Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The Caribbean Sans the Crowds: The Islands' Best-kept Secrets

Because of their jaw-dropping beauty, the Caribbean islands attract throngs of people yearly, and while crowds are a part of traveling, being caught up in too many tightly-packed places can put damper on things, especially for those who want to relax in privacy. Fortunately, there are still some well-kept secrets in the islands where one can go to avoid the masses of vacationers.

For scuba diving enthusiasts, there's the island of Andros, known among locals and perhaps still just a handful of tourists for its blue holes or underwater sinkholes. Though Andros is the biggest among the inhabited Bahamian Islands, its population is still quite small and is considered to be the least-explored island in the Bahamas.

 Image source: pinterest.com

Guests who like to keep active may want to head on to the "Island of Sport," or as it is formally known, Nevis. The 20-mile circumferential road on Nevis is perfect for road biking while the network of trails within the island attracts hikers. Fishing, running, and horse and drag racing are also quite popular there.

There's also Culebra, which is not really a secret as it's often referred to as the Caribbean's quietest and most peaceful island. However up until five years ago, there were only about 1,818 residents and the numbers are still low. There, one can find Playa Flamenco, a seaside resort that's been touted by many travel writers as one of the best in the Caribbean for its pristine white sand and gorgeous green waters. Another point of interest in Culebra is the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge where nature lovers can observe thirteen species of seabirds and three species of sea turtles.

Image source: wikimedia.org

 Finally, those in search of secluded resorts can choose from Fowl Cay in the Bahamas, Hotel Bois Joli in Les Saintes, Gaudeloupe, and the tellingly-named Secret Bay Resort in Portsmouth, Dominica. These resorts pride themselves in providing tourists with tranquility and utmost comfort, in addition to beachfront accommodations and spectacular vistas. John Jefferis is the well-regarded and acclaimed hotelier who owns the Coco Reef resorts in the Caribbean. Find more tips for off-the-beaten path travel in the Islands from this Twitter account..

Monday, August 3, 2015

Beach Reads: Three Travel-Inspired Books to Bring on Vacation

Looking forward to curling up with a riveting read on the beach or poolside? Or just want a book to read while on the plane or on the train? Readers will find the following five books, evocative of exotic destinations, mysterious cultures, and interesting strangers, hard to put down.

Image source:samantha-lin.com

On the Road by Jack Kerouac
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” Jack Kerouac's novel is part fiction, and part autobiography of his travels across America. It chronicles the adventures of Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty on the Great American Road Trip: A road to self-discovery and personal fulfillment. The settings are incredibly diverse, from small-town dive bars in the Midwest to party places in Mexico, and the characters' experiences are brought to vivid life thanks to Kerouac's masterful use of language.

The Beach by Alex Garland
“If I'd learnt one thing from travelling, it was that the way to get things done was to go ahead and do them. Don't talk about going to Borneo. Book a ticket, get a visa, pack a bag, and it just happens.”

Alex Garland's first novel tells the tale of a young, troubled English backpacker who sets out on a quest to find a legendary, idyllic, unspoilt beach in Thailand. Although Richard eventually finds it, not all are as they seem, and even paradise can be corrupted. The Beach is a modern-day Lord of the Flies: dark, compelling, touching on themes of loss of identity, drug use, and the breakdown of civilization. All these make it impossible to put down.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx “Everybody that went away suffered a broken heart. 'I'm coming back some day,' they all wrote. But never did. The old life was too small to fit anymore.”

Image source: flavorwire.com

Annie Proulx's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is centered on Quoyle, a large, bumbling newspaperman from upstate New York who, as a consequence of tragic circumstances, finds himself uprooted and transplanted to Newfoundland. 

Proulx, a native New Englander, says a lot by saying little. In short, detailed sentences, she writes with incredible deftness about the harsh beauty of the Newfoundland coast, transporting readers to Killic-Claw, a place of magical knots, vivid dreams, and new beginnings.

A vacation is the perfect time to get some reading done. For more discussions on the best books to read while on vacation, follow this John Jefferis Twitter account.