Tag Archives: island

Honeymoon Specials

Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago

“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
Honeymoon Specials

Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda

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
Honeymoon Specials

St. Lucia Honeymoons

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
Honeymoon Specials

Barbados Honeymoons

Barbados Honeymoons

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

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
Honeymoon Specials

Mustique Honeymoons

Mustique Honeymoons

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

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
Honeymoon Specials

Bonaire Honeymoons

Bonaire Honeymoons

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
Honeymoon Specials

Dominica Honeymoons

Dominica Honeymoons

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

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
Honeymoon Specials

Grenada Honeymoons

Grenada Honeymoons

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.

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
Honeymoon Specials

St. Barths Honeymoons

St. Barths Honeymoons

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
Honeymoon Specials

Saint Martin Honeymoons

Saint Martin Honeymoons

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
Honeymoon Specials

Vieques Honeymoons

Vieques

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
Honeymoon Specials

St. Vincent & The Grenadines

St. Vincent & The Grenadines

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
Honeymoon Specials

Guadeloupe Honeymoons

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
Honeymoon Specials

Nevis Honeymoons

Nevis Honeymoons

The tiny island of Nevis is considered by some to be one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful. It’s not overly developed or packed with tourists, but isn’t a backwater, either — its shores are dotted with quietly luxurious hotels and restaurants. And unlike some other islands, where people think you’ve lost it if you try to engage in exercise beyond raising a p?na colada to your lips, Nevis offers a wealth of ways to get active — both water-based activities like diving, windsurfing and kayaking, and land-lubber sports like hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and golf.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info

  • Language: English
  • Currency: East Caribbean dollar
  • Flight time: About 6 hours from NYC, 12 from LA. You’ll have to connect to a flight from a larger island like Puerto Rico or St. Martin.

When To Go: Nevis at its best

  • Best weather: November through May is reliably gorgeous, with average highs in the high-70s to mid-80s.
  • Best prices: Look for bargains in June, when the high season has ended and hurricane season is just starting (so the risk of a big storm is still low). You’ll likely find even cheaper fares in August and September, but those months are the riskiest, weather-wise.

What To Do

  • Take a hike: You can climb all or part of Nevis Peak, which rises an impressive 3,000+ feet above sea level. Take a map and brave it yourselves, or hire a friendly and informative local guide to lead the way. If you’re not up for mountain climbing, there are a number of smaller hills and more gentle trails around Nevis that are perfect for mellow hikes and mountain bike rides.
  • Be beach bums: When you’re done flexing your muscles for the day, sack out on one of the beaches that rim the island. One beautiful one is Pinney’s Beach, three miles of reef-protected dark sand.
  • Catch your dinner: The waters around Nevis swimming with tasty fish such as tuna, mahi mahi, grouper and snapper. Most fishing charters include an open bar, so if your lines come up empty you won’t mind.

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