I Finally Used up Some of those AirMiles I've been Saving up and my Next Adventure is just Around the Corner!

I try to travel somewhere new every year and I haven’t gone anywhere outside of Canada since my trip to Costa Rica in April 2013. This past few weeks, the travel bug has been biting hard. My life currently meets all the criteria needed for an overdue international adventure; I’m laid off from my job and have some free time until at least January, I have more than enough Airmiles saved up to fly me almost anywhere in the world and the weather is starting to get cold here. Without hesitation, I started researching various destinations and for the deals to get me there as cheaply as possible.

I’ve been collecting Airmiles for more than a decade and, until recently, miles had no expiration date. When the company decided that miles would start coming with an expiration date, I knew I had to use them at the first opportunity I got or risk losing them.

Back in October, I won a blogging competition that saw me win a stay at a resort called La Francesca in Italy. Europe has been near the top of my travel bucket list for some time and I always thought if I went there, I would do a multi-country backpacking trip. However, since I had a free stay at that resort and all those Airmiles to cover my return flight, I was open to traveling to Italy and exploring that region for a week. I logged into my Airmiles account, searched for a flight into Florence (which was the closest airport to that resort) and discovered I had more than enough miles to go there. I promptly emailed the owner of La Francesca and told her of my plans. I even knew what day I would arrive and how long I would stay. Within a few hours, she sent an email with some information about the resort and surrounding area. In that email, she mentioned that many of the resorts services and the town’s attractions were closed for the season. That’s when it dawned on me; it’s the off-season (aka winter) in Italy. Why on earth would I spend those hard-earned miles to escape cold and snowy Canada only to arrive in cold and snowy Italy? I quickly shot that plan down and informed her that, perhaps, I would go there in the summer or fall of next year instead. And so the search for a warmer destination continued.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Caribbean but, after already being there several times, I thought I was done with that region for a while. However, two islands always stuck out to me as potential destinations to eventually travel to; St. Lucia and Barbados. I started with St. Lucia first. I had enough miles to get there and back but the prices for accommodations were outrages! I put St. Lucia on the backburner and researched Barbados so I could compare the two. I also did some research on other Caribbean destinations while I was at it. Turks and Caicos, The Cayman Islands, Antigua and Trinidad and Tobago all looked appealing but, in the end I narrowed it down to my first two choices. Barbados looked the most promising. There was a deal on how many Airmiles were needed to travel to the island and the prices for accommodations were much lower than in St. Lucia. Without giving it much more thought, I decided I would go to Barbados and got to work finalizing my trip.

Although it was a bit hard getting through to someone at the Airmiles booking center, the process was easy once I did get through. While my booking agent was finalizing my trip, he informed me that the promotion for Barbados that was allowing me to go there for so little miles was set to end in only a few hours. That just goes to show how quickly airfare prices can change.

With my flights booked and travel insurance secured, I got to work researching affordable accommodations in a nice area near a beach pretty. The island is not very big so I wasn’t concerned about which area I stayed in because it would be easy to get around to other areas. I searched all the usual sites like Expedia and Hotwire. I perused Trip Advisor for hotels with good reviews. I even searched for hostels and it was through a site called HostelBookers that I found the place I would call home for that week. I searched for accommodations in my price range for the days I was to be in Barbados and four options popped up. I researched all of them like I did on the other sites but one, in particular, stuck out from the rest. Angler Apartments, located in the Parish of Jamestown, is located very close to a beach, is in my price range, is close to various services and attractions and got mostly good reviews from previous travelers. I dug a little deeper and when I was satisfied that I had found the right place to stay, I booked it.

The next step was finding a comprehensive tour that would introduce me to some of the top sights around Barbados. I am not one to stay in all-inclusive resorts and remain on-site all week and I am not really one for guided tours either but, from time to time, I like to embark on tours to get a better feel for a place. I found the perfect tour while browsing Expedia. A local company called Glory Tours had a tour available on the day I wanted and at a price that seemed very reasonable considering what is included. I am to be picked up at my hotel to embark on an adventurous day filled with various activities including swimming and snorkeling with turtles, exploring caves, viewing local wildlife and seeing some of the scenic areas along the way.

So now I find myself spending my days leading up to my departure researching my destination and tying up loose ends. You know, stuff like alerting credit card companies that I will be out of the country, catching up on any work that needs to be done before I go, packing, printing off necessary documents and other typical things that need to be done before a trip. And I think I am going at just the right time; five centimeters of fresh snow just blanketed my neighborhood and the temperatures have taken quite a dip in the last week. The white sandy beaches of Barbados are starting to look more and more appealing with each passing day!

Can we at Least Get Along Long Enough to Share a Beach for Crying out Loud?

Being kicked off a section of beach that has been deemed private brought back a bittersweet memory of a moment I will never forget one evening on a beach in the Caribbean. The practice of reserving beach space for certain people and segregating others from accessing it is common practice in many regions of the world. The owners of ritzy resorts put up fences to keep out the people they consider “undesirable” – poor locals that they deem troublemakers and are best kept out of view of rich tourists that frequent their fancy, gated resorts. I didn’t stay in one of those fancy resorts; I opted for a small boutique hotel that allowed access to a beach that belonged to a fancier place. I was appalled by what I saw when I first went to that beach. On one side were the rich tourists; on the other side were the local people – the ones who lived in that town and had more right to that beach than anyone else. The next night, in protest, I went to the beach where the locals were. Unlike the rich tourists who would kick up a very loud stink if one of the locals crossed onto their turf, not one of those “undesirables” asked me leave. Instead, they smiled as I walked by them, they stopped me to ask where I was from, the children showed me the fish they had caught from a nearby dock, the parents invited me to sit with them around their fire. They never complained about anything while the people on the other side of the fence were frowning, cranky and complained about everything from the temperature of their drinks to the color of their beach chair. Most of them were too busy complaining and dressed too fancy in their high heels and designer gowns to even enjoy the beach and the spectacular sunset that evening. The lesson? Many of the people I have met in my life who had next to nothing were the happiest and were always open to meeting people from ALL walks of life while many of the people who had everything were miserable and complained about EVERYTHING and judged people for having less than them to the point of requesting such “undesirables” not be allowed on their beach. This makes me wonder with all the hate going on in this world – will we ever come to a resolution where we can all love and respect one another if we can’t even get along on a beach and share it equally?

As for the beach I was kicked off? I have been going to that beach since I was a child. There are two ways that I know of to get to that beach; one public access road where rowdy young people congregate and one at the end of the road past the Inverness Beach Resort area. I often travel alone and feel safer at the end near the resort and never had a problem until this day when a very rude and condescending woman, who I assume was the manager or owner of the resort, approached my car, saw that I was a young woman traveling alone and still told me to leave. I was very offended by this. Not because she was rude but because I had been a customer of her business a number of times in the past and she treated me like a common criminal instead of a potential paying customer. Also, the fact that she was a woman and should understand the unique problems that can arise when a woman travels alone, she should have understood my desire to park somewhere where I felt safe. I suspect she reserves the privilege of enjoying that section of beach to rich tourists…forgetting that it is the local people who keep coming back year after the year and we are the ones who, in the end, keep this business and other ones on the island in business. And that is something that does not go over well with me.

As for what I am going to do about this incident? Well for one, I know I won’t be able to go to that beach anymore unless the restrictions on that section of beach are lifted. The public area is too rowdy and crowded and I often do not feel safe there. This is unfortunate as Inverness Beach is one of my favorite long, sandy beaches in Cape Breton. I also know that there are laws pertaining to beach access in Nova Scotia and I’m pretty sure that no one is allowed to deny the public access to any beach in the province whether it falls on private property or not. Beaches are public domain and are for everyone’s enjoyment. I will be researching this information further and if it is discovered to be correct, I will be approaching the owner of that resort to discuss this. I understand that they may have had problems with rowdy guests in the past but it is wrong to paint everyone with that same brush. It was very obvious and plain to see that I was not there to cause any trouble. I simple wanted to lay on the beach and enjoy my day off in total relaxation away from screaming kids and rowdy teenagers. Is that too much to ask?

Dreaming of the Caribbean Sea...Again

My parents loved to travel so naturally, as a child, I developed a need to wonder and see the world beyond my back yard. My travels started with small road trips around Cape Breton and the rest of Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada and graduated to bigger trips that included one month-long journey along the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida. Over the years my travels brought me on many adventures in central and western Canada, the southwestern United States, Mexico, Cuba and soon Costa Rica and the northwestern United States. I wish I could time travel back to those carefree days.  Lately, I've been wishing I could time travel back to the days I spent on the Caribbean Sea.

Up until two years ago, the Caribbean didn’t really appeal to me unless it was Caribbean flavors in my food or Caribbean music on the radio. I mean, I love beaches and warm weather but the all-inclusive resort vacations full of drinking, eating and partying didn’t sound like much fun to me. I like to drink once and a while, I like to eat and I like a good party from time to time, but wasting hundreds of dollars traveling to a far-flung destination to participate in activities I can do at home was just not what I wanted out of my vacations so I never considered a vacation “down south”. Places like Europe and Asia always appealed to me because I love culture and history and it is so easy to see a variety of different cultures on those continents. Europe with its castles, world-renowned museums and historical sites and Asia with its culture that is so vastly different from my own; these places always made the forefront of my travel aspirations. That all changed when I accepted a last minute invitation to accompany a friend on a trip to the Caribbean and not only was it the Caribbean, it was southern Mexico (the Riviera Maya), a country I was under the impression I should stay away from, not flock to because of all the violence that was supposedly happening in the country.

Because it was my first time traveling to the area and I had only seen pictures of the beautiful Caribbean sea and its white sandy beaches, I really had no idea what to expect when it came to seeing it with my own eyes rather than photoshopped magazine photos. Upon my arrival at the airport in Cancun, I was bombarded with “friendly” and seemingly helpful locals who I learned were only trying to “kipnap” me and take me on an unscheduled detour to try and sell me a timeshare. At least they were friendly about it and backed off when I politely said I was not interested unlike the aggressive salespeople here at home. The real shock came when I finally made it to my destination in Playa Del Carmen and the beach I would be spending the majority of my time on during my stay. Photoshopped or not, those magazine pictures didn’t compare to the real thing. The beaches with their soft, white sand free from seaweed and rocks and the Caribbean Sea with its crystal clear waters were more beautiful then I ever imagined. Combined with the hot temperatures, long sunny days and clear warm nights, I had truly found paradise and discovered what everyone was talking about when they said how magical and otherworldly the Caribbean was. For that week, it was almost like time stopped. The days were long and relaxing and a week felt more like a month. Clocks were never given a second look and the people, visitors and locals alike, seemed to just enjoy living the good life on the beach and were relaxed even while going about their daily chores. And did I mention that I not once wirnessed nor heard of any violent acts happening in the area during my entire stay and I felt 100% safe at all times even when I ventured off alone and took a public bus to Tulum to visit the Mayan Ruins. There were, of course, the Policia Tourista, who strutted around with their menacing, machine-gun looking weapons strapped across their chests so I assumed they needed such devices for a reason. That reason was never made clear to me; I was only told not to do anything that might ruffle their feathers and give them any excuse to use any force and in Mexico, apparently that can mean one of a few things. So this is how it all went down on my first Caribbean vacation. I was hooked. And I vowed to return to that magical place again someday. That someday came the very next spring when I booked a last minute trip to Varadero, Cuba. Same region, same sea but different music, different food and….a completely different world.

So on this chilly, wet and dark Canadian East Coast evening, I am dreaming of the Caribbean Sea and my next trip down south. I’m dreaming of the soft white sand, the warm clear waters, the hot sun, the upbeat people, the sounds of the beautiful Spanish language, the rhythm of steel drums and salsa beats echoing through the alleys, the warm and clear nights spent listening to the surf and the relaxing way of life of a people who take afternoon siesta and their love of life, despite the harsh realities of poverty and certain political unrest, seriously.

Last March I was dreaming of these exact same things when I went online in search of a good deal on a Caribbean vacation. I just wanted to have a look at what was available with no intentions in actually booking a trip. After all, I was between jobs at the time and in the middle of a move from one province to another and money and time was scarce. By the end of my search, I had a 7-night all-inclusive vacation booked. The combination of being hypnotized by the pictures of beautiful beaches and the realization that I had enough points built up to take a vacation were the two main things that did me in. A couple of weeks later, I jetsetted off to one of the Caribbean’s most revered and unique destinations; Cuba – home of some of the planet’s most beautiful beaches, the world’s best cigars, Salsa and the Mojito.

I landed at the airport near Varadero after midnight and was immediately ushered to a shuttle bus that would take me to my home away from home for the next week, Arenas Doradas Beach Resort. It reminded me of when I first landed in Cancun and went through the same routine to get to The Real Playa Del Carmen. I had arrived in Playa to a small and laid back resort with colorful villas and hammocks scattered about the courtyard and was greeted by a friendly and accommodating staff who ensured that I was comfortable and well-taken care of during my entire stay. I assumed I would get the same reception upon my arrival in Varadero but instead I exited the shuttle bus and was greeted with loud and drunk spring break revelers and a worn-out and stressed out staff who seemed as irritated as I was upon arriving at what should have been a relaxing seaside vacation where I could sit pool or beachside during the day and quietly sip a Mojito while reading a good book. The next morning was much of the same. I don’t think those loud-mouthed revelers slept a wink the night before as they were still doing cannonballs in the swimming pool at 9AM, the taps still flowing. I stayed away from that pool for the rest of the week. I knew it was not the locals who were causing the massive disruption to what should be a relaxing holiday; it was mostly people from back home, my home province of Nova Scotia and other Canadian provinces along with a few Australians and Europeans. But the pool was no big loss for me; I traveled all that distance to spend time at the beach and explore the nearby cities of Matanzas and Havana and take a few tours of the countryside where I would get the true Cuban experience. And that is exactly what I did.

The beach was my first experience with the local people besides the frenzied staff at the resort. I was approached numerous times by curious locals who wanted to learn a few English phrases and find out where I came from and why I chose Cuba as my vacation destination. These conversations were never interrupted by cell phone calls, or texts to rush to a business meeting. The people I met were friendly, accommodating and interesting. They held onto my every word and were eager to tell me about their everyday lives. The zest for life I saw in the people I met, the constant smiles and welcoming gestures and positive attitudes was something foreign to me. I barely knew anyone back home I could carry on a decent conversation with (without being interrupted by their stories of what happened to their favorite characters on TV the night before or by a text rudely answered in the middle of a conversation) and you would think it would kill them to crack a smile once and a while. Guess I can’t blame the folks here at home for being a bit crabby. After all, the average Canadian works more than 40 hours a week, has bills and household business to take care of on the weekend along with the other obligations that come with living in our rat-race world (and the fact that we don’t live on the beach 365 days a year). Wash, rinse repeat…over and over again until we retire...if the stress doesn’t kill us first. The people I met in Cuba all had jobs and were well-educated but family, friends and living life each day as it comes was at the forefront of Cuban life. Yes, many Cubans have problems that most Canadians don’t face every day. Poverty, lack of faith in government to make things better and lack of freedom of speech. But what the Cubans do well is take everyday in stride as to not let these adversities stop them from living the one life they have to enjoy. The people up north could learn something from these people down south. And yes, because you ladies who have never ventured to a Latin American country are probably wondering, the men are very forward – but not in the way you may think. I was approached numerous times by very “friendly” men on the beach, in the clubs, on the street and everywhere else that their radar could reach. What may surprise you is, although these men were only looking for one thing, they were always polite, they were never aggressive and they always accepted my firm, but polite “no” to their invitations to go dancing at Tropicana or to take a drive to Havana and get the grand tour from a local. I can’t say the same for some of the men who have approached me here at home. I never had to call the police to report a stalker or physically aggressive, wannabe suitor in Latin America but similar things have happened more times than I can count here. And take “no” for an answer? I don’t think most of the men I meet on my travels up North even understand the word! That being said, I wandered the beach, the streets and the clubs alone at all hours of the day and never felt like I was in any danger at any point during the entire trip…except for some aggressive and very drunk Canadians who tried to throw me in the pool one night on my way back to my villa and some football-crazed Germans who literally forced me to sit with them for hours in front of the lobby TV while they cheered on their team who barely scored a goal the entire time. But despite some of the negative things that transpired during my week in Cuba, I had a spectacular time and the end result was the same; I came back to Canada feeling rejuvenated, refreshed and awakened in more ways than I can count.

Now you understand why I am always dreaming about returning to this very special region in Central America. Here in Cape Breton, the temperatures are hovering at 0 degrees Celcius, the days are getting shorter, the sun will scarcely make an appearance for the next 6 to 8 months, snow will soon blanket the ground and remain there until late April and I’m on my way to work the night shift where I do the same ol’ thing every night at the same time. Wash, rinse, repeat…Well, at least I won’t have to wait too long for my next jaunt down south; It may not be the Caribbean but I will be arriving in San Jose, Costa Rica only a mere five months from now to enjoy a week-long yoga retreat/beach holiday in Montezuma. Yes, only five months…which will probably be the longest five months of my life but the wait will be well worth it when I, once again, set foot on a long sandy beach and plant myself amongst the beach huts and cabanas surrounded by swaying palm trees with a tropical drink in my hand while time stands still and the rat race back home seems like a distant memory of a long-forgotten past life.

Mexico, Cuba and all the other islands and coastlines of central America that border the Caribbean sea: Each and every one has something unique to offer visitors but one thing always holds true once one makes that first journey to the Caribbean; the sand, the sea, and the people will change you and you will forever be dreaming of the next time you will be there again!

So where is the Caribbean? It's a magical place located in the Atlantic Ocean far enough south to be tropical. Which Caribbean island is best for you? I can't answer that for you but I can say that all of the ones I've seen have everything I'm looking for in a great vacation...great food, cultural experiences, friendly people, sandy beaches and nice weather!