Recommend July 2016 - (Page 16)

Caribbean Only on These Islands 5 Unforgettable Experiences Ed Wetschler "The average couple staying for one week at a Sandals Resort will take three Island Routes tours." That insider's comment at JAPEX is Exhibit A for making the case that Caribbean beach holidays have changed. Sure, even the most active and inquisitive travelers still lounge around the pool, but they also want to do things, see things. Following are five experiential activities that are hot-and are best booked in advance. The "America's Cup" 12-Metre Challenge, St. Maarten Hitching a ride on a bona fide America's Cup yacht would give you bragging rights enough, but 12-Metre Challenge goes a step further. This company has five of these impossibly fast, expensive sloops, including Dennis Connor's Stars & Stripes '86 and Stars & Stripes '87, sailboat racing's equivalent to Secretariat. What's more, tourists don't just hitch a ride on them; they get to race them. 16 july 2016 Seabourn Cruise Line calls this opportunity one of the "top excursions in the entire world," and that's not hype. No experience is necessary, but because performance boats often heel to one side, this adventure is for reasonably agile grown-ups. Two reminders for your clients: (1) They'll want sunblock (long-sleeve shirts aren't a terrible idea, either), sunglasses, and hats that will stay put on their heads in strong breezes. (2) Each race takes about three hours, but there's no toilet on board, as befits yachts built for the most famous boat race on earth. Rate is $79 pp. The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa occupies one of the best beaches on the island. Each of the 310 guestrooms and 15 suites has French doors leading to a balcony, and there are four restaurants and lounges, a spa and fitness center, and a casino. No, there aren't paddleboats, tennis courts, or the free-flowing drinks you'd find at an all-inclusive, but who wants them? St. Maarten/Martin is ideal for dining out, visiting other beaches, and generally experiencing the island. Book your clients a car for at least part of the vacation? Good idea. Off-season rates start at about $200, but we recommend a nonsmoking king room facing the sea, which would start at about $255. Cooking Classes at Secret Bay, Dominica The Nature Island is known for its green terrain crossed by hiking trails and thriving marine life, but all this lush life also makes for superb local ingredients, so chef Eric Subin at luxury ecolodge Secret Bay offers guests cooking classes that are a locavore's dream. An environmentalist's dream, too, because one of the options includes cooking lionfish, an introduced species that is threatening native reef fish. recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2016

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Escape the Ordinary
Tour Talk: Rail Travel in Europe
Expedition Cruising: Adventure of a Lifetime
Onboard Review: Holland America’s MS Koningsdam
Do Like the Locals in Latin America
Only on These Islands
Travel Advisor Corner: Dining Out on International
Onsite Review: Barbados
Explore Israel Off the Well-Trodden Road
Onsite Review: South Africa: From Beach to Bush
Explore the Great Outdoors via Rail Travel
Onsite Review: Club Med Sandpiper Bay
Singular Experiences
Onsite Review: At Home in Thuringia, Germany
Journeys Beyond the Ordinary
Come Aboard: India Rail Travel

Recommend July 2016