SuperClubs All Inclusive Notes

Caribbean vacations are a great opportunity to see how coffee is produced, learn how it is toasted and brewed, and sample some of the best coffee in the world. While coffee is native to Africa, its use quickly spread throughout the world, and today it is cultivated in high tropical climates everywhere. The main type of coffee grown in the Caribbean area is Arabica, named for Arabia, where it originated. While coffee can be grown anywhere that it doesn’t frost, higher altitudes and cooler temperatures usually result in the best-tasting coffee beans. This is because coffee requires a longer time to mature at cooler temperatures, so the beans become full and dense, with the richest flavor. The importance of high altitudes means that mountainous islands – such as Jamaica – usually produce the best coffee.

The cloud forests of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains produce highly aromatic, full-bodied coffee beans, which is why Blue Mountain coffee is the most famous in the Caribbean, and one of the highest priced coffees in the world (up to twenty times the price of Columbian coffee). Unlike most coffees, Blue Mountain is packed in wooden barrels instead of burlap sacks; and most of the crop is shipped to Japan. Blue Mountain coffee is rich, balanced, delicate, and mild, and so makes a perfect gift for coffee drinking friends back home. However, travelers on Caribbean vacations should beware of roadside vendors who sell phony Blue Mountain coffee. The Jamaican coffee board has very strict certification procedures to make certain that only the best beans from designated areas can be labeled genuine Blue Mountain coffee.

The first Caribbean vacation was enjoyed by the Arawak Indians, who were the original inhabitants of the Greater Antilles when Columbus landed. The Spanish described them as a gentle, peaceful people who raised crops in large mounds packed with leaves, which prevented soil erosion. The main staple of their diet was the starchy root cassava, which grows easily with little cultivation or need for fertilization. They possessed large boats which they used to take goods to trade with Central American Indian tribes such as the Maya; and they had smaller, faster boats used for inter-island voyages. Their easy lives gave them ample time for crafts and recreation. They made pottery, baskets, stone tools and sculpture, and they wove cotton. Both men and women painted their bodies, and they wore jewelry fashioned from gold, bone, shells, and stones. They brewed alcohol from fermented maize, and smoked tobacco in cigars. They played a soccer-like game, and participated in feasts and dances. In short, prehistoric Caribbean life for the Arawak was about as laid-back and relaxed as it is today.

This idyllic Caribbean vacation ended with the arrival of the Spanish. Columbus noted in his log that the Indians brought parrots, balls of cotton, spears, and other items to the ships which they traded for glass beads and bells. The Indians were unarmed and ignorant of weapons; when Columbus showed them a sword, they grabbed it by the edge and cut themselves. Columbus noted that “they would be fine servants, and with 50 men we could subjugate all of them and make them do our will.” The Spaniards soon enslaved the Arawak and forced them to work on farms and in mines. The overwork, torture, and European diseases such as smallpox soon reduced the native population from several hundred thousand to a few hundred. It was then that the Spanish began importing slaves from Africa to work their plantations.

Caribbean resorts beaches are among the finest in the world, which is perhaps why the Caribbean is such a tremendously popular vacation destination (not to mention the balmy tropical climate and ambience). Caribbean beaches come in three basic types: white powder sand, pink sand, and exotic black sand. These different sands are formed in different ways. White sand – believe it or not – is manufactured principally by colorful parrot fish. Parrot fish scrape off living coral polyps and the algae which grow on coral, and expel the inorganic residue as fine white sands. One parrotfish can produce several tons of white sand yearly! Another source of coral sand particles is erosion of limestone skeletons of marine animals as well as coral rock.

Pink sand, which is found on some beaches at Caribbean resorts in the Bahamas, is formed from the red shells of small sea organisms known as foraminifera, which live under rocks and in undersea caves. The surf breaks their shells into fine pink sand like that for which the Bahamas Harbour Island is famous. Pink sand beaches can also be found on Bermuda. Black sand beaches are formed when hot lava flows into the sea and subsequently breaks up into black sand particles which flow back towards the shore. Unlike the powdery white and pink sand beaches, black sand has a coarse texture. Black sand beaches are a feature of volcanic islands such as St. Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada. The one thing that all Caribbean beaches have in common is beauty, sunshine, and fun!

So you are planning your next holiday getaway to the Caribbean, and you are thinking about the kinds of things you want to do in this paradisiacal part of the world. Is your bag lying on the beach soaking up the sun all day? Perhaps it’s watching a gorgeous island sunset. How does snoozing by the pool in a hammock sound? If this sounds like wasting valuable vacation time and you want to enjoy more active pursuits, worry not: Caribbean hotels offer a whole lot more than just relaxing and taking it easy. The top resorts offer tennis and golf, and often have special packages for players to attract sports-loving travelers (particularly during the off season). All inclusive resorts such as Breezes offer free instruction in tennis and golf, as well as free instruction and equipment for water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, and water skiing (though scuba certification is usually charged extra).

Besides sports, top Caribbean hotels offer a wide range of daily activities such as meringue and reggae lessons, afternoon teas and fashion shows, contests and games, nightly themed parties, as well as on-site discotheques and nightclubs which swing till dawn. They offer several gourmet dining venues – such as casual buffet, Italian, Japanese, and Caribbean, as well as poolside or beach grills serving up snacks and umbrella drinks – so you never get tired of the cuisine. Hotels which cater to families feature daily supervised children’s camps for kids of different age groups, so your little ones can meet and play with other kids their age and learn sports and island culture, while mom and dad get some down time on their own. No matter what you prefer to do on your holiday, you’ll find that top Caribbean hotels like Breezes have exactly what you are looking for.

Where on earth could you have a more romantic honeymoon than the Caribbean? Walking hand-in-hand at sunset or by moonlight along a pristine white sand beach lapped by calm azure surf, with the gentle breeze wafting through the palm trees and the strains of reggae music in the background … yada yada yada! If a Caribbean honeymoon isn’t your cup of tea, you must be Oscar the Grouch. And if you make the wise choice of staying at a top-notch all inclusive resort such as Breezes, there are lots of fun water and land sports, parties and celebrations, and terrific entertainment right at your doorstep at no extra charge. All Breezes resorts feature several gourmet dining venues as well as unlimited pool and beachside snacking, room service, and discos and nightclubs where the music and dancing goes till dawn – all prepaid so you never have to touch money for a minute.

At Breezes, honeymooners are eligible for special free Caribbean honeymoon amenities such as in-room fruit and sparkling wine, and special His and Her T-shirts so all the world can celebrate with you. For an extra fee you can also enjoy a half-hour couples massage at the luxury spa, continental breakfast in bed, and a photo album to remember your honeymoon. A super-duper honeymoon package also includes His and Her robes, a private candlelit dinner for two, and two free nights’ stay on your anniversary. To make your first getaway as a couple an event which you will cherish forever, look to Breezes for the ultimate in romance.

The Caribbean is best known as an escape from winter’s snow and ice; but the year ‘round warmth of the islands isn’t the only reason to vacation at a Caribbean all inclusive resort. There is always something fun to enjoy on these islands, but festivals can be one of the best ways of exploring island culture and traditions. The most widely celebrated Caribbean festival is Carnival, which on most islands occurs on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the last day meat can be eaten before Lent; but in some places Carnival is celebrated during Easter week, and in The Bahamas the Carnival (called Junkanoo) is celebrated the day after Christmas and on New Years Day. The Carnival celebration varies from island to island, but is always a colorful expression of that island’s culture and traditional lore. Usually a king and queen are crowned for the event, and while all Carnival festivities include music, there may be competitions between bands and groups of dancers, as well as awards for the best costumes.

Besides Carnival celebrations, there local music festivals on most Caribbean all inclusive resort islands. The first week of January kicks off with a Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica to coincide with Bob Marley’s Birthday, and features beach parties and dancehall nights as well as reggae concerts. Jamaica Januarys also swing to the beat of the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues festival, a three-day event which is held at Rose Hall in Montego Bay and features two stages with international performers, a local artisans’ craft market, and a food court offering traditional Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica’s Ocho Rios Jazz Festival every June features special events in Negril, Montego Bay, Runaway Bay, and Kingston as well as Ocho Rios. Dedicated to promoting and preserving classical Black music, the festival brings performers from all over the Caribbean and visitors from all over the world. Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Curacao’s Heineken Jazz Festival in May brings artists from all over the Caribbean and showcases local Curacao artists and culture. These are just a few examples of the wonderful festivals which make the Caribbean a tourist magnet all year long.

Besides its luxury hotels and Caribbean all inclusive resorts and spas, The Caribbean is also the home of a number of world-class casinos which can rival Las Vegas in variety and fun. The combination of pristine white sand beaches and the ambience of the tropics make the Caribbean the ideal vacation destination for many gaming enthusiasts. Unlike most casinos in America and Europe, the gaming atmosphere in the Caribbean is more laid back (for example, most casinos are not 24/7 operations). Besides table games and state of the art slot machines, casinos in the Caribbean usually also offer nightlife options such as bars, discos, and dance clubs. The local specialty is Caribbean stud poker, which is a hybrid of poker and blackjack and has rules similar to both games. The main difference between traditional poker and Caribbean stud poker is that players play against the house rather than against one another; and all the players can see the dealer’s cards, which are dealt face up.

The Bahamas is one of the most popular gaming destinations. Although gambling is illegal for Bahamians, foreigners can try their luck at Crystal Palace casino located just a short stroll from the Caribbean all inclusive resorts of Cable Beach. Crystal Palace has 700 slot machines, and 38 game tables for craps, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. Curacao is another great gaming destination, and the Princess Casino at Breezes resort – the largest and most exciting casino on the island – features 270 slot machines, and table games for black jack, roulette, poker, and lots more. Apart from the gaming, Curacao is famous for its duty-free shopping, quaint Dutch colonial architecture, and delicious orange liqueur. So if you are looking for a great Caribbean gambol, look to Breezes for the time of your life.

Brazil vacations are your doorway to some of the most scenic and amazing attractions in the world. To begin with, Amazonia National Park, which covers 40% of the country, is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders and attracts trekkers, bird watchers, and adventurers who love to explore and travel by boat down the world’s second-longest river. The Pantanal is another of Brazil’s natural wonders – one of the greatest wildlife reserves in the world – which attracts bird and animal watchers as well as sport fishermen who appreciate the abundance of wildlife here. Another natural wonder is the Iguassu Falls, at the boundary of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. With its 275 cataracts the sight and sound of the rushing water is an overwhelming spectacle.

For human-watchers, Brazil’s cities jump with excitement – and not just at Carnival time. Rio is of course the best-known; but Salvador (the former capital) is itself a wonderful Brazil vacations destination, whose narrow, cobblestone streets and colonial Portuguese architecture and churches have changed very little since the town was Brazil’s slavery center. The Museu de Arte de Bahia and Museu de Arte Sacra are well worth a visit; and Salvador’s Carnival – while not as big as Rio’s – is considerably more fun: audience participation in the music and dancing festivities is encouraged (whereas in Rio the spectators just watch). Salvador is near some of the world’s best all inclusive resorts such as Breezes, so you can have the best of both worlds on the same vacation.

The Bahamas is a Caribbean paradise of pristine beaches and friendly people. There are over seven hundred islands in the Bahamas archipelago, surrounded by the clearest water in the world. Each island has its own geography and diversity, but English is the lingua franca everywhere. New Providence Island is home to the capital, Nassau, and also the fabulous Bahamas vacation rentals of Cable Beach. With its powdery white sand next to calm turquoise surf, Cable Beach is the center for the good life: gourmet cuisine, water and land sports (including championship golf), world-class entertainment, and casino gaming.

Nearby Nassau, with its English colonial atmosphere, is a Bahamas vacation rentals attraction unto itself. You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride past the pink government buildings on Rawson Square; or explore the narrow side streets dotted with tiny restaurants and pubs. There is a lively Straw Market featuring local crafts; and duty-free designer boutiques on Bay Street where you can shop till you drop. The Junkanoo museum down by the wharf celebrates the music and costumes of Nassau’s famous Christmas – New Years version of Carnival; and a Pirates of Nassau museum with interactive exhibits takes you right back to the days when the town was ruled by gangs of privateers and pirates. Nature lovers will find plenty to love exploring the Bahamas outer islands; or swimming with dolphins; or deep-sea fishing on a charter boat. No matter how you conceive of paradise, Bahamas is the place where your dreams will come true.

The best of Bahamas resorts is Breezes – the first and only super inclusive resort in the islands. Located on the powdery white sand of Cable Beach – the best beach in Nassau – this beautiful resort has four hundred suites and rooms. It’s only ten minutes from Nassau airport, but seems like a whole different world. Breezes Bahamas is limited to adults, so there is a quiet, relaxed atmosphere with guests ranging in age from twenties to fifties. Laying on the beach beside the crystal-clear surf you can hear the gentle call of sea birds which soar above the ocean, and feel the tide dissolving your worries away. Next to the beach is the pool complex with a huge spa tub, a misting pool with fountain, a water sports pool, and a main pool complete with swim-up bar. All rooms are air conditioned and feature satellite TV, CD players, direct dial telephones, coffee makers, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards.

Recreational activities include sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, lighted tennis courts (with free professional instruction), and golfing at Cable Beach Golf Club next door. There is even a rock climbing wall and a flying circus trapeze on the beach. Other fun activities include fashion shows, body painting, contests and games. In the evening it’s just a short stroll along the beach to the excitement of the glittering casinos of Nassau. But Breezes Bahamas resorts also offers its own nightly entertainment, with shows, toga and pajama parties, and disco dancing till sun-up. And the food! Continuous snacks and drinks are available at the pool grill, and there are three gourmet dining venues: buffet, Italian, and Garden-of-Eden with five course meals set for two in a lush tropical garden. And Super Inclusive means just that: everything (except golf fees) is included in one up front price, so you never have to think about money for a minute.