Whether it’s the chance to flex those muscles on
the tennis court, perfect that golf swing or learn to tack and gybe
on a sailing course, the opportunity to improve sporting skills is
becoming a major holiday attraction.
The Caribbean has a huge amount to offer sports lovers, and
genning up on which resorts are best geared to which activities is
a good way to boost sales. Some operators, such as Virgin Holidays
and Caribtours, make it easier, with dedicated pages in their
brochures highlighting specialist resorts, including diving and
golf hotels.
While major sports events like Wimbledon, Cowes Week or the
British Open may inspire some to book tennis, sailing or golf
holidays, a little imagination and some well-timed promotions lets
agents take things into their own hands.
Caribtours managing director Catherine Leech said: “Agents could
use sports tournaments to stimulate the market themselves. They
could liaise with operators to negotiate special deals to resorts
known for their tennis and then promote the offer during Wimbledon
fortnight. They could do the same for major golf and sailing
competitions.”
| Tennis |
Wimbledon wannabes and complete beginners have lots to keep them
on their toes in the Caribbean, with hotels and resorts
increasingly catering for tennis enthusiasts of all abilities.
Courts are often floodlit at night for play after the heat
subsides, and racquets and balls are usually complimentary.
One of the best islands for tennis is Antigua. The new Carlisle
Bay has nine courts and a tennis club managed by world-renowned
Peter Burwash International. Complimentary beginners’ clinics
take place each week: clinics for children cost $20 an hour and
there are special summer tennis packages. Neighbouring Curtain
Bluff hosts two annual tennis weeks, with clinics and
guest-versus-pro games. The next takes place from November
7-14.
On Barbados, Sandy Lane has nine floodlit courts and a resident
professional. The Occidental Club on the Green hotel, Puerto Plata,
Dominican Republic, has a tennis academy run by ex-pro Guillermo
Vilas, while Club Med Punta Cana has 14 courts and offers advanced
courses for £106 for three days.
Jamaica is another good choice, with great facilities at Round
Hill. Couples’ Swept Away resort in Negril is hosting a
tennis month in October, with a long weekend of celebrity guest
instructors and Pro-Am events from October 7-10.
At the Four Seasons Nevis, there are 10 courts. Lessons with
Peter Burwash International pros cost extra. In Anguilla a $1.7
million state-of-the-art tennis academy with seven courts and a
stadium is due for completion in 2005.
Sample product: Carlisle Bay’s
commissionable summer tennis offer, valid from May 1 to August 31
2005, costs $4,790 per suite for two, with seven nights for the
price of six, four hours of private tennis tuition, breakfast,
dinner and tea, but excluding flights.
| Diving |
From colourful underwater gardens to secret grottoes and
dramatic wrecks, the variety and quality of diving in the Caribbean
is hard to rival. But before booking your client’s holiday,
it’s worth establishing how experienced they are, as
different islands are suited to different levels of ability.
Jamaica and Barbados may be better for beginners, with shallow
and medium-depth dives, while Cuba is suited to the more
experienced. The Bahamas is known for diving with sharks, and
Grenada is famous for the Bianca C, the Caribbean’s largest
wreck.
Keen divers should choose a hotel with dive centres on-site or
close by. Prebook a package through operators such as Caribtours,
Kuoni, Harlequin or Virgin Holidays, though dives can be arranged
locally.
Some resorts include diving in all-inclusive packages. Sandals
and Beaches offer a comprehensive resort scuba programme, with
introductory courses for novices. Certified divers can dive twice a
day, while the non-certified can take the plunge once a day.
On St Lucia, the BodyHoliday at LeSport features free shore
scuba diving for qualified divers and a ‘try dive’ for
beginners. Laid-back Habitat Bonaire hotel has a PADI five-star
centre offering 24-hour diving, 365 days a year, while Divi Tiara,
a remote hotel on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands, with its own dive
operation, is a good choice for access to less-visited dive sites.
Dedicated divers might prefer a liveaboard option, staying on a
dive boat, available through operators such as Harlequin.
Sample product: seven nights at Habitat Bonaire
cost £786 per person in September with Kuoni, room-only,
including flights. A three-day dive pack, including equipment, two
boat dives a day and unlimited shore dives costs £118.
| Sailing |
With the northeast tradewinds providing an almost constant
breeze, the region is a top choice for sailors – whether
dedicated yachties or novices. And that’s not to mention the
warm waters, balmy temperatures and variety of islands around which
to sail.
Antigua is among the world’s top sailing spots, with its
April regatta bringing competitors from around the globe. Other
classic destinations are the British Virgin Islands, a safe haven
for novices with its calm seas, and the Grenadines for more
challenging trips.
One of the best-known resorts for sailing holidays is Bitter
End, Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands, offering more
than 100 boats, dinghies and skiffs and a sailing school. An
introductory course and use of boats is included in the cost.
On Grenada, Neilson features the Allamanda Beach Resort complete
with a Royal Yachting Association school offering a variety of
qualifications and unlimited free-sailing included in the package
price.
Sunsail’s Club Colonna on Antigua is an ideal place to
learn or practise skills on RYA courses. The more experienced can
charter their own boat, with or without crew, from several islands,
combining stays ashore with time on a yacht, or join a flotilla in
the BVIs or, new for 2004, the Grenadines. Sunsail’s Platinum
brand features luxury yacht charters, from 43ft catamarans to 77ft
luxury monohulls that can be skippered.
Other specialists, such as Caribbean Connection, offer yacht
charter holidays with crewed vessels a firm favourite. A gourmet
chef and fully stocked bar are part of the deal.
Sample product: a week at Neilson’s
Allamanda Beach Resort in Grenada costs £815 in October,
twin-share, including all sport and tuition, bed-and-breakfast
accommodation and flights.
| Golf |
A new venue will appear on the golfing map late next year with
the opening of Anguilla’s Greg Norman-designed 18-hole
championship course.
On the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico players are spoilt for
choice, with more than 20 courses to choose from. Tobago and
Barbados are also popular among golfers.
It’s best to choose a hotel with a course attached, as
guests receive preferential use. While it can be organised locally,
specialist operators can usually arrange for tuition or book
tee-off times in advance.
Another new championship venue is the 18-hole Green Monkey, at
the revamped Sandy Lane, Barbados. Designed by Tom Fazio,
it’s one of three courses at the hotel.
Jamaica is well-known for top-quality golf facilities and its
hosting of the Tiger Woods Foundation golf clinic for children this
month further raised its profile. The Half Moon Golf Club at
Montego Bay is great for beginners with its David Leadbetter Golf
Academy, while at Our Lucaya on Grand Bahama there is an academy
created by Tiger Woods’ coach.
The Four Seasons in Nevis offers complimentary weekly clinics
and has special golf vacation packages as well as private
tuition.
Keep costs down by choosing a hotel with golf included in its
all-inclusive package. LeSport on St Lucia includes unlimited green
fees and tuition, while Sandals includes golf and complimentary
lessons at the Sandals Golf and Country Club for guests staying in
all its Jamaican properties.
All-inclusive SuperClubs’ Jamaican resorts are popular
too. Its Breezes Runaway Bay Resort and Golf Club has an 18-hole
course and on-site school, Grand Lido Braco has a nine hole course
and there’s a new 18-hole SuperClubs Golf Club at Montego
Bay.
Sample product: Sandy Lane’s
commissionable Golfing Adventure package, valid until October 31,
includes three rounds of golf and other treats, and starts at
$1,575 per person for five nights with breakfast, excluding
flights.
