One of the main factors we use to define islands as "unspoiled" are their proximity—or lack thereof—to the "beaten path." Even though a few of the resort and hotel destinations we feature are equal to any five-star in the world, the fact that the islands themselves, or the areas we feature on particular islands, are not easily accessible prevent them from becoming overdeveloped and commercialized. And that is what really makes them such intriguing little gems of gentle tropical charm and quiet luxury.
While there are a few unspoiled islands within the Caribbean basin which are relatively easy to reach, these will normally be more developed than others and offer you a bit less of a truly unspoiled island experience. Not every island conforms to this "rule". Many of the islands we feature are reachable via direct jet service from certain U.S. cities. Here at UnspoiledIslands.com we love all the unspoiled islands—from the most to the least accessible—and our goal is to place you with the one that fits you best. But since some of these wonderful gems do present travel and cultural challenges, what follows here is offered to better prepare you for them.
Actually, our Island Experts enjoy these challenges, and, rather than finding them a nuisance, find that they add to the unspoiled experience. By being informed and knowing what to expect we think that you will too.
We have found that there are five key categories about which it helps island travelers to be informed:
Duration of Travel—Reaching the beach, from "city to sand."
Modes of Travel—Planes, boats, and automobiles and what to expect from each.
Luggage Issues—To check or not to check, that is the question.
Culture Changes—Islands are also foreign countries, so be prepared!
Mother Nature—Fact and myth about seasonal weather patterns.
Duration of Travel back to top
Our goal is to have your toes in the sand on your destination beach shortly after lunch—and certainly well before dinner—on the day of your departure. We call it our "city to sand" goal, and there are some key points to remember in making this happen.
Getting your toes in the sand in the early afternoon almost always means a very early departure from the tarmac at your city's closest airport, no matter where you live in the USA. Departure from 6:00am - 8:00am is very common.
You can get to a few unspoiled islands via direct jet service from some top airport hubs, but that is the exception, not the rule. Our Island Experts know the best routes, and know creative ways to achieve our goal of maximizing your time in paradise. This often means mixing U.S. based carriers with Caribbean carriers to get you the most direct route with the shortest layovers, while staying focused on cost efficiencies as much as is possible.
If it's clear that we can't meet our "city to sand" goal for your chosen destination, we will offer you the alternative of revising the trip into two legs with an overnight stop at a great island on the way. We've found that this is a really superb alternative, offering rest and the opportunity to still get your toes in the sand the first day. This stopover can be an added adventure in island-hopping!
Again, our Islands Experts will do everything they can to get you to your chosen beach by mid-afternoon, but (until we have our own airline!) we are tied to the schedules and routes of the various modes of travel that serve our islands.
Modes of Travel back to top
There are a variety of modes of transportation that you may need to use to get your toes in the soft island sand of your dreams. How many different modes you will use on your trip depends completely on your schedule and your chosen destination. As we've said before, a few of our unspoiled island destinations are jet-accessible and others are not.
For many of the islands that are farthest from the beaten path, a combination of modes will be required, starting with a jet from your home airport that connects you to turbo-prop airplane service, boat, or ferry to the island of your destination and from there, local taxi to your Dream Destination. Some taxi rides in the more extreme cases can run as long as an hour and are an adventure in and of themselves.
The vehicles used in these latter modes of travel often fit the local color in look and feel, but are well suited for the islands, and will get you where you are going. Without advance notice, this could add to the stress of getting to an island, but with it, it becomes part of the experience. In any case, it's important that you understand not to expect an air-conditioned luxury car to whisk you away to your ultimate destination, although on at least one island, that can be arranged—in fact, that's a feature of one of our packaged vacations!
A good example to illustrate these points is the incredibly beautiful island of St. John. It is the epitome of an unspoiled island, as almost three-fourths of its area is National Park! It's lush and hilly, in fact so much so that there is no airport on the island! If a hotel or resort on St. John turns out to be the best fit for you, you will most certainly be taking a boat from a nearby island. In one case it will be a boat ride directly to the dock of a luxurious resort, in other cases, to a public dock where the last leg of your journey will be a local taxi ride through hilly landscape. Another certainty is that, whatever modes of transportation you have endured to get there, being there is so perfectly breathtaking that there will be no question in your mind that it was worth it.
Traveling by boat is less of a concern from an anxiety standpoint because boats don't go terribly fast and they don't fly, but turbo-prop airplanes (otherwise known as puddle-jumpers) of any size seem to cause some of our travelers great trepidation. A two-engine turbo-prop that seats about 50 is fairly standard fare on the majority of our trips. Some of our travel includes smaller turbo props that seat maybe 20-30 passengers, and depending on which island fits your criteria best, the only mode of travel might be a single engine 8-10 passenger plane with open windows.
The islanders are used to these planes and take it in stride, but if you're not used to it, the smaller ones can give you hair-raising stories to tell your friends. But, in spite of the fear factor, it may be a comfort to know what safety experts, with statistics as their proof, have proven to be the most dangerous mode of travel. Yes, it's the automobile—the trip from your house to the airport is probably the riskiest part of your entire vacation!
Perception, however, is just as important as reality, so let us know what you are willing to endure to reach paradise. Make sure to let your UnspoiledIslands.com Island Agent know if these types of airplanes are out of the question for you. We at UnspoiledIslands.com have flown on the smallest of planes, onto the shortest of runways, and we know of some island airports that we definitely recommend avoiding. But, not to worry, we can get you there by boat instead, and with all of your wits intact.
Whatever the destination, you can be sure that our Agents will plan the best route and modes for your particular tolerances, and you'll leave home knowing what to expect.
Luggage Issues back to top
One of the great aspects of island travel that most people don't take advantage of is the ability to travel very light. There's no need to over pack for paradise! You really can spend a week at even the finest island resort/hotel with just a few outfits—and by outfits, we mean "island casual," consisting of shorts, t-shirts and light cotton apparel.
You will see in our Vacation Check List that we recommend you always come prepared for one "formal evening out," but that simply means slacks or long khaki pants with a collared shirt for men, and a sun dress or sarong for women. There are very, very few ties worn on unspoiled islands! Some resorts require a jacket and/or tie in one of their dining areas during high season, but that is fairly rare and we'll let you know if that's the case at your destination. Another great thing about packing light is that the clothing you buy as souvenirs becomes part of your island "wardrobe"!
So, stress less, and pack less. Again, see our all-important Checklist, as there are certain items that we believe you should bring in duplicate or triplicate, but these won't take up much room. The airlines have really cracked down on carry-ons, so don't expect to bring more than two bags aboard, and be prepared to stow one at your feet on jetliners. Unless you are staying for an extended period, it's unlikely that you'll need more than this.
Most turbo-prop planes will allow only one very small carry-on, and you will check your other bag at planeside on the tarmac. Don't fret about this procedure, because its proximity to the plane makes it much more likely to make it on board than any bag you checked on your first leg.
But bags can get lost on any trip, so we strongly recommend that your essentials be packed in your carry-on. This could mean any acute essential, like medication or eyeglasses, or vacation related must-haves like your favorite swimsuit or snorkel mask. Whatever you must have on your first day or night, you should have in your hands the entire journey. Most bags that are lost are only lost temporarily, and get to you within 24-48 hours of landing, but that is a major inconvenience if you have checked everything.
Culture Changes back to top
We remind all of our travelers to keep in mind that their island trip is travel to a foreign country. Except for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are U.S. territories, you are traveling to "foreign" soil. Some of our unspoiled islands are French, Spanish or Dutch speaking island cultures, and it will help you to learn a few words of the language and bring a translation dictionary with you. In most cases there will be an English-speaker to assist you, but for simple requests it's fun and rewarding to be able to handle them yourself, and your attempts to do so are usually met with smiles and encouragement from the locals.
Of course, remember to bring your passport, regardless of whether you are traveling to a U.S. territory or not. Why? Because it is easier and better to prove your citizenship if you need to with a passport rather than with your birth certificate, and some islands require it. Sometimes a simple little island hop requires a passport for entry, and if you don't have one, you will be disappointed. We want to do everything we can to protect you from disappointment.
In that light, all island travelers are reminded to consider that the culture they are entering moves to different rhythms, both literally and figuratively, than they are used to at home. There is an "island time" and an island way of doing things. This doesn't mean that everything is always late and that nothing can be counted upon. What it means is that the pace of life is generally slower and more relaxed. Paradise does that to you.
Important schedules are kept, such as boat and ferry departures and arrivals, which are adhered to strictly, opening and closing times for restaurants and establishments can mostly be counted upon as published, etc. But there are other aspects to island life that are pleasantly unhurried. Our advice is adapt to the pace rather than fight it, and allow it to lull you into a stress-free calm that makes the moments pass gently, like a warm tropical breeze.
That is part of the reason travelers seek the islands, to achieve a stress-free mindset, if only for a week. If you find yourself in a hurry to get something done, our recommendation is that you gently explain why, and that your reason is not simply that you have brought your hurry with you from home. You will find most islanders understand and fully appreciate visitors and their needs, and therefore welcome you with open arms, and will do what they can to accommodate nearly any reasonable request.
Like any visit to another country, adopting words and lifestyles common in the islands helps you to immerse yourself in the culture and melt into an islander identity, if only briefly. It is refreshing. It is relaxing. It completes the experience. We hope that you quickly learn that "liming around" is a good thing, and becomes one of the parts of the unspoiled island experience you enjoy the most!
Mother Nature back to top
Another very important aspect of traveling the Caribbean is the understanding the vagaries of seasonal weather patterns, specifically hurricanes. Here are some facts and myths about hurricanes that any island traveler should consider.
