18-Day New Year's Yacht Harbors

Antigua and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Antigua, the largest of the British Leeward Islands, is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles to the north. The population is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John’s on Antigua.

The largest of the British Leeward Islands, Antigua has warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef. These unique characteristics have made Antigua and Barbuda in one of the Caribbean’s premier tourist destinations.

The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for sailors to navigate is where today’s trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The coral reefs attract snorkelers and scuba divers from all over the world. And the fascinating little island of Barbuda — once a scavenger’s paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs — is now home to one of the region’s most significant bird sanctuaries.

The British are still coming!

They discovered her natural beauty in the 1620’s, and they’ve been here ever since. Although the island became independent in 1966, life here till retains a strong British accent.

With a climate that is considered among the kindest in the West Indies, and spectacular natural beauty, Barbados is truly one of the gems of the Caribbean.

Home to the oldest botanical garden in the Americas, St. Vincent is energized by rushing rivers and waterfalls and is fast becoming an “in” resort area. Volcanic in origin, St. Vincent features an active volcano, mountainous terrain, and a rainforest.

Although first visited by Columbus, it was Ponce de Leon who named and established the area.

Because of its strategic location, Spain chose San Juan to be one of its strongholds in the New World. The El Morro Fort,rising defiantly from the sea, is living testament to the days when Puerto Rico was a cornerstone of Spain’s efforts in North America.

Today the fort is still an attraction, in addition to the walled city of Old San Juan, the beautiful hotels and casinos and the nearbyresort areas and golf courses.

The capital city of the Dominican Republic is rich in history and beauty, boasting 16th-century Spanish architecture and the oldest cathedral in the Americas. The narrow streets of the old colonial city are a testament to the complex mixture of forces that contributed to the construction of the first European city in the Western Hemisphere. The capital of the Dominican Republic is home to some outstanding examples of colonial architecture, including the Catedral Santa Maria la Menor and the viceregal residence, El Alcazar. In the early days of the empire, Spain administered many of its possessions
from Santo Domingo, but as Spanish power waned, other nations took control. In the early part of the 20th century, the United States played an important role in the history of the city, which was occupied by U.S. Marines from 1916 to 1924. Despite the long list of occupying nations, the Spanish influence has remained strong and Spanish is the official language. The pre-Hispanic native people, the Tainos, have also had a strong influence on the culture, and many words from their
language have passed into common use.

Thirty seven sandy beaches, sparkling Caribbean seas, soothing trade winds, fine dining and incredible duty free shopping combine to make St.Martin/St.Maarten a true vacationers paradise.

Destination St. Martin is proud to represent a number of smaller hotels on the French side of the island; generally not the type of places found in the glossy tourist brochures but rather more intimate yet immaculate properties which allow the visitor to experience true island life. Accommodations are available on the beach in the beautiful French village of Grand Case, in Nettle Bay near the town of Marigot and at popular Orient Beach.

The smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch in a spirit of neighborly cooperation and mutual friendship for almost 350 years.

The border is almost imperceptible and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they are entering a new country. The only marker is a monument between Union Road and Bellevue, testifying to centuries of peaceful cohabitation and the treaty that made the arrangement possible.

All the same, each side has managed to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. The French tend to emphasize comfort and elegance. The beaches are secluded, the luxury resorts provide lavish accommodations, and the restaurants offer some of the finest dining experiences anywhere in the Caribbean. The latest French fashions can be found in many of the shops, and the smell of fresh croissants and pastries mixes everywhere with the spicy aromas of West Indian cooking. Small caf’e9s and charming bistros add a decidedly Gaelic and cosmopolitan flair to the place. On the whole the atmosphere remains very relaxed.

Some of Martinique’s best beaches and resorts are found on the island’s south coast, around the pretty village of Trois Ilets.