| Norm Goldman interviews Caribbean experts | | | | couples needs. |
| Dale Leatherman, Editorial Director and Glenn | | | | |
| Harris, the Founder and Publisher of | | | | Ladera, St. Lucia Ladera has won just about |
| Caribbean Escapes. | | | | every award for excellence in the Caribbean. |
| | | | It's also blessed with arguably the best view |
| Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and is pleased | | | | across from the Piton Mountains in St. Lucia. |
| to have as our guest, Dale Leatherman, | | | | The villas are high up in elevation so there |
| Editorial Director and Glenn Harris, the | | | | is never a bug problem which allows for the |
| Founder and Publisher of Caribbean Escapes. | | | | villas to have an open wall with awesome |
| | | | views of the Pitons. Many of the villas have |
| | | | plunge pools as well. The meals are to die |
| | | | for as their restaurant Dansheen also wins |
| Good day to you both and thank you for | | | | numerous awards. |
| participating in our interview. | | | | |
| | | | Le Toiny Le Toiny is a ultra posh resort in |
| Norm: | | | | St. Barth. It is comprised of private villas |
| | | | each with its own pool, large bathroom, |
| Dale, can you tell our readers something | | | | living room, and separate bedroom. Every |
| about yourself and what does travel mean to | | | | conceivable amenity is included from high end |
| you? | | | | stereo to flat screen TV. Breakfast is served |
| | | | on the lanai next to pool in the villa. The |
| Dale: Norm, I've had the writing bug since | | | | restaurant is also one of the best on the |
| third grade, and the travel bug since junior | | | | island. |
| high. But my love of horses came first. After | | | | |
| college I became a professional trainer, | | | | Norm: |
| exhibitor and coach on New York's | | | | |
| hunter-jumper circuit. I retired from | | | | What challenges or obstacles did you |
| competition to become an editor at an upscale | | | | encounter while editing Caribbean Escapes? |
| equestrian lifestyle magazine, and after | | | | How did you overcome these challenges? |
| several years realized that doing travel | | | | |
| articles was what I enjoyed most. | | | | Dale: The sheer size of it was a bit |
| | | | dauntingmore than 120 articles, many by |
| My first trip to the Caribbean in the early | | | | writers with vastly different voices. My job |
| 1980s was for POLO magazine, and I knew that | | | | was to perform delicate nips and tucks in |
| this would forever be one of my favorite | | | | places no one would notice, like a plastic |
| places. Eventually I became a freelancer | | | | surgeon enhancing the beauty of a subject. It |
| specializing in golf, adventure and the | | | | was time-consuming work that took the better |
| Caribbean. | | | | part of a year, with the staggered deadlines. |
| | | | But the writing was so good I sometimes found |
| Norm: | | | | myself reading copy aloud, admiring the |
| | | | creativity. |
| Why did you feel compelled to put together | | | | |
| Caribbean Escapes and how did you get the | | | | Norm: |
| inspiration for this book? | | | | |
| | | | How safe is it to travel in the Caribbean? |
| Dale: The inspiration was Glenn Harris's and | | | | |
| I will let him answer that. When he | | | | Dale: I have always felt safe in the |
| approached me with the idea of a | | | | Caribbean, often safer than in cities at |
| multi-faceted marketing program focusing on | | | | home. There's no terrorism and the islanders |
| the Caribbean for affluent travelers, I was | | | | for the most part are genuinely welcoming. |
| immediately hooked. | | | | But, as in anyplace you travel, including the |
| | | | U.S., you have to be sensible and keep track |
| Glenn had the vision and experience on the | | | | of your possessions. Glenn can comment |
| marketing end and I was honored to lend my | | | | further on this. |
| writing/editing skills to the project. | | | | |
| Together with a team of talented writers, | | | | Glenn: Most of the islands are relatively |
| photographers and designers, I think we've | | | | safe as the governments and the locals know |
| produced something rather grand. The most | | | | that their economies depend on tourism. But |
| visible aspect of the program is Caribbean | | | | be mindful that you are not a local. |
| Escapes, an oversized, 400-page coffee table | | | | Travelers should use the same common sense |
| book that is a page-turner of good writing as | | | | that they would use in traveling in a city |
| well as a handy tool for choosing a vacation | | | | such as New York, Miami, or LA. If the |
| destination, resort and activitiesincluding | | | | traveler is unsure if an area is safe, they |
| dining and shopping. | | | | should talk to their front desk or concierge. |
| | | | |
| Glenn: I've worked in the Caribbean for 15 | | | | Norm: |
| years, most recently as the head of marketing | | | | |
| and public relations for American Express. I | | | | When is the best time of the year to visit |
| love the region: the people, culture, and of | | | | the Caribbean? |
| course the sun and sand. Each island has | | | | |
| something unique and special but I felt that | | | | Dale: Unlike the "old days" when winter was |
| many travelers were not informed. | | | | considered "the season" for the Caribbean, |
| | | | there is no longer an off season. Many |
| There are over 35 countries in the Caribbean, | | | | travelers go in the summer, when their |
| our goal is to educate potential travelers on | | | | children are off from school or it is easier |
| the uniqueness of the islands and the upscale | | | | for them to take vacations from their |
| resorts options. We do this through the book | | | | businesses. |
| and a TV show that weve produced which | | | | |
| covers 25 of the destinations and 100 | | | | The islands in summer are often cooler than |
| resorts. | | | | at home, because of the constant sea |
| | | | breezesand the days are blissfully long. |
| Norm: | | | | That said, I think it is absolute bliss to |
| | | | leave home when there is snow piled head high |
| How did you go about choosing the | | | | and, after a short plane ride, step out into |
| contributing writers and photographers? | | | | a warm Caribbean breeze carrying the scent of |
| | | | the sea and flowering plants. |
| Dale: I started with my trusted fellow | | | | |
| members of the Society of Travel Writers who | | | | The fall hurricane season is on everyone's |
| specialize in the Caribbean, then added more | | | | minds after the devastation on our own |
| writers that they recommended until we had a | | | | southern coasts, but what travelers need to |
| cadre of experts who are passionate about the | | | | realize is that the islands of the Caribbean |
| region. Glenn chose SATW Photographer of the | | | | are very storm savvy. Resorts and services |
| Year Greg Johnston and his savvy wife France | | | | bounce back within days. And top resorts are |
| to coordinate the images, most of which are | | | | liberal about rescheduling or refunds if your |
| Greg's. An inspired choice, as it turned out, | | | | vacation is cancelled because of a storm. |
| for the book's artwork is a show in itself. | | | | |
| | | | GLENN: Dale's covered it. In agreement with |
| Norm: | | | | Dale, the Caribbean is not just for the |
| | | | wintering anymore. They are a great |
| If you had your choice of 10 of the most | | | | destination in any season. The spring, |
| unique romantic venues in the Caribbean and | | | | summer, and fall also provide much lower |
| limiting one venue to each island, which ones | | | | rates and more value. |
| would they be and why? eg. parks, beaches, | | | | |
| etc | | | | Norm: |
| | | | |
| Dale: | | | | Any unique ways you'll be marketing your book |
| | | | that is different from how others authors |
| I particularly like Raffles Canouan in the | | | | market their books? |
| Grenadines. The spa has over-water palapas | | | | |
| that you get to by rowboat. During your | | | | GLENN -- Caribbean Escapes is more than a |
| massage you're looking down through a window | | | | publication. It's a comprehensive way of |
| in the floor at the fish swimming below. | | | | providing information about what the |
| After your spa treatments, you and your mate | | | | Caribbean has to offer for the affluent |
| lounge there in your own private palapa. The | | | | traveler. In addition to book fairs and |
| villas are secluded by dense foliage, so | | | | direct sales to bookstores, we also have a TV |
| there's plenty of privacy. There's also a | | | | show and website focusing on upscale |
| secluded beach on the other side of the | | | | Caribbean travel. In the TV show and website |
| island that's usually deserted. | | | | we promote the publication. The website is |
| | | | and the TV show airs through out the US. |
| Cayo Espanto, a small private island resort | | | | Books can also be purchased on line. |
| off Belize offers the ultimate in privacy and | | | | |
| service. A handful of luxury beachfront | | | | Norm: |
| casitas with alfresco showers and plunge | | | | |
| pools are scattered around the island. You | | | | What's your advice to achieve success as a |
| could stay here for a week and never see | | | | travel writer? |
| another soul except the maid and the fellow | | | | |
| who brings your drinks and serves your meals | | | | Dale: It's a very tough field to break into |
| anywhere you want them. | | | | these days even harder if you intend to |
| | | | actually make a decent living rather than |
| Even though Casa de Campo in the Dominican | | | | depend on the support of a spouse. I'm glad I |
| Republic is a big, bustling resort, it's also | | | | have a long track record 25+ years--because |
| romantic. Strolling through the cobblestone | | | | it lands the assignments I need to make a |
| streets of Altos de Chavon by lamplight and | | | | living and enables me to visit new, exciting |
| dining in outdoor cafes is wonderful. It's a | | | | places. |
| cliff-top Medieval village recreated by hand | | | | |
| of stone, wood and iron in the 1970s to house | | | | Wannabes who think it's all about free travel |
| an artists' colony, shops and restaurants. | | | | must understand that it's really all about |
| | | | getting assignments to write about the places |
| I also love the beach at Half Moon Resort in | | | | you want to go. The assignments come first, |
| Jamaica, particularly watching the sunset | | | | when you've finally gotten an editor's |
| from the gazebo out on the water. The villas | | | | attention with a good query. That's not easy |
| along the beach are secluded by hedges and | | | | in this very competitive environment there's |
| many have private pools that are perfect for | | | | a lot of self-marketing involved. In other |
| a moonlight skinny dip. | | | | words, don't quit your day job. |
| | | | |
| Four Seasons Nevis has a great beach to | | | | My advice is to prospective travel writers is |
| stroll at sunset, and you can arrange to have | | | | to specialize in something at work or play so |
| a private dinner for two served at a table | | | | that it can be a unique twist to travel |
| right on the beach. The spa is also | | | | editors business travel, travel with children |
| exceptional. After your treatments you can | | | | or pets, sports travel, etc. |
| swim in the secluded garden waterfall pool, | | | | |
| or relax in a lounge chair listening to the | | | | As I mentioned before, my equestrian |
| waterfall. | | | | background opened the door to travel and |
| | | | travel writing. Eventually I took the plunge |
| Glenn | | | | into full-time freelancing, which is really |
| | | | tightrope walking without a net, but I've |
| Laluna LaLuna is a small 17 cottage resort on | | | | been at it a lot of years and wouldn't trade |
| a secluded white sand bay in Grenada. It's | | | | it for anything. This is a lengthy answer, |
| owned and designed by fashion designer | | | | but you can tell I love the business and I |
| Bernardo Bertucci. Canopy beds, outdoor | | | | admire the writers who are good at it, like |
| showers, excellent meals and a great private | | | | those who contributed to Caribbean Escapes. |
| beach. Couples only. If someone doesn't find | | | | |
| this place romantic, I'd advise that they | | | | Norm: |
| check their pulse! | | | | |
| | | | Is there anything else you wish to add that |
| Island Outpost Island Outpost has small | | | | we have not covered? |
| intimate properties in Jamaica and one in the | | | | |
| Bahamas. Golden Eye, Strawberry Hill, The | | | | Glenn: I would say that the Caribbean is a |
| Caves, Jakes, and Pink Sands. IO is owned by | | | | beautiful and exotic destination. It has a |
| Chris Blackwell of Island Records and who | | | | range of travel options from rustic to |
| discovered Bob Marley. Each of the resorts is | | | | opulent. The same goes for the hotels. The |
| very romantic and developed for lovers. They | | | | informed travelers will determine for |
| are all very special properties. | | | | themselves what they are looking for is it |
| | | | peace and quiet, adventure travel, night |
| Kamalamae Cay Kamalamae Cay is a small | | | | life. What ever it is, the Caribbean has it |
| property on a private island in Andros in the | | | | and Caribbean Escapes has been developed to |
| Out Islands of the Bahamas. This is the | | | | provide the information for the affluent |
| ultimate in seclusion. You'll only see the | | | | traveler to pick the perfect destination and |
| other guests there&if you wish. There is | | | | resort. |
| plenty of space on the island to explore. The | | | | |
| cottages themselves are made for romance with | | | | Thanks once again and good luck with |
| wonderful bathrooms, amenities, and beds. The | | | | Caribbean Escapes. |
| staff in very attentive and catering to the | | | | |