Recommend Jan 2018 - 26

Few expected tourism in Puerto Rico to quickly bounce back
from the damage done by Hurricane Maria-much of the
interior is still dark-but by Oct. 7 Royal Caribbean was again
using SAN JUAN as a homeport. More than 100 of the island's
149 endorsed hotels have reopened, too. Landmarks such as
San Juan's iconic fortresses are also welcoming visitors. They
were built to withstand ferocious assaults, and they have.
SEE/DO: Bacardi, the world's largest family-owned spirits
company, has a new Bacardi Visitor Center where people
can learn about rum, the quintessential Caribbean liquor. The
company offers three tours: one on history, a second featuring
a rum tasting class, and a third on mixology. The latter includes
a tour of the distillery and the Cathedral of Rum, and attendees
learn how to make three classic cocktails: the Cuba libre,
mojito, and daiquiri.
SIGNATURE EVENT: San Juan's annual Puerto Rico Salsa
Congress is the best salsa event anywhere. In July, dancers,
many of them ballroom dancing champions from other
countries as well as Puerto Rico, convene in the capital to pay
homage to touchstones of this art form: the Caribe Hilton, The
Latin Roots Club, and the Plaza del Mercado-Santurce. They
dance to the world's best salsa bands around, too, such as El
Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
STAY: La Concha Renaissance Resort, in San Juan's
waterfront Condado neighborhood, was one of the first hotels
to reopen after Hurricane Maria. The property is right on the
beach, and a bus stops outside for people who want to see
the sights and shops of Old San Juan, so guests here have it
all. Every room has free WiFi, a 37-inch TV and iPod dock, and
other amenities, and the hotel's restaurants include Perla, a
must for foodies.

ST. KITTS
JAMAICA

PUERTO RICO

SAN JUAN

FASTFACTS
BEST TIME TO GO: December through June
GETTING THERE: Delta flies from Atlanta and
New York (JFK) to St. Kitts
ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport
CURRENCY: Eastern Caribbean Dollar
INFORMATION PLEASE: St. Kitts Tourism Authority-
stkittstourism.kn

Bird's-eye view of this lush island nation.

A stroll through Old San Juan will have visitors mesmerized with its architecture.

FASTFACTS
BEST TIME TO GO: December through May
GETTING THERE: Delta flies from Atlanta and
New York (JFK) to San Juan
ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Government ID for U.S. visitors;
valid passport for Canadians
CURRENCY: U.S. Dollar
INFORMATION PLEASE: Puerto Rico Tourism
Company-seepuertorico.com

ST. KITTS

Delta recently increased nonstop service from Atlanta and New York
City to ST. KITTS, whose appeal to leisure travelers has taken a
great leap forward in recent years, as reflected in the island's new
website. Luxury resorts, condos, and other facilities have turned
St. Kitts into a magnet for high-end visitors, and the timing of the
new flights is also smart because of the Four Seasons Resort
Nevis' renovations.
SEE/DO: The railroads that served Caribbean sugar cane plantations
at the turn of the 20th century are all gone now-all, that is, but on
this island. Today, the St. Kitts Scenic Railway offers 3-hour, 30mile rides that show off green fields and dramatic mountains, with
part of the trip on buses. The Railway is not only the easiest way for
a family to get an overview of any island in the region, it's also the
most authentic.
SIGNATURE EVENT: The annual Nevis-to-St. Kitts CrossChannel Swim (this year on March 25) is yet another phenomenon
that's unique in the Caribbean. Part of why it's so unique is that St.
Kitts and sister island Nevis are unusually close to each other. The
2.5-mile swim is a feel-good event that attracts both locals and
visitors, and it raises money for charities-this year, the St. Kitts Turtle
Conservation group and the Nevis Special Olympics.
STAY: The new star is the Park Hyatt St. Kitts, the brand's first
resort in the Caribbean. With 78 rooms and 48 suites that all
offer ocean views, this Park Hyatt is a showcase for local art and
contemporary design. Located on a peaceful beach, it has the
region's first Miraval Life in Balance Spa, three signature restaurants,
Park Hyatt-level service, and non-motorized watersports, as well as
access to nearby golf and tennis.

http://www.seepuertorico.com http://www.stkittstourism.kn

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