From: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline) 
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: CARIBBEAN TRAVEL ROUNDUP3
Date: 31 Dec 92 01:03:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Travel Online / St. Louis Online - St. Louis, MO
Reply-To: paul.graveline@travel.com (Paul Graveline) 

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is  picture-postcard scenery, great scuba diving, quaint, clean-as-a- 
pin  little  towns,  and  low  prices  (by Caribbean standards.) Many  
original  settlers  came  from  the  Shetland  Islands to this small,  
previously  isolated  island,  and  today  almost  everyone, white or  
black,  is  related  to everyone else. There are only a few surnames,  
and 40% of citizens are named Hassell.  

WHAT  IT  OFFERS:  First,  incredible  scenery  --  red-roofed  Saban  
cottages  in  neat  little  Dutch  towns  perched on steep hillsides.  
Second,  great  diving,  in  Saba  Marine Park, an eco wonder. Third,  
peace  and  quiet.  Fourth,  easy access from St. Maarten, one of the  
air hubs of the Caribbean.  

WHAT  IT  DOES  NOT OFFER: No casinos, no big resorts, no big stores,  
no  fine  restaurants,  no  all-inclusive  resorts where you and your  
hormones  are  locked  away  from  the locals. Also, no real beaches.  
(There  are  two  small spits of sand that come and go, but basically  
you  can  forget  beach swimming.) Still, the Caribbean is all around  
you,  and  some  of the sea views are fabulous. Open-water snorkeling  
is possible, but reefs are too deep for really good viewing.  

SHOULD  YOU  GO?  Yes,  if  you  like walking around quaint villages,  
climbing  a  volcanic mountain, diving, and just getting away from it  
all.  No,  if  you want an active, high-energy, clubbing, meet-people  
kind  of  vacation.  No,  also,  if you want wide open spaces -- five  
square  miles,  1,200  people  and  only  four  little  towns can get  
claustrophobic.  

KID  FRIENDLY?  Yes  and  no.  Kids are welcome, but many will miss a  
beach,  and  only  two  hotels  have  swimming  pools.  They'll  love  
climbing  the  1,064  stone  steps up Mt. Scenery, though, and if you  
rent a house with private pool they'll never want to leave.  

PRICE  LEVELS:  Among  the  lowest  in  the  Caribbean. A double at a  
quaint  inn  starts  at  about  $40, and a two-bedroom Saban cottage,  
with  private  pool,  rents for $620 a week. Hotels offer well-priced  
dive  packages.  A  10-dive  weekly package runs about $350 extra per  
person.  Restaurant  prices are moderate -- you'll probably spend $10  
to  $20  per person for dinner. There are few things to buy in shops,  
but  hand-made  dresses  and Saban lace are bargains. Home prices are  
fairly high, with small two bedroom homes going from US$150,000 up.  

GREAT  PLACES  TO  STAY:  Best  on  the  island  is not a hotel but a  
private   home   or   apartment   rental.   Ruth   Hassell,  a  Dutch  
anthropologist,  and her husband, are one excellent source. They rent  
apartments  from  $30  a  day or $195 a week, and a two-bedroom house  
with  private  pool  and  Caribbean  views  for $100 a day, or $620 a  
week,  double.  This  is  a  year-round  rate - unlike most Caribbean  
islands,  the  winter  and  summer accommodation rates vary little at  
most  places.  Telephone +599-4-62299 or fax +599-4- 62299. No credit  
cards.  (There's a 5% accommodations tax on Saba, and some hotels add  
a 10% service charge.)  

Quaint,  Budget  Inn:  Cranston's  Antique  Inn,  130 years old and a  
former  government  guesthouse  in  The  Bottom, has pleasant doubles  
US$40-$50. Tel. +599-4-63203. No credit cards.  

Upscale  (for  Saba):  Captains Quarters in Windwardside, delightful,  
almost  New  England-style  frame house built in 1832, 10 rooms, with  
great  pool  and popular bar. New Saban owners expected to make great  
improvements  to  service  and food. Doubles US$95-$125. Tel. +599-4-  
62201, fax +599-4-62377. AE, MC, V.  

Easy  Livin:  Scout's  Place,  cheap 'n cheerful, Scout's at 14 rooms  
presently  the  biggest  hotel  on  the island. Frequented by divers.  
Small pool. Doubles US$55-$85. MC and V. Tel. +599-4-62205.  

JOURNEYS AND NOTES 
------------------- 

Barbados Ecology and Underwater Treasures 
----------------------------------------- 

The  following  press  releases were received from the Barbados Board  
of Tourism. 

A/The  Caribbean  island  nation of Barbados has an impressive record  
of  preserving  its  ecology,  especially,  its  underwater treasure.  
Thanks  to  the government's foresight to protect and conserve, today  
visitors  to  the  island  have  the  opportunity to view magnificent  
coral reefs and underwater riches. 

In  1976  legislation  was passed for the preservation and protection  
of  marine  life  in  Barbados.  Five  years  later,  the  government  
established  the  Barbados  Marine  Reserve  on the west coast of the  
island  in  the  Parish  of  St.  James, consisting of four "activity  
zones" as well as regulations governing the use of these zones. 

"Barbadians  have  made  a  conscious  effort to conserve the natural  
beauty  of the island", said Michael Scantlebury, U.S. Manager of the  
Barbados  Board  of  Tourism. "The government realizes the importance  
of  environmental  awareness and continues to maintain our underwater  
wonders." 

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