New nature tours to Dominica for 2010

Dominica is known as the Caribbean’s Nature Island and now travellers can discover exactly why with a series of new nature adventures in 2010.

Birding tour operators Avian Adventures and Bird Watching Breaks have included Dominica in new tours for their programmes this year, whilst whale-watching specialist Out of the Blue also has a group whale-watching tour scheduled for the spring.

Dominica is home to more than 170 bird species including two endemic Amazon parrots – the Sisserou and the red-necked Jaco. It is also one of only two island habitats for the beautiful Blue-headed Hummingbird which lives in the rainforest and elfin forest.

In addition, Dominica stakes a claim to being the ‘whale-watching capital of the Caribbean’. Its temperate seas and underwater contours provide the ideal environment for whales and dolphins and 22 of the 33 known species in the Caribbean have been seen in the island’s waters. Whales and dolphins can be spotted year-round in Dominica, primarily in the south around Scott’s Head, where waters plunge to 6,000 feet.

More information on these new nature-based tours can be found below.

· Avian Adventures includes Dominica in its Lesser Antilles trip, departing 22nd May – 3rd June 2010. The touring itinerary includes three nights in Dominica where travellers will explore forest trails and waterfalls near the habitats of the endemic species. The trip also visits Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat, Guadeloupe and St Lucia. The trip costs £3,890 per person including all flights and ferries, accommodation, all meals, transportation and tour leaders. www.avianadventures.co.uk / 01384 372013

· Bird Watching Breaks also combines a visit to Dominica with other islands in the region on its Lesser Antilles: Birds of the Eastern Caribbean trip, which departs 13th – 27th April 2010. This trip visits a total of nine Caribbean islands, with three days spent in Dominica. Nature lovers will take a dawn expedition in search of the red-necked Jaco parrot as well as tracking other species including the Dominica House Wren, the Lesser Antillean Swift, the Broad-winged Hawk and Tropical Mockingbird. The trip costs £4,695 per person including all flights, accommodation, meals, transport and tour leaders. www.birdwatchingbreaks.com / 01381 610452

· Out of the Blue has its first group whale-watching trip to Dominica scheduled for 17th – 25th April 2010, having previously offered tailor-made trips to the destination. The nine-day trip includes whale-watching excursions on four days. An onboard hydrophone on the specially-chartered 60-foot catamaran will be used to track species including sperm whales, false killer whales, hump-back whales amongst others. The itinerary also includes island tours exploring Dominica’s rainforests, beaches, rivers, waterfalls and the Carib Territory. Prices start from £2,499 including flights, accommodation, some meals (all breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners) and excursions as outlined in the itinerary. www.oceansworldwide.co.uk / 0845 290 3218


These are just some of the tour operators offering nature-based packages to Dominica in 2010. For a full list of UK tour operators to Dominica, please see www.discoverdominica.com or telephone 0800 012 1467 for further details.


-Ends-
For media information and images, please contact Kate Popham or Kylie Jenkins at The Saltmarsh Partnership on 020 7928 1600 or email kate@saltmarshpr.co.uk / kylie@saltmarshpr.co.uk

--
Kate Popham
Account Director
The Saltmarsh Partnership...........Helping you to stand out
DDI: 020 7902 2796
t: 020 7928 1600 f: 020 7928 1700 mob: 07941 071878
www.saltmarshpr.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/saltmarshPR

Registered office: 25d Copperfield Street, London SE1 0EN

Do U have any recommendations 2 help us update R Sint Maarten Guide...? http://ping.fm/weGGS #sxm #maarten

ICWI LADIES TRI-NATION POLO TOURNAMENT REPORT

“We likkle but we talawah” sums up Jamaica’s role in international ladies polo perfectly. Having shown the rest of the world the way with the ICWI international ladies polo tournament, first held in 1988, Jamaica has reinvented the concept of international ladies polo by hosting the first Tri-National Ladies Tournament of the western world. This has been done in Africa before, but the teams are able to travel with their horses to their neighboring countries. With the unstinting support of all the Polo Clubs in the Island and several local sponsors the JPA was able to host a thrilling league of matches between three nations – the USA, the UK and Jamaica.

Apart from the experienced Lesley-Ann Fong-Yee the rest of the ladies that play in Jamaica are relatively new to the sport and have had little international experience. They quickly became an integral part of the sport locally, making their mark in 2008 when Rachel Turner won the Ricky Chin memorial for the JPA’s Most Improved Player of the year and in 2009 when Michele Subaran won the same trophy. This exercise was designed to give them invaluable exposure for the development of their game as well as challenge the rest of the world to step up the level of their international ladies polo.

Karen Reese (1), a many time visitor to Jamaica, who has also hosted several Jamaican’s in Aiken, SC put together the USA team with herself, Erica Gandomcar-Sachs (1), Cecelia Cochran (0) and Fiona Eagle (0). Lucy Taylor (1), helped by Tamara Vestey who was unable to come, put together the team from the UK accompanied by Rosie Ross (2), Di Jack (0) and Sophie Kyriazi (-1). They all arrived in Jamaica on Monday, January 28, 2010 and were welcomed to the Island by The Hon. Dennis Lalor, Chairman of ICWI, the Jamaica Polo Association and the Kingston Polo Club at his home. The teams were then generously hosted by the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel for the duration of their stay in Kingston.

The UK/Pegasus Hotel team first met the Jamaican/ICWI team of Nagina Newman (-1), Michele Subaran (0), Rachel Turner (1) and Lesley Fong-Yee (2) at the Kingston Polo Club on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 where they dominated the first half of the match taking a 4 love lead. Mounted on the pick of the Lalors’ superb string of horses the visitors did not need to acclimatize or get the hang of the facilities! The Jamaicans fought back in the second half, controlling more of the play but missing a couple of crucial penalty 2s and the English easily won with a score of 5 goals to 3. Taylor was the high scorer with 3 goals, with contributions from Kyriazi and Ross for the English and Newman and Fong-Yee scored for the Jamaicans. This was followed by a pick up game with the Americans and some local Kingston Polo Club players, in which Tess Pimsner, Reese’s 10 year old daughter, played a chukka and showed us the future of women’s polo in the USA.

The teams then moved on to Toby’s Resort in Montego Bay where they met all the local players at a sumptuous dinner at Coyaba Beach Resort on Wednesday night. The UK/Pegasus Hotel team would then take on the USA/Polo Gear team on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at Chukka Blue Polo Club, Sandy Bay. The match was a ding dong battle as both teams were evenly matched throughout and played the ponies supplied by the Chin family and John Byles as if they were their own. Taylor drew first blood for the English but Reese quickly equalized for the Americans. Taylor scored twice in the 2nd chukka for the English while the Americans were held to one 30 yard conversion by Reese to hold the half time advantage. However, Gandomcar stuck for the Americans early in the 3rd chukka followed by a goal by Jack for the UK/Pegasus Hotel team, but another 30 yard conversion by Reese for the USA/Polo Gear team tied the game up going into the last chukka. Eagle scored early in the last chukka to give the Americans the edge, but Taylor then converted a 30 yard penalty to tie it up again and came storming through with the game winner towards the end of the chukka for the 6 goals to 5 win. Lucy Taylor was MVP with 5 goals to her credit and Doc Masterton’s elderly “Ramadan” ridden by Cochran dominated the first chukka.

The next day Chukka Adventure Tours arranged for all 3 teams to swim their horses in the sea, a unique experience for most of them that they will not quickly forget. Even accompanying family members that don’t play polo tried it out and were thrilled with their ride. From there they went on the Country Country, Negril and spent a delightful day roaming the 7 mile beach and its attractions.

Saturday’s match between the Jamaica/ICWI team, on which Anna Dougall (-1) replaced Nagina Newman, and the USA/Polo Gear team got off to a slightly late start with some transportation issues for the horses. The Jamaicans held their own in the 1st chukka although Gandomcar scored for the Americans and Turner leveled the score early in the 2nd. However, it was downhill for them after that as each member of the USA/Polo Gear team scored a goal and Eagle, playing the game of her life, scored twice for them to take the 5 goals to 1 win and set up a rematch against the UK/Pegasus Hotel team for the Final. Eagle was undisputedly MVP and John Byles teenaged “Sultan” that she played was the pick of the horses. The teams then raced back to the Chins’ Toby’s Resort for a lovely dinner and packed up to make the long trek back to the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

On Sunday, January 24, 2010 the Jamaican team, with Newman back at # 1, played a Battle of the Sexes consolation against the Kingston Polo Club team of The Hon. James Robertson, Justin Samuda, teenager Adam Lake and Mark Chin. The Jamaican ladies surrendered some of their ponies to make sure that the visitors were well mounted for the Final so started with a slight disadvantage which Robertson quickly capitalized on scoring twice in the 1st chukka. Robertson and Fong-Yee switched ponies in the 2nd chukka and the chukka was scoreless while the ladies squandered several opportunities. Turner came out strong in the 3rd chukka with a beautifully controlled goal, threading her way through the field, but the men eventually dominated as Robertson converted a penalty 5 and Adam Lake slammed one home out of a melee. The last chukka was scoreless and somewhat of an anti-climax as the men held on to win by 4 goals to 1.

The eagerly anticipated Final between the evenly matched UK/Pegasus Hotel team and the USA/Polo Gear teams did not disappoint. The newly appointed British High Commissioner, Howard Drake threw in the ball to start the game. The Americans jumped out to an early lead in the 1st chukka with Gandomcar scoring twice and they dominated the 2nd but were unable to convert on the many opportunities that they created. Momentum changed in the 3rd chukka as the English came to life when Ross turned the ball and slapped one through from about 40 yards out. Taylor then converted two 30 yard penalties in the last chukka for the UK/Pegasus Hotel team to take an emphatic lead and Ross scored the last goal of the match for them to take the 5 goals to 2 win. Mrs. Gill Drake, wife of the British High Commissioner, presented Lucy Taylor with the ICWI trophy, the MVP trophy to Rosie Ross and the Best Playing Pony honours to the Lalors’ “Big C”, groomed by Andrew Hall, Ross’ mount in the 3rd chukka. Everyone then retired to the Club House for lunch and the high energy party that always follows the ladies tournament. The coffee table got its usual work out, but the chandeliers were sorely missed.

Little Arches Barbados In The Top 10 Honors From Trip Advisor Travelers - http://ping.fm/7D5M3

If you like watching Caribbean videos then subscribe to our Definitive Caribbean YouTube Channel - http://ping.fm/bOIyn

Up-beat welcome for Jamaica Lightning Bolt in Singapore

To the pulsating beats of 41 drummers, Jamaica Lightning Bolt made a dramatic entrance to Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore, on 23 January. Waiting to welcome them and beating drums of their own, the spectators included families, friends and fellow crew who had flown in for the stopover.

Skipper Pete Stirling said, “While it’s always great to be on the podium to collect our third place pennant, we are getting a bit bored with the colour blue – we’d like a yellow one! The huge crowds made us feel so welcome in Singapore and the arrival ceremony was a really vibrant affair with the massed ranks of drummers beating us in.”

Jamaica Lightning Bolt is now lying third overall in Clipper 09-10 with five races completed and nine to go.

Marina at Keppel Bay is owned by Uniquely Singapore’s sponsor, Keppel Corporation, and chairman of the company, Dr Lee Boon Yang, heralded the arrival of the first boats by banging three times on a huge drum to start proceedings before the drummers beat a rhythmic tattoo.

Singaporean crew members, Nicole Ho, who is taking part in the whole circumnavigation, and marketing executive, Karan Teo, competing on Leg 4, waved to the crowds from the spreaders, 60 feet up either side of the mast of Uniquely Singapore as the home team entered the marina. Confetti canons fired multi-coloured pieces of paper over the crew to welcome them.

The crew of Cape Breton Island, who won Race 5, arrived to loud cheers from the visiting Cape Breton Island delegation and were presented with the Uniquely Singapore Trophy by Dr Lee. Skipper Jan Ridd said, “Arriving in Marina at Keppel Bay has been one of the best welcomes we have had so far, especially coming in in first place – it really could not have been better. Once I got hold of that yellow pennant, it made the win seem very real.”

Spirit of Australia and Jamaica Lightning Bolt were awarded their second and third place pennants and all the crews were presented with small trophies, including Cork, Ireland, whose yacht ran aground when they hit a submerged reef.

Dr Lee said, “It was heartening to know that a number of teams, including Uniquely Singapore, put competition aside to come to the aid of Cork. This truly projects the message of friendship, goodwill and sportsmanship, reflecting strongly what the Clipper Race is all about.”

All nine of the Clipper yachts flew an Irish flag today to show their support for Cork’s crew.

Welcoming the fleet to the marina, Dr Lee said, “With the slew of exciting waterfront developments and activities at Keppel Bay, Harbourfront and Sentosa, we expect more international yachtsmen and boaters to be drawn to Singapore. This is where Marina at Keppel Bay, with its premium berths, RYA-accredited sailing academy and variety of services and facilities, will play its part to promote Singapore’s attractiveness as a leading destination and sailing hub in Asia.

“We share the vision with Singapore Tourism Board to showcase the Uniquely Singapore brand to the world and to promote Singapore as a ‘must visit’ global city.”

Ms Aw Kah Peng, Chief Executive of Singapore Tourism Board, Team Partner for Uniquely Singapore, said, “Hosting top tier sporting events such as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race galvanises Singapore’s vision to be a centre for sporting excellence while bolstering our standing as a compelling destination for major international sporting events

“This year Singapore will be cast into the international spotlight once again when it hosts the inaugural Youth Olympic Games and the third instalment of the Formula One race. These events collectively showcase our city as a vibrant city to live, work and play in, and strengthen our image as an appealing lifestyle destination. We look forward to creating unique and authentic experiences for all visitors.”

Clipper Race founder and chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world, said, “This is the third time there has been a Uniquely Singapore entry in the Clipper Race and each time the arrival ceremony is more staggering.

“We will be based here for just over a week, which will give the crew members a chance to work on their boats and prepare for the gruelling sail up to Qingdao.

“I am also pleased to say that we will be joined this week by a number of our other sponsors who have come to Singapore to establish and develop business relationships around the stopover, including representatives from Canada’s Cape Breton Island, our Scottish entry, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, English regional tourist board, Welcome to Yorkshire, Ireland’s Cork, as well as one of my personal favourites... Benromach.”

Race 6 to Qingdao, China, will begin on Tuesday 2 February.

Here's anew page - our recommended Grenada hotels and Carriacou accommodation - http://ping.fm/fzrST

EXCHANGE THE WINTER BLUES FOR DOMINICA’S TROPICAL GREENS

Hoteliers Offer Value Added Packages During High Season

Roseau, Dominica – (January 19, 2010) – Winter is upon us and what better way is there to flee the frigid temperatures then to plan a winter escape to “the Nature Island.” With Dominica (pronounced “dom-in-eek-a”) offering some of the most lush rainforests, pristine waterfalls, and temperatures that will warm you inside and out, a vacation in Dominica will make you forget your winter blues and immerse yourself their tropical greens.

Following is a list of packages being offered by Dominica’s hoteliers this season:

Calibishie Cove – Save money with booking your winter getaway at the luxurious boutique eco-hotel, Calibishie Cove. Stay seven nights and receive one private dinner for two served on your balcony that overlooks the beautiful Calibishie Cove, as well as a complimentary kayak tour of the Hodges River and Treasure Island. This package is available now through May 31, 2010, with weekly rates beginning at $940 per person based on double occupancy. For more information call 433-987-6742, email calibishiecove@gmail.com or visit www.calibishiecove.com. Refer to promo code: 101ADHS when booking your reservation.

Calibishie Lodges – Save 10% on all reservations when you book your accommodations with Calibishie Lodges. Guests will also receive a free bottle of wine when they add the meal plan to their reservation, and receive one free excursion when you stay 5 nights or more. Rates begin at $114 per night, per lodge, based on double occupancy. For more information call: 767-317-1843, email info@calibishie-lodges.com or visit www.calibishie-lodges.com. This promotion is valid throughout 2010; use promo code: “Anniversary Promotion” when making your reservation.

Castle Comfort Lodge – Save money with Castle Comfort Lodge’s “Reef and Rainforest Adventure Package” now through October 31, 2010. The package includes 7 nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast, round-trip airport transfers, complimentary use of sea kayaks, one afternoon whale and dolphin excursion, 3 days of 2-tank boat dives, 3 days of morning tours/hikes and unlimited shore dives off the dock. Rates begin at $975 per person based on double occupancy. For more information call 1-888-414-7626, email divedominica@diveres.com or visit www.castlecomfortdivelodge.com.

Dominica Sea View Apartments – Celebrate Dominica’s Sea View Apartments 10th Anniversary by receiving 10% off on all reservations. Guests will receive a free bottle of wine when they add the meal plan to their reservation and receive one free excursion when booking accommodations for 5 nights or more. Rates begin at $78 per night, per apartment, based on double occupancy. For more information call 767-316-9258, email info@dominicasseaviewappartments.com or visit www.dominicasseaviewappartments.com. This promotion is valid throughout 2010; use promo code: “Anniversary Promotion” when making your reservation.

Fort Young Hotel – Fort Young Hotel continues to keep their guests happily surprised by gifts all day long with their “Pure Bliss” honeymoon package. The package includes accommodations for 7 nights in a room overlooking the Caribbean Sea, welcome tropical fruit plate and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine elegantly arranged on an ice bucket upon arrival, full breakfast served at the Waterfront Restaurant, one afternoon horseback ride through one of “the Nature Island’s” many trails, trips to Titou Gorge, Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls, whale and dolphin safari, intimate three hour sunset boat trip to the south of the island which includes a picnic, candlelit dinner with sparkling wine served on the pier or at the Waterfront Restaurant, nightly turn down service and round-trip airport transfers. This package is valid now through May 31, 2010, with rates beginning at $3,528 per person, based on double occupancy. For more information call 1-800-581-2034, email fortyounghotel@mindspring.com or visit www.fortyounghotel.com.


Known as “the Nature Island” and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced “dom-in-eek-a”) is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls the second largest Boiling Lake in the world and pristine coral reefs, Dominica’s natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of Indigenous People of the Caribbean – The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island’s eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.

Dominica continues to be recognized for its attributes and responsible tourism efforts, including being the first country in the world to receive Benchmarking designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization Green Globe 21. National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destination ranked the island as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean and among the top ten in the world. Dominica was recognized by Islands Magazine and was included in its 2007 Blue List for being a leader in responsible tourism and ensuring an environmentally and culturally sound island for future generations. Travel + Leisure also announced Dominica as one of the most compelling destinations to visit in their 100 Greatest Trips 2008 edition.

For more information on Dominica, contact Discover Dominica Authority at 866-522-4057. Or, visit Dominica’s official website: www.discoverdominica.com or follow Dominica on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nature_island.

PR Contact: Marie Rosa
Adams Unlimited Public Relations & Mktg
E-Mail: marie@adams-pr.com

Coral Reef Club releases its Body Mind Spa Package 2010 - http://ping.fm/q5Cvo

Petit St. Vincent in the Grenadines has a fantastic summer offer available from 1st May to 31st August 2010 - http://ping.fm/WQ71O

Horizon Yacht Charters BVI is offering specials on any 49ft plus monohull yacht booked for charter between 01 Feb and 14 Apr - http://ping.fm/2o7CL

Special Offer at Friendship Bay for the Bequia Mount Gay Rum Music Festival 28th - 31st Jan - http://ping.fm/RIBib