Showing posts with label Netherlands Antilles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Netherlands Antilles. Show all posts

Monday, March 5, 2012

Best Caribbean Islands - St Eustatius


Although St Eustatius is the official title of this small Dutch Caribbean island it is known affectionately by locals and visitors alike as Statia. Satia is located in the Leeward Islands of the West Indies and was once one of the most important trading islands in this part of the Caribbean.
Statia is an attractive island, with many of the locals engaged in farming the eight square miles that the island covers. An additional source of island income is, of course, from tourism. The tourist trade revolves around budget accommodation, hiking, exploring the old Dutch forts that are located on the island, and the great scuba diving, which is available in and around some of the one hundred or so offshore wrecks. Statia is also a good destination if you want to mix an activity holiday with a beach holiday. The favourite beach for holidaymakers and local alike is Oranje beach.
Statia is the home of a dormant volcano known as The Quill and the capital of the island is Oranjestad.
Dutch and English are spoken on the island but most people are able to communicate in English. The official currency is the Netherlands Antilles Gilder, although the United States Dollar is accepted in most places.
Getting around the island is easy. You can hire either a car or a bicycle or take a taxi-cab.
The best way to get to Statia is by air to its own airport, the F.D. Roosevelt Airport.
Although Statia is not one of the better known of the Caribbean islands it does have its own distinctive ambience and geography. It is one of the quieter, more friendly of the Caribbean islands but is also able to provide great eco-tourist activities together with the opportunity to chill out on the beach for a day or two if that is what you want from your vacation experience. Either way, Statia is a great Caribbean vacation destination.
Author: Billy Phillips. Check out a Great Caribbean Resort in his Best Travel Comparison Websites directory, with links to the Best United Kingdom Comparison Sites.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billy_Phillips
http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Caribbean-Islands---St-Eustatius&id=5110987

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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Great Caribbean Islands - Curacao


Curacao is the largest of the three southern Caribbean islands forming the Netherlands Antilles A B C islands along with Aruba and Bonaire, with an area of approximately one hundred and seventy square miles. This interesting island is located twelve degrees north of the equator.
Curacao is the least tourism reliant of the three sister islands, although there are still plenty of reasons to visit, not the lease of which is its warm climate. The relative lack of rainfall means that the landscape is arid, with cacti in abundance rather than the lusher flora that is associated with most of the other Caribbean islands.
The capital of the islands is Willemstad, whose architecture is decidedly reminiscent of The Netherlands.
There are thirty five beaches on Curacao, so the island does offer something for the bathers (both in the sun and the sea) but it is better known for its diving. There are coral reefs and the diving, particularly to the south side of the island, is a real must. There are over sixty designated dive sites on Curacao.
In addition to the beach and marine activities during the day, a lively nightlife is available in Curacao, with several casinos providing entertainment for those who like to take a flutter on the roulette wheel or the blackjack table.
The local languages are Papamiento (which has strong Dutch and Spanish components, reflecting the island's past) Dutch, Spanish and English. What is the most interesting thing about Curacao is that it manages to combine its ability to create a national income that is not entirely based upon tourism with a really effective programme to evolve itself into one of the more popular Caribbean tourist islands.
The official currency, as is the case with all of the islands of the Netherlands Antilles, is the Netherlands Antillean Guilder, although the United States Dollar is also accepted in a great majority of shops, nightclubs, automobile rental agents and, it goes without saying, casinos.
The easiest way to get to the island is by air to Curacao International Airport, which is. Scheduled flights are served from the North America, South America and Europe.
This innovative Caribbean island is, on any analysis, a distinctive resort, where many of the locals speak four different languages! It is steeped in history and soaked in tradition for those who want something that is a little different from the conventional Caribbean island vacation.
Author: Billy Phillips. Check out a Great Caribbean Resort in his Best US Price Comparison Websites directory, with links to the Best United Kingdom Comparison Site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billy_Phillips
http://EzineArticles.com/?Great-Caribbean-Islands---Curacao&id=5131985

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