The Paradise Peninsular (Holiday Resorts in Haiti)

Member Name: kellya1

Product:	Holiday Resorts in Haiti
Date:	19/01/06 (1519 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful beaches

Disadvantages: Can be tricky getting to

Language: French, Creole
Currency: Gourde

Close your eyes and think talc-like beaches, warm crystal-clear waters, and hot Caribbean sun. Sounds like paradise? It sure is! When someone asks me where my favourite place in the world is, my answer every time is Labadee. I have visited the island 3 times with the cruise company Royal Caribbean and every time I have fallen in love with the island over and over again. Here's why…

***Labadee?***
Where is Labadee I hear you scream. Well Labadee is located with in the secluded north coast of Hispaniola, (Haiti). It is a 260-acre peninsula, that features lush green mountains, 4 stunning beaches, nature trails, an open-air dining area, and a marketplace with fine arts and crafts. Labadee (pronounced La-Bah-Dee) sits 20 minutes west of the island where the Atlantic and the Caribbean meet. The main town is Cap Haitian. Not only does it have stunning scenery and glorious beaches, but you can find wonderful culture and friendly locals. The area I am going to focus on is the enclosed compound leased by the cruise company Royal Caribbean. They have leased the small compound for many years, offering its customers exclusive access to the beach when the ship docks, giving the feel of having your own 'private island' (that you share with 3000 other people!)

***Will I need to take my sunscreen or woolly coat?***

You will need that sunscreen! Temperatures average at about 80-90 degrees year round. The water is warm, refreshing and clear. However, there are many warnings of jellyfish, sharks, and other sea creatures on one side of the island so be careful! Hurricane season is from August to November. I just missed a hurricane 4 years ago. We caught the tail end leaving Labadee, and the waves were horrendous. However, for the majority of the year, the conditions remain hot and sunny, with the occasional afternoon shower.

***Tell me more about those delightful beaches***

If travelling with RCCL, you will be taken ashore by tender boat. As you step of the jetty, you are on a beach! In my opinion, Labadee boasts the best beaches in the Caribbean with stunning views and superb facilities. It is actually one of the most visited beaches by foreign tourists in the Caribbean. Once you have been dropped ashore by tender boats, you are greeted with a welcome song from some of the locals playing guitars and maracas, singing 'Welcome to Labadee'. These are the only words they know in English but it is somewhat charming, and has a real Caribbean feel! You are not hassled like you are in other Caribbean countries the locals are friendly, and for a small tip will pick up a sun lounger and place it wherever you wish.

The beaches are along both sides of the Jetty. The Eastern side has fairly rough seas which attracts few people. The Western side is calm and can be overly crowded. RCCL supply a map for easy navigation around the island. When exploring, it is advised to stick to the path as there are a number of sharp rocky areas.

Where Royal Caribbean docks is my favourite beach called Columbus Cove. It overlooks the ship, and has easy access to the inflatable play area RCCL provides. The jetty where the tender drops you is a 2-minute walk, as is the BBQ area for lunch, and most of the water sports activities. The water is fairly shallow, making it popular with families. As you can understand this beach is the most crowded.

Directly opposite Columbus Cover on the other side of the jetty is a beach called Nellie's. This is a little more peaceful (except for the banana boat noise) but there is no shade. Towards the back of this beach is Dragon's Tail beach, where RCCL warn against swimming here due to the presence of jellyfish. However, this area is very shady, with hammocks swaying in the breeze. Great for chilling out with a cocktail or too!

Right at the far end of the enclosure is hideaway, and barefoot beach. As they are a little farther from the ammenties this area tends to be quiet, so it is well worth setting up camp here!

*Ok. I've had enough of sunbathing. What else is there to do?*
Water activities are usually high on the agenda at Labadee. You can choose from snorkelling, coastal boat rides, parasailing riding wave runners and the infamous banana boat ride. This are all at an extra cost. The banana boat isaround$10. I rode the banana a few years back, and I was terrified, mainly because I'm scared of going under! The boat takes you right out to where the ship is docked, although I had my eyes closed, hands tightly clasped to the rope screaming for my life! You can also rent rafts and canoes or simply take a floating mat to the water and relax. These are readily available from a hut on the beach for a small fee.

The new Splash Bash and volleyball courts are now available at Labadee, not to mention the Aqua Park with inflatable's, floating challenges, including rock-climbing walls, balance logs and trampolines. This is $15 for an hour. You will be knackered after using this!

For snorkelling head to Amiga island with the RCCL excursion. You are treated to a tour of the Labadee coast, and then are taken a little way out to sea where the snorkel heaven sits. You are given a short lesson from the guides, and then are shown where the best reefs are for you to enjoy in your own time. Don't forget that underwater camera!
If you've had enough of the beach activities, you can take an excursions in the area of Labadee itself. If you head west you will come across a small fishing village, which is the main town. Here you will experience a true historic aspect of Labadee, with villagers trading from their boats! You will also find s small Artisan's Market, located within the beach compound. The quality of the goods are second to none, in particular the sculptures many of which are voodoo inspired. Don't worry if you are visiting from the ship, they accept US dollar as payment.
Or if you like exploring, you can take a walk around the beach area, following the path to Dragons Rock. This has amazing views, and offers a lovely spot to sip on a cocktail and enjoy the views.

*** All these activities have made me hungry. What is there to eat?***
In the enclosed beach compound, there are no restaurants. However, RCCL lay on a spectacular BBQ for it's guests over lunch. You can endulge in chicken, salad, corn and hotdogs, whilst saving enough room for a slice of cake for pudding. If you fancy a nice drink to wash your lunch down, unfortunately there are also no local bars. However, RCCL bar staff are always available for the cocktail of the day. I would advise taking bottled water from the ship or stocking up over lunch, as if you are a fair distance from the BBQ area, be prepared for a hefty walk along the red hot sand.

***How do I get there?***
One of the easiest and undoubtably cheapest ways to see Labadee is with RCCL. You may only spend the day there but you will sample enough of the island to learn about its culture, or just enjoy the water sports activities. RCCL runs several cruises to the Caribbean, with almost all stopping at Labadee. At the moment, 3 ships are currently visiting Labadee, with the new Freedom of the Seas ship, the largest in the world, due to commence sailing later this year.
If you want to extend your stay in Labadee the best place to stay is Cap-Haitien. There are a number of hotels including Hotel Mont Joli (tel:62 0300) Hostellerie Roi Christophe (Tel 62 0414) or Hotel Cormier Plage (tel 62 0119) at Cormier Beach. On a non-cruise-day, you can still enter the compound for a few dollars and you will have the whole beach to yourself.

***To Sum up***
Although I love visiting the Labadee enclosure just for the peace and relaxation, there is much more RCCL could do with their exclusive port of call, as at the moment it is just being used as a piece of land that happens to be in Haiti. Granted, RCCL have done wonders for the Haitain tourist market, however in the Labadee enclosure there are no restaurants, no cab rides to Cap-Haitien, no chance to try the other beaches or hotels. Sure Haiti is making money through the lease, and the locals are able to sell their goods, and have regular employment. However, the north side of Haiti has so much more to offer, and unless under the supervision of RCCL tour, you are not going to see it. Of course RCCL would argue of the dangers posed to the foreign tourists after the recent events in Haiti, and that it is not safe to explore unless shown the safe places to visit. But I feel this little enclosure could benefit from more exposure to Haitain culture. I have never let any threat whether it be terrorism or natures own powers stop me from travelling. If this were the case, where would you go? There is just as much danger in London, where I live. Although I love cruising, and love the Labadee enclosure, I would still, if I had the money, visit Labadee independently, just to have that glorious beach all to myself!

Flights
http://www.get-packing.com/flights/haiti.html
www.airlinenetwork.co.uk

Royal Caribbean
www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

For more information:
http://labadee.liquidsun.org/

Summary: A gorgeous holiday resort you will never forget