August 27, 2004 -- With hundreds of islands strewn about the waters, each with a distinct culture and topography, deciding where to go can be a Herculean task. Today, we look at two offers for active travelers to Belize and St. Thomas and a series of price cuts on already cheap packages to Barbados. Hopefully, these deals can you help you cull your list of options.
Belize from Above at High Speed
For the first time in Belize, you can take an aerial trek by zip line through the jungle. Jaguar Paw Jungle Resort (tel. 888/775-8645; www.jaguarpaw.com), began operated this adrenaline-pumping activity in May 2004. Secured by a harness with your feet hanging free, riders on the zip line traverse from one suspended platform to the next, whizzing along past flora and fauna, exotic birds and even monkeys. At the end, you rappel down to the rainforest floor from the final platform.
Each day, 20 licensed and trained guides (accredited by the Association of Challenge Course Technology, www.acctinfo.org) take hotel guests and walk-ins along a series of eight platforms (about six feet in diameter), complete with handrails and a double-cable zip line for added safety. You're suspended about 80 feet from the ground, and the distance between platforms ranges from about 100 to 245 feet.
The 200-acre resort is on the Caves Branch River, with lush forests, more than 500 species of birds, three caves and more. The "Aerial Trek" costs $55.
On a side note, if you're a first time traveler to either Belize or Guatemala, Gray Line Tours will begin running tours in each destination in September. If an organized bus tour in a tropical rugged region strikes you as oxymoronic, don't laugh. Half-day bus tours have long been a savvy traveler's crash course in the lay of the land before they strike out on their own. You can check them out at www.grayline.com/guatemala for current offerings.
Bargain Basement Barbados
Funjet Vacations (www.funjetvacations.com) is folding the government subsidized "Best of Barbados" discounts into their own packages to the island, making their promotions even a better bargain than before. A typical price using American Airlines roundtrip, with airport/hotel transfers, and seven nights' lodging at the Coconut Court Beach Resort, has prices starting at $519.99 out of Atlanta, $524.99 from Boston, $619.99 out of Denver, $574.99 from Houston, $669.99 from Los Angeles and $589.99 out of Chicago. Those prices are based on weekday departures September 7 through November 24, 2004. Among the other hotels in the program are the Almond Beach Clubs, Amaryllis Resort, Blue Horizon, Bougainvillea Resort, Fairmont Royal Pavilion and the Savannah Hotel.
Watersports in St. Thomas
The well known Bolongo Bay Beach Club (www.bolongobay.com) in St. Thomas has just come out with a seven-night semi-inclusive "Adventure Package," which features a diving trip, a snorkeling excursion and parasailing. Starting from $1,759 per room (the price for two persons), it's valid for travel now through November 15, 2004. You have to book directly through the resort's reservations department at 800/524-4746 or via e-mail at info@bolongobay.com.
The package includes beachfront lodging for seven nights for two people in one room; an intro scuba lesson per person followed by a two-tank dive on one of the Caribbean's finest coral reefs; 30 minutes of Waverunner fun (in tandem); an all-day sail and beach outing to St. John aboard the resort's big catamaran, with lunch and open bar, plus snorkel equipment and lesson; a parasailing experience; free use of sunfish sailboats (and paddle boats, snorkel gear, swim mats, windsurfing equipment and kayaks with instruction); beach volleyball, tennis and basketball; continental breakfast daily; and hotel tax and service charges.