Caribbean Travel | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

Help Open Cuba To Travel for U.S. Citizens

Published June 10, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

Today I received an email from a staffer at the Washington Office on Latin America, informing me about HR 4645, a bill that would eliminate the travel ban to Cuba for U.S. citizens and increase U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba. The bill is currently in committee in the U.S. House of Representatives but is expected to go to the floor for a vote within two weeks.

One-page summary of Bill to open Cuba to travel for U.S. citizens

Normally, I don’t discuss politics on this blog, but this subject is extremely timely for me, so I’m making an exception. Why is it timely? I’m currently in the Yucatan of Mexico and I discovered that I could go to Cuba for 4-5 days for as little as $500, including airfare, hotel, and all meals. I salivated at the prospect; going to Cuba has long been at the top of my travel wish list. Cuban immigration officials don’t stamp the passports of U.S. citizens entering or leaving the country, so there would be no way for the U.S. government to know I’d been there, since I would have flown in and out of Cancun. But in the end I decided against going because I couldn’t have written about my experience in Cuba and that would have killed me. So, like thousands of others, I decided to wait until the ban was lifted.

This could happen soon if the bill is successful, but our help is needed. If you agree with lifting the ban, please contact your State Representatives, tell them you support HR 4645, and ask them to vote for the bill. I’ve provided a one-page overview of the bill above. Click on the image to download it in a PDF format.

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Tagged bill, blogsherpa, Cuba, cultural, culture, House of Representatives, HR 4645, Travel, us citizens |

30 Comments

Dreaming of Exotic Islands but Short on Cash? Check Out ‘Curaçao Now’ Promotion

Published February 19, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

Winter’s dreary skies and numbing temperatures make us yearn for warm Caribbean breezes but with today’s economy, most can only dream. Last December my visit to Curaçao was one of the most enjoyable Caribbean experiences ever, so I was delighted when I learned that Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa & Casino and Lodge Kura Hulanda & Beach Club are offering a special “Curaçao Now” package that can turn those dreams into reality.

Guests who book at either resort for a stay May 1 through July 4, 2010 and/or August 15 through December 18, 2010, will receive the following:

$200 per person air credit from the Curaçao Tourist Board
$200 food and beverage credit
Fifth night free
One day complimentary diving excursion
One day complimentary car rental service
Two complimentary tickets to Museum Kura Hulanda (available at Hotel only)
Diving discounts (available at Lodge only)
Various additional shopping and museum discounts

Rates include air and start at $499 per person (based on a flight out of Miami) for a five-night stay at Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa & Casino, and $519 per person (based on flight out of Miami) for a five-night stay at Continue reading →

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Tagged aruba bonaire and curacao, blogsherpa, Caribbean, casino, Curacao Now, deals, Hotel Kura Hulanda, Lodge Kura Hulanda, promotions, spa, specials, Travel, Willemstad |

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Piscadera Bay Walk – A Taste of Curacao’s Local Culture

Published January 16, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

From the moment I arrived at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort and Emerald Casino, I was treated like a queen and fed like a king. Within minutes of settling into my oceanfront room, I had devoured the tray of gourmet chocolate, fine Danish cheeses, crackers, and fresh tropical fruit that awaited me and, just a short while later, overindulged with a lobster salad at one of the resort’s fine restaurants. A private van tour of the island on day two included lunch at Doktorstuin Restaurant, an historic converted plantation home that served up authentic local cuisine, and that was topped off with another gourmet dinner back at the resort. Lying in bed that evening like a beached whale, I resolved to get some much needed exercise the following day.

Welcome gift from the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort

Fortunately, the Marriott is located an easy half-hour walk from Willemstad, the capital of this tiny south Caribbean island. I walked out the front entrance, turned right, and headed toward the ocean. Just past an idyllic public beach I found the Koredor George Hueck, a broad asphalt path leading to the heart of the city. Initially, mangrove swamps and black coral coastline flanked the path. As I approached the outskirts of Willemstad, the island’s desalinization plant appeared, its holding tanks lined up like behemoth sentinels on the inland side of the trail. Continue reading →

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12 Comments

But for a Headache, Curacao’s Colorful Buildings Might Still Be Stark White

Published January 7, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

The vividly painted architecture lining the waterfront in Willemstad may be the most famous feature of Curaçao, but the kaleidoscopic hues did not happen by design. The capital city developed after the Dutch claimed the island in 1634, beginning with Punda, the walled portion of the old city. Buildings tended to be two and three-story shops and residences built on narrow, elongated lots to maximize use of scarce land. The only materials available for construction, mismatched bricks scavenged from ship ballast, were finished with lime plaster made from crushed shells, which dried to a dazzling white facade in the intense Caribbean sun.

Can’t view the above slide show of Curacao’s stunning architecture? Click here.

It is said that a former governor of the island who suffered from severe headaches, believing his malady was aggravated by the sun’s brilliant reflections off the white buildings, mandated that building exteriors be painted any color but white. Despite later discovery that the governor was a shareholder in the island’s only paint store, the tradition of painting in vivid colors has endured, making Willemstad’s Dutch and Spanish colonial style architecture one of the most stunning sights in the Caribbean.

Curaçao Landhuizen, giant plantation houses built in the the outlying areas in the 18th and 19th centuries, were no less alluring. The hallmark of each plantation Continue reading →

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Tagged aruba bonaire and curacao, blogsherpa, Caribbean, colonial architecture, culture, Curacao, Dutch, escapism, Landhuizen, Netherlands Antilles, Otrobanda, Punda, Scharloo, Spanish, Travel, UNESCO World Heritage, Willemstad |

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In Curacao They Call Her Queen Emma, But She’s Really a Swinging Old Lady

Published January 2, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

A steady stream of pedestrians crossing the Queen Emma Bridge in Willemstad, capital of the tiny Caribbean island of Curaçao, seemed unfazed by the shrill bell signaling that the floating pontoon bridge was about to open.

“Why aren’t they hurrying?” I asked my tour guide, Howard.

“The orange flag hoisted over the harbor master’s shack means the bridge will open soon…perhaps 20 minutes from now. But when the blue flag goes up – then you will see people running!” he explained.

Walking across the Queen Emma floating pontoon bridge

Unhurriedly, we strolled across the bridge from the newer neighborhood of Otrabanda to Punda, the oldest district of the city. Returning, we stepped back onto solid concrete just as the blue flag was hoisted and two powerful ship motors winched the bridge toward shore, allowing an enormous cruise ship to sail into to Schottegat Bay, the seventh busiest harbor in the world. Continue reading →

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41 Comments

Stylin’ at the Marriott Beach Resort in Beautiful Curacao

Published December 18, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

What sets one resort apart from its competitors? A great location is always preferable. The physical condition of a property is also a factor. But for me, the most important quality is customer service and the proper training of staff. I am pleased to report that Marriott’s Curacao Beach Resort and Emerald Casino, which is hosting me for four days as part of their BlogParadise event, has all three: great location, exquisite facilities, and one of the best-trained staffs I have ever encountered.

Gigantic oceanfront pool at Marriott's Curacao Beach Resort

From the moment I arrived, it was obvious how service oriented the resort’s employees are, but at dinner last night I learned this is more than just training. I asked the resort’s Sales Manager, Yvette Schotting, to tell me what makes this resort so special. She turned to our waitress, another Yvette, for an answer.

“I have been here nine years and this is my family. Every year, many of the same people visit us and they are always so happy that I remember them from previous visits. I love my job.”

Family is fundamental to the Marriott story. Most management personnel started in entry-level jobs: the corporation’s President of International Lodging began his Marriott career as a night watchman and the Continue reading →