Did you know that taking a break from it all actually benefits your health? Studies show that people who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals. However, just planning a Caribbean vacation can be a lot of work. As the fall and winter travel season approaches, we’ve gathered some useful travel tools to make your planning easier.
Useful Travel Media to Research Your Trip
Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos are on the map. Celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian are visitors, and snowbirds from all over North America now come here to escape the winter chill.
Since so much is being written about Turks and Caicos, it can be difficult to find useful, relevant information. Here are a few niche publications to help plan your dream vacation.
Caribbean Journal
Caribbean Journal is one of the most popular publications covering the Caribbean. The site features reviews of Caribbean resorts, guides to different parts of the Caribbean and news about travel deals.
Uncommon Caribbean
Our own Da Conch Shack, one of the “Thousand Places to See Before You Die” and “one of the world’s sexiest beach bars”, is also reviewed by Uncommon Caribbean, the go-to resource for all things Caribbean. According to Steve, the creative driving force behind Uncommon Caribbean, devoted to a celebration of the undiscovered charms of the Antilles.
Steve and Patrick Bennett, two brothers from St. Croix, are changing the way people think about travel to the Caribbean by putting authentic aspects of island life and the region’s unique cultural heritage in the spotlight ahead of the glitzy, one-size fits all tourist trap image that has been popularized over the years.
Want a good map of the Caribbean? You’ll find it on Steve and Patrick’s website. Caribbean rum recipes? It’s all here.
Caribbean Escape Blog
The Caribbean Escape Blog, run by Rumshop Ryan, is also another useful resource for planning a Caribbean vacation. This recipe for conch salad, taken directly from Provo, should really hit the spot.
Travel Planning Apps and Tools
Of course, there is aso a wide variety of useful apps and tools to help you plan your trip. Here are just a few.
Google Trips
Google’s new travel app pulls hotel and flight data right from your Gmail account to automatically create trip portfolios in order to create instantly accessible destination-specific city guides.
Google’s app uses your consumer behavior history (if you receive invoices and receipts from online purchases in your Gmail account) to determine personal preferences, and then create custom-tailored travel recommendations for restaurants, local events, and activities.
Award Wallet
Award Wallet lets you track all your frequent flyer miles in one place.
Dealray
This airfare tracker app finds low-cost flight deals and sends notifications when it detects massive price drops, error fares, or flash sales.
PlanChat
PlanChat lets socially-connected travelers easily collaborate to create perfect group itineraries. Add restaurants, activities, and sightseeing ideas, plus keep track of expenses.
Streetography
Streetography is a map-based photo sharing app for iOS. The app lets you preview neighborhoods by viewing user-generated photos. You can take a look at a neighborhood before deciding to stay there.
Cool Cousin
Use Cool Cousin to get recommendations for unique things to do from savvy locals in 14 (so far) destinations. Their suggestions aren’t ones you will find in a typical guidebook, instead expect hip new spots in emerging neighborhoods.
Weather Channel
The Weather Channel app provides you with accurate forecasts, from local to international. Plan your day, your week or the next hours.
What’s Your Favorite Travel Tool?
Do you have a favorite travel app? Let us know in the comments!