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Jamaica Honeymoons

Jamaica Honeymoons

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
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

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

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

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