Caribbean Sailing

August 2000

Caribbean Reflection

Bring wetsuit, ½ tube of large toothpaste lasts more than 2 weeks, long pants, skirts, etc are hot in this climate. Sailing gloves maybe, deck shoes(neoprene were fine), A paring knife in a case is often useful to carry travelling (for chopping tomatoes, etc.)
Air fares; Sunsail returned our boat to guadaloupe for the second time.
Airlines to consider are Air Caribe, Calypso
Flying from Dutch St. Maarten involves a $30 US tax on each ticket at the airport.
Booking on Travelocity is the same as Air Liat (try Li on the net) and the cheap fares are sold out as the date approaches. Our tickets were $90Cdn from Antigua toSt. Kitts and $250 (late booking) from St. Maarten to Mariniqueplus taxes.
Next to no cars were available in martinique (book in advance next time). 100 Franc surcharge for airport pickup. Hard to find accommodation after 6pm at night. Book the first night in advance.
Our group: Brian and Marg dominated – hard to fit in to the second half of a vacation – roles already established, from food (junk) to helping on the boat. Next time sailing will be more important and thus I would like to go on a sloop. Probably fun with Alice. Mike seems to be quite cautious in his decisions and has a tendency for detail (in anchoring anyways). Steve, Mike etc not real travellers – take it as they find it – taxis, etc to ports and so on, no negotiation.

St. Bart’s - unable to get cash out of the machines (same as two years ago).
American cash works best in the Caribbean. Maybe 2 bank caRDS.

Jewellery: $7-$8 US per gram as weight but more expensive with more design.
Necklace 18” diamond cut (more labour), 12.1 gm $187 Canadian.