Bonaire has quickly become a top contender for "Favorite Caribbean Destination." We had a feeling we’d like it—the hospitality of the Bonairians coupled with the efficiency of the Dutch throughout the Netherlands Antilles creates a unique dynamic we haven’t found anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Today, we totally rocked windsurfing, mastering turns within the first hour of our first lesson with Bonaire Windsurfing Place. We also got to meet some pretty high-profile pro windsurfers, including Taty Frans, ranked the #7 windsurfer in the world. (Check him out on YouTube.)

]]> globetrotting gourmet 2009-08-19T11:26:39-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/19/231649/517 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Cacao_Pearl_Island.jpg" class="top"><p> <p>Here are two words we don't usually read in the same sentence: "non-profit" and "luxury". It's a curious idea but that's the idea behind a new eco-resort in the Philippines. We're already <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/2/28/115546/143/hotels/Searching_For_The_Perfect_Overwater_Bungalow_The_Philippines_Shows_Tender_Love">quite enamored</a> with the <b>Palawan</b> region of the Philippines so the planned <b>Cacao Pearl</b> enticed us just from the location--but we're confused about the non-profit luxury idea.<p>The Cacao Pearl will include 60 residences on a private island--think thick rainforest, coconut palms and white beaches--and they're promising both sustainable development and "sustainable enjoyment". Their target market is what they call the "grown-up backpacker", presumably ones who've saved a bit of cash, because you'll be able to buy one of these residences and then either rent amandak 2009-01-20T12:54:44-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/10/21/0488/4780 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Noosa_River.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>There's some accommodation opening up in Queensland that most of us won't be able to visit--unless you're one of the 35,000 employees of Richard Branson's Virgin mega-empire. <p>After buying <b>Makepeace Island</b> about five years back, Branson and his co-owners have been lovingly getting it fixed up as a place for Virgin employees and their families and friends to vacation. They call it an "eco-tourism retreat" and the three villas will apparently house about 20 guests. There's a swimming pool and tennis court and it sounds like no expense was spared to make everything look good.<p>Makepeace Island, which is in the middle of the Noosa River, is nearly ready for visitors, according to recent reports, and we're wondering amandak 2008-10-21T09:15:48-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/9/30/34718/3680

We are most definitely in two minds about the pros and cons of visiting Myanmar aka Burma at the moment, but that doesn't stop us from looking at interesting places to stay should the situation change in the future.

And one place that crossed our desk this week is the Malikha Lodge in the northern state of Kachin. ]]> amandak 2008-09-30T14:09:05-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/22/75134/7850 <![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Dominica_Carib_region.jpg" class="imgborder"><p> <p>For the truly green traveler, staying in a hotel that just offers to wash the sheets every other day is not enough. A truly green traveler goes to a place that is almost entirely sustainable, if not completely. Also, this green resort or hotel should include the locals and the surrounding area as much as it can.<p>Fortunately for these earth-conscious travelers, such eco-resorts are becoming more and more popular. And the latest one is set to hit in beautiful <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/browse/Central%20America%20And%20Caribbean/dm"><b>Dominica</b></a> where the local government has not only approved plans for the eco-lodge, but is actually involved in building it. <p><b>The Distinguished International Hotel Group</b> has got a partnership going with the Government of Dominica and the amandak 2008-08-22T13:25:38-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/