The articule, as written before is focused on US citizens (I refuse to call them americans) who are looking for cheap options for running away from winter and would like to visit the Caribean Islands.
The author, Seth Kugel, talk to us from his own experience and many recomendations from his pals.
He starts making an important clarification: cheaper island are more far away than expensives ones. This afirmation has the obvious implication that airfares are more expensive for longer distances. So it depends on the kind of vacations you want.
So lest start taking about the recomendations...
Bahamas
Airline tickets are the cheapest (from New York) and you can also take the chance of several promotions offered by hotels. Some of the promotions include the ticket for your companion when you pay before december for a four night staying. Some hotels tend to reduce his prices with non-all inclusive options.
Casually, I was taking a look to websites with tourist information about Bahamas. I realized that in general hotels are very expensive and the kind of tourism promoted is destinated for the noth american visitor, so architecture, foods and attractions are going to make you feel like you where in the US. I also saw through those webpages about the existence of a very famous hotel called Atlantis Hotel, located in Paradise Island. This place is huge, it seems to be a big entertainment city, with lots of big buildings, pools, aquariums, casinos, shopping centers, discoteques and bays.
Dominican Republic
Jamaica and Dominican Republic offer the best deals of deals, probably due to their low cost and high availabity of workers.
Dominican Republic is highly visited on christmas by many north-american, but also by dominicals living in USA. You can pay less than hundred dollars for double occupancy in high quality hotels like Barceló.
The writter of this articule made an important observation: if you want to get into dominican culture, you must stay away from Punta Cana. A recommended option for tourist looking for a more interaction with local people consists in Puerto Plata and the Colonial Zone.
It is interesting that very popular places are invaded by the world culture (pop culture mostly), you easilly will find fast food restaurants, asian food, discoteques playing music in english, people wearing USA made brands. If you really want to be in contact with the local lifestyle, you have to go out from touristic places. It can be dangerous, but otherwise you're not going to know other country. Be open to take some risks is a must when you are traveling.
Jamaica
This country is well-know because of its "relax" living style. Montego Bay is the place to go in Jamaica. You probably find find a place for you, since there are atractions for many tastes: couples, families and adventurers.
Barbados
It is very easy to find places under $100 and bus service is good. I don't know if this is the kind of vacation that a typical new yorker family is looking for. Maybe for college stundents or adventurers, but I can't imagine an enterprise executive into a backpacking tour.
Aruba. Bonaire and Saba
Seems to be cathching dollar places, specialy for gamblers. You can get rooms as cheap as $40 each night, but probably airfares will cost twice the price of Dominican Republic airfares. Some bautiful islands will require to employ ferry. As you can see the more longer from US, the more difficult is the access to services and places.
Some interesting additional advices given by the author:
- Take with you things that you know are expensive (because their imported) in the destination country
- Look for hostels
- Try restaurants away from the beach
My decision?
From my perspective, I have two type of vacation: adventure trips and resting trip.
If I plans were going to be for a resting trip, probably I would prefer to save a significant quantity of money and pay for an all-inclusive in Dominican Republic or even Bahamas.
If i were looking for adventure, my decision would be the cheapest one. Aruba would be ok for me.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario