BARBADOS, CARIBBEAN

Almond Beach Village

The Almond Beach Village consists of 400 rooms in 10 different room categories.  This resort is perfect for families, and some couples.  Though very beautiful, it is ideal for families, which means a lot of families travel there regularly, so couples looking for calm and secluded experience may not want to choose this resort.  But for those who won’t mind some of the families, there are several adults-only swimming pool on the property, along with a nightclub on the second floor, which is open until 2 a.m. 

The resort went under major refurbishments about two years ago, when they added a fifth floor.  They also have future upgrade plans in the making, such as plans to add four new treatment rooms to their spa.

Almond Casuarina Beach Resort

This resort, situated on Dover Beach, opens in spring on the south coast of the island.  Currently, the resort is undergoing a $30 million expansion and refurbishing of the existing property.  This family-oriented, all-inclusive property holds 289 rooms, separated in to six categories, ranging from standard rooms to two-bedroom suites, and as a guest here, you are given access to the other to Almond Resorts, with complimentary shuttle service between the resorts.  Amenities here include:  dining at the three gourmet restaurants, four bars, three swimming pools, a fitness center, tennis courts, golf, free water sports, a Kid’s Club (where different age groups can find activities and more to do throughout the day), spa services, and land activities.

Their rooms come within six categories, ranging from standard rooms and two-bedroom suites.  And as a guest here, you are offered access to the other two Almond Resorts in Barbados; they even have a complimentary shuttle service between the resorts for your convenience.

Sandy Lane

Sandy Lane is located only 20 minutes from Almond Beach Village, but seems worlds away.  This resort is the opposite of family-oriented, but caters to more upscale couples, and is one of the most elegant properties.  Known not only for their elegance, but also known to those with a passion for golf, Sandy Lane is where Tiger Woods got married, and where many come to golf.  Among their courses are: the Green Monkey (world-renowned, and the most aesthetically pleasing, with waterfalls and cliffs among the many sights), the Old Nine (an executive nine-hole golf course), and the professional Country Club Golf Course.  For more information regarding Barbados, contact tropicaltravel.net

No one likes layovers, that’s why we’ve compiled a list of islands you can reach nonstop from the mainland U.S. and Canada.

Antigua - has many white sand beaches and is a popular destination for boaters.  When in Antigua, stay at Siboney Beach Club; a homey, 12-suite inn on Dickenson Bay.

Aruba – 18 miles north of Venezuela, sits just outside the hurricane belt and usually has sunny skies all year-round.  When in Aruba, stay at Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort on Eagle Beach’s white sands.

Bahamas – just a 30-minute flight from the mainland U.S., with mellow beaches and beautiful water.  When in the Bahamas, stay at the Orange Hill Beach Inn, a 30-room inn located on a Nassau snorkeling beach.  You can also try the Paradise Harbour Club & Marina, which has a pool, a Jacuzzi, and free beach shuttles.

Barbados – When in Barbados stay at the Dover Beach Hotel, the rooms are only steps from Turtle Beach and the hotel is only a 15 minute drive from the airport and is within walking distance from St. Lawrence Gap.  Also you can stay at the Sea Breeze Beach Hotel, where all of the beachfront rooms have a balcony or patio.

Cayman Islands – the largest and most populated of the three Cayman Islands is Grand Cayman, where many a diver has fled to look at the Cayman Trench (an underwater canyon that plunges nearly 25,000 feet deep.  When here stay at the Turtle Nest Inn, with has 10 two-bedroom condos and seven one-bedroom apartments, and you can see the ocean from your bed.

Dominican Republic – a main entry point is Santo Domingo, the Republic’s capital, other popular points are La Romana, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Santiago.  When there you can stay at the all-inclusive, adults-only, BlueBay Villas Doradas in Puerto Plata, where romance is easy to rekindle.  Or at Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach near La Romana, this all-inclusive hotel features 530 rooms, three pools, four restaurants and four bars.

Grenada – You can find a laid back atmosphere at Grenada, and can never fear it booming from tourism, as this island has a law stating that buildings cannot be taller than a coconut palm tree.  When here stay at the beachside Coral Cove Cottages located on five acres of hillside gardens.  Or at the La Sagesse, which is found on a secluded beach.

Jamiaca – the main entry points for U.S travelers are Kingston and Montego Bay.  Here you can stay at the all-inclusive Starfish Trelawny Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, which houses five pools, waterslides, a beach, water sports and activities.

The place to go to relax is Sandy Lane on the island of Barbados. As the highly-publicized site of Tiger Woods’ wedding, this resort offers spa and luxury treatments that will relax you till you’ll never want to leave. With the offer of both romance and escape, The Spa at Sandy Lane sets the scene for relaxation. The spa rooms are lined with soundproof white fabric to keep all unwanted noise out, and the resort presents their guests with luxury rooms, the amazing spa, fitness center, spa café and boutiques, and so much more.

On the bottom floor you will find 11 treatment rooms. Before their spa treatments, the guests are given a choice of essential oils. They also offer new luxury spa treatments and machines. One of the new additions to the spa is the hydrobath machine; a plastic cocoon that sprinkles, pours and splashes water of different temperatures on the client while the lights change between all the colors of the rainbow to offer chromo therapy along with the treatment. And with this machine they are able to offer what has become one of their most popular treatments, the Weight Loss Spa Oceana Hydrobath Programme. With this, the high heat of the water used causes a loss of water weight that lasts for several days, and has become a favorite among brides and guests that want to look their best on their vacation.

Also found at Sandy Lane is two large pools, a eucalyptus sauna, plunge pools, a steam room and an ice room, which offers a freshening reprieve from the heat outside. Upstairs, guests will find the fitness center, where they can work out with top-of-the-line equipment and have the offering of towels, fruit, water and personal music players. They can also sign up for group classes like mat Pilates, spinning, and box-exercise, which take place daily. They can also visit the John Frieda salon and spa shop which sits next to a waterfall and overlooks the resort’s main pool. So for relaxation and complete luxury, many guests look to The Spa at Sandy Lana to take their troubles away.