Travel

Take the Scenic Route on a Curaçao Island Tour!

Published

8 years ago

December 14, 2016

BY ALYSSA MAHADEO

When Curaçao was first discovered in 1449 by European explorers, Alonso de Ojeda a lieutenant to Christopher Columbus was so impressed by the physical stature of the local islanders that he dubbed it ‘isla de los gigantes’ (island of the giants.) Less than twenty years later, the name Curaçao appeared on a Portuguese map. The most common explanation is that the Spanish had then named it ‘Corazon’ (heart), and the Portuguese then translated this into their own language ‘Curacau’ also pronounced Curaçao. Today the island is endearingly referred to as ‘Dushi Kòrsou’ (Sweet Curaçao) by the locals.

When the Antilles Netherlands gained equal status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands they were decolonized in 1954. Then in 2010 after the Netherland Antilles was dissolved, Curaçao gained its independence within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

During our stay on the warm and sunny island of Curaçao, there was much to explore on the island and we were privileged to take in some of the sights the island had to offer on a Curaçao island tour!

FBTT Travel is a full-service company specializing in touristic and transportation services. They are well versed in catering to tourism travel services, VIP Services, Tours & Activities, Cruise Related Services, Transportation of Guests and Destination Management.

On our third day on the island Fun Bini Taber Tours hosted us on their Curaçao island tour, transporting us on a luxury coach bus to various sightseeing locations across the island.

FBTT took us on a scenic tour of the islands traveling from the East end to West end of Curaçao and Myrea our tour guide, was very knowledgeable about the history of the island, offering important and interesting information about the areas where we travelled, explaining to all of the guests in both English and their native language Dutch. As we travelled to other hotels, to pick up additional passengers we travelled through places with breathtaking sights, including Scharloo with it’s many beautiful buildings featured on the Unesco World Heritage List and saw high end real estate where many people and even some celebrities own vacation homes on the island. We were able to overlook Spanish Water and our first stop was a visit the Curaçao liquor distillery, where they brew the famous Curaçao Blue Liquor.

At the Curaçao Blue Liquor Factory there was a short tour of the distillery with background and history on the Senior Company of Curaçao, the Jewish Senior family that discovered the original recipe for the drink and started production in 1896. We were offered samples of the flavoured liquor that also comes in orange, coffee, chocolate, and tamarind flavours as well.

Continuing our tour, we headed west across the island where we given details about the 160,000 inhabitants on the island. 80% of the population is Roman Catholic and very often you will find that all of the churches, schools and cemeteries are grouped in the same place. We were told about the history of slavery, and shown some of the first slave, and plantation houses as well as, statues of a white fist holding the broken chains of slavery after the rebellion in 1795.

Our tour took us to the salt plains of Jan Kok to view the magnificent view over the surrounding hills, and we visited the Boka Tabla in the Shete Boka National Park, an open area with a rugged coastline and a tempestuous sea. We stopped for lunch at a quaint little restaurant and resort Rancho El Sobrino before ending our tour with a dip in Knip Beach one of the most beautiful beaches of Curaçao.

Geertje Hamstra FIT Manager for FBTT Travel shared with us that they operate their services with a very strong and professional multilingual team. Whether it’s one of their hostesses that solves a problem for a stay-over guest, one of their drivers who drives you to your accommodation or one of their guides that show the highlights of our island, they provide you service with a smile and with lots of care.

“We have many different tours to choose from, including beach tours for travelers who only want to experience the many beaches on the island, downtown walking tours, tours to the east side of the island where you can see the ostrich farm, and even the Hato caves,” Hamstra explains. “There are options for full-day and half day tours, and private tours depending on our clients we can tailor every tour to their needs, so there is a little something for everyone to enjoy while visiting Curaçao.”

If you are interested in booking a tour with FBTT on your visit to the gorgeous island of Curaçao please visit http://www.fb-tt.com/en/ for information on all of the various tours they have to offer or give them a call at +5999 8699559. They believe in strong and durable partnerships and operate all of their tours with an eye for detail, friendly hospitality and personal care. FBTT Travel has developed a wide variety of tourism services, that are continuously evaluated in order to provide excellence to clients and performance for their partners. They always try to go above and beyond in everything we do, being creative and innovative so that we are able to further develop their services and the destination, so that can better serve guests travelling to Curaçao.

Related Topics:Funbini Sightseeing Tours scenic route

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Antigua & Barbuda Welcomes More Canadians as Air Canada Adds New Flights

Published

2 years ago

October 10, 2022

TOCaribNews

St. John’s, Antigua – The dual-island destination of Antigua & Barbuda is seeing an uptick in Canadian traffic just in time for the winter travel season. Beginning today, October 8th, a new offering of flights from Air Canada is expected to help realize a recovery to pre-pandemic airlift levels in the Canadian market.

The Air Canada flight arrived this afternoon carrying 106 passengers from Toronto and the aircraft was given a welcome back water cannon salute. Passengers were also greeted by cultural dancers and music and small token welcome gifts.

“We are extremely pleased with Air Canada’s decision to both resume and increase service to our shores and look forward to extending our famous Antigua and Barbuda hospitality to our Canadian visitors,” said Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “We know many Canadians are more than ready for a vacation and we are equally ready to provide the relaxation and escape that Canadians have been craving.”

As noted, the rollout of the new service begins today with a single direct flight weekly from Toronto (YYZ) to St. John’s (ANU). Service will continue to ramp up to meet the traditional demand of the holiday season, with Air Canada forecasting the eventual operation of five weekly flights at peak traffic.

Travellers from Montreal looking to fly south for the winter can look forward to once-a-week direct flights (YUL to ANU) beginning December 23rd.

The return of Air Canada flights to Antigua & Barbuda comes in the wake of the destination’s latest travel advisory, which has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions for passengers arriving by air, yacht, and ferry. While a successful strategy of mass vaccinations and proactive public awareness campaigns has kept COVID-19 infection levels low, visitors are still encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing in public spaces where crowds are likely to gather. You can read the latest travel advisory here.

“Over the course of the pandemic, Antigua and Barbuda has seen a monumental, joint effort involving both the government and industry stakeholders to make the destination as safe as it can be,” said Mr. James. “With that goal now realized and our Canadian friends set to return, we are extremely excited that our guests will once again be able to experience everything our home has to offer.”

Travel

Gambling Regulations In Canada And The Caribbean: What You Need To Know

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2022

TOCaribNews

There are several trusted licensing authorities that oversee land-based and online gambling in the Caribbean, and in Canada, it’s all overseen in each province by the local provincial government. You also have the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which is situated on an Indian land reserve in Quebec.

This trusted licensing authority is independent of Canada, and it’s part of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory government. At one time, it was the licensing authority in the whole of North America, prior to US states regulating online casino gambling. Here is a look at gambling regulations in Canadian and the Caribbean and what you need to know as a player.

Are online casinos in Canada licensed by the Canadian government?

In Canada, gambling at online casinos is legal, and the gambling operator that’s based in that province must be licensed by the local provincial government’s licensing agency. For example, in Ontario, gambling is monitored and regulated by iGaming Ontario, which is a subsidiary of AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario).

In other words, to legally operate an online casino in Ontario, an operator must have first obtained a license from iGaming Ontario. However, there’s still nothing stopping a foreign operator that’s based outside of Canadian borders from aiming their business toward Ontario citizens because they fall outside of Canadian jurisdiction. One of the other major licensing authorities that has issued licenses to hundreds of online casinos is the previously mentioned Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Because the regulation and licensing of online casinos and other similar real money gambling sites is still relatively new in Canada, it’s why you will see that many of today’s best Ontario casino sites are licensed outside of Canada, by one or more other reputable licensing authorities, such as the UK Gambling Commission, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority, or the Malta Gaming Authority.

How is online gambling regulated in the Caribbean?

There are several different gambling regulators/licensing authorities in the Caribbean, but these are often referred to as ‘rubber stamp’ licensing authorities. For example, you have the Directorate of Offshore Gaming in Antigua and Barbuda, the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority in the Anjouan and Comoros Islands, and the Curaçao Ministry of Justice in Curaçao (the former Netherlands Antilles).

While not all online casinos that have obtained a license from one of these authorities can be classed as ‘rogue casinos’, the best thing to do would be to stick to playing at the sites that are licensed either by a provincial Canadian government licensing authority or by one of the others mentioned above (e.g., by the UK Gambling Commission – one of the most trusted online gambling regulators in the world).

Why sign up to a casino that’s licensed by a provincial Canadian government or the Malta Gaming Authority?

These reputable authorities don’t just hand out a license to any old operator that has the cash to buy one. They heavily vet their licensees and carry out the necessary due diligence prior to issuing a license. They have the best legal framework in place, and they only license the most trusted operators. Should an issue arise at a casino that’s licensed in one of these jurisdictions (which is highly unlikely), you would have the proper legal backing that you, as a player, deserve. In other words, your complaint or issue will not go unanswered and will be resolved within a relatively short period of time.

Travel

11 Fun Vacation Ideas That Will Keep You Entertained

Published

2 years ago

August 11, 2022

TOCaribNews

When it comes to taking a vacation, many people think they need to go somewhere exotic to have a good time. This is not always the case! Plenty of fun vacation ideas will keep you entertained without breaking the bank. This blog post will discuss 11 different vacations you can take without spending a lot of money. So whether you are looking for an adventure or want to relax on the beach, we have you covered!

Hiking and camping

If you are looking for an outdoor adventure, hiking and camping are great options. There are many trails all over the world that you can explore. And if you camp in an RV or tent, it will be even cheaper! This is a great way to get in touch with nature and see fantastic sights.

Try your hand at gambling

Gambling doesn’t always mean going to a casino—there are many different ways to gamble, and not all require money. You can play card games or bet on sports games with friends. You may wager on sports, horse races, and other events from anywhere with just a computer or mobile device and an internet connection. You should give it a chance now that single-game betting in Ontario is legal in different provinces. Numerous online betting firms provide bonuses and incentives, and the whole idea of gambling is to have fun.

Visit a national park

Another excellent option for those who love the outdoors is to visit a national park. There are parks throughout the United States and in many other countries. This is a great way to see some of the most beautiful places on earth without spending a lot of money. Many parks offer free or discounted admission days, so check out before going.

Take a road trip

A road trip is another great vacation idea that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You can explore different parts of your country or even take an international trip! Just be sure to plan your route and budget accordingly. And don’t forget to pack snacks and games for the car ride.

Have a staycation

If you are short on time or money, a staycation is always an option. This is where you spend your vacation at home or in a nearby city. There are many things to do on a staycation, such as visiting local attractions, going out to eat, and seeing movies. You can also use this time to relax at home and catch up on some much-needed rest.

Take an art class

One fun activity you can do on vacation is taking an art class. This is a great way to try something new and connect with your creative side. You can find classes for all different types of art, such as painting, pottery, and photography. And you may even be able to find free or discounted classes!

Visit a museum

Museums are another great option for those who want to learn on vacation. There are museums for different topics, such as history, art, and science. Many museums also offer discounts or free days, so be sure to check that out before you go.

See a live show

Seeing a live show is an excellent option if you are looking for some entertainment on vacation. Depending on your interests, you can see a play, musical, or concert. This is a great way to experience some cultures and see something new.

Visit a theme park

Theme parks are always a popular vacation destination. And there are many different ones to choose from all over the world. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun at a theme park. There are often discounts and promotions available if you plan ahead.

Take a cooking class

One last fun vacation idea is taking a cooking class. This is a great way to learn about new cuisines and get some hands-on experience in the kitchen. You can find cooking classes for all different types of food, such as Italian, Chinese, and Indian cuisine. And you may even be able to find free or discounted classes!

Visit a winery

If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, visiting a winery is a great option. You can spend your days touring different vineyards, sampling wines, and learning about the wine-making process. And many wineries offer discounts or complimentary tastings if you visit during certain times of the year.

These are just a few of the many fun vacation ideas that you can try. So get out there and start exploring! And don’t forget to have fun!