Gadling

Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee: 2012's other major British event

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean

In London, signs of the coming Olympics are everywhere. Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations have begun to expand into East London toward key Olympics sites, billboards urge drivers to begin to think about how they'll deal with increased traffic, and the Prime Minister is busy warning unions that the prospect of a strike during the Olympics would be "unacceptable and unpatriotic."

Meanwhile, outside of London, a number of cities have banded together as Heritage Cities in part to lure those tourists brought to London by the Olympics away from the capital.

But the Olympics are not the only event drawing visitors to the UK this year. 2012 is also the year of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of her coronation as Queen. The Diamond Jubilee will reach its peak during what is being called the Diamond Jubilee central weekend, from June 2 through 5. The weekend will be characterized by some serious pomp and circumstance. Events will include a 1000-boat pageant on the Thames on June 3, a BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4, and a special Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral followed by a carriage procession on June 5.

In addition to this peak period, there are a number of other events planned in the lead-up to the weekend and beyond.

For example, members of the Royal Family are traveling around the UK, the UK's Crown Dependencies, the UK's Overseas Territories, and Commonwealth to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Currently, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his wife the Countess of Wessex are on a two-week commemorative Caribbean visit, taking in St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, and Antigua and Barbuda. Locals and tourists alike in the region might just run across Edward and Sophie through March 7.

The Queen and Prince Philip's travel schedule begins March 8 in Leicester and finishes off on what looks like a very busy July 25, taking in Cowes, the Isle of Wight, New Forest, and Hampshire.

There is an official website for taking stock of Diamond Jubilee events. There's also a handy Google map allowing visitors to see where various members of the Royal Family will be celebrating the Queen's reign throughout the year. (Spoiler alert: Harry got Jamaica.) Visitors can play with an interactive timeline of the last 60 years and also send a message to the Queen. And there's the crucial bit of information that Andrew Lloyd Webber is co-authoring a Diamond Jubilee song.

[Image: Flickr | quinn.anya]

Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee: 2012's other major British event originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hilton launches "Authentically Local" programs in the Caribbean and Latin America

Libby Zay — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: South America, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hotels and Accommodations, Central America, Caribbean

Can a mega-corporate hospitality chain with 3,750 hotels provide authentic local experiences to travelers? Select Hilton Worldwide hotels are giving it a shot with the just announced "Authentically Local" packages. Available through the end of the year in the Caribbean and Latin America, the packages are aimed at introducing travelers to local cultures and languages through experiences such as dinners featuring local flavors, dance lessons in the local style, destination and tour suggestions hand-picked by locals, and more. There is even the opportunity for hotel guests to choose wearing a "language immersion pin" that identifies them as someone hotel employees will only speak to in the local language.

Options under the new package include tasting conch at the British Colonial Hilton Nassau in the Bahamas, learning rumba at the Hilton Cartagena in Colombia, snorkelling in the clear waters at the Hilton Curaçao off the coast of Venezuela, or touring the Mercado Municipal when staying at the Hilton São Paulo Morumbi in Brazil. The hotel chain also says culture consultants will be avialable at each participating property (full list after the jump) to help guests learn about the most celebrated experiences in the destinations.

So, is Hilton's new initiative to help travelers partake in authentic experiences when staying at their hotels a way the chain is reaching out to the community, or is it just a marketing ploy? It could go either way, but no matter what it's nice to see more travelers will be learning about local cultures.

Continue reading Hilton launches "Authentically Local" programs in the Caribbean and Latin America

Hilton launches "Authentically Local" programs in the Caribbean and Latin America originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fat Tuesday - top 5 places to party for Carnival

Justin Delaney — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Europe, North America, South America, Italy, Portugal, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Brazil, Nightlife, News, Caribbean

Fat Tuesday is the culmination of Mardi Gras, Carnival, Carnevale, and like minded celebrations that take place across the world today. From Guatemala to Greece, Fat Tuesday represents the last bastion of excess in Christian culture before the Lent fasting season begins. The streets pulse with energy and revelers don costumes, throw beads, shout sheenisms, and generally have a booze-fueled fantastic time.

So where are the top 5 places to throw down and party for Fat Tuesday?

Continue reading Fat Tuesday - top 5 places to party for Carnival

Fat Tuesday - top 5 places to party for Carnival originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions

Chris Owen — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, South America, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Guyana, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, Cruises, Central America, Caribbean

Going ashore can be one of the best parts of a cruise and one of the reasons many travelers choose a cruise vacation in the first place. From the comfort of your floating hotel, you can see multiple destinations but only have to unpack once. Cruise lines offer a wide variety of excursions at each port of call and encourage passengers to join. Some are over-priced but carry an implied level of safety that might not be entirely accurate.

The potential scam-like claim here is "Oh, you don't want to go out on your own on a shore excursion. If they're late getting you back, the ship will leave without you"

Yes, they could do that. Will they? Probably not. How likely is that to happen? Not likely at all.

Often, the same companies and people that do shore excursions for the cruise lines also do them independently. Still, the cruise lines say they do investigate and follow up on excursion providers to see how they are doing, holding them to high standards.

Alternatives to ship-sponsored excursions. Shoretrips.com, is a third-party service that provides excursions world-wide. Owners Julie and Barry from Milwaukee, Wisconsin travel to each of the destinations and insure that their tours are safe and interesting. Often, Shoretrips.com excursions are less expensive and less crowded too. Booking more than 200,000 people a year, they have yet to leave someone behind.

Let's talk price. A pretty easy-to-compare excursion in Cozumel, Mexico, Swimming with the Dolphins is $129 for adults or children on Carnival Cruise Lines. Shoretrips.com has that dolphin swim for $79 for adults and $77 for children. That's about 40% less than the cruise line. Prices vary among lines too. Royal Caribbean has that dolphin swim for $99. Their price is better than Carnival but not as good as Shoretrips.com.

Another option is to go with someone recommended by a trusted friend or a travel blogger you've come to know. Reliable independent operators know what they are competing with on the cruise line excursion offerings and almost always offer a better value. That might come in the form of a lower price or a similar price with a better experience.

Get good information. A good source for reliable travel information about specific ports of call is AOL travel guides. Good discussion and very current, personal information can be found at CruiseCritic.com. Your good travel agent/expert should have recommendations also.

I'm really not trying to talk you out of the ship-sponsored shore excursions. They're good. Nothing wrong with them. But there are alternatives that are just as safe (or not) as third-party vendors.

Cruise lines have their share of problems with excursions.

Continue reading Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions

Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5 tips for people who really don't want to go on a cruise

Chris Owen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Morocco, United Kingdom, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, New Zealand, Cruises, Central America, Caribbean

Maybe hiking, biking, backpacking or pretty much any other minimizing endeavor is more what you have in mind for traveling but someone is dragging you along on a cruise. There's just no way you're getting out of it. Is there hope for you? Yes. A little. Not much. But some.

Pace yourself- Food will always be available 24 hours a day on board. You might not be used to that with your triathlon training and all so do some stomach stretching exercises prior to boarding. You will need the extra room. Stop pouting that there are no granola bars or energy drinks. There are. On cruises they are called "shots" and you find them at the bars. You'll enjoy the walk to get them and recent studies suggest those extra steps will help prevent diabetes.

No barfing- You are concerned about the possibility of becoming sea sick because the little path on your normal mountain hike doesn't really move around much. Think of it like that and yeah, you probably will be. Prepare for shooting the rapids in Colorado with somebody who doesn't know what they're doing and you'll be fine. It could be worse. You could have been invited along for a taping of Paris Hilton's new reality show.

Know where you are going- Take time before the cruise to check out a travel guide on the places you will visit. Duh. Just because you don't have any say in where the ship goes doesn't mean you can't meet fun and find interesting people. You probably won't find any of them on the ship but maybe when you go ashore.

Careful with spending- The food is included in the price of your cruise but that's about it. Beverages, both alcoholic and sodas are not included. Want a sip of water? You'll pay $23.54 for that. This is why people smuggle booze on the ship. They do have beds so leave your sleeping bag at home with your tent. Bring your flashlight though, cruise passenger are fascinated by shiny things.

Relax. That may seem like a silly tip but you would be surprised how many people try to pack so much into every day that they need a vacation after they get back from their cruise to recuperate. Know this as a fact: There are way too many things to do and you can not possibly do them all. To be more accurate, there are too many things to do that you will think are stupid so bring a telescope and memorize the sky. Maybe you can find a 14th sign of the zodiac.

Flickr photo by Robbie Howell

5 tips for people who really don't want to go on a cruise originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadling's favorite hotels for 2011

Alex Robertson Textor — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, China, Japan, Singapore, Austria, Italy, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Australia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Caribbean

Where do your loyal well-traveled Gadling contributors especially love to spend the night? We polled Gadling writers on their favorite hotels in 2010. Think of Gadling's favorite hotels for 2011 as our version of a hotel tip sheet.

Laurel Miller. The Kirketon in Sydney for its quirkiness, cool bar, small size, helpful staff and retro-mod style, blissfully free of big-city attitude. Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, South Australia as a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence in a staggeringly beautiful, intimate setting hovering over a private beach covered with wallaby tracks. For high-end luxury, Ecuador's Hacienda Zuleta. It's historic, in the foothills of Andes in northern Ecuador, a working dairy/horse farm/creamery/condor preserve. It offers an intensely Ecuadorean experience, from the local indigenous culture to hospitality, geography, and food that is worth the trek. And lastly theWit in Chicago with its ideal location on the Loop, across the street from the river.

Mike Barish. The Wort Hotel in Jackson, Wyoming. Located right in the heart of Jackson, a historic hotel steeped in cowboy tradition. Grab a drink at the hotel's Silver Dollar Bar after a day exploring Grand Teton National Park.

Grant Martin. Favorite hotel of the year was the Elysian, right in downtown Chicago. Beautiful, huge rooms, clean, elegant and sharp appointments, razor-sharp staff and a perfect location make this the best spot to spend a long weekend in the Loop.

Annie Scott. The Capella Hotel in Singapore remains a favorite, as does the Hotel Imperial in Vienna. I'm a sucker for luxury. I also loved staying at Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma, a treehouse hotel in Zambia, despite a harrowing adventure with a giant bug which I eventually captured with a teacup and saucer.

McLean Robbins. CastaDiva Resort, Lake Como. Opened in June, this is the first five-star resort to open on the lake in about 100 years. It's stunning and unique. Used to be a private home to the muse of Bellini, sat empty for decades before being gutted and re-done. Top-notch service, food and spa.

Don George. This year's hotel highlights were the following trio in Peru. All combined great style and comfort with a deep sense of immersion in the local place, through their architecture, cuisine, artful decorations, and programs that featured local people to promote local sights and attractions. In Urubamba: Sol & Luna. In Aguas Calientes: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. In Cusco: Inkaterra La Casona.

Continue reading Gadling's favorite hotels for 2011

Gadling's favorite hotels for 2011 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadling's favorite destinations for 2011

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Ethiopia, Zambia, China, Japan, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, Moldova, Switzerland, Dominica, Mexico, Nicaragua, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Ecuador, Peru, Central America, Caribbean

We travel a lot, to destinations both well-known and unfamiliar. In our defense, it is our job to travel like mad, to explore the world and then write about our discoveries.

Though most travel writers find something or other of interest in most places we visit, there are always those personal favorites that rise above the rest. This year, we decided to scribble our favorites down for you. Some of these spots we're tipping for greater coverage in 2011, while others are simply tried-and-true favorites that we can't stop raving about to our friends and the various publications that allow us to write for them. Over the course of this week, we'll weigh in on our favorite hotels, airlines, gadgets, apps, and websites.

So, without further ado: Gadling's favorite destinations for 2011.

Mike Barish. St. Kitts. I genuinely enjoy how locals and visitors frequent the same beach bars and restaurants. During evenings on the strip, I'd recognize staff members from my hotel doing the same thing I was doing: enjoying the ocean breeze with a cocktail and some jerk chicken.

Kraig Becker. Everest Base Camp, Nepal. For adventure travelers, a visit to Everest Base Camp is one of the best treks in the world. The 12-day hike isn't just about the destination, however, as you walk in the shadow of the Himalaya each day, passing through sleepy mountain villages steeped in Sherpa culture along the way. The scenery, and altitude, is a breathtaking once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Continue reading Gadling's favorite destinations for 2011

Gadling's favorite destinations for 2011 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top ten cheap local fast food items worldwide

Alex Robertson Textor — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Germany, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Budget Travel, Caribbean

Food is usually a major cost on the road, a significant component of any careful travel budget. Very good, inexpensive food is on offer in most of the world's destinations, no matter how expensive average meals may be. Here are ten delicious fast food items from ten different destinations around the world.

1. Burritos, San Francisco. San Franciscans are passionate about their burritos. It's easy to inadvertently inspire an argument through an offhand if opinionated claim about your personal burrito likes and dislkes. Try a riceless burrito at La Tacquería (2889 Mission Street) or drizzle your burrito from Tacquería Cancún (2228 Mission, among other locations) with distinctive green salsa. For $6, you'll be sated for hours.

2. Currywurst, Berlin. Currywurst is an extraordinarily popular German fast food, a sliced pork sausage doused with curry sauce. At Konnopke's Imbiss, a famed food stand in Berlin, a currywurst goes for just €1.70 ($2.25).

3. Okonomiyaki, Osaka. This delightful, greasy food item can be found in a number of spots around Japan, though it is firmly associated with Osaka. It's a cabbage pancake topped with several ingredients. These often include pork, green onion, other vegetables, shrimp, fish and seaweed flakes, mayonnaise, and a dark sauce. An all-but-the-kitchen-sink okonomiyaki in Osaka will set you back around 750 yen ($9).

4. Pintxos, San Sebastián, Spain. For just a few euros, you can fill up on extraordinary pintxos (Basque tapas, see above) in countless bars in the lovely seaside city of San Sebastián. That San Sebastián is also home to some very expensive restaurants is an entertaining notion to contemplate while you're scarfing three perfect €3 ($4) pintxos for lunch in a crowded bar. See Todo Pintxos for a listing of pintxos perches.

5. Hawker centres, Singapore. Many of Singapore's hawker centers, which are more or less open-air food courts, serve up very high quality portions of food for very little. As little as S$4 ($3) will get you off to a good start. Among Singapore's many hawker centers, check out Maxwell Hawker Centre, Chomp Chomp, and Lau Pa Sat.

Continue reading Top ten cheap local fast food items worldwide

Top ten cheap local fast food items worldwide originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Weirdest festivals from around the world

Karen Walrond — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Spain, United Kingdom, Trinidad & Tobago

Seven years ago, when I became engaged to my now-husband, Marcus, I took him back home with me to Trinidad & Tobago to meet my parents for the first time, as well as participate in my country's legendary Carnival. On Carnival Tuesday, as we were dancing in the streets, I said to him smugly:

"See how lucky you are to marry me? You get to visit my country and enjoy fabulous festivals!"

"Ah yes," he agreed in his English accent, "but one day soon, I'll take you back to my dad's home in Gloucester, where we can go to the Cheese-Rolling Festival!"

I looked at him strangely, and attributed his odd response to the hot sun. Cheese-rolling festival? Jeez. Clearly, he needed to lay off the rum.

Turns out, the Gloucester Cheese-Rolling Festival is quite famous: according to MSNBC.com, "In a logic that defies reason, participants of this festival race down a vertiginous hill in pursuit of a 7.8-pound roll of cheese."

Oookay.

Amazingly, this isn't even the weirdest festival out there -- you can check out some of the other oddball festivals around the world here. And let it be said now, I'm heaving a big sigh of relief that my Marcus is from a small town in England, rather than a small town in Spain, where revelers at one particular festival "parade around town and whip the townspeople, while a cow masquerader runs amok in the crowd."

Wow.

Weirdest festivals from around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carnivals around the world

Jeffrey White — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Russian Federation, Czech Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Brazil

Carnival enjoys many interpretations around the world, yet there are common threads uniting them. By and large these are parties that feature a great deal of tradition, costumes, parades and food and if they seem a little of the hook some time, well what do expect from people preparing for 40 days of fasting?

Here's a look at a few Carnival celebrations around the world.

United States

Obviously the best known example of Carnival in the US is Mardi Gras, that season of debauchery that hits New Orleans once a year. Some people consider Mardi Gras just one day, the Tuesday before the start of Lent (known as Fat Tuesday). For others, Mardi Gras describes the whole season leading up to Ash Wednesday, which officially begins on Twelfth Night (January 6) and follows with daily parades, balls and parties starting about two weeks before Fat Tuesday.

The most elaborate parades start about five days before Mardi Gras' end, with the climax coming on Fat Tuesday, where thousands of revelers pour out onto Bourbon Street and throughout the French Quarter, watch the parade of intricate floats, drink, swap beads and get crazy.

Brazil

Carnaval, as it's known in Brazil, is one of the world's largest parties. It kicks off four days before Ash Wednesday, and is an interesting amalgam of European, African and native South American traditions -- with the one binding element being samba, the school of Brazilian dance that sets the rhythm for the entire festival.

In Rio, the birthplace of Brazilian Carnaval, samba schools compete during open stage performances and in various parades. Residents also compete, joining blocos -- groups of people from the same neighborhood who dress in the same costumes, which can often be over-the-top. Each year the number of blocos increases; more than 100 bloc parades take place throughout the festival.

Trinidad

Trinidad has the largest Carnival celebration in the Caribbean, centered in its capital, Port of Spain. Technically, the celebration lasts more than a month, leading up to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but the festival hits its climax on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before Lent, known as Dimanche Gras, J'ouvert and Mas.

Dimanche Gras features the island's best calypso players competing to be named "calypso monarch" for the year. J'ouvert takes place at dawn on Monday, where partygoers don old clothes and cover themselves in mud (hence the day's name: "dirty Monday"). Like elsewhere, the big party takes place on Tuesday, with a day of costumes, dancing and eating.

Czech Republic

Carnival in the Czech Republic is known as Masopust, and it too technically stretches more than a month, from Epiphany until Ash Wednesday (it's interesting to note that Masopust means, essentially, "farewell to meat").

Masopust is probably bigger in the Moravia region of the Czech Republic, but there are parties to attend throughout Bohemia as well, especially on the outskirts of Prague in towns like Roztoky. Most Czech villages and towns wait for the weekend before the start of Lent to throw their big celebrations, which include not only the requisite parades and costumes but tons of local beer and a huge pig roast on most days.

Russia

Russia celebrates Carnival, but with an Orthodox Christian twist. The festival is known as Maslenitsa (Russian: ??????????), celebrated roughly seven weeks before Orthodox Easter (the difference between Western Christian and Orthodox Christian Lent is that they begin on different days; in Russia, Lent begins on a Monday).

Slavic lore has Maslenitsa as some kind of sun festival. In some respects, Russians celebrate this in anticipation of the coming spring. At least, that was how it was once described to me in Prague by a Russian friend who had me over to his house to celebrate Maslenitsa. The festival is, above all else, a celebration of food. His wife cooked rich salads of fish and meat and, of course, the bliny, or pancake, the staple of the Maslenitsa table. Unfortunately so much vodka was consumed that night that further details are a bit hazy...

Carnivals around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Through the Gadling Lens: shooting inside

Karen Walrond — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Photos, Europe, North America, South America, United Kingdom, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Nightlife, Through the Gadling Lens

When we think about travel photography, we usually think of images of amazing vistas, vast seascapes, impressive skylines -- you know, the world outside. But the truth is, when we travel we spend a considerable amount of time inside: in museums and cathedrals, local homes, great restaurants, caves, castles ... wherever. And so, while every travel album must have beautiful scenic shots (which we discussed in last week's post), no album would be complete without a few interior shots, as well. So this week, we're going to talk about how to take great interior shots -- what to shoot, and how to shoot them.

Continue reading Through the Gadling Lens: shooting inside

Through the Gadling Lens: shooting inside originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More on Caribbean travel

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Travel Deals, Caribbean

This Sunday's Columbus Dispatch travel section is devoted to Caribbean travel. With this morning's post on Caribbean vacations, written before the Sunday paper arrived on my front porch, I'm wondering if I'm getting a message.

One article, "Caribbean offers comfort for less cash" by David Swanson points out an option not mentioned in today's earlier post--Tobago. After reading about all of Tobago's high points, I'm hesitant to let the word out because, frankly, I want the bargains to be there when I show up.

Here's why Tobago sounds fantastic:

Continue reading More on Caribbean travel

More on Caribbean travel originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day: 4-13-2008

Catherine Bodry — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trinidad & Tobago, Photo of the Day

Showoff. Well, okay -- that's pretty cool, and if I could do a back-flip I might be tempted to show off a little, too. TarikB snapped this photo on the north coast of Trinidad. I love the way the back-flipper seems to float effortlessly in the air -- check out how relaxed his feet appear to be. Also great is the young lady looking on, and I wonder if she's the reason he's doing back-flips.

Have any showy travel photos to share? Upload them to Gadling's Flickr pool and we'll consider them for our Photo of the Day feature.

Photo of the Day: 4-13-2008 originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Trinidad and Tobago soldiers help keep the streets safe

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Trinidad & Tobago, News

If you've ever traveled in places where soldiers help man the streets, it can be a bit disconcerting, particularly in a place that should evoke an image of paradise.

I read in the World Watch section of today's The Plain Dealer, (besides news Justin already posted on about lithium batteries and luggage) that for the next month or so in Tobago and Trinidad, seeing soldiers on patrol will be a common sight. Police can't control crime by themselves so the military has been called in for reinforcement.

Because crime rates sky rocket this time of year, having soldiers frequent where people go for fun will hopefully put a damper on criminals' good times. After Carnival in February, crime goes down, but I'm not sure how much since there are also reports of more police posts being established in rural areas.

If you go, besides being on criminal watch, don't wear any camouflage. It's illegal. I found that out from reading the Tobago and Trinidad Web site.

In Trinidad and Tobago soldiers help keep the streets safe originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadling on the Road Archives

Neil Woodburn — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, China, Tajikistan, Albania, Croatia, Haiti, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, United States

Here at Gadling we pride ourselves in putting our money where our mouth is. In other words, we write about travel because we are all travelers. This is our passion, this is our hobby, this is our life.

Unfortunately, we can't all travel 100% of the time. But, when we do hit the road, we tend to hit it rather well.

Over the last few years, our writers and correspondents have traveled the globe, absorbed their surroundings, converted what they've seen into zeros and ones on their laptop, and then digitally rearranged it for you right here on Gadling. Sometimes it might be a simple post, but other times we've built entire series around exotic locations. Sadly, as time passes, these features have died a lonely death, disappearing into the void of cyberspace never to be seen again.

As a result, we've decided to resurrect some of the very best and provide for them a nice, accessible home so that they may continue providing virtual sustenance to our readers. The link to this new home is just below our Gadling Writers on the Road section (which features our current writers on assignment). To explore our prior destinations, simply click on the Archives Button and you'll soon be up to your knees in China, Beijing, Alaska, Haiti, Miami, St. Lucia, Tajikistan, the Balkans, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Enjoy!

Gadling on the Road Archives originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Caribbean sans Cruise Ships

Neil Woodburn — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:18:00 EST

Filed under: St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago

Nothing ruins a place faster than a mammoth cruise ship docking at its port--unless, of course, you happen to be on that cruise ship.

If you're landlubber who has traveled halfway around the world to enjoy the peace and quiet of a tropical island only to have your paradise overrun by 15,000 cruise ship passengers, you know what I'm talking about. It is Hell.

So how do you avoid this crush? Is there a resource that will tell you which islands are off the cruise ship circuit but still wonderful enough to visit?

Writer David Swanson has taken on this challenge in his recent article, The Caribbean: Cruise-Ship Free.

He kicks off with the woeful example of beautiful Tortola in the British Virgin Islands--an island of 22,000 people that sees 500,000 cruise ship passengers annually. Ugh!

Swanson then keys us in on eight Caribbean islands that he promises are cruise ship free; Anguilla, Bonaire, Montserrat, Nevis, Provodenciales (Turks and Caicos), Saba, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago.

Take a moment to read through the descriptions of what each of these islands has to offer (above-and-beyond them being cruise-ship free), then pick your favorite and disappear.

The Caribbean sans Cruise Ships originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word for the Travel Wise (12/18/06)

Adrienne Wilson — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Trinidad & Tobago, Foreign Language

Should your 2007 Carnival plans be in full swing with the exception of where you're going to crash every night after partying throughout the day or vice versa, consider renting an apartment during your stay. If you do, make sure you use the local terminology to score your cozy tropical island escape pad. I'm told it is one of the best ways to go.

Today's word is a slang word used in Trinidad & Tobago:

bachie - apartment for a single person or bachelor

Lucky for me I was able to stay at friend's during the past Carnival season, but if I had to do it again I'd probably get a place of my own. That way I won't disturb my resting non-masquerading friend with my late night/early morning entrance into the apartment every time. Though it seems the whole country is out shaking their bum-bum round and round there are still some people in the world that prefer not to dress skimpy and dance around in the street. What a pity.

Definition of today's word and past Trini slang is compliments of the online Trini dictionary.

Past Trini slang words: bawlin', bacchanal, lime, rampalooge

Word for the Travel Wise (12/18/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caribbean Airlines to Debut in 2007

Adrienne Wilson — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Trinidad & Tobago, Airlines

On my trips down to Trinidad & Tobago I always flew with American Airlines, mainly because I had enough mileage to get down there for little to no cost, which means I never had the opportunity to fly with BWIA. Sad, I suppose. In early 2007 BWIA will close after 66 years of service, but will become known as Caribbean Airlines. All tickets already purchased for travel on BWIA will be honored under the new airlines and customers can also count on having their BWEE club memberships transferred as well. For details and a full press release refer to the BWIA site or you can go see what Caribbean Airlines has in store for the coming year.

Caribbean Airlines to Debut in 2007 originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 Nov 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami Herald On the Caribbean

Adrienne Wilson — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 07:51:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Arts and Culture, Hiking, Scuba Diving, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Hotels and Accommodations

Trying to decide on the Caribbean island that's best for you? I know, the decision can be a toughie, but shouldn't be too much of a strain. The Miami Herald features an excellent piece highlighting noteworthy hotels, environmental aspects, restaurants and the basic 'why' you should come questions all there to help you plan. Ready to go nude? Try visiting St. Maarten's Orient Beach to score your full body tan. Need a good reason to head over to St. Lucia? If beautiful beaches aren't enough, grab a sunset cocktail at Ladera and just lounge to the sweet sounds of island music. Whether it's live or from the stereo I'm sure there will be some coming from somewhere. Oh, and there's my personal island favorite - Trinidad & Tobago. If you can't make it for Carnival next year try planning a week long getaway to hike and bird watch. There's always a blissful thing to do in Trinidad & Tobago - if you ask me. See the Miami Herald for all their spicy Caribbean island recommendations.

Miami Herald On the Caribbean originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Find Carnival Costumes Online!

Adrienne Wilson — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 09:24:00 EST

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Gear, Trinidad & Tobago

Last year around this same time I was busy scouring the web for all Trinidad & Tobago Carnival sites and band sites. I was mainly on the lookout for costumes and without the help of a friend of mine I would have been utterly lost. For an event an entire country spends the entire year preparing for I would have expected more information on the tourism site or in one central location on the web, but I couldn't find one. This year I've stumbled upon this groovy PlayCarnival.com website which seems to have it right! Jammin' island music, flash animation of winin' ladies and all the mas band sites with costume information. Jackpot! It looks as if PlayCarnival has been around for a wee-bit and I just didn't catch on last year, but if this should be your first time going to TnT's carnival - check them out.

Like last year, I'm really feeling Island People's theme this year - Sahara. Imagine parading Port-of-Spain's streets half-clad in your beaded feathery attire pretending to be in the Sahara as you dance under the sweet Soca sun. (Though Tribe is looking pretty nice too.) Oh, Trinidad - how I wish to play next year again!

Find Carnival Costumes Online! originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Oct 2006 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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