Extra-added taxes/fees are generally NOT something most travelers enjoy paying in any way…EVER. I mean, the cost of travel is way too expensive these days, right? Piling ancillary fees on top of already inflated travel prices just seems criminal. At least it does to me in most cases. Travel to Aruba, though, is a very notable exception.

Everybody knows Aruba. A lot of people love traveling there too. To wit: 1.2 million people visited the One Happy Island in 2023. That’s 13% more than the previous year!

No doubt, these millions of people are enamored with many different aspects of Aruba’s travel charms. Among my own personal favorite things about the place: its staunch commitment to environmental sustainability. 

Sustainable Travel to Aruba

We’ve touched on this before in posts on the Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort, easily among the most eco-conscious places to stay anywhere in the Caribbean. This post touting the annual Aruba Reef and Beach Clean Up provides additional context.

Indeed, Aruba wants us all to visit the island and enjoy ourselves. At the same time, though, Aruba offers opportunities for eco-conscious travelers to contribute to a sustainable future for Arubans and those of us who love visiting.

Now, a new $20 Sustainability Fee ensures that we ALL chip in.

Aruba Sustainability Fee

Implemented in July 2024, the new Sustainability Fee must be paid by anyone and everyone traveling to Aruba by air. Local residents, children under eight years-old, and repeat travelers who already paid the fee within a calendar year are exempt. So too are cruise passengers, which I really don’t understand since the cruise industry so callously and continuously harms our natural environment. A story for another day, I guess…

Where does the money go?

Here’s the straight poop from our friends at Visit Aruba…

The Sustainability Fee will be used to upgrade the existing sewage water treatment plants and infrastructure (SWTP) as well as to build a new, larger one to handle future demand.

(See what I did there, i.e.: straight poop..?)

So yeah, travel to Aruba is a little more expensive now, but it’s for a good cause that will continue to make returning to the island great for generations to come. A small price to pay, if you ask me.

For more on Aruba’s new Sustainability Fee, including how to pay it (you can’t use cash!), check in with Visit Aruba today.

The post Travel to Aruba Just Got Pricier…And With Good Reason! appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Our typical adventuring rarely includes group activities tailor-made for tourists. We’re travelers, after all, not tourists. Our mission: to delve deeply into the local scene everywhere we go. Generally, this isn’t possible on a group sightseeing excursion. A notable exception, though, is the guided ATV tour offered by our friends at Freedom Rentals Anguilla. Yeah, the itinerary includes a few popular attractions – Elvis’ Beach Bar, Anguilla Arch, Blanchards Beach Shack… At the same time, though, this Anguilla ATV tour makes sure to mix in some unique local flavor. The stop we made at the old well just back of Sandy Ground will always stand out to me in this regard. Here, you gain an understanding for just how important the well has been to Anguillians for generations. It’s the kind of insight that gets you closer to a place and its people. The kind of thing we live for.

Read more about our Anguilla ATV tour stop at the old well here, and let us know of your favorite guided tour experience in the comments section below…

Oh, and to live this experience when next you’re in AXA, check in with Freedom Rentals Anguilla today.

The post Anguilla ATV Tour Beyond the Touristy Trail appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Guineps, brightly blooming flamboyant trees, zero crowds, and the Caribbean’s most colorful sailing fete. They’re all among the many reasons why I love visiting the Caribbean in the summertime. Saharan dust, however, solicits somewhat less of a rosy emotion. I say somewhat as the annual atmospheric phenomenon that sees a gigantic cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert settle over the entire region is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the dust lowers air quality and visibility. For photography buffs like me, it also has an adverse effect on images. Grey and hazy skies, after all, aren’t really anyone’s idea of an ideal Caribbean scene. At the same time, though, that same haze tends to intensify the Caribbean sunsets and sunrises. Colors burst more vibrantly. The shining bright orb appears sharper. The combo heightens the sultry allure, yielding mesmerizing memories like this Anse-Mitan sunset, which I enjoyed in July 2024 in Martinique…

As awe-inspiring as an Anse-Mitan sunset is, it’s not all that you’re likely to love about Martinique. For more on all that’s amazing in Martinique, please check out our Martinique Travel Guide today.

Oh, and if you need any direct tips and hints on best to enjoy your next Martinique escape, feel free to drop me a line here.

The post Anse-Mitan Sunset Moment of Zen appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Sailing adventures up and down the calm seas that caress Martinique’s west coast are a prime pursuit for visitors to The Isle of Flowers. A good many of those adventures start at Marina Pointe-du-Bout across la Baie de Fort-de-France in Trois-Ilets. From the oft-times bustling boat haven, sailors strike out through the bay toward the open sea. Along the way sailing Fort-de-France Bay, they get to enjoy scenic views like this. Downtown Fort-de-France, its waterfront highlighted by the glittering Lumina Tower. The Pitons du Carbet rising dramatically off in the distance. And to think, this is just the beginning of the adventure..?!

Wish you were here sailing Fort-de-France Bay?

The post Sailing Fort-de-France Bay: Wish You Were Here appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

When traipsing around Middle Caicos in the summertime, don’t be surprised to find food in short supply. As we’ve noted before, Middle Caicos is anything but bustling. Terms like quiet and laid back don’t even begin to describe just how low-key and marvelously under-developed a place this is. As such, restaurants and bars are few and far between here. In the summer, most aren’t even open! Thankfully, though, there’s Seaview Cafe Middle Caicos.

Small, simple, and sporting bright welcoming colors, Seaview is set along the coast in Conch Bar Village.

We happened here during a brief bit of exploring the immediate vicinity around the Dragon Cay Resort. From Indian Cave, itself just a couple minutes drive from our Dragon Cay cottage, Seaview Cafe is less than five minutes away. That was a very good thing for us as the searing heat and mosquitos inside the cave had us craving sustenance and pampering. Maybe a couple cold Turks Head brews, some conch, and a gentle sea breeze.

Seaview more than delivered on all counts.

Local TCI Cuisine at its Finest

The tender, savory cracked conch I enjoyed here was easily the best I’d ever had in Middle Caicos. (No offense, Mudjin Harbour Bar and Grille.) The salad, as well, was surprisingly fresh, crisp, and delicious. Taken together, the combo elevated this simplest of TCI local fare to near-gourmet levels to me. This, however, very much belied Seaview Cafe’s modest decor and surroundings.

Clean and tidy, but nothing fancy. This, of course, suited our sweaty mid-adventuring selves just fine, thank you.

Seaview Cafe Middle Caicos offers interior and exterior seating. (Outside beneath the shade of a sprawling almond tree was ideal for us.) Relaxing views of the sea and soothing sea breezes are included no matter where you sit.

The post Seaview Cafe Middle Caicos – My Favorite TCI Cracked Conch Spot appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Puerto Rico is undoubtedly among the preeminent sports capitals of the Caribbean. Generally, the island’s rich sporting history is denoted by winning and excellence. See Roberto Clemente, Héctor “Macho” Camacho, Chi-Chi Rodríguez, etc. A small segment of the sporting legacy at the Hipódromo Camarero, however, is notably different. 

What is the Hipódromo Camarero

Unquestionably the Mecca of horse racing in Puerto Rico, if not the entire Caribbean, Hipódromo Camarero (formerly El Nuevo Comandante) was constructed in 1976. The one-mile, seven furlong sand track is located in Canóvanas, 20 minutes from downtown San Juan. Hipódromo Camarero is distinguished by its spacious restaurant, with a seating capacity of close to 1,000. The on-site Winners Sports Bar offers additional space to enjoy drinks and socialize on race days.

All-in-all, the facility is world’s apart from the tracks that its namesake used to dominate.

Puerto Rico Horse Racing Royalty

Hipódromo Camarero is named for the most famous thoroughbred in Puerto Rico’s history. During the early- to mid-1950s, Camarero won a total of 73 races. A two-time Puerto Rico Horse of the Year (1954, 1955), Camarero racked up $43,553 in earnings, a total equal to $500,000+ today.

Most notably, though, Camarero was the first to win the Puerto Rico Triple Crown (1954).

Camarero’s prowess so captivated the sporting public in Puerto Rico that a new, larger, and more modern racing facility was need to accommodate his throngs of supporters. The result: the original El Comandante Hippodrome, precursor to El Nuevo Comandante, which was renamed in honor of Camarero in 2006.

As great as Camarero was, though, he’s not the only horse to have made a hugely historic impact here…

Legendary Loser

Hipódromo Camarero’s other most legendary horse was named Dona Chepa. Her legend, though not a pretty one, did make headlines around the world. The Inquirer Magazine, ESPN, The Chicago Tribune, The Irish Independent, The Sun (UK) – everyone covered Dona Chepa’s exploits.

Her claim to fame: She recorded the most consecutive losses (135) in horse racing history. 

Still, it wasn’t all bad for DC. After all, she brought home a good $14K in career earnings, even despite all that losing.

Plus, she got to race at one of the more beautiful race tracks anywhere.

If You Go…

The racing action at Hipódromo Camarero goes down every Wednesday–Sunday, from 3PM to 6:30PM. Grandstand seating is free!

For more information on Puerto Rico horse racing, visit Hipódromo Camarero online and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

The post Puerto Rico Horse Racing Heaven – Hipódromo Camarero appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Otherworldly natural beauty. It’s the kind of thing most people expect when visiting the Caribbean. Barbados largely exceeds such expectations, particularly along her western shores. Calm, gin-clear seas here bear an electric aqua blue hue that is positively mesmerizing; intoxicating. Got a soul that needs soothing? Fix your gaze on these waters for any spate of time. The sight may bring you to your knees, but don’t worry… You’ll be better than fine.

Wish you were here in Barbados..?

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My preferred rental car choices while traveling in the Caribbean are anything but flashy. Ideally, they’re rugged, go-anywhere vehicles. Think Jeep Wranglers. Even when they’re not, though, my ideal rental is always a little beat-up. I’m talking vehicles bearing scratches, stains, and dents born of adventure and questionable choices. In short, I like island cars. Cars that blend in with the local scene. For the Mini Moke, though, I’d make an exception.

You don’t see them darting around many of our islands these days. During 1960s and 70s, though, Mini Mokes were a top rental car option across much of the West Indies. 

Mini Moke’s Military Origins

That the Mini Moke ever became a touchstone of Caribbean tourism is somewhat of a miracle. The curious little cars were initially developed in the UK during the early 1960s. Their initial intended purpose: combat!

Hard to believe, but yes, the first Mini Mokes were expressly designed and built to be used by the British military.

Well, at least that’s what the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and the vehicle’s inventors, Sir Alec Issigonis and John Sheppard, hoped. One even cursory look at an original Moke, however, makes plain the folly of this idea. The vehicle is anything but all-terrain, much less battlefield-ready, what with its ultra-low ground clearance and piddly engine.

Those limitations, though, didn’t soften early sales pitch efforts for the Moke…

After getting rebuffed by the British armed forces, BMC pivoted and began marketing the Mini Moke for civilian usage. They still pushed the Moke’s supposed all-terrain capabilities. This, BMC argued, made it an ideal vehicle for farming and other rural industries.

Made for Beach Life

At the same time, though, the Moke’s obvious “beach buggy” style started earning it fans most everywhere that sun, sand, and sea are the thing. California, Australia, St. Tropez, Seychelles, Mauritius, and all throughout the British West Indies.

Car rental companies in Barbados, St. Kitts, Montserrat, BVI and elsewhere across the region offered Mini Moke rentals. Low ground clearance continued to prove problematic along notoriously dodgy island roads. At the same time, though, the Moke’s rugged frame was up to the challenge of island life.

Most of the original Mini Mokes available for rent in the Caribbean during the 1970s and 80s are long gone now, of course. If you’re lucky, though, you can still spot one in the wild. I found this red one in Bequia in 2013.

With its soft top, zero frills, and open air design, this beauty fits the scene along the sands that line a portion of Admiralty Bay perfectly. Simple and laid back; functional, but unhurried – a ride right in tune with island vibes.

Mini Moke Caribbean Rentals Today

While you’d be hard-pressed to find a classic Moke to rent in the Caribbean today, there are some nice, new alternatives…

I happened upon these sweet rides for rent at Moke Anguilla (est. 2019). Though obviously and beautifully espousing the classic Moke style, these models are all-new! They feature waterproof seats, a bluetooth speaker, and a 16-valve four-cylinder engine that leaves the original Moke in the dust. 

Moke Anguilla’s rides are all gas-powered and available in manual and automatic transmissions. They also offer a choice of nine different colors, each flamboyantly echoing the West Indies. The green model at the head of this post is called Genip. Flamingo (pink), Sky (light blue), Mango (yellow), Fruit Punch (red), Pistachio (olive), Magnolia (tan), Sorrel (maroon), and White Sand round out the color options.

No matter which flavor of Moke Anguilla model you choose, you’re sure to zip around Anguilla in style, while also creating unique photo-ops rooted in the adventurous spirit of the Caribbean.

For more on Moke Anguilla, visit them online here.

Oh, and if you know of anywhere else in the Caribbean where uncommon travelers can rent a Mini Moke, let us know!

The post Mini Moke – The Caribbean’s Ultimate Rental Car appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Saturday afternoons are always sweeter in Barbados. When you add lobster to the occasion, though, it gets even better. The magic effect doesn’t apply universally, however. At least not to the degree that it does at Lobster Alive. As we noted in the earliest days of Uncommon Caribbean 10+ years ago, Lobster Alive is the very best place to dine on the freshest lobster in Barbados. This isn’t just a subjective opinion either. A quick read of our earliest Lobster Alive post reveals why. Suffice it to say, though, Lobster Alive has always been special. A major refresh/renovation in late 2023 only makes Lobster Alive Saturdays better. 

Wish you were here reveling in the delicious fun of Lobster Alive Saturdays..?

The post Lobster Alive Saturdays Near Sunset in Barbados appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.

Despite its horrors, the COVID-19 pandemic yielded silver linings for many of us. We adopted new habits, traditions, and pursuits to get through the tough times. Often, these changes centered on self-improvement. More consistent exercise, healthier diet choices, less screen time, etc. The biggest such sea change for me was all about yoga, a fact that has me jonesing to check out the St Croix yoga retreats at The Feather Leaf Inn.

While not completely new to me, yoga was definitely not a primary element of my normal pre-pandemic workout regime. You wouldn’t even call my practice sporadic as I only really indulged a few times over the past 10+ years. Also, the vast majority of those few yoga sessions were enjoyed while traveling, most memorably in Trinidad. 

A yogi I most certainly was not.

COVID, though, changed everything. I still wouldn’t call myself a yogi, but I did practice just about every day for two+ years.

(Big thanks to Yoga With Adriene and SarahBethYoga for inspiring me through the magic of YouTube.)

With the pandemic now squarely in the rearview, I’m still hitting my yoga mat, though not as often. Maybe I need a new source of inspiration to reinvigorate my yoga journey. Something like the scene pictured above.

I happened upon that particular yoga session while visiting my home island of St Croix. To suggest that I was spellbound at the sight would be an understatement.

I mean, could there be a better place to feel grounded, present, and at peace than nestled in the shade beneath a majestic Saman Tree?

Just off in the distance, waves lapped soothingly against rocky shores. Birds sang out and butterflies danced along cooling breezes as the group surrendered to what surely must be the most sweetly satisfying savasana imaginable.

Yeah, I want this.

If you do too, check in with our friends at The Feather Leaf Inn. The inspired (on sooo many levels) boutique property hosts a series of St Croix yoga retreats and yoga brunch events each year. Follow Feather Leaf on Facebook and Instagram to keep informed of upcoming yoga and wellness events.

Who knows, maybe I’ll see you on a mat under that amazing tree real soon!

The post St Croix Yoga Retreats at Feather Leaf Inn – Uncommon Envy appeared first on Uncommon Caribbean.