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Warm winter wonderlands - vacations at warm-weather resorts
Ebony, Jan, 1997
Icy snow-packed highways, nerve-splitting traffic jams, post-holiday blues and too much to do in too little time - it's all enough to make the winter-weary wish for balmy tropical breezes, where the living is easy and the days are filled with fun.
Warm winter wonderlands are closer than you might imagine. With a can-do spirit and a well-though-out plan, you can be kicking off your shoes and shrugging off the blues in no time at all. Whatever your fancy - a family vacation at Florida's Walt Disney World Resort, Jamaica's white-sandy beaches, our duty-free shopping in the U.S. Virgin Islands - this winter travel season offers a whole range of exciting, affordable destinations and activities.
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An affordable vacation begins with a visit to a reputable travel agent who can provide you with information about bargain travel deals that include reasonably priced hotel and airline rates. Read your local newspapers for advertised specials and contact your favorite airline carrier directly. United Airlines, British West Indies Airlines (BWIA) and other air carriers regularly offer bargain rates to the Caribbean Islands, Florida and other warm winter wonderlands.
Don't forget to check the fares at Amtrak and the bus lines. Many of the major hotel chains, various charter groups and credit card companies offer vacation packages, too. And surf the Internet for hard-to-find travel bonanzas.
Are you planning to take the kids along? There's a large assortment of warm-weather resorts that cater to families with children of all ages. In fact most difficult part of your planning will be deciding which one to visit. Many hotels and resorts in St. locations such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahama Islands feature special programs designed to keep even the most active youngsters happily occupied.
Travelers can also take their pick of fun-filled vacation spots closer to home. From Florida;s Walt Disney World Resort to the Zora Neale Hurston festival in Eatonville, Fla., to New Orleans, Mardi Gras to the nonstop action of Las Vegas, the continental U.S. offers a smorgasbord of exciting things to do, see and experience for singles and families alike. The Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida is one of the most popular family-centered vacation spots. The resort is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary with a 15-month-long series of special events, exhibitions, shows and parades that continues through Dec. 31, 1997.
From Jan. 1 through Feb. 6, the resort is also offering the Sunshine Getaway package, a three-night vacation package that includes accommodations at select Disney hotels, breakfast daily, and a coupon book worth up to $500 in savings. For an additional charge, theme park tickets are also available.
Family vacations are great, but perhaps you have a cozier, more romantic trip for two in mind. If so, couples may find the perfect prescription for their wintertime blues in Jamaica. Surrounded by the cobalt blue Caribbean, the area's third-largest island is a vacationer's paradise full of long stretches of white, sandy beaches, acres of exotic, lush terrain and, best of all, an average daily temperature of 82 degrees.
Recently married couple - or those who just want to feel that way - can take advantage of Jamaica's romantic honeymoon specials. Basic packages usually include the ceremony, a wedding cake and pictures. Additional arrangements are often available for an added charge. Remember, you must be on the island at least 24 hours before the ceremony, providing prior application has been made for the marriage license.
Carnival Season '97 kicks off in Trinidad and Tobago in January and runs through February. It will include the Steelband Explosion on February 10 and the Parade of Bands in the Port of Spain on February 11.
Once Carnival Season cools down, the Art '97 Tobago gets underway. The one-week art extravaganza runs February 15 through 23 and features the work of Tobagonian artists who specialize in the performing arts, photography, crafts and sand sculptures.
Comprised of 50 islands in all, the U.S. Virgin Islands' biggest and most popular vacation spots remain St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. Visitors keep coming back for more of the islands' world-renowned pristine beaches, colorful flowers, crystal-clear turquoise waters and fine dining. Couples planning their nuptials should know that they can get married in the U.S. Virgin Islands as easily as they can at home.
Paradise is Just W short miles off the coast of south Florida for visitors of Nassau, Cable Beach and Paradise Island in the Islands of the Bahamas. From guided tours to short cruises to scrumptious dining on native cuisine, an adventure of a lifetime awaits island visitors. You can try your luck at one of its Vegas-style casinos, shop at the bustling Straw Market or take a romantic carriage ride under a bright full moon.
Jazz lovers may want to visit Barbados in January when the island sponsors its fourth annual Jazz Festival. This year's lineup includes Patti LaBelle, Roberta Flack, Grover Washington Jr. and Al Jarreau. The festival will take place at the state-of-the-art entertainment complex, the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, and at historic homes around the island.
