Recommend July 2010 - (Page 44)

A CARIBBEAN education continued from page 42 dients either come from the chef’s own garden or are imported from foreign lands. And though Caribbean dishes are popular, Arthurton branches out into international cuisine, too. In fact, she says, one of the most popular classes focuses on Thai cuisine. “Thai is easy because we have a lot of the stuff here—limes, coconuts, local sugar,” Arthurton says. But of course, with her location looking down to Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, featuring great Caribbean sunsets, clients tend to prefer focusing on local cuisine. “Cooking with rum is one of my most requested classes,” she says. There’s no experience necessary to get involved in one of Arthurton’s classes. In fact, she says, “I had a friend of mine come and he does not cook whatsoever. He was kind of standoffish at first, but toward the end he was chopping and very engaged.” And it’s just as easy for agents to get involved, too. A former travel agent herself, Arthurton offers a base commission of 10 percent. A typical class costs $90. Though clients staying at any Antigua property can book one of Arthurton’s classes, she suggests a stay at nearby Carlisle Bay. A member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, Carlisle Bay is set on an idyllic cove with accommodations that open up to the sea breezes—the perfect way to get in touch with the island’s nature as well as its cuisine. Rates start at $555 per room per night dbl. Park. Clients can stroll along seven different beaches, or snorkel at a handful of spots, in search of inspiration for their masterpieces. And after the class, when their vacation has ended, clients take their painting home with them, as well as a list of materials used so they can continue to improve their skills at home. “You can get the basics, enjoy it, and go home and say, ‘I did this,’” Hitchcock says. Art classes are $85 pp; rates at Caneel Bay start at $395. on a roll The historic Graycliff Hotel in Nassau in The Bahamas, has been known just as much for its cigars as for its elegant colonial accommodations ever since the hotel began cigar production in 1997. Visitors can still stop by the cigar rolling studio where about a dozen torcedores spend their days at worn, antique-looking wooden tables turning simple tobacco leaves into high-priced stogies. And now clients can do more than simply watch it happen. In just a few hours, in fact, they can learn the basics of rolling cigars for themselves. Classes begin with a brief history of tobacco and cigar production, including the origins of Graycliff’s leaves and what blends result in the best cigars. Next, they’ll claim one of those old wooden tables for themselves and learn how to cut the leaves; how to roll the tobacco, and how to wrap it all up. At the end of the lesson, clients can keep the cigar they’ve rolled, as well as a complimentary cigar and cigar cutter. The 3-night Graycliff Hotel Cigar package includes a cigar rolling lesson, as well as a tasting dinner with wine pairings at its upscale restaurant; one dinner at the Churrascaria Humidor, a traditional Brazilian rodizio barbecue restaurant; a rum tasting; and turndown service with a different Graycliff cigar each night. Rates start at $869 pp dbl. painting the town Of course, cuisine isn’t the only inspiring part of the Caribbean. The scenic beauty of its sandy shores and blue horizons has inspired artists from Gauguin to Guy Harvey. So why not your clients, too? That’s the thinking behind Caneel Bay’s artists in residence program. Taking advantage of the lively arts community on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the resort offers lessons in watercolor and pastels with established visual artists. “Usually they are led through how to do a landscape, or if they just want to do water or other things we can lead them through that, too,” explains Livy Hitchcock, one of two of Caneel Bay’s current artists in residence, specializing in pastels. “And at the end, they go away with a painting.” And not just any painting, she emphasizes. Working with an experienced expert in the medium of watercolor or pastels makes a difference—especially with all the personalized attention clients receive with an average class size of two people. “People are intimidated a little bit at first, but ultimately it’s a fun thing to do that people wouldn’t normally do on vacation,” Hitchcock says. “I have never in five years had somebody who didn’t love doing it, and love their painting when they were done. They all produce something wonderful and had a wonderful time doing it.” True to the laid-back vibe of St. John, these classes don’t take place in a classroom, but under a canopy overlooking the beach—a relaxing place to be no matter what you’re doing. “People can hear the water, and it’s just very pleasant. Usually there’s a breeze, and people go and dip in the water afterwards.” And like Arthurton’s cooking classes, clients need no experience to get started painting. “I’ve had honeymoon couples and I’ve had elderly people. I’ve had a 90-year-old and I’ve had 4 year olds. All you need to do is create your own memory.” Caneel Bay itself is an inspiring setting for learning a new art, surrounded by the protected natural setting of the Virgin Islands National 44 july 2010 dive right in With thousands of impressive, teeming dive sites, coupled with shallow, calm cays, the Caribbean is an ideal place to learn to scuba dive. Most dive resorts and scuba operators offer courses in PADI certification, offering the necessary skills and safety techniques to use while exploring underwater. Beginners should choose a reputable and well-established dive operator like Red Sail Sports, operating in the Cayman Islands and Aruba, that offers a 3-day PADI Open Water Diver course. Clients can complete the first portion of the course online, expediting the certification process. The course runs $450. Certified divers who want to go the extra mile should head to Buddy Dive Resort in Bonaire, widely considered the Caribbean’s best island for scuba diving. There, they can go pro—literally—with the Buddy Dive Academy’s Instructor Development Course, taking place Nov. 24-Dec. 5. At its completion, clients will be certified dive instructors. The full course costs $1,115; rates at Buddy Dive Resort start at $121 per room per night. n contact information Buddy Dive Resort: (866) GO-BUDDY; buddydive.com Caneel Bay: (888) ROSEWOOD; caneelbay.com Carlisle Bay: (866) 502-2855; carlisle-bay.com Graycliff Hotel: (800) 476-0446; graycliff.com Nicole’s Table: (268) 720-7441; nicolestable.com Red Sail Sports: (877) 506-6368 (Cayman) or (305) 454-2538 (Aruba); redsail.com recommend.com http://www.buddydive.com http://www.caneelbay.com http://www.carlisle-bay.com http://www.graycliff.com http://www.nicolestable.com http://www.redsail.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2010

Cover: Experiential Travel
Contents
Editor’s Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Louis Cruises'
Chile
Shamwari Game Reserve
Jordan
Scotland
Las Vegas
Rancho De Los Caballeros
Caribbean
Mexico
Calling Indiana Jones Types

Recommend July 2010