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10 Tropical Getaways For Winter 2016

1/10/2016

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January is the time of year when people inquire about tropical vacation ideas. For those of us in the Boston area - and despite record warmth so far - we are particularly antsy for a winter escape plan as we fear another blizzard scenario like the one that kept us shut-in for months last year (although I think many secretly enjoyed it!).

Most of our readers are from the US, so they are typically looking for something in the western hemisphere, ideally a short flight away. Therefore, we've listed 10 of our favorite warm weather getaways that are relatively easy to reach from the US. No red-eye required (though maybe for West Coasters), and minimal (if any) time zone change, so you can start enjoying your vacation the minute your feet hit the sand! 
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For the Diver: Caye Caulker, Belize  

Also good for: friends, backpackers, solo travelers
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"Go Slow" is the island motto and for good reason. This tiny island has no paved roads or cars, and the only way around is by foot, bike or golf cart.   It's a 45 minute ferry ride from Belize City and is situated in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef - the second largest barrier reef in the world. It was here that we dove with sharks, dolphins, turtles and green moray eels. There are no wide, expansive beaches on this caye, but jump off any pier to swim, take a short boat ride out to the reef for a snorkel or stroll over to the The Split for a cold drink and watch the spectacular sunset over the ocean. Finally, Caye Caulker is an ideal launching pad from which to visit the Blue Hole, one of the top dive sites on every diver's bucket list. Interested? Read more here. 
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​For the Surfer: Rincon, Puerto Rico

Also good for: families

Surfers from all over the US flock to Rincon each winter to enjoy the big waves, warm water and laid-back vibe. Instead of long white sand beaches common in the northeast of Puerto Rico,  Rincon is comprised of several little coves. Here you can find many quirky, locally owned hotels or house rentals and there are plenty of little beach bars and restaurants to provide fuel for the grueling work-out that is surfing.  Many families also love Rincon for the home rentals and safe, laid-back atmosphere. Read more about Rincon here. 
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​For the Adventurous Beach Bum: Tulum, Mexico

Also good for: couples, friends

The beach surrounding Tulum is one of the most beautiful we've ever seen. It's your quintessential Caribbean paradise - white sand, turquoise water, crashing waves, tall palm trees and fresh margaritas (best we've had anywhere in the world!). It offers something for everyone - sun, snorkeling, parties, culture, and adventure. Here you can sleep on the beach all day or, for those of us who like a little adventure, there are plenty of fun things to do nearby - diving, fishing, ruins, cenote snorkeling (highly recommended!), and zip lining. And let's not forget that it's home to the best food in the world.  Read more about the Riviera Maya here. 
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​For (Almost) Guaranteed Sun: Eagle Beach, Aruba

If you want guaranteed sunshine, white sand beaches and calm turquoise water then look no further than Aruba. Prices spike in the winter because perfect weather is 99.9% guaranteed on this desert island. There isn't much to do here except sunbathe, swim, snorkel, shop, eat and drink. Direct flights can be found from most cities on the East Coast. Eagle Beach also ranks in our Top 5 Beaches in the World. And this is why it's a perfect long weekend winter getaway.  Read more about Aruba here. 
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​For the Thrill Seeker: Arenal, Costa Rica

Also good for: families with older kids

Located a three-hour drive from San Jose, this symmetrical volcano is encircled by jungle, rivers, lakes and a wide variety of flora and fauna. Until 2010, Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano, regularly spewing lava while villagers and tourists watched from a safe distance. Although it has recently entered a resting phase, it is still a tremendous natural attraction worth visiting. This region offers so many unique activities - white water rafting, volcano hikes, zip lining, canyoneering, waterfalls, nature walks and natural hot springs. ​ Read more about Arenal, Costa Rica here. 
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​For the Culture Seeker: Havana, Cuba

Also good for: Solo travelers (go on an organized cultural tour)
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Cuba has become a hot destination ever since the US relaxed its travel restrictions to the island nation. This destination holds a special place in my heart since I have family that lives here. However, even if it didn't have a personal meaning, I'd find it fascinating. One could spend a full week in Havana enjoying the culture, history, artwork and music. As long as you remember that this is an island of limited means (don't expect the same level of service as elsewhere in the Caribbean) and really try to get to know the people, you will have an extraordinary experience. Also there is little/no internet so you will have a perfect excuse to disconnect from the virtual world for a little while and remember what it's like to be 100% present.  Read more about Cuba here. 
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​For the Romantic: Cartagena, Colombia

Also good for: culture seekers; friends

Now that JetBlue flies directly to Cartagena from many major US hubs, it's easy to discover the colorful culture of Colombia. The cobblestone streets, flower-covered buildings, and ocean sunsets make this city perfect for couples looking for a romantic getaway. Cartagena is full of boutique courtyard-style hotels that are surprisingly quiet, even though they are in the midst of the lively old city. Soak in the Spanish Colonial decor (obsessed!), enjoy the huge variety of fresh fruit drinks (guanabana is my favorite) and if you are a seafood lover like me, sample all the ceviche you can.   Read more about Cartagena here. 
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​For the Family: Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Also good for: couples

Puerto Rico is super easy for those of us on the East Coast and in the Midwest US. Last year, Chris and I went to Fajardo and stayed at El Conquistador. Both of us agreed that it was an ideal destination for families since it has something for everyone. Its private island, Palomino, has a calm beach (a must for young kids), restaurant, horseback riding, hiking trails, outdoor games, and sea kayaks. The main hotel has a water park, several pools, incredible views, a variety of restaurants, golf, and a host of indoor facilities that we didn't have time to try. Nearby is the rainforest and beautiful Luquillo Beach if you are looking for a change of scenery. There are also several great restaurants close to the property. Also consider going to nearby islands Vieques (I hear the W is amazing) or Culebra for a more remote beach getaway. Read more about the Fajardo area here. 
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​For the Sailor: Tortola & Virgin Gorda, BVI

Also good for: couples; families; people seeking solitude

Offering tall green hills, serene turquoise water and soft white sand, Tortola and neighboring Virgin Gorda are the poster children of the Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea is very flat here despite consistent winds, making it an ideal place for sailing. The BVIs are a bit more difficult to get to than some of the other destinations on this list since you typically have to fly there via St. Thomas or San Juan, or arrive via boat. However, if you have a full week, considering renting a sailboat and captain for a few days to explore all the remote beaches, islands and reefs. We stayed on land and while VERY quiet, there is lots of fun to be had at the marina bars in the evening, especially if you are there for the full moon party at Bombas on Tortola or Jost Van Dyke's Soggy Dollar Bar. 
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For the Glitz & Glam: Miami

Also good for: friends, couples
If you're seeking a fun weekend complete with spa retreats, fabulous parties, amazing restaurants and beach time then look no further than Miami. This city has a huge variety of fantastic hotels to choose from and its art deco architecture will motivate any weary winter traveler to get dolled up for a night on the town.    Read more about our weekend in Miami here. 
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Globally Inspired Home

4/23/2014

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This spring, I'm making a few changes to my home and garden and I'd like to incorporate elements inspired by our recent trip around the world. Although I can't plant exotic tropical flowers in Boston, nor do I have the space for nest beds, I can look for a few pieces that remind me of some of my favorite places. So, in no particular order, here are a 15 things from around the world that would be fun to replicate at home. 

1. Bangkok, Thailand: Nest Beds
Nesting has taken on a whole new meaning in Bangkok. The shape of these human sized sanctuaries will make the most boring of outdoor spaces intriguing. Add a light inside and create glowing garden sculptures at night!
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Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Chillin' Out In Bangkok

2. Hamburg, Germany: Modern Rococo
I'm typically not a fan of rococo and prefer balancing frills and flourishes with corners and crisp lines. However, I reveled in this little cafe in Hamburg, sipping my chai tea slowly while sinking into a cozy velvet couch.  I have no idea if they intentionally distressed the walls or if they just spruced up a derelict space with vintage couches from Oma and Opa's house. Whatever they did, it worked. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Hamburg, Bremen & Bloemendaal

3. Cappadocia, Turkey: Canvas & Carpet Covered Terraces
While in Turkey, we spent two glorious mornings having breakfast here, overlooking the cave town of Goreme. I've been thinking about using canvas to provide shade on my deck during the hot summer since it's pretty easy to put up and take down. I also love the rug covered table for extra lounging.
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Photo by Eva Barbier. To learn more about Turkey, visit our Turkey Destination Page. 

4. Cambodia: Colored Wooden Blinds
These colorful blinds would add cheer to any space such as a nursery, kitchen or my home office.
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Photo by Eva Barbier from the blog post: Waterworld: The Floating Village of Kompong Phluk, Cambodia

5. Yangshuo, China: Wagon Wheel Benches
Check out these benches at our Inn in Yangshuo. They are made by attaching local wood planks to an axle and wagon wheels. This set-up is a charming alternative to a traditional picnic table. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Days 167-170: Yangshuo, China - Hiking and Biking the Karst Mountains

6. Koh Lanta, Thailand: Bamboo Lounges & Pyramid Pillows
Koh Lanta is one of the places i miss most often because we found total relaxation here. Perhaps it's because bamboo lounges and beds are scattered along the beaches, waiting for a wanderer to plop down for a cold beer and a little shut eye. The colorful pyramid pillows are a nice touch, and help prop up one's head in order to enjoy the sea view.  I don't think bamboo would last in the harsh Boston weather, but if i ever live somewhere milder I plan on creating my own little slice of Lanta. 
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Photo of The Indian bar in Koh Lanta by Eva Barbier from Our Guide to Koh Lanta, Thailand

7. Ubud, Bali: Stone & Wood Carvings
Bali is full of insanely talented artisans and artists that have been perfecting their craft for generations. We visited gardens, homes and temples full of intricately carved statues and furniture. Two of my favorite pieces were these Balinese women who seem full of happiness and peace. Generally, this is how I feel after a really good meal. They would look lovely in my garden and remind me of the warmth and hospitality we experienced in Bali. 
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Read more about Bali here: Ubud, Bali - The Barong Dance, Stone Carving & The Awe-Inspiring Contact Lens 

8. Melbourne, Australia: Bold Tile
This tile covered the inside of a bench shelter in Melbourne. It was a pleasant surprise, since the structure was grey on the outside. I thought the pattern would make a nice outdoor table top. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: 3 Days In Melbourne

9. Kruger Park,  South Africa: Drapery Over Doors
The decor at safari camps is fantastic, but much of what you'd expect from the African bush - typical wood furniture, local animal fur rugs, and lots of neutrals.  One thing I really liked was the use of drapery, particularly over doors or entryways.  I'm not sure if this has a practical use in the summer (ie keeping bugs out of rooms) but they really made our accommodation, a tent, very homey. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier in blog post: Tanda Tula Safari Camp

10. Paris, France: Black & White Tile
Black and white tile was everywhere in Paris so it always reminds me of my favorite city.  I don't know if it's the the tile that contributes to the glamour of Paris or if it's Paris that makes the tile so chic.  Let's just say it's a symbiotic relationship. If my bathroom wasn't so tiny, I'd tile it like the picture below. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier from blog post: Our Favorite Room in Paris: Six Cent Deux 

11. Arrowtown, New Zealand: Recycled Container Garden
This is a neat idea for people who have a lot of outdoor space. Arrowtown is an old gold mining town in New Zealand. There was a lot of abandoned equipment from the mining days so local artists used them in their artwork and homes. Here is an old pipe transformed into a container garden. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier. To learn more about New Zealand visit our New Zealand Destination Page. 

12. Winelands, South Africa: Chrome+Stone+Wood
The wineries in Franschhoek, South Africa are stunning both inside and out.  I particularly enjoyed the modern decor of the tasting room at the Gran Provence. The chrome bar and fixtures gave it a sleek modern look which was nicely offset by the rest of the room, comprised of natural elements from the region - stone, clay and wood. While it's void of color inside, the view was bursting with color outside the glass doors. 
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Photo of the Gran Provence tasting room by Eva Barbier as featured in The Winelands Awards.

13. Seminyak, Bali: Colorful Shutters
These pretty shutters, spotted in Bali, would liven up a pool house or backyard shed. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier in blog post: Bali, Indonesia - Laid Back Seminyak

14. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Copper Light Fixtures
Giant copper lights were suspended from tall tree trunks in our hotel lobby in Chiang Mai.  They were especially enchanting when twinkling at night. Perhaps they could be used on a much smaller scale in an entryway, over a dining room table or kitchen island. 
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Photo of VC@Suanpaak lobby by Eva Barbier from Chiang Mai, Thailand - Hits & Misses

15. Caye Caulker, Belize: Weathered Wooden Signs
The tiny Caribbean island is comprised of small wooden structures that have been weathered by the salt and sand in the air.  Painted wooden signs were strewn about the island featuring island mantras (Go Slow) and store names. I think these would look great hanging in a bohemian urban garden. 
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Photo by Eva Barbier from Caye Caulker - You Better Belize It.

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Days 203-208: Caye Caulker - You Better Belize It

12/15/2013

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After completing 10 dives each in Australia and Thailand, we were hooked! Since we had already visited the largest barrier reef in the world - The Great Barrier Reef - we decided to check out the second largest barrier reef - the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.  This reef runs along the coast of Belize so we chose the tiny island of Caye Caulker as our home base. Caulker has no paved roads or cars so people navigate the sandy roads with golf carts, bikes or on foot. 
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Caye Caulker's philosophy is "Go Slow"
Getting There
We flew into Belize City, then took a 45-minute ferry ride out to the island.  The ferry then continues on to Caulker's more developed companion island, Caye Ambergris.  Another option is to take an 8-minute flight from Belize City. However, we couldn't do this because we arrived in Belize City after sunset and the last flight leaves well before dark, since there are no lights on Caulker's tiny runway.

OASI Apartments
We booked five nights at a place called OASI, a collection of four apartments owned by a friendly Italian lady named Luciana and her husband.  While the location was on the far side of the island from the central town area, it came with free bikes and nothing was more than ten minutes away. The apartment was perfect for us!
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Biking Around Colorful Caye Cualker
Caye Caulker consists of  three major sand roads: Front Street, Middle Street and Back Street.  It's a really laid back island, full of small colorful beach shacks. There are really no large sand beaches on the island, but there is a local hangout called "The Split" where people gather to swim , drink beers and watch the sunset.  For us, it was the perfect vibe - not too developed but plenty of activities to keep us busy.  Here are some photos we took around the island:
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Biking is the best way to see the island!
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One of the few sandy beaches on Caye Caulker
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One of the many docks lining the shore
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One of the reasons they say "Go Slow" in Caye Caulker is because there are two cemeteries and zero hospitals!
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Beer in lieu of flowers?
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Traffic enforcement
Stunning Sunsets and The Split
We saw a couple of spectacular sunsets on Caye Caulker. Our favorite place to watch them was the little bar at The Split.  In Belize they say "If you haven't been to The Split, you haven't been to Caye Caulker". 
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Waiting for the sunset supply ship to arrive
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Beautiful Caye Caulker sunset
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Hanging out at The Split
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Sunset at The Split
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Team B at The Split
Diving & Snorkeling
We spent the afternoon of our first full day snorkeling.  Our guide brought us to three different spots and pointed out several varieties of coral and local fish.  One stop was Shark Ray Alley, where we swam with stingrays and nurse-sharks. The guides jump in the water and feed them bits of conch and fish so there were swarms of rays and sharks thrashing around in the shallow water. While it was cool to see the animals up close, I didn't like the idea of the sharks associating food with people. 
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Swimming with stingrays and nurse sharks
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Storm clouds approached as we finished snorkeling
On our second day, we investigated several of the local dive shops and settled on a small operation called Black Durgon.  We went out the following day for two dives on a part of the reef called Esmerelda.  The coral here was much different than what we'd seen in Australia and Thailand, and as a bonus we got to swim with nurse sharks, as well as green moray eels.  Luckily we had another very small group in our boat, with Chris, me, a Korean guy named Lee, and our dive leader Mynor. Toward the end of the second dive, two dolphins joined us - a first for me and Chris!  While we really enjoyed our dives, the boat ride was a little rough. The wind was strong, the waves were large and we were on a small open-air speed boat so we had to hold on in order to stay in the boat. I'm so glad I brought my wind-breaker and hoodie along for the ride because it was cold!
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Black Durgon Dive shop
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Quick stop in San Pedro on Caye Ambergris
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Our dives were on Thanksgiving day
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It was chilly post-dive. I'm glad I brought a hoodie and windbreaker!
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Amigos, indeed!
The Blue Hole
One of the most famous dives in this area is the Blue Hole, a perfectly round abyss in the middle of a coral shoal, which drops straight down 450 feet.  On the way down, you can supposedly see caves along the side walls full of stalagmites.  If you're lucky, you can also see hammerhead sharks swimming in the middle of the pit.  So badass.

Sadly, we missed out on the Blue Hole for a few reasons:
  1. We discovered that a worthwhile dive in the Blue Hole requires a descent to about 40 meters, which was a bit beyond our comfort level as novice divers.  
  2. It was about a 2.5 hour boat ride each way through rough seas.
  3. It was wicked expensive - too much money to spend when the weather conditions for diving there were less than ideal.

For all these reasons, we decided to back burner the Blue Hole until we get some more diving experience under our belts.  Here's an aerial photo of the Blue Hole that we found online:
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One day. Photo courtesy of United Academics
Roses Grill
We found a tasty seafood spot near Front Street called Roses Grill.  The menu is simple - you choose your seafood from the ice tray out front and they throw it on the grill for you.  We couldn't decide so we tried a little bit of everything!
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Roses Grill
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Yum!
We loved Caye Caulker and definitely want to come back one day (especially to conquer the Blue Hole!). We'd recommend this place to anyone who likes to dive/snorkel and wants a really laid-back vacation that doesn't offer your typical chain restaurants and hotels. It's truly unique! 
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    Eva has been traveling for 15+ years, including an 8 month journey around the world.  

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