunch, where you’ll find a great restaurant with a sweeping view of the verdant valley and ocean beyond.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Honeymoon Specials

Seychelles

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Crystalline waters, perennially sunny skies, resorts of rustic-luxe huts perched above the ocean — at first glimpse the Seychelles appear similar to island paradises you may have visited before. But then you hear the song of the rare Seychelles Warbler or glimpse the indigenous coco de mer palm and realize you’re in an exotic land about as far as you can get from home. This archipelago nation off the east coast of Africa is made up of over 100 islands, some made of granite, others of coral. You can use one of the main islands of Mahe, Praslin or La Digue as base from which to explore the more remote ones. Because of the country’s proximity to Africa, many couples first go on safari before heading to the Seychelles to relax on the beach.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English, French
Flight time: You’ll probably have to take three, or even four, flights to get there — one to a European city like London or Amsterdam, then onto a Middle Eastern hub like Qatar or Dubai where you’ll connect to a flight to the main island of Mahe. From Europe it’s a total flight time of about 12 hours to Mahe.
Currency: Seychelles Rupee

When To Go: Seychelles at its best

Best weather: There’s no truly “off” season in the Seychelles, but June, July and August are reliably cool and dry. June might be preferable because it’s a little less tourist-filled than the later summer months. The period from November to April is warmer and rainy. Temperatures average between 75 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit all year long.
Best prices: May and October fall just outside the high tourist season, so you might find some deals.

What To Do

Ogle exotic flora and fauna: Stroll through Mahe’s more-than-a-century-old botanic gardens, which are filled with an array of plants, trees, and flowers like (literally) nothing you’ve never seen. Or head to the Aldabra atoll, a ring of four coral islands which are home to over 100,000 giant tortoises.
Play in the water: In the Seychelles you’ll have a long menu of water-based recreation to choose from — sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and diving are all excellent. It’s worth it to take a boat trip out to a coral snorkeling site offshore, since you’ll find much more intriguing marine life there than you would closer to shore.
Island hop: Though it’s tempting to be lazy and not leave the little idyll of your chosen resort, it would be a crime to not explore at least a few other islands. A variety of boat, helicopter and airplane charters are available to take you around.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Honeymoon Specials

Maldives

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Forget the “Vacations ‘R’ Us” feel of some resorts and visit the secluded, luxurious, romantic Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives and its surrounding turquoise waters are known for world-class scuba diving and snorkeling, and many resorts feature ultra-private villas tucked away on their own stretch of beach or hovering directly above an aqua lagoon.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: Dhivehi is the national language, but English is widely spoken, especially by staff at the resorts and spas.
Flight time: Check for connecting flights from major European cities or South East Asian locales. From London, it’s approximately 11 hours.
Getting around: Taxi, boat, plane

When To Go: Maldives at its best

Best weather: It’s sunny, warm and humid year round. April is often the hottest, December the coolest. Monsoon season is from May to September.
Best prices: High season is dry season: December through April, so look for deals between May and November.

What To Do

Nothing! The Maldives are perfect for seclusion, spas, scuba, snorkeling or just sitting still. Whether you choose to stay over the ocean in a bungalow or take a lazy swim in the ocean with colorful fish, you can do it all, or have just as much fun doing nothing at all. Located southwest of Sri Lanka, on the equator, the Maldives is made up of 1,190 coral islands (only 200 are inhabited) with 87 serving as resorts. This place is made for guests who relish having alone time.
Go under the sea: Take a ride 120 feet below water in a state-of-the-art passenger submarine — 99% of the Maldives is covered by water so to see it all you’ll have to take the plunge. Descend beneath the surface where you will encounter corals and the reef fish that call them home — it’s common to be greeted by schools of snappers, lionfish, boxfish, turtles, sharks and huge groupers. Some dives tour historical shipwrecks and shark-feeding sites while night adventures search out manta rays. Check out SubmarinesMaldives.com.mv for more info.
Hang with whales and dolphins: Clear waters and an abundance of sea life make the Maldives an amazing place to see whales and dolphins in their natural environment. There are more than 20 different species in the area, from the Blue Whale (the largest animal alive) to the acrobatic Spinner Dolphin. Safari boats take guests into the open waters to spot species not often seen outside the Maldives, like the Dwarf Sperm Whale, Melon-headed Whale and Tropical Bottlenose Whale. Beautiful black and white Orcas have also been known to make an appearance.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
Voip Buster: departuresandarrivals
MSN: departuresandarrivals@hotmail.com

Honeymoon Specials

O’ahu

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

The scene is instantly familiar — a sparkling white beach with an unmistakable crater at the far end. Palm trees lolling lazily in the breeze. It’s the epitome of tropical paradise, the quintessential beach vacation. It’s Honolulu’s world-famous Waikiki Beach on the island of O’ahu. Honolulu proper, which includes Waikiki, is a city of over 800,000 people. But it takes up only about one eighth of O’ahu, the second-most northerly isle in the Hawaiian chain.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English, pidgin (a blend of English, Hawaiian, Japanese, and Portuguese)
Flight time: 10 hours to Honolulu from NYC, 5 hours from LA
Getting around: Car, bike, taxi

When To Go: O’ahu at its best

Best weather: Trade winds keep things comfy all year round. The average temperature is between 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer is drier and has higher temps (April to November) while winter (December to March) is a little cooler.
Best prices: Mid-April to June and September to mid-December

What To Do

Bountiful beaches: Sandy shores rim the island: There’s literally a beach or state beach park every five minutes as you drive around the island. Some to check out when you’re taking a leisurely coastal drive: Sandy Beach, with its mongo waves for super body surfing; Makapu’u, thick with seaweed and kind of rough, but its black-cliff backdrop is famous for its cameo in From Here to Eternity; Kailua Beach, in a pretty, sheltered residential area as you follow the coast north; and Chinaman’s Hat, an islet off of Kualoa Beach near the village of Kaawa. You can reach it swimming during low tide, or by kayak; there’s a tiny beach on its backside.
Swimming and snorkeling: Widely known for some of the very best snorkeling and diving on the island, Hanauma Bay is home to all kinds of fish and coral, and the clear turquoise, shallow cove, reached after a walk (or ride) down a steep trail, is beautiful. Be sure to make a quick stop at the Halona Blowhole, just another few minutes by car past Hanauma Bay, where foamy waves flow through a lava tube and spew 60 feet into the air.
Get a history lesson: No visit to O’ahu is complete without the experience of a visit to the U.S.S. Arizona Pearl Harbor. You’ll take a boat out to the monument, located in the middle of harbor directly over the wreckage of the warship, which commemorates the Japanese attack that began World War II. Go back even further in history, to the time before Hawaii was a U.S. state, and visit Iolani Palace, home of the Hawaiian monarchy until 1893, and the only royal palace ever to stand on U.S. soil.

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Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Anguilla

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

The island of Anguilla combines mellow Caribbean life with exotic Mediterranean style. Everywhere you look, you see blue and white: Turquoise sea tickling white-sand beaches or blue sky framing stark white resorts. There are no casinos, cruise ships, or high-rises — the focus here is on lingering meals, silky sand, and star-lit strolls. You may pay a higher price to visit Anguilla than other tourist-trampled islands, but you’ll be rewarded with great food, over-the-top luxury and star-studded beaches.

Before You Go: Need-to-Know Info

Language: English
Flight time: 7 hours from NYC, 13.5 hours from LA, 7 hours from Chicago, 7.5 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Car (keep to the left!), taxis, ferry to St. Martin
Entry requirements: Passport (or photo ID with a birth certificate), return ticket
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC), US dollar

When to Go: Anguilla at Its Best

Best weather: Anguilla receives relatively little rainfall (hence its arid topography) and has a monthly mean temperature of 80 degrees all year long
Best prices: May to December
Festivals: Anguilla International Arts Festival and Competition occurs biannually during the third week in January; Moonsplash Annual Music Festival begins on the night of the full moon in March; Summer Festival rocks the first week of August with parades, pageants, boat racing, and calypso competitions
Anguillian holidays: May 1, May 16, May 27, June 14, Aug 4-5, Dec 19

Why to Go

The Celebrities are Doing It: If you’re looking for a glimpse of famous faces, or if you’d like to make like a superstar yourself, this is the place to be. Beyoncé, Uma Thurman, J. Lo, Queen Latifah and Jay-Z have all been sighted along the powder-white shores of Anguilla. (Don’t forget your movie-star shades!)
Luxury Spas: Anguilla is the place to indulge. (It is your vacation, after all.) The island is loaded with extravagant spas offering massages, polishes, wraps, masques, scrubs — even bathing rituals. Try a yoga session under the palm trees. Or, for real luxury, have a couples’ rub-down in a private “spa suite” overlooking sand and sea.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Antigua

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Once a British naval hot spot, Antigua offers a genteel take on the leisurely life. Located in the middle of the Caribbean Islands, Antigua is loved for its chalky white beaches, boating (featuring the Caribbean’s largest regatta), and ideal weather year-round. Barbuda, just 25 miles north of Antigua, features 17 miles of beaches, a bird sanctuary, and colorful offshore wrecks and reefs ripe for exploration.

Before You Go: Need-to-Know Info

Language: English
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 8 hours from Chicago, 7.5 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Car (drive on the left!), taxis
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC), US dollar

When to Go: Antigua & Barbuda at Their Best

Best weather: Anytime. The Antiguan climate is one of the most idyllic in the Caribbean, thanks to constant sea breezes and trade winds. Temperatures hover around 81 degrees but can rise to 93 degrees during the hot season from May to November.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).
Festival highlights: Cheer more than 300 racing yachts during Antigua Sailing Week in late April and early May, or take in one of the Caribbean’s most intoxicating Carnivals, which runs from late July to early August.

What to Do

Abundant Beaches: Rimmed by 366 public beaches — one for each day of the year, plus one for luck — there’s a sandy paradise for every beach personality. Some of the best include Half Moon Bay for windsurfing, Dickinson Bay for restaurant hopping and people watching, and Five Islands Peninsula for a clothing-optional experience.
Seafaring Lore: History lovers and yachters shouldn’t miss Nelson’s Dockyard National Park at English Harbour in Antigua. Built in 1784, this former naval headquarters now hosts charming old restaurants, craft shops, and historic buildings.
Shipyard Views: For a stunning panoramic view — of English Harbour, Eric Clapton’s house, and the island of Montserrat — plus steel-pan music, barbecue, and a superb sunset, spend your Sunday afternoon at Shirley Heights Lookout, a restaurant perched on a bluff at the south side of the island.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Aruba

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Flat, arid, and outside the hurricane belt, this Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela is the “A” island of the so-called ABC Islands (Bonaire and Curacao complete the trio). A true paradise, Aruba enjoys low humidity and breezy blue vistas year-round. The island’s not much for tropical foliage — instead, you’ll find rocky deserts, silky sand, and the trademark divi-divi tree (bent at a 45-degree angle by strong trade winds). It’s tough to miss the ka-ching of casinos on the wind, and you’ll be rocking to the infectious steel band beat of beach barbecues and fish fries. This is, as car license-plates proclaim, “one happy island.”

Before You Go: Need-to-Know Info

Language: Dutch, English, Spanish, Papiamento
Flight time: 4.5 hours from NYC, 11 hours from LA, 9 hours from Chicago, 8 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, rental car (follow the southwestern-pointing divi-divi trees if you get lost)
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Currency: Aruban florin (AFl), US dollars

When to Go: Aruba at Its Best

Best weather: Aruba enjoys a mean temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, a fairly constant 10 mph to 20 mph breeze, and blissfully low humidity year-round. July and August are less windy, and short showers occur more often from mid-October through December.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel
Festivals: Colorful Carnival events whirl through the streets each winter (during the two months preceding Ash Wednesday)

What to Do

Underwater Sightseeing: Sunken ships include the eye-popping, bombed-in-half German freighter Antilla — its shallow wreckage is easily and eerily visible in the clear ocean waters — and the Jane Sea, a freighter lying in an almost vertical position. Baby Beach is best for shore diving, while Mangel Halto Reef offers fascinating night dives.
Hit the Jackpot: Feeling lucky? Aruba has the games for you: blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat, slot machines, and an island original, Caribbean Stud Poker, invented in 1988. This high-stakes game is like blackjack, but tempts players with a progressive jackpot that can skyrocket!

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Dominican Republic

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

The Dominican Republic offers a little bit of everything on this Columbus-discovered island in the sea. From world-class golf resort to minor and major league baseball (the country’s favorite pastime), active couples will have plenty to do and see. If a slower pace is more your speed, then take your pick from 800 miles of super-fine sandy beaches. The DR (as it’s casually called) is also the largest producer of cigars in the world, so even if you prefer not to smoke, be sure and check out the Museo del Tabaco in the city of Santiago for a slice of history.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Languages: Spanish, English
Travel time: 4 hours from NYC, 9 hours from LA
Getting around: Taxis (agree on a rate before diving in!)

When To Go: The Dominican Republic at its best

Best weather: The nice thing about the DR is that it averages 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, making it a warm-weather honeymoon destination anytime.
Best prices: May through October

What To Do

Go whale-watching: On the eastern side of the island, the Bay of Samana is teeming with humpback whales from December through March. You can cozy up on a chartered boat and watch these wondrous creatures as they migrate to their breeding and feeding grounds.
Relax on sugary beaches: The DR’s most popular destination is also home to some of the best beaches in the world. In addition to its all-inclusive resorts, Punta Cana’s 21-mile coast is lined with coconut palms and boarder by warm cerulean waters. For something a little less populated, check out the beaches of the north and northeast coasts.
Support ecotourism: Because it is home to the highest and lowest peaks in the Caribbean, the DR has taken advantage of its eco-friendly status with plenty of green itineraries. Couples can bird-watch among 300 species, camp in the national parks, explore caves, hike trail to Pico Duarte (the highest point at 10,206 feet above sea level), or go windsurfing and white-water rafting, just to name a few.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Puerto Rico

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Looking for sparkling high-rises and glitzy casinos? They’re here. How about stunning nature reserves and charming seaside villages? You’ll find those, too. History? No problema. Best of all: This commonwealth territory of the United States is located close to home (between the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic), offers great airfare and hotel deals (due to its high tourist volume), and is a cinch to navigate: English is widely spoken, the U.S. dollar is the national currency, and no passports are required!

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: Spanish, English
Flight time: 3.5 hours from NYC, 7.5 hours from LA, 4.5 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Rental car, taxi, bus, ferry, “publicos” (public cars that operate between towns, stopping in each town’s main plaza)

When To Go: Puerto Rico at its best

Best weather: January to April (January has the lowest during this period). The average temperature is 83 degrees in winter and 85 degrees in summer.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December.

Why To Go

Mother Nature: Puerto Rico has 20 forest reserves, including the 28,000-acre El Yunque, the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System (bring a slicker!); Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve (which includes seven unique ecological systems and an “El Faro,” a 19th-century lighthouse with great views); and the Guajataca Forest Reserve, with 25 miles of trails.
Piña Coladas and Secret Tunnels: Go on a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. This romantic walled city is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial cities in the world and is full of candy-colored 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century buildings in which people go about their 20th-century life. Window shop the boutiques of Fortaleza Street (Puerto Rico has no sales tax on most items); grab a piña colada at Barrachina Restaurant (where they were invented!); and be sure to wander the maze of secret access tunnels at t

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Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Martinique

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Can’t decide between a romantic European sojourn or a palm tree bedecked respite? On Martinique, you can have both. This French island in the Lesser Antilles has all the romance of Paris, yet is surrounded by azure waters and soft sandy beaches. Lending to its lovely allure, Martinique is also the birthplace of Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, Napoleon’s empress, and features some of the most stunning architecture and finest cuisine in the Caribbean.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: Creole, French, English
Flight time: 11 hours from NYC, 13 hours from LA
Getting around: Taxi

When To Go: Martinique at its best

Best weather: The average temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, while the trade winds afford a five-degree difference between summer and winter.
Best prices: July to November

Why To Go

Get a history lesson: Skip the beaches for a day in favor of a leisure walk around Fort-de-France. The centerpiece of the island’s capital is the Biblitheque Schoeler, a dramatic display of Romanesque-Byzantine architecture built for the Paris Exhibition in 1889. Once you’re done, you can hop a ferry to the Musee de la Pagerie, which stands on the lush grounds where Empress Josephine’s home once stood, and houses many artifacts and mementos from her life here.
Eat and Drink: With its French influence and Caribbean location, Martinique chefs have become expert in the fusion of French-Creole cuisine. Fresh fish such as red snapper, kingfish and langouste blend with Creole spices for a heady dish. The chefs also like to play with tropical fruits and vegetables like guava and plantains to add exotic flair and flavor. If it’s your thirst you’re looking to quench, stop by the St. James Distillery, where you can sample some of the best rum in the world.
Hit the beach: Though the charm of Martinique can be found in its villages, parks, and gardens, the coastline is just as pleasant — this is, after all, and island in the Caribbean. And along with its pristine beaches, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to do the requisite windsurfing, scuba diving, swimming, or, if none of that appeals to your senses, simply spend the day working on your tan.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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St. John

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

St. John has it all, from picturesque hiking trails to calm, dazzlingly clear water in a spectrum of blue hues. The sleepy hamlet of Cruz Bay is home to most of St. John’s 3,500 residents, not counting the 350 or so feral donkeys that stake their own claim. When you max out on serenity and need to shop, visit Mongoose Junction, a lovely collection of boutiques and galleries in Cruz Bay, or catch a quick ferry ride west to the duty-free frenzy of St. Thomas, also a U.S. territory. Likewise, the mellow British Virgin Island of Tortola is just a 15-minute ferry ride away.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport, or photo I.D. and original birth certificate
Currency: U.S. dollars
Language: English
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC; 11 hours from Los Angeles; 8 hours from Chicago; 7 hours from Dallas (plus a 20-minute boat ride)

When to Go: St. John at its best

Best weather: February to August. Year-round temperatures range from 69 (winter evenings) to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season runs from September to January.

What To Do

Hike vistas: Of the island’s 22 trails, Reef Bay Trail is one of the best, with a relatively easy three-mile descent through forest and cactus woodlands. Along the way, you’ll see haunting sugar mill ruins and pre-Columbian carvings. Bring your bathing suits: The trek peters out at Reef Bay, perfect for a refreshing dip. The Virgin Island National Park Service offers guided hikes and boat rides.
Underwater schools: Beautiful Trunk Bay, on the north shore, offers a snorkel “trail” and “SNUBA” diving. Both are hybrids: The underwater “hike” displays 15 plaques that point out coral and identify fish, while SNUBA combines snorkeling and diving (you draw air via a hose from the boat instead of from a tank strapped to your back). Tip: Inquire about cruise ship schedules and go in between dockings to avoid crowds.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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St. Croix

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Just east of Puerto Rico — and south of sister islands St. Thomas and St. John — rises the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands: The 82 pastoral square miles of St. Croix. If you feel St. Thomas is too busy and St. John too quiet, St. Croix may be just what you’re looking for: A great balance of culture, beaches, history, and exciting outdoor — and underwater — activities.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Flight time: 5 hours from NYC, 10 hours from Los Angeles, 7 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, rental car (keep left!), ferry Entry requirements: Passport, or photo I.D. and original birth certificate

When to Go: St. Croix at its best

Best weather: February to August. Year-round temperatures range from 69 (winter evenings) to 84 degrees. Rainy season runs from September to January.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

Why To Go

Adrenalin: Outdoors is where it’s at on St. Croix. Canter through a rain forest on horseback, pedal the island’s western coast with a rented bike, or kayak the Salt River. While you’re at it, you can learn about the island’s history and fascinating fauna (including the Pain Killer, Monkey-No-Climb, and Stinking Toe trees).
Sea Creatures: Dive with seahorses at Frederiksted Pier (also a popular night-dive spot); explore one of four wrecks at Butler Bay; or visit the colorful five-mile-long Cane Bay Wall, site of a sponge big enough to stand in (although doing so would kill it). Not a diver? Snorkelers will love Buck Island Reef National Monument, where you can swim with parrotfish and blue tangs among dramatic reef structures. There are many chartered boats that will take you out to sea in day, night, or — our favorite — sunset.
Architecture: In both the coastal towns of Christiansted and Victorian-inspired Frederiksted, tin-roof buildings draped in brilliant bougainvillea are painted in Easter egg colors including pale yellow, pink, sage, and ochre. Arcaded sidewalks lead you past little shops, galleries, and restaurants. Stop and skim the historical plaques you’ll see to get a glimpse into the island’s past.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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St. Thomas

17/06/11 Alberto Veloso

St. Thomas, located about 50 miles east of Puerto Rico, is the second-largest U.S. Virgin Island. When cruise ships slip into dock (up to 11 at a time!), the narrow streets look as though pillaging pirates have truly found where X marks the spot. (Don’t worry: When frenzied spending starts to weigh heavy on your conscience, you can cleanse yourself in the quiet and regal natural beauty of nearby St. John, just a short ferry ride away.) Also ready for exploring are a variety of excellent restaurants, champagne-hued beaches, and colorful sightseeing beneath the sea.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport, or photo I.D. and original birth certificate
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollars
Flight time: 3 1/2 hours from NYC; 11 hours from Los Angeles; 8 hours from Chicago; 7 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, rental car (keep left!), ferry

When To Go: St. Thomas at its best

Best weather: February to August. Year-round temperatures range from 69 (winter evenings) to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season runs from September to January.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).

What To Do

Stroll on sugary beaches: Magens Bay, once named one of the world’s most beautiful beaches by National Geographic, is the island’s most famous stretch of sand. (Be sure to stop in at nearby Udder Delight, where you can buy a Cruzan rum-splashed milk shake.) Coki Beach, Sapphire Beach, and Morning Star Beach are also alluring escapes.
Golf: The recently renovated, George and Tom Fazio-designed, 18-hole Mahogany Run Golf Course boasts a distracting view of the islands and a tricky 3-hole “Devil’s Triangle” in which you must clear a slice of Caribbean Sea that lies between the green and your tee. Call (800) 253-7103 to make reservations.
Explore underwater: Divers and non-divers alike will love the aquatic sights off St. Thomas. Those who prefer to stay dry can sightsee in the Undersea Observatory or at one of many aquariums and pools — where you can also pet stingrays and sharks. Certified divers will revel in the island’s many wrecks — including the Cartanser Sr., a World War II cargo ship, and the Major General Rogers, an intentionally sunk Coast Guard ship with a resident barracuda — and reef-encrusted tunnels at Thatch, Grass, and Congo Cays.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Bahamas

03/06/11 Alberto Veloso

Spread across the lower Atlantic between Florida and Cuba, the 700 islands of the Bahamas — most are inhabited — offer a merry mix of buzzing playgrounds, tranquil escapes, and ample underwater delights.

Before You Go: Need-to-know

Language: English
Flight time (to Nassau): 5.5 hours from NYC, 8 hours from LA, 5.5 hours from Chicago and Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, golf cart
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Currency: U.S. dollar, Bahamian dollar

When To Go: The Bahamas at its best

Best weather: December to April
Best prices: June to December; exact dates vary by hotel

Where To Go

Nassau/Paradise Island: A tropical blend of vibrant energy and romantic atmosphere keeps the tourists flocking to the sandy shores of Nassau. The lively city, located on the northeast shore of the island of New Providence, is the capital of the Bahamas and one of the world’s busiest cruise ports. Paradise Island is just an eyebrow-arched bridge away. Compact and colorful, Nassau and Paradise Island offer easy access to water sports, shopping, casinos and nightlife.
Grand Bahama Island: This fourth-largest island in the chain is only a 50-minute flight from Miami and exudes an airy, spread-out feel compared to Nassau. Its allure is a mellow mix of entertainment, back-to-nature treats, and beautiful beaches. Meet the West Indian Flamingo, the islands’ national bird, at Rand Nature Centre or explore huge caves at Lucayan National Park; take diving lessons; browse the duty-free bounty at International Bazaar in Freeport; and, when the sun sets, dance beneath the stars — or just sit back and sip a Kalik beer as you watch steel pan drum players, limbo, and fire dancers at the Yellow Bird Show Club.
Out Islands: The Out Islands have a bit of shopping and nightlife — but their real appeal lies in and under the sea. Succumb to the stunning pink sands and charming gingerbread houses of Harbour Island; dramatic views and soft white beaches of Long Island; sailing and bird watching around the Abaco Islands; the land and sea parks of the Exumas and Pelican Cays; and sport fishing off the Bimini and Berry Islands.

What To Do

Swim and snorkel: Snorkelers and divers alike will swoon over the prismatic pleasures that await them in the coral reefs, blue holes (caves), wall dives, and shipwrecks off the Bahamas — in fact, the water is so beautifully clear that divers experience visibility of up to 200 feet! The biggest eyefuls are off Andros (home to the third largest Barrier Reef in the world, with 140 miles of coral and cathedral-like caves with stalactite and stalagmite parishioners), Bimini (rumored remnants of the lost City of Atlantis lie offshore), Eleuthera/Harbour Island (Devil’s Backbone is several miles of pristine reef — and the graveyard for dozens of vessels, including a train!), and the Exuma Islands, site of the famous Thunderball Grotto.
Experience local flavor: If you like to eat, you’ll love the Bahamian cuisine. Begin by combining homegrown resources such as guava, mangos, papaya, pineapple, and plantains with the daily catch of conch (believed to be an aphrodisiac), kingfish, wahoo, and grouper. Add a dash of Caribbean spice — curry, ginger, thyme, and saffron — and wash it all down with pineapple wine from Eleuthera. Don’t miss a chance to try island classics such as johnnycakes (a pan-fried bread), chicken souse (a spicy chicken soup), or guava duff (a sweet, pudding-like dessert).

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Trinidad & Tobago

03/06/11 Alberto Veloso

“T & T” is apt shorthand for Trinidad and Tobago. The tiny twosome, an island nation off Venezuela’s northeastern coast, is renowned for zesty Caribbean culture amidst dynamite natural surroundings. Pristine rainforest cloaks the isles’ mountainous interiors, draping down to sandy shorelines straddling the aqua-tinted Caribbean Sea and the deep-blue Atlantic Ocean. Ethnically diverse hamlets — predominately African and East Indian with a smidgen of Middle Eastern, European, and indigenous Arawak — create a cultural mélange across the lush landscape. One moment you’re passing a Hindu temple and the next you’re gyrating to a Carib-African steel band beat. Then it’s off to trek through Amazonian-like rainforests for glimpses of iridescently plumed birds, or stroll aside turquoise-toned surf splashing up against palm-studded beaches every bit as postcard picturesque as some faraway South Seas escape.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Language: English
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TT$)
Flight time: 5 hours from NYC
Getting around: Bus, rental car (keep left), taxi, ferry

When To Go

Best weather: Like many islands in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago have a dry and rainy season — the dry season lasts from January to May and the rainy season runs from June through December. Temperatures during the day are warm, but not unbearable, and it is pleasantly cool in the evenings.
Best prices: Early September through mid-December; exact rates vary by hotel.

What To Do

Trinidad:

Go to the Asa Wright Nature Center and Lodge: Spend a day, or perhaps overnight here, located an hour east of Port of Spain high in the Northern Range Forest Reserve, where birdwatchers are guaranteed a kaleidoscopic of hummingbirds and tanagers within this 200-acre wildlife sanctuary surrounding a vintage plantation estate.

Tobago:

Get to the Main Ridge Forest Reserve: This reserve dominates the isle’s humpbacked terrain, the oldest nature sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere. Birders by the score come here for a peek at more than 400 species of feathered marvels, from green parrots to red-billed tropic birds. Don’t forget your binoculars!
Rent an open-topped 4WD: Get one for the day, then head out for a spin. Remember to drive on the left (T&T was once British) as you negotiate the narrow, winding lanes that skirt the island’s hilly shoreline. At every twist and turn, vistas deliver dreamy panoramas. Plenty of small villages are welcome rest stops to ease arms weary from too many steering-wheel whirls.
Take a day trip: For a romantic getaway, bring your bathing suits to the Lure Estate Waterfalls or The Argyle Waterfall. There, with the rainforest as your backdrop and a bamboo canopy, you might be tempted to take an enchanting tropical dip in the breathtaking waterfalls.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Tortola

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Called the “land of the turtle doves,” Tortola is the largest British Virgin Island (with 13,000 inhabitants) and the easiest to reach. Powdery white beaches and lush green mountains set the scene at this friendly destination, and you won’t have to lie in the shadow of any big condos — no building can rise higher than the surrounding palm trees.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Flight time: 4.75 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 7.5 hours from Chicago
Getting around: Taxi, bus, ferry, rental car (you’ll need to buy a local license; keep left!)

When To Go: Tortola at its best

Best weather: The British Virgin Islands receive little annual rainfall. The temperature ranges from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and a steady trade wind keeps humidity low and evenings cool in winter.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

What To Do

Feel the beat: Hang out at local bars and you’ll hear calypso, steel-drum bands, reggae, and soca (a combination of calypso, soul, and reggae), plus indigenous music such as fungi — scratch bands that produce musical sounds from objects such as washtubs, gourds and bottles.
See shipwrecks: Dive the RMS Rhone, a 310-foot royal mail steamer that sank in 1867. The ship’s bow and stern rest at depths from 15 to 90 feet and are so well preserved that The Deepwas filmed here.
Stroll through the city: Laid-back and picturesque Road Town is loaded with fun souvenirs and great eats — try homemade jams, spices, Pusser’s Rum and guava berry liqueur. Once your belly is full, wander through the vine-covered pathways and miniature rainforest of J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Virgin Gorda

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

This destination may not have the most enticing name (Virgin Gorda translates to “Fat Virgin”), but there’s plenty to explore on this enchanting isle, and the unique grottoes of its secluded Baths are unbelievably romantic. The unique name was given by Christopher Columbus in 1493 when he saw the silhouette of a portly or pregnant woman lying on her back in the topography of this eight and a half square mile island. (It’s the third largest of the British Virgin Islands.)

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Flight time: 4.75 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 7.5 hours from Chicago
Getting around: Taxi, ferry, rental car (keep left!)

When To Go: Virgin Gorda at its best

Best weather: The BVI receives little annual rainfall. The temperature ranges from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and a steady trade wind keeps humidity low.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

What To Do

Hike national parks: Go for a hike at Little Fort National Park, the site of a wildlife sanctuary and the stone-wall skeleton of an old Spanish fort. Other good spots for wandering include Devil’s Bay National Park, one of several pristine parks given by the Rockefellers to the BVI government in the 1960s, and Gorda Peak National Park, the island’s highest point. You can also head to the island’s newest park, Copper Mine, for beautiful views of Tortola, the Dogs, and other islands.
Try the Baths: This popular strip of beach features caves, grottoes, and pools formed by huge granite boulders — some as big as small houses! For more privacy, follow the shoreline north to quieter Spring, Crawl, Little Trunk, and Valley Trunk bays, or head south to Devil’s Bay.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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St. Lucia Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Scenic peaks and lush vegetation are just a few things that make this southern Caribbean island so idyllic. St. Lucia’s symbols are the jagged Piton peaks, rugged mountains that climb from the sea to lofty heights. Located on the island’s southwest coast, the verdant slopes of Gros Piton and Petit Piton are among the Caribbean’s most recognizable landmarks.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar, U.S. dollars
Flight time: 7 hours from NYC, 12 hours from LA, 10 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Bus, rental car (drive on the left!), ferry, taxi

When To Go: St. Lucia at its best

Best weather: St. Lucia’s climate is mild, with almost constant northeast trade winds. The mean temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season runs from June to November.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).
Festival highlights: The four-day St. Lucia Jazz Festival is held in May; Carnival is celebrated in extravagant style the third Monday and Tuesday in July

What To Do

Stroll through a rainforest: You’ll need a guide to enter the restricted rainforest region, so sign up for a tour to walk through the dense foliage and swim in a tropical waterfall. If you’re lucky, you may see the rare St. Lucian parrot.
Tour a volcano: Volcano: Walk to the edge of the Sulphur Springs volcano, which last erupted two centuries ago. Lounge in the nearby mineral baths, built among ruins of the first baths commissioned by French King Louis XIV for use by his troops.
Go snorkeling: Don your fins and enjoy the underwater scenery via lazy drift dives, coral walls (some plunging 200 feet deep!), and a 165-foot freighter sunk near Anse Cochon. Keep your eyes peeled: Barrel sponges, angel fish, sea horses, spotted eels, stingrays, nurse sharks, and sea turtles call the area home. Beach entry is best at Anse Chastanet, a hotel on the southwest coast.
Go shopping: Castries, on the island’s north side, is St. Lucia’s capital and offers a lively Saturday market, where vendors sell everything from fruits and local spices to crafts. Choiseul, on the south side, is home to the Arts and Crafts Development Centre — perfect for finding locally made straw, wood, and clay handcrafts.
Go dancing: Gros Islet, a small island off the northwest shore, is known throughout the Caribbean for its Friday night “jump-up.” Street-side music blares as residents and locals jam to the sounds of reggae, soca, and calypso.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Cayman Islands Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

If you’re looking to for a private, luxurious getaway, consider the Cayman Islands. What you’ll find here are breath-taking aqua-blue waters and more than seven miles of beaches. What you won’t find are all-inclusive resorts and beachside peddling (think hair braiding), which makes this trio of islands a breath of fresh air in the heart of the Caribbean Sea.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Flight time: 6 hours from NYC, 8 hours from LA, 7 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, rental car (keep left!)

When To Go: The Cayman Islands at their best

Best weather: The Cayman Islands have an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. March and April are driest; the rainy season (including hurricanes) is from mid-May to October.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel

Why To Go

Grand Cayman: The largest of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman boasts many options for vacationers, from five-star resorts on the powdery, seven-mile beach to little bed-and-breakfasts along the way. Don’t miss shopping in historic Georgetown, where you’ll find high-end retailers like Cartier and Tiffany & Co. right alongside Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and the Hard Rock Cafe. If you’d rather get up close with creatures of the deep, Sting Ray City is just a ten-minute boat ride away, or you may be able to snorkel in live reefs just a short swim from your hotel. If lounging around with a frozen drink in hand is more your style, don’t leave without ordering a mudslide at beachside Rum Point.
Cayman Brac: Adventurous couples will want to check out Cayman Brac, a 40-minute plane ride from Grand Cayman. These rugged 14 square miles feature a dramatic 140-foot bluff that is home to dozens of caves worth exploring, alongside underwater shipwrecks and exotic woodlands teeming with tropical birds.
Little Cayman: The Cayman Islands are renowned for their diving opportunities, which become even more outstanding on Little Cayman Just a 20-minute plane ride from Grand Cayman, this 10-mile long island is home to 50 dive sites, including 6,000-foot sheer coral wall. If you don’t want to dive, you’ll have no problem finding a quite respite here — since the island has just 170 residents, romance abounds on uninhabited beaches and the almost private South Hole Lagoon.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Barbados Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

This small, sophisticated expat island in the southeast Caribbean offers plenty of British charm without the gray weather (it even lies outside the hurricane zone!). Here, afternoon tea and cricket matches mix with spicy food and amazing sunsets for a stress-free escape.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Flight time: 4.5 hours from NYC, 9.5 hours from LA, 8 hours from Chicago, 7 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, rental car (keep left!), bus
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket

When To Go: Barbados at its best

Best weather: The climate in Barbados is tropical with the rainy season lasting from June to October. The temperature is usually pleasant and hurricanes are infrequent.
Best prices: Early September to mid-December; exact rates vary by hotel.

Why To Go

Nature’s finest: This island has everything you want in a vacation destination. The rocky, wind-whipped Atlantic coast is one of the world’s best windsurfing spots, while the tranquil west coast that faces the Caribbean Sea — called the Platinum Coast — is lined with posh resorts. For romance, gaze at the waterfalls and limestone formations of mile-long Harrison’s Cave. Or, the Flower Forest near Mt. Hillaby offers a heady mix of aphrodisiac fragrances and tropical flora to lull you into each other’s arms. Nature lovers can frolic freely with Mother Nature’s green monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, then picnic at picturesque Farley Hill National Park.
Sports and sightseeing: For landlubbers, Bajans (as Barbados residents are called) are crazy about cricket and golf (four courses dot the island). But if you want to take to the water, board a catamaran in Bridgetown for lunchtime snorkeling, or set sail for a sunset dinner cruise and sip a Banks Beer as the sun surrenders to stars. If you would rather sip Barbados’ own sweet elixir, Bajan Gold, check out the Mount Gay Rum Visitors Centre or the Malibu Visitors Centre, where Malibu Caribbean White Rum with Coconut is produced.
Dining and nightlife: Once you worked up an appetite, indulge your taste buds with spicy French-Caribbean cuisine at the cliff-side tables of Carambola, or grab a seat on the intimate, torch-lit terrace overlooking the Caribbean at The Cliff. Then dance the night away in “irie” oblivion to live soca, reggae, or calypso at Harbour Lights or After Dark, home of the longest bar on the island

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Jamaica Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Fun-loving couples who want a “no problem” getaway will revel in happy-go-lucky Jamaica. The third largest island in the Caribbean, Jamaica is easy to reach, economical, and blessed with a bevy of sports and natural offerings as well as a thriving nightlife. Surrounded by the bright blue sea, the “land of wood and water” has six mountain ranges, 120 rivers, 200 miles of beaches, 25 indigenous bird species, 3,800 flowering plants — 720 of which are unique to Jamaica — and over 500 types of ferns.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English, patois
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC, 7.5 hours from LA, 6 hours from Chicago
Getting around: Licensed JUTA taxi recommended

When To Go: Jamaica at its best

Best weather: December to April. Rain (called “liquid sunshine”) is common, especially in October.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).

Where To Go

Montego Bay: Located near the airport on the northwest side of the island, “MoBay” is perfect for golf getaways and short vacations. You can pack a lot of window shopping, beach bumming, and rum punches into a short period of time.
Ocho Rios: Garden strollers and nature lovers should make the trip from the airport to Ocho Rios, called “Jamaica’s Garden,” where you’ll find awe-inspiring waterfalls, tropical flora, sugar plantations, and quaint fishing villages.
Port Antonio: Called the “most exquisite port on earth,” Port Antonio is a less-developed seaside gem on the northeast side of the island near where jerked cooking was invented, and The Blue Lagoon was filmed. Need we say more?
Negril: Legendary for its hedonistic happenings, this once-sleepy secret on the west coast is out. The main draws here are the beautiful Seven Mile Beach, cerulean sea, glorious sunsets, and miles of colorful reef.
Kingston: Although Bob Marley’s homebase is culturally rich, we don’t recommend Kingston for vacationers, unless you seek the roots of reggae (visit the Bob Marley Museum) or a starting point to the spas and hikes in the beautiful Blue Mountains.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Mustique Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

On the tiny piece of paradise called Mustique, you won’t feel pressure to do a much other than relax and relish the natural beauty that surrounds you. But even though this Caribbean island (part of the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines) is all about taking it easy, little about it could be called low-key. Its small size (just two square miles) and high prices equal exclusivity, and you might find yourself sipping rum punch next to part-time resident Mick Jagger. Although the hotels are top-notch, many vacationers choose to rent a villa, since there are hundreds available and many come equipped with a staff.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean dollar
Flight time: 50 minutes from Barbados, which is 4 1/2 hours from NYC, 3 from Miami
Getting around: Rent a Kawasaki Mule (a jeep/golf cart hybrid), a motorcycle, jeep or bicycle. Taxis are also available.

When To Go: Mustique at its best

Best weather: It’s sunny and mild from December to August, with average highs in the mid-80s in the winter, high 80s in summer. Just avoid hurricane season (September through November) when many of the island’s businesses shut down.
Best prices: Glamorous globetrotters flock to the island from December to April, so to find bargains plan your trip between May and August.

What To Do

Beach hop: All of Mustique’s nine beaches are breathtaking, but each is slightly different as well, so sample a few of them during your stay. The water on the Caribbean side is as warm and clear as a swimming pool, while the Atlantic-facing beaches feature more dramatic surf.
Get pampered: Since the island seems to possess a surplus of outrageously beautiful people, you might feel inspired to polish up your own appearance at the luxe spa at the Cotton House hotel. In addition to a long menu of indulgent treatments, they offer a guy-specific Men of Mustique facial.
Sidle up to a bar: When you need a break from lying on the sand, order up a cool cocktail at one of the island’s picturesque local watering holes. You can’t go to Mustique without at least one visit to Basil’s Bar — a legendary spot perched above the water on stilts — to listen to reggae and devour burgers or lobster.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Bermuda Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Bermuda is about 180 islands and islets — located 650 miles east of North Carolina — that offer couples a tropical getaway that’s close to home and a cinch to navigate. Off shore, abundant coral reefs and the numerous shipwrecks have earned this British colony the nickname “Isle of Devils.” On shore, verdant Bermuda is blanketed in blooms including freesia, bougainvillea, passion flower, bird of paradise, royal Poinciana, frangipani, and many varieties of hibiscus.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Flight time: 2 hours from NYC, 9 1/2 hours from LA, 3 1/2 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: You can’t rent cars, but you can easily get around by taxi, bus, ferry, moped, or bike
Entry requirements: Passport and return or onward ticket
Currency: Bermudian dollars (U.S. dollars are also widely accepted)

When To Go: Bermuda at its best

Best weather: May to November. Year-round temperatures range from the mid 60s to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. January receives the most rain, though rainfall is fairly consistent throughout the year.
Best prices: November to March (other than Christmas and New Year’s); exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).

Why To Go

Golf: Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any other country in the world. Best courses: Mid Ocean Club, Port Royal Golf Course, and Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club.
Diving: They don’t call it “The Bermuda Triangle” for nothing. A fantasia of more than 400 wrecks awaits divers beneath the cerulean sea near Bermuda. Explore the Cristobal Colon, a 499-foot Spanish luxury liner that sunk in 1936, or dive a stacked wreck!
It’s pink!: Twenty-one miles of pink beaches encircle this otherwise green island. The coast takes on its powder-pink hue thanks to waves battering and breaking down tiny, calcified pink animals attached to the surrounding coral reef. Homes, buildings, and churches are also painted in every shade of pink imaginable and are topped with white rippled roofs, offering a brilliant contrast to the deep blue sky.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Bonaire Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Before the growing green trend shines the spotlight on Bonaire, be one of the few to discover this well-kept eco-friendly island in the Caribbean. Though it’s probably the least know of the ABC islands — Aruba and Curacao being the other two — Bonaire is certainly not lacking in things to do.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: Papiamentu (Bonaire’s language), Dutch, English and Spanish
Flight time: 7 hours from NYC, 11 hours from LA
Getting around: Taxis

When To Go: Bonaire at its best

Best weather: Just 12 degrees north of the equator, Bonaire averages 81 degrees year-round with humidity hovering around 76%. The constant tradewinds keep the island on the cooler side during evenings. This destination is also a safe bet during hurricane season (late summer/early fall).
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

Why To Go:

Eco-friendly island: Conversation is the main goal on this 24-mile-long destination. The island is surrounded by a natural reef that is protected to 200 feet deep underwater, while above ground the Washington Slagbaai National Park covers 13,500 acres. Here you can hike, cycle, or trek and observe the island’s lazy iguanas, various species of birds, and goats in their natural habitat of cacti, caves, and patches of volcanic rock and fossilized coral.
Water sports: Back to the natural reef — protected since 1979, Bonaire’s waters have become a prime destination for those who love to dive and snorkel. Below the surface you’ll find the island’s native frogfish, along with other amphibians, crustaceans, and sea life. The island’s steady tradewinds also makes windsurfing enjoyable year-round.
Birdwatching: While there is about 200 species of birds on the island, the flamingo steals the sunlight as the island’s signature avian. At a given time, there can be thousands of flamingos peppering the landscape, most of which are protected with in Bonaire’s Flamingo Sanctuary. Also keep your eye out for sea birds, heron, egrets, and parakeets.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Dominica Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Set between the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica’s landscape is dramatic and stunning. Here you’ll discover a new kind of Caribbean getaway with its skyscraping mountain peaks, deep green flora, hot springs, a boiling lake (the second largest in the world), and hundreds of crystal blue rivers and streams. The island’s many faces make it the perfect place to kayak in the mountain lakes, snorkel the reefs, or hike the picturesque valleys and forests.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Valid passport and return ticket
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Flight time: 6 ½ hours from NYC, 14 hours from LA

When To Go: Dominica at its best

Best weather: A tropical island climate, the best times to visit are December-April when the weather is cooler and the rains aren’t as common. Also be forewarned, hurricane season runs June to October.

What To Do

Test the waters: Whether you’re kayaking on one of the island’s many lakes, swimming in a secluded rainforest pool, or snorkeling and diving among the fishes and the dramatic reefs and pinnacles, you won’t want to miss out on exploring the island’s waters. For diving sites, consider taking a night dive to Champagne Reef near Soufriere where you may spot exotic seahorses and frogfish.
See the whales: Dominica prides itself as the “Whale Watching Capital of the Caribbean” and boasts a 95% success record on whale watching tours. The deep waters around Dominica make the area an ideal place to see the rare sperm whale, as well as 21 other whale species. Another rare water mammal to see while you’re there? Don’t be surprised if you spot some dolphins, which are abundant in the surrounding Dominica waters.
Hike the rainforest: Nature lovers look no further. Dominica’s trails will take you through gorges, valleys, and mountains as tall as 4,000 feet. For an easy hike, take a 15-minute walk to the Trafalgar Falls where you’ll find a lush rainforest, waterfalls, and warm pools too. Or, take a longer trek to Boiling Lake and feast your eyes on the world’s second largest bubbling lake.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Grenada Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

This “spice island,” famous for producing huge quantities of nutmeg, has become a vacationer’s idyll in recent years, offering a trifecta of beach, rainforest and rich culture. In Grenada you can sail, scuba dive or sunbathe one day, hike to the top of a foliage-covered mountain the next, and then spend some time soaking up French and English colonial culture by strolling the streets of capitol city St. George’s.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (EC)
Flight time: 4 hours from New York City
Getting around: Taxi or rental car

When To Go: Grenada at its best

Best weather: Temperatures average a balmy 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. June through December is considered the rainy season (though it rains on and off all year), and January through May are typically warm and dry with a pleasant breeze.
Best prices: As with any Caribbean island, you’re most likely to find deals during the “off-season” of summer and early fall.

What To Do

Set sail: After spending the requisite time sacked out on Grenada’s gorgeous beaches, try seeing the water from the vantage point of a yacht — the island is known for its great sailing conditions. (If you’re a sailing newbie you can take lessons, or go the pampered route and charter a boat that comes with a crew.)
Take a hike: At the island’s center you’ll find the Grand Etang National Park, which is filled with verdant rainforests surrounding a crater lake. Whether you’re up for just a mellow stroll or a heart-pumping hike, you’ll be able to find a trail suited precisely to the level of exertion you seek.
Island hop: Take a 90-minute ferry ride to the nearby island of Carriacou, where you can do more basking on the beach, relax at a laid-back seaside bar, or spy exotic flora and fauna at the local botanical garden.

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Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
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St. Barths Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Can’t decide between the sophistication of a beach resort in Europe and the laid-back (and in-this-hemisphere) ease of a Caribbean island? Consider St. Barths as your destination. The people, cuisine, shopping and nightlife on this tiny island in the French West Indies are every bit as chic as those of St. Tropez, but the aquamarine water and languorous lifestyle are pure Caribbean.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: French (English is widely spoken)
Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC, 2 1/2 hours from Miami to the neighboring island of St. Maarten. From there it’s a ten minute flight or hour long ferry ride.
Getting around: Rental car, motorbike or taxi

When To Go: St. Barths at its best

Best weather: The weather is pretty reliably gorgeous from December to June (highs in the low 80s, lows in the low 70s).
Best prices: You’ll find some deals in May and June, when the high season has ended but the weather is still optimal (highs in the mid 80s, lows in the mid 70s). Rates are even cheaper from July to November, but that period is less desirable because of the hurricane risk.

What To Do

Sun, snorkel and people watch: St. Barths has 14 beaches, all open to the public and each offering a unique set of pleasures. For snorkeling and swimming, try St. Jean and Grand Cul-de-Sac (which is reef-protected). For privacy, hit Saline. To check out a possibly unparalleled natural collection of sea shells, visit the aptly-named Shell Beach.
Shop for chic treats: St. Barths offers duty-free shopping, which might help you justify a little sight-seeing of the retail variety (look hon, no tax!). You’ll find posh big-name brands (Hermes, Chanel) as well as seaside essentials like straw hats and locally made body lotions with mesmerizing tropical scents. If you’re not careful you’ll wind up buying more haute boho fashions than your suitcases can hold.
Shed your inhibitions: Here the relaxed vibe of the islands combines with the Continental emphasis on savoring the good life to create an atmosphere that condones indulgence. Drink wine at lunch and take an afternoon nap before having a long, late dinner of French and Creole-influenced cuisine.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Saint Martin Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Two nations (France and the Netherlands) have gone half-sies on this tiny Caribbean Island. The beautiful destination truly makes the most of its space — it measures 37 square miles and has 37 beaches! But no matter which side you choose, the French St. Martin or the Dutch Saint Maarteen, beautiful shores, blue water and a happening nightlife await.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: Dutch, French and English are spoken.
Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA
Getting around: Taxi, car

When To Go: Saint Martin at its best

Best weather: Always! It’s a constant low humidity 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best prices: The high season is December through April so plan around those months for better rates.

What To Do

Try a little bit of everything: The island mixes a European ambience with a laid-back Caribbean feel. You can stroll through cute old towns and dine on culinary delights, or devote your time to more beachy pursuits like sailing, snorkeling or hunting for seashells. Scuba diving is a big draw to the island so you can watch as a parrotfish lunches on coral or a hawksbill turtle glides lazily through the clear blue waters.
Roll the dice: The nights are never dull on the island with bars, clubs and casinos, all of which have craps, blackjack, roulette, and slot machines. Even if you’re not into gambling yourselves, it’s fun enough to watch other tourists play the odds, too.
Country hop: The island’s dual nationality gives you a chance to visit two countries. According to legend, Oyster Pond on the Dutch side is where a Frenchman and Dutchman stood back to back and starting walking around the island in either direction, determining the present-day boundaries between Dutch and French. No need to walk today: it’s possible to swim between the border (an informal one at that) without even realizing it. You can also hike Mount Concordia, which sits center island and acts as a border.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Vieques Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Seven miles east of the island of Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean Sea, is the little island of Vieques. It’s only about double the size of New York City but it boasts white sand beaches, seclusion and many natural wonders. Though the island has had some controversy in its past (the U.S. Navy used the island as a bombing range and weapons testing ground), those days are no more. Since 2003, the Navy vacated, the tourists arrived, and much of the government-owned land is now leased for cattle grazing — in fact, part of the island’s charm are the cattle and horses that roam free!

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Language: Spanish and English
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC to San Juan, 7 hours from LA to San Juan; 20 minutes from San Juan to Vieques
Getting around: Taxi, car

When To Go: Vieques at its best

Best weather: January to April with temps in the 80s
Best prices: Mid-April to mid December.

What To Do

Be a beach bum: If you want to do nothing more than plop down on the sand and unwind under the sun, Vieques is for you. Sure, there are many beaches to choose from in the Caribbean, but Vieques is a U.S. territory (so there’s no need for a passport).
Go to the glowing waters: Eco-tourism is hot in Vieques and has something special for travelers who want to see some of nature’s finest: The island is home Bioluminescent Bay, or Bio-Bay, a natural phenomenon in the Caribbean. This phosphorescent body of water is literally glowing! The light is produced by tiny bioluminescent organisms that leave blue-white trails of phosphorescence in the water. It’s magical to witness — like a sea full of fireflies. The best time to see everything light up is on a cloudy or moon-free night (that way the critters really shine). And yes, it’s safe to swim in the water!
Commune with nature: The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is largest in the Caribbean (a big feat for a small island).The land is nearly untouched and is home to endangered species such as the sea turtle, manatee and brown pelican. Bird watchers will be in heaven, as will divers, snorkelers and anyone who can appreciate unspoiled beaches and habitats.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

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Turks & Caicos Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

Less developed and more upscale than many other spots in the Caribbean, this collection of forty islands, eight of which are inhabited, gives Turks and Caicos an intimate feel. Many of the islands are surrounded by a natural reef, making the turquoise waters clean, calm, and full of sea life. And there’s plenty to do. Turks and Caicos has some of the best underwater sightseeing around, so snorkeling and scuba diving are a must. Whale and bird watching are two other popular activities, and sunsets over Grace Bay are unforgettable.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Valid passport and return ticket
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar
Flight time: About 4 from NYC to Grand Turk, 13 hours from LA

When To Go: Turks & Caicos at its best

Best weather: The climate is sunny and dry, with highs in the 70s in the winter. In the summer and early fall, daytime highs range from 85 to 90, sometimes reaching the mid-90s in the late summer.
Note: Hurricane season runs from June to November.

What To Do

See the sunset: Try to catch the elusive “green flash” at sunset. This split-second burst of emerald light sometimes happens along the horizon on a clear day.
Get a history lesson: Explore the Historic Cockburn Town on Grand Turk — some say it’s the spot where Columbus first landed in 1492. On top of that, the quaint Bermudian-style houses will catch your eye, and you may be tempted to take an impromptu walking tour through town.
Go to the spa: Unwind at the COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot City with a wide range of holistic therapies, including hot river stone and Thai massages, acupuncture, and marine mud therapy. (ComoShambhala.bz)
Ride horses: Between all the snorkeling and the lounging, go horseback riding on Grace Bay beach — one of the highest rated beaches in the western hemisphere. Plan your equestrian adventure for morning, afternoon, or evening under the moonlight.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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St. Vincent & The Grenadines

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a nation made up of the lush, volcanic isle of St. Vincent along with the northern portion of the chain of islands known as the Grenadines (the bottom portion are dependencies of Grenada). With a bit of island-hopping, this Caribbean paradise will have you bathing in waterfalls, admiring six types of dolphin, climbing volcanoes and napping in hammocks. There are over 30 islands in this heavenly realm, with plenty of opportunities for total tropical seclusion.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: English
Flight time: 8 hours from NYC, 14 hours from LA
Getting around: Car (keep left!), taxi, boat, bus

When To Go: St. Vincent and the Grenadines at their best

Best weather: December to May. Year-round temperatures average 70 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best prices: April to December

Why To Go

St. Vincent for its volcanic wonder: The largest island of the nation is home to La Soufrière, a 4,000-foot active volcano, making for spectacular hikes, lush vegetation and exotic black sand beaches. A beautiful drive through banana plantations takes you to the start of a 2 1/2 hours hike through bamboo groves, a rainforest, and a rocky lava field. At the top, especially daring couples can even climb down a rope into the crater and treat themselves to a mineral mud bath.
Petit St. Vincent for total privacy: The sandy white island of Petit St. Vincent offers 22 scattered private cottages, all featuring enchanting views and complete isolation. If it’s relaxation you’re after, this is certainly the place. Hammocks are strategically placed along the beaches, and there are no telephones, no televisions, and no air-conditioners. There aren’t even room keys. There is, however, great service. If you want or need anything (say, a margarita in your room or a picnic lunch on the beach), just shimmy a yellow flag up the bamboo pole outside your villa. The island staff will come right over to hear your wishes. Now that’s paradise.
Petit Tabac for movie-scene bliss: Remember the scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl where Johnny Depp was stranded on an unbelievable island with a big crate of rum? That’s here — on one of the five uninhabited islets of the Tobago Cays. All five are lined with palm trees on fine white sand, and masses of colorful fish beneath crystal blue waters make for some of the world’s best snorkeling. The crescent-shaped islet featured in the Disney blockbuster is the least accessible in the Cays, but its coconut tree-studded shores are worth the trouble.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

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Guadeloupe Honeymoons

24/05/11 Alberto Veloso

As a French territory just north of Martinique, you won’t find many glamorous resorts here — instead, you’ll experience the island by way of small local inns and mouthwatering Creole cuisine. And with sugar and rum plantations, secluded beaches, modern cities, tropical rain forests, and a 4,723-foot tall volcano splattered with banana trees, you might just want to kiss your mainland home goodbye and set up shop here.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

Entry requirements: Valid passport
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC

When To Go: Guadeloupe at its best

Best weather: Summer temps usually stay in the low 80s, and in the winter, temps stay within the mid 70s. The rainiest months are June to October, and the driest are February to April — also the peak tourist season.
Note: Try to avoid the July to November hurricane season.

What To Do

Go to the park: Guadeloupe Mountains National Park offers some of the most stunning natural wonders on the island. There, you can hike to see Deux Mamelles, two summits located deep into the jungle; and the Carbet Waterfall. Another attraction: Located in the middle of Basse-Terra is Parc Naturel de Guadeloupe (a tropical forest), brimming with orchids.
Island hop: If you have the time, jet over to one of Guadeloupe’s offshore remote islands such as Iles des Saintes — a collection of eight small islands — or Marie-Galante. Most of the locals on Marie-Galante make their living on sugar and rum. Check out the Distillerie Bielle for a tour and to sample some of the best rum in the Caribbean.
See the volcano: Drive to La Soufriere, and climb to the mouth of the volcano. Although the volcano is presumed dormant, it still smokes from time to time and the locals keep an eye on the sulfurous mound. If the volcano intrigues you, make a reservation at the Observatoire Volcanologique le Houelmont to take a tour of the laboratory where French government geologists and volcanologists are busy collecting data and observing the large island volcano.

For more informations and prices please email honeymoon@departuresandarrivals.travel

Information and Reservations

Departures & Arrivals

759 Bloomfield Ave. – Suite 390 West Caldwell – N.J. – 07006-6701 – USA

Phone: +1 973 582.0334
Fax: +1 973 582.3460

E-mail: hello@departuresandarrivals.travel

Skype: departuresandarrivals
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