The Ultimate Caribbean

Here’s the lowdown on the Caribbean’s best: beaches, sailing, shopping, authentic experiences, adventure, unspoiled nature and peace and quiet.

Anguilla | Grenadines | Bahamas | Nevis | Saba | St. Bart's | St. John | Vieques | Virgin Gorda

Best for beaches: Anguilla

Almost in the shadow of nearby St. Martin, with St. Bart’s visible on clear days, Anguilla is flat and sandy and remains relatively undeveloped compared with its neighbors—but it’s still home to some of the most luxurious resorts and villas in the region.
Worth the splurge: Having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, the Mediterranean-style Malliouhana Hotel & Spa (800/835-0796 or 246/497-6111; malliouhana.com; doubles from $500) is still going strong, with a newish spa, chef Michel Rostang’s haute-French restaurant, and a 25,000-bottle wine cellar.

Best value: At a far lower price point is the 27-suite Kú (Shoal Bay East; 800/869-5827; ku-anguilla.com; doubles from $160), from the owners of Cap Juluca. Every spacious, if basic, suite comes with a kitchen.

Real estate: For those taken with the villa lifestyle, now is the time to invest. In 2008, the Temenos Resort & Residences from St. Regis (800/ 567-1845 or 264/498-7000; temenosanguilla.com; from $1.6 million) will unveil the first of 115 villas and estates. The Kor Hotel Group’s 35-acre Viceroy Anguilla (800/357-1930 or 264/497-0757; viceroyanguilla.com; from $1 million), also opening in 2008, will be selling 172 California-meets-Caribbean residences.

Top beach: On the Caribbean side, the best way to experience scenic Rendezvous Bay, with its view of St. Martin, is by staying at the CuisinArt Resort (800/943-3210 or 264/498-2000; cuisinartresort.com; doubles from $685).

Favorite restaurant: Run by Malliouhana chef Dale Carty, Tasty’s Restaurant (Main Rd., South Hill; 264/497-2737; lunch for two $60) lives up to its name. Islanders are almost obsessive about his peppery-hot goat-and-potato curry.

Local flavor: Unfussy roadside barbecue shacks are where you’ll find the most memorable (and affordable) meals. Try the fiery grilled ribs and fish at Tamarind Tree Bar & Restaurant (Coronation Ave., The Valley; 264/235-2415); at BBQ Grill (across from the People’s Market, The Valley; 264/772-6204), the specialty is sliced roasted pork, rubbed in lemon and lime.

Where to shop: The best souvenir can be found at the post office (The Valley; 264/497-2528), which sells colorful stamps that celebrate everything from the island’s cultural heritage to Princess Diana.

Don’t miss: Named after a 19th-century English shipping family, Planters Pyrat is the tipple of choice, distilled in Sandy Ground (Road Bay; 264/497-5003; tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

[Via - The Ultimate Caribbean]

How to Find the Best All-Inclusive Resorts

Andrea Bennett shows you how to get the most for your money, not to mention top-notch service.

By Andrea Bennett, Travel+Leisure

My first experience with an all-inclusive resort was a decade ago during a freezing February in New York City. I was easy prey for this promise: a startlingly low price for a trip to Cancún, which included airfare, four nights in a double room, and meals at any of three "exciting, international" restaurants. What I got: an insipid buffet; a filthy, crowded beach; and many extra fees. Though piña coladas were included, bottled water wasn't. The only unexpected "extra" was the resort's own porn channel, blaring on my TV when I arrived. I would have settled for maid service.

These days, all-inclusives are going upscale with the same type of promise, but better delivery. At the Royal Hideaway Playacar, in Mexico, for example, a nightly rate starting at $850 per room includes meals by chef Sergi Arola—from Madrid's Michelin-starred La Broche restaurant—Spanish classes, and scuba lessons. You can find good deals at various price levels by asking yourself these questions:

Will I use what's included?

If you think you'll use everything a resort offers, even a pricey package can be a great value. Curtain Bluff, in Antigua, might seem expensive at $950 a night, but if you take advantage of the extras—scuba diving, waterskiing lessons, sailing, and drinks—the resort is a bargain. And large all-inclusive chains, which have improved their services, can be surprisingly affordable: I found a six-night stay for two in April at the Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa, in Jamaica, including airfare from Charleston, South Carolina; all meals; tennis; scuba diving; and laundry service, for $683 per night.

Will I want what's not included?

Figure out if you'll desire more than what the deal gives you. The Meliá Cabo Real, in Los Cabos, Mexico, is next door to a Robert Trent Jones II designed golf course. Stay in a links-view room for $460 per night in late February, and the all-inclusive rate delivers everything except golf, which is $252 per round. If you plan on playing a few rounds, wouldn't staying at an actual golf resort end up costing less, even at a higher nightly rate? Definitely.

How big a hassle will it be to cash in? The appeal of an all-inclusive is lost if you have to spend time jockeying for what you've been promised. In order to avoid the buffet at the 355-room Caribe Club Princess, in Punta Cana, you must queue up before 3 p.m. to get reservations at one of the five restaurants. Other red flags: water sports that are actually at a different location; "unlimited" sports where equipment rental is extra; or being confined to nine holes of an 18-hole course. To avoid these undesirable scenarios, know what's included with the hotel before you book.

[Via - How to Find the Best All-Inclusive Resorts]

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Florida Real Estate Beach Homes

When you think of Florida real estate then what you probably want is a Florida beach home. Maybe you want a Florida town house or a beach condominium whatever you decide you should first do some careful research on what is available and what it will cost. There are many different options and the housing market is still good in Florida because it is the most favored place for living for people from all over the world.

When you are looking for a beach property then your best bet is to start your search in Miami Dade County in Florida. Here you can live facing the beach or get one of the many condos that are only a mile or so away from all the surfing and the fun. If the beach properties don’t match your expectations or are too expensive then look for a condo in somewhere like Orlando where there are many tourist attractions and plenty of new housing developments. There are plenty of professional real estate agents who will be able to help you in your search and in obtaining a mortgage.

Golfers might want to consider one of the many golfing properties that are springing up in and around Florida. Many of these properties not only have the convenience of being right on the course every day quite a few also have their own swimming pools. These are at the higher end of the price market however and you might want to lower your sights to more affordable Florida real estate.

A Home or an Investment?

What type of properties you go to look at in Florida and in which area depend largely on whether you are looking for a family home or a property investment. Experts are expecting the property market in this part of the States to do very well in the coming year which would make a Florida property a sound investment for anyone.

One of the drawbacks with property investment is that unlike stocks and bonds you are not going to get an immediate return on your investment – at least in the vast majority of cases. Real estate can tie up your money for a very long time. While real estate is a very marketable product, buying and selling it can take a considerable time. Having said that there are still investors who feel that their property investment portfolio is worth any of the drawbacks that they might face. In places like Florida investors stand to make a great deal of money if they play the right hunch. Once you know that you cannot buy and sell property at the drop of a hat then it is worth your while investing because you are more likely to make a sound investment decision.

One way that some seasoned investors make more money and keep on adding to their investment portfolio is because they are quite willing to check out the foreclosure listings and choose one of them. If you really are serious about investing in Florida real estate beach homes then this might be the way forward for you.

[Via - Florida Real Estate Beach Homes]

Panama City Real Estate

So I need money for real estate Investment?

The answer is the ever popular - Yes and No.

Before you begin to look for a Panama City real estate investment , it is advisable to research how much you can afford and the financial options available to you.

You begin this research by analyzing your current financial liabilities as well as your equity holdings.

The 'pros' use leverage to finance their real estate investments and whenever possible, you should as well.

Leverage generally refers to using borrowed funds, or debt, so as to attempt to increase the returns to equity. Using a Lending companies funds for investing is an example of leverage.

One way to accomplish this is to find and work with a qualified Panama City professional real estate agent who knows the area in which you are interested in purchasing.

Real estate agents often work with and can suggest a lending company or mortgage professional.

In addition you can work directly with a lender or mortgage professional.

Understanding the financial implications of real estate investing is the first step. Working with a professional Panama City real estate agent and/or mortgage professional provides you with several benefits, not the least of which is they are typically well informed of news and growth markets in the area you are interested in investing.

Panama City Beach Real Estate Investment

If you plan on starting a property investment career then it is well worth looking at Panama City beach real estate. There is no better way to enhance your investment portfolio than by owning property in a city that has some of the best beaches in the whole of the United States. Whether you are looking for a house or a condo you are bound to find the property that you want in Panama City. Investors who put their money into buy to let properties are doing very well at the moment. New developments are being built all of the time and these service both the residential and the holiday rental market. There are a good number of professional real estate agents in Panama City who are there to advise you on your investments. Investors in real estate will be given all the information that they need in order to get the property they want at a price they are willing to pay.

Investing in Beach Real Estate

Now is the time to invest in beach real estate and there are plenty of companies around to manage any buy to let property that you invest in. Services usually include having access to a database of properties as soon as they come onto the market. Companies will undertake to interview suitable tenants for your buy to let beach real estate; whether these lets are just for the holiday period or on a more permanent basis. Real estate professionals will be able to advise you on up and coming changes to the property tax laws and how to get the best from your real estate investment. If you do not plan on living in the area then there are companies who will collect rental monies, deal with property maintenance and disputes and generally take all the strain out of owning rental property.

You may be looking for a new beach condo for yourself and your family. If this is the case then real estate professionals will endeavour to show you a range of properties within your budget and in a location that you desire. Before embarking on buying real estate of any kind you should first explore your options as to what type of mortgage would best suit your requirements. If you have the paperwork ready when you go to make an offer on a property the seller is far more likely to look favourably on your bid because they know that you are more likely than not to be able to borrow the money.

Searching for Florida Real Estate Beach Home and additional resources?

Panama City beach real estate is selling well at the moment and investors are so impressed with this that more of them are willing to put their money into one of the many off plan property developments in and around the city. The way in which some real estate companies operate in Panama City means that sellers are able to reduce the amount of time that their property stays on the market while buyers are more likely to be able to get the property that they want in a much shorter time.

The time that many properties remain on the market in Panama has almost halved in many areas of the city. This has in turn generated a marked upswing in the Panama City beach real estate property market.

[Via - Panama City Beach Real Estate Investment]
[Via - Panama City Real Estate]

Taj Hotels checks in at Saraya Islands

Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces has signed a management contract for a period of 15 years with Saraya Islands to operate Taj Exotica Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, which will become operational by end of year 2011. The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa will be one of six world-class 5-star hotels in the Saraya Islands. Saraya Islands is investing $2 billion for the whole project. This is going to be Taj’s fourth resort in the Middle East.

The project comprises four islands and a main village, occupying 5.5 kms of the island. The resort by Taj will occupy something around 45,000 sq mts.

The resort will include somewhere around 150 guest rooms including suites, 30 bunglows, two restaurants, conference facilities spa and other top-end amenities.

“It’s going to be a state of the art mixed-use resort destination in the Emirates of Ras Al Khaimah. It’ll have world class 5 star hotels, spread over the island; it’ll also have a residential area as well as a retail segment and water amusement park. Moreover, the island is well connected with Sharjah and Dubai International airports,” said Mahdhar Al Tamimi, general manager, Saraya Islands.

[Via - News upate from Financial Services]