Five Must-Do Activities During a Caribbean Vacation

Soak Up the View at Alegria, an Ascend Hotel Collection® member in Beacon Hill in Simpson Bay, SXM

The following article was written by me on behalf of Choice Hotels and I was paid to write this post. However, the opinions are entirely my own.

Soak Up the View at Alegria, an Ascend Hotel Collection® member in Beacon Hill in Simpson Bay, SXM
Soak Up the View at Alegria, an Ascend Hotel Collection® member in Beacon Hill in Simpson Bay, SXM
“Carpe diem,” is my motto which means when traveling, I’m seeking bragging rights. Someday I’ll make another trip to the islands and in preparation, I’ve put together this list of five must-do activities during a Caribbean Vacation. Whether you’ve checked out sites like https://www.northropandjohnson.com/charter-regions/caribbean/ in the hopes of experiencing being on a cruise, checking out the hotspots or you are looking forward to experiencing the food, there is so much to do when you are in the Caribbean. You won’t be disappointed. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I’m a Choice Privileges member which gets me a lot of instant rewards in addition to earning points fast to redeem for free nights. In this post, I have included select Choice Hotels near each of these activities because these hotels come with great value and you get a bang for your buck which means you will have a little more money to spend on memorable experiences.  
Aruba: Connect with Nature in Arikok National Park
Established in 2000, Arikok National Park is a cultural, geological and historical gem. Geographically, it takes up about 20 percent of Aruba and is home to the famous Conchi, the Natural Pool which is accessible by four-wheel vehicle, ATV, foot or horse. Be sure to look for the rock paintings by Aruba’s first inhabitants, the Caquetio Indians.

Where to stay: La Cabana Beach Resort and Casino, Ascend Resort Collection® hotel in Oranjestad, Aruba.
This hotel offers spacious guest rooms with either a balcony or patio, kitchen facilities and pillow-top mattress. Some of the features of this property include state-of-the-art fitness center, pool bar, water slide, shops, a spa, mini-market, restaurant and easy access to Eagle Beach.

Bahamas: Discover the Underwater World at Atlantis Paradise Island
Atlantis Paradise Island is the main attraction in the Bahamas and is an ocean-themed resort on Paradise Island. It includes more than a 140-acre waterscape including salt and fresh water lagoons, pools, marine habitats, water slides and river rides. Atlantis is for the true aquaholic where visitors can snorkel, scuba, snuba, have an adventure with sharks, an encounter with the stingrays, and snorkel the ruins of Atlantis.

Where to stay: Comfort Suites® Paradise Island hotel in Nassau because guests staying here receive complimentary access to the Atlantis facilities and signing privileges at the Atlantis restaurants and lounges. Guests also receive a free full American buffet breakfast in the hotel’s Crusoe’s Restaurant.

Stingray City, Cayman Islands
Stingray City, Cayman Islands

Image Source: Fevi in Pictures

Cayman Islands: Wade in a Fever of Stingrays at Stingray City
Some travelers have called the southern stingrays at Stingray City aquatic cats because they tend to cozy up to swimmers. This is one of the most popular places to get up close and personal with these large, gentle giant fish and who knows, one may give you a hug or photobomb your photos while wading on the sandbars.
By the way, a group of stingrays is called a fever.

Where to stay: Comfort Suites® Seven Mile Beach, The hotel is perfect for those looking to relax in a casual atmosphere. It’s located steps away from the gorgeous Seven Mile Beach and close to aqua-activities such as diving, scuba, and snorkeling. There’s a casual restaurant and bar on side and outdoor pool with a whirlpool and sundeck. Begin the day with a free hot breakfast buffet. The Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach is close to the Georgetown area and within walking distance of bars, grocery stores, nightclubs, restaurants, and  shopping.

Guyana: Appreciate Magnificent Architecture at St. George’s Cathedral
A designated National Monument, St. George’s Cathedral is one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. The Anglican cathedral in Georgetown is 435 meters (143 feet) and the seat of the Bishop of Guyana. Designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield, the cathedral was completed in 1899.

Where to stay: Opus Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection® Member in Stabroek, Guyana. This hotel is conveniently located in central Georgetown which provides easy access to art and craft museums, night life, restaurants and cultural heritage sites like St. George’s Cathedral. Guests enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and some rooms offer a balcony and kitchen facilities.

Watch Planes Land from the Comfort of St. Maarten's Maho Beach While Staying at Alegria, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member in Beacon Hill.
Watch Planes Land from the Comfort of St. Maarten’s Maho Beach While Staying at Alegria, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member in Beacon Hill.
St. Maarten: Plane Spot at Maho Bay Beach
Sitting on Maho Bay Beach and watching the low-flying airplanes as they prepare to land at Princess Juliana International Airport is a must when visiting St. Maarten. From images I’ve seen and stories I’ve heard from friends, it’s almost as if you can stand on your toes and reach up and almost touch the wheels of a descending plane. Well, there’ a little more room between the plane and sun worshippers but still, I would be in awe seeing those airplanes land over the beach.

Where to stay: Alegria, an Ascend Hotel Collection® Member in Beacon Hill in Simpson Bay, SXM. This boutique hotel overlooks the sparkling ocean at Maho Bay in Beacon Hill in Simpson Bay and is home to world-famous white sand beaches. The hotel has an outdoor pool, sundeck, poolside bar, fitness center and some room features include a balcony, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, sofa sleepers and washer-dryers. Staying at the Alegria is like living like a local.

Make the Right Hotel Choice for Your Caribbean Vacation
No matter where you travel, you’ll remember the experiences. You’ll remember the laughs, the thrills, the flavors. Staying at a hotel offering value helps you create those memories because you’ll save on lodging to spend more on memorable activities, delicious meals and the perfect souvenirs. Choice Hotels offers that value and during a Caribbean vacation, there are almost a dozen Choice Hotels® locations to choose with all offering a true island experience.

Choice Hotels

Visit ChoiceCaribbean.com to learn more on how to make memories on your Caribbean vacation.

Images Source: Images in this post were supplied by Choice Hotels unless otherwise noted.

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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

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