Have you been job hunting without much success?

Perhaps you’ve made the following blunders.

  1. Using the following sentences in your cover letter:

    “I think”, “I feel”, “I believe”
    Don’t use these opinion phrases, they make you sound insecure.

    “I seek a role that will challenge me and compensate me adequately…”
    Do not put your needs first. Instead indicate where you could contribute to the organization.

    “Although I don’t have much experience in…”
    Don’t emphasize your shortcomings; instead, highlight your skills and industry knowledge.

  2. Your online presence:

    Google yourself and make sure that nothing comes up that you wouldn’t want a future employer to see.

    Demonstrate your professional expertise – publish a blog or post on LinkedIn.

    Your picture – make it a professional one on ALL of your social media accounts.

  3. Your interview style:

    Showing up late, not dressing for the part or looking messy, and checking your phone: all of these will cost you the job.

    Poor body language: make sure you’re making eye contact, sit up straight and don’t fidget, this will show that you’re engaged in the conversation.

    Complaining about a former boss or organization. This will make you seem petty and will leave the interviewer wondering what you will say about their firm in the future. Exude positivity and sell yourself as an exemplary employee.

    To help you prepare for the next interview here are some great TED talks that will help make you shine and avoid those Top Mistakes that are costing you the job.

Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are

How to Speak So That People Want to Listen

Rum Point Barefoot Beach BBQ

Friday night in the Cayman Islands is nothing short of spectacular when you can hop on a catamaran after work, and sail across the North Sound where a beach BBQ awaits. After enjoying a cocktail, or two, from the Catamaran’s cash bar, you arrive at pristine Rum Point Beach.  A welcome daiquiri in hand, you marvel at the majestic sunset as you soak your toes in the soft white sand.  A BBQ Buffet is set up on the beach with all the Caribbean favorites: grilled fish, jerk pork and jerk chicken, curries, pasta, ribs and all the trimmings. After your meal, its back to the ship where you can laze on the catamaran’s hammocks and do some stargazing before arriving back at Safeheaven.  Can you think of a better way to end your week?

Gala Season is 365 days / year

Gala season is actually year round, the Cayman Islands have a strong desire to give back, and throughout the year there are various glittering events, from the intimate to the very grand, that support important causes. Some of the more illustrious are the RCIPS Outstanding Service Awards, Hatitude, Red Cross and the Hospice Big Bash and of course the upcoming 2015 2015 Breast Cancer Gala on October 3rd.

Sporting Events a plenty

As a very active and healthy living environment, you can count on numerous walks, runs, sea swims and triathlons in the Cayman Islands throughout the year.  The Flowers Sea Swim, Cayman Islands Marathon and the CI Triathlon, to name a few, bring the whole community together. Whether you are participating or not, these events are fun to attend, and have become quite the tradition.  The next big sporting event is the Cayman Islands marathon on December 6th 2015, boasted to be an intimate, friendly and well-organized event.  A rapidly popular marathon, the course is a Boston Qualifier, and is one of the most picturesque; if you are going to run a grueling 26.2 miles, wouldn’t you want to do it amongst tropical flora, fauna and sea side? Oh, and the course, is flat, sign me up!

http://www.caymanislandsmarathon.com/

Pirates Week

This annual family friendly event runs every year in November.  11 days of music, street dances, games, local food, a float parade, fireworks shows and sporting events. On the first Saturday, a mock pirate invasion makes a surprise landing in George Town harbour with the pirates capturing the Governor! All in good fun, thousands line the streets to watch the show, the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region. As the Cayman Islands National Festival, Pirates Week is the country’s largest festival with 32 different events drawing in some 35 000 people.  If there’s one event you shouldn’t miss, it’s this one, savvy?

http://www.piratesweekfestival.com/

For more on all there is to do this fall in the Cayman Islands visit :

Explore Cayman 

Cayman New Resident 

What’s HOT Cayman 

What you need to know, before you rent your new home in your new Caribbean locale

Don’t rent sight unseen

Moving to Grand Cayman from overseas with a tenancy agreement already in hand isn’t unheard of. But, choosing to save a few dollars by signing a long term lease without viewing the property first, is a bit of a gamble. It’s often recommended to spend the first couple of weeks in temporary accommodation whilst looking for a new home. No matter how much research is done online, pictures, even video, don’t tell the whole story on a property. Avoid nasty surprises – broken appliances, filthy conditions, doors hanging off hinges – and wait until you are on-island to sign a lease; but if you can’t, work with a realtor that you can trust, as they will ensure that everything is in working order, such as AC, dishwasher, locks on the doors, etc.

Please! Oh Please! Work with a realtor

In the Cayman Islands, realtors are more than just your property guru. They know the island in and out, and they know the untold stories. For example, if you have asthma or allergies, your realtor will keep you away from complexes that have had mold, moisture or other issues. You can’t get that kind of inside information just by looking at www.ecaytrade.com – the local classifieds.

Williams2 Real Estate has a professional and tech savvy team that will find you the perfect home within your budget. This group of Cayman long-timers, have in depth knowledge of the market, are ethically responsible and are the fastest growing real estate group on the island.

Before moving to Grand Cayman, feel free to contact many of the island’s trusted real estate professionals, they are well versed in helping overseas house hunters. Other recognized real estate firms include:

IRG Cayman

Utopia Realty

Sotheby’s International Realty

Get a mold inspection

Because of the environment, mold prevention should be top of mind when moving to Grand Cayman. Mold can be very dangerous to your health and it’s a good idea to have your new home’s AC system checked to ensure you are breathing clean air, free of mold and other microorganisms.

A mold inspection costs around 300 KYD, well worth the price to protect yourself and your family from major health problems and related expenses. The Cayman Islands Yellow Pages list trusted mold remediation experts such as GrimeX and ECO SMART .

Do you have pets? Do you have kids?

Not at all properties allow pets, and not all properties allow kids. If you have either, make sure you inform your realtor, and ask about the deposit. Many property owners require additional deposits for kids and/or pets.

Location? Living seaside might not be as idyllic as you think

You are moving to Grand Cayman and you can’t imagine NOT living on the water. But living on the water means sea salt eating away at your patio furniture, constantly dirty and sticky windows, salt damage to your car, and not to mention being at the mercy of mother nature. As seaside property is always at a premium, it’s also harder on the budget, so remember, no matter where you live on the island, you are never more than 5 minutes away to the water!

Fully Furnished – but you might want to rethink that “used” mattress

One of the many perks of moving to Grand Cayman is that you can pack light as most homes are rented, even sold, fully furnished. The only item that you might not want is the mattress. Depending on what you are used to, most rentals have cheaper, spring mattresses, and for many, these are not comfortable.

So when viewing properties, test out those mattresses, and if they feel even moderately uncomfortable, negotiate with the landlord, if they won’t spring for a new one, then seriously consider investing in a good night sleep – worth every penny.

Neighbors – who do you want to live with?

Moving to Grand Cayman affords you the luxury of choosing from many types of waterfront and inland living properties. There are complexes best suited for executives, families, or sharers for example, and each have something to offer. Depending on your lifestyle, you might want to live near the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach with all its late nights and beach side bars. Perhaps you want to live in a quiet community, no loud music or noisy children to disturb your Sunday morning slumber. Or, if you have kids, you might be looking for a family friendly complex with pool, gardens, jungle gym and plenty of other children for playmates. Either way, your realtor will know which complex, and in which neighborhood, will suit your lifestyle best.

Looking for a new home is both exciting and stressful, even without adding on the complexity of house hunting in a new country! Before moving to Grand Cayman, do your research, be clear on what you want, and get help from professionals. A great realtor will lead you through the process, inform you of other related costs and be your guide should you encounter any problems. Alternatively, talk to your recruiter, your new employer and future colleagues, as they have surely been through it before and will have plenty of advice to offer.

Check out the Cayman New Resident Website for more information on rental properties before moving to Grand Cayman.

Click here to find out more about Living in the Cayman Islands.

Ever wondered why you never hear back from recruiters or hiring managers? Would you like to at least get a response or even feedback on your application? Then perhaps consider taking these 3 steps, you might just get a bite.

Go ahead and use the “apply button”, but also take the time to write a personalized email to the recruiter/hiring manager

Nothing says ‘I can’t be bothered’ like sending in a job application without acknowledging the recipient. It’s not enough to simply attach your cover letter and CV to an email with nothing else but a subject line. Take the time to introduce yourself and to thank the recipient for their time and consideration of your application. You don’t need to write much, just a couple of lines, enough to show the reader that you are truly interested in the role.

Start from scratch

Take the time to write a brand new resume that is specifically tailored to the role. The company is trying to fill a need, keep that in mind and customize both your CV and Cover Letter demonstrating how your education and experience will fill that need. Starting from scratch my feel like daunting task, but once you get started, you will quickly realize how your expertise really is a great fit. Pretend that you are writing a proposal, take a step back and look at the ad from their perspective, then look at what you can offer, and sell it!

Get introduced

Use your network of friends, family and colleagues to get a referral at the company that you are applying to. The fastest road to the interview is through a personal connection. LinkedIn and Facebook are great online tools that can connect you to the right individual. Follow the company news, comment and offer your expertise when appropriate. Use LinkedIn to showcase your work and to get endorsed for the key skills the company is looking for – the easiest way to get endorsements and recommendations is by reciprocating!

 

Remember, you are dealing with people, and people like to know that they will be working with a diligent and considerate individual. If you cut corners in the job application process, it’s a clear indication of your future work ethic. Imagine that the action of applying to the role is your very first assignment, so go ahead, and blow their socks off!

For more tips, here are some great reads on getting your application noticed:

How To Get Your Resume – and you! – Noticed In The Digital Age

5 Marketing Secrets That Will Help Your Resume Get Noticed

35 Surefire Ways to Stand Out During Your Job Search

With well over 1 billion users, Facebook is a powerful networking tool and although we mostly use it for personal reasons, it’s also a great platform to leverage in a job search.

Chances are your future employer is on Facebook, and the company that you dream to work for is also using Facebook. While itdoesn’t have the same professional appeal as LinkedIn, it shouldn’t be ignored, because when you are applying for roles, employers are looking at your Facebook profile.

How then, do you make your Facebook profile work for you in your job search?

STEP 1: Audit your profile

Protect your brand and keep your profile clean. Make sure that you remove anything – pictures, comments, tags – that you wouldn’t want a potential employer seeing. Your profile picture should also have a level of professionalism.

Mind your manners. Avoid any comments that could be interpreted as distasteful or discriminatory. Fact is, you don’t know your future employer’s background, religious or otherwise, everyone is allowed to their opinions and being respectful will ensure that you don’t lose out on an offer.

What do your Groups and Apps say about you? Remove any that don’t portray you in a positive and professional manner.

Keep it Private. Use the privacy settings to determine who sees what. Also, make use of the preview function, it allows you to see your profile as the outside world would see it.

STEP 2: Use that network to score your dream job

Status Updates: Go ahead and tell your friends that you are looking for a new opportunity. Update your status regularly, let them know what you are specifically looking for. Use your network, chances are, someone knows someone who is hiring. It’s WHO you know, right?

Update your work and education history: Edit your profile and add your job and education details, and do include your accomplishments in the ‘description’ section. You can also add professional skills.

Pages: Company pages will tell you a lot about an organization’s culture, brand and mission statement. Getting to know the company to which you are applying, allows you to personalize your cover letter, and even find people who could help get you introduced to the hiring manager. Getting referred to people who work for the company is a great way to get your foot in the door. It also shows resourcefulness and genuine interest. Also, companies announce vacancies, events and networking opportunities.

Engage: Post updates that relate to both your professional and personal life – you can also edit the privacy settings for each post, sharing only with close friends and family for example. Post about your company’s accomplishments, share media links that relate to your industry, and respond to your professional friends’ posts, make insightful comments and share when appropriate.

Facebook won’t replace LinkedIn anytime soon, but simply for the reasons of user activity and sheer size, don’t leave Facebook out of the mix in your job search strategy.

For more great tips on adding Social Media to your job search mix, check out these great blogs:

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Mastering LinkedIn

How to put your Pinterest Obsession to good use and land a new job

5 Top Tips for Finding a Job on Social Media

 

When you move to a new country, it goes without saying that you embark on a new way of life. However, when that move is to a rock in the Caribbean, it takes the “new way of life” to a whole new level.

Living in the Cayman Islands is idyllic; the beach, the sun, the warm waters, and of course the kindest people you will ever meet, but here are some observations that you wouldn’t expect:

1. Courtesy Driving: Driving on the left is a challenge, roundabouts can get your heart racing, and potholes are abysses, but the biggest adjustment? Courtesy. Caymanians actually stop to let you pass and even turn left, they also slow down to let you enter a lane! Most drivers actually grasp the concept of “sharing the road”, they are not rushing to get through the yellow light, and they respect school zones. So leave your big city road aggression at home, because in Cayman, civility rules.

2. Some like it Ccccold: Although we live in a warm climate, don’t be surprised to see co-workers in blazers, sweaters, and even pashminas. Most offices, shops and restaurants are kept very cool, so take long sleeves to work, because that AC blasting overhead will make you want to sit in your hot car at the end of the day.

3. Foodapalooza: the food scene in the Cayman Islands is at par with some of the world’s largest metropolises. World class chefs, top bar staff and excellent service, means that there is always a great place to eat out. Cayman Cookout, a yearly event, is considered to be the Caribbean’s “premier epicurean event”, a weekend celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Caribbean. World famous chefs, sommeliers and spirit blenders produce themed tastings, demonstrations, tours and dinners.

4. Social Butterfly: Be warned, your social life will explode. There is always a boat trip to go on, a sports event to attend, a BBQ on the beach, or a Sunday brunch to enjoy. The expat life brings people together, and living in a tropical paradise makes us all feel like we live on a permanent holiday. So be sure to stay social, but you don’t have to say “yes” to everything.

5. Free parking: Having moved here from a large city, we were used to paying for parking everywhere we went, from the grocery store, parks, malls, to even the hospital. This amounted to a near $200/ month expenditure! Here on Grand Cayman, there is free parking everywhere, the bank, downtown street parking, shopping plazas, even hotels! Now all we have to do is decide what to do with that extra $200…

6. Don’t worry, work happy! Although the work environment is more casual here, there is a high level of accountability and professionalism. It is also a very welcoming and collaborative scene. This extends to everyday life as well, Caymanians are always willing to offer assistance of any kind, even if they have just met you. Cayman Kind, is a true way of life.

“For those who inhabit our islands, Caymankind is a way of presenting yourself to the work that is at all times courteous, compassionate and caring.
From smiles to experiences worthwhile, the Cayman Islands has something to make your day brighter than it already was – that’s Caymankind.” https://www.caymanislands.ky/aboutcayman/caymankind.aspx

Think of your recruitment consultant as a brand manager, and their job is to carefully manage that brand. A great recruiter will always be aware of how their brand is perceived in their market. Developing strong relationships with corporate clients, and HR managers, is essential to the success of their brand’s image. Now, their product, YOU, is the packaged representation of their brand. So how you present yourself to them, from the quality of your CV, your communications skills, to your appearance and demeanour, will determine your marketability.

It’s therefore crucial that you work closely with your recruiter on managing your first impression, and second, and third, and fourth….. When competition is fierce, every detail becomes fair play, from your attire, your grammar, your people skills, to even how you respond to rejection.

Also fair play, is your online presence and even past employment experiences; so managing your past impressions are just as important. Your recruitment consultant will work with you to build your brand image; expect open discussions about everything from work references, to your Facebook profile. Even those with the right skills can be passed over due to even a minimal display of unprofessionalism, your recruiter will assist you every step of the way to ensure you present your truest, most attractive self.

Go forth and work with your recruiter, help them feel confident that representing you as a candidate will strengthen their brand. Recruiters have close relationships with hiring managers, they won’t burn bridges for a candidate who is unprepared, impolite, overly confident, and most importantly shows signs of dishonesty. Of course, getting the job is up to you, but your recruiter can guide you there, their role is to offer exceptional talent to the hiring company, work together and you will land that dream job.

Your recruiter is your champion, even if you are unsuccessful in securing a role. You will still be marketable to your recruiter if you demonstrate gracious appreciation for their efforts. So stay professional, courteous, and present yourself to your recruiter as you would to the hiring manager.

So before you apply to the next job make sure you know the top mistakes job applicants make:

1. Generalized application – don’t just send a CV, make it personal and tailored, and make sure you have the qualifications needed for the role.
2. Late to the interview – set an alarm, leave early, plan for parking and traffic, and if you are going to be inevitably late, call and notify the interviewer.
3. Inappropriate online presence – Google yourself, anything that pops up as “unprofessional”, from videos to Facebook posts, take that content down.
4. Your pants are on fire! Don’t lie on your resume, LinkedIn profile, or anywhere else. It will catch up with you.
5. No eye contact or intense eye contact. Both of these are creepy, either you come across as shady or unbalanced.

For more career advice, contact the team at Affinity. We offer free mock interviews, CV workshops and LinkedIn profile tutorials. (345) 943-2020

Tips from a Cayman Islands Expat

Moving is stressful, no matter the location, but when you are moving abroad, to an island in the Caribbean, how do you prepare? Where do you start?

Affinity is moving offices this weekend, and although our new location is just down the road, there’s much to prepare, purge, and of course pack!

With that in mind, I thought of the many expats who pack up and move their lives to relocate to the beautiful Cayman Islands to start a new job. As a newbie on Grand Cayman, I wanted to share some of my tips on how my family and I made the move from Vancouver to George Town.

Make a list? NO! Make many lists!

I painted one of our kitchen walls with chalkboard paint and updated my list daily. This made it very visual, and my husband was also in the loop every step of the way. The best part was crossing off items; with every check, we were closer to the goal. Our son Bond loved participating too!

What to Ship

We chose to ship family heirlooms, artwork, clothing, and other items we simply didn’t have the heart to sell. Having said that, if I were to do it all over again, I would have sold the lot.

By the time we bought heavy duty boxes, wrapping materials, took the many days to sort and pack, paid for pick up, delivery and insurance, we ended up spending a small fortune on a pallet of “stuff”. However, it is nice to have some familiar things, to make our rental feel more like home.

What to Sell

We sold our condo, car and all of our furniture, knowing that all those items could be easily bought here. Plus the fact, most rentals come fully furnished, right down to the cutlery.

For the other “nicknacks” that we didnt’ have time to sell, we held a going away bazaar in our empty condo, and invited all of our friends and family to take whatever they wanted, sporting equipment, small appliances, picture frames, toys, etc.

The party was a hit, and by the end of the day, everything was gone but the contents of the fridge.

It was a great way to say goodbye, and show our appreciation for those wonderful friendships.

What to Store

This decision depends on what you decide to sell or not. If you own your home and opt to rent it, perhaps you want to put your furniture and keepsakes in storage.

Storage is also useful for tax documents and other items that you don’t need in your new location – like perhaps that snow blower, or winter sporting equipment.

What to Cancel

This is a tricky one depending on your length of stay. My family committed to a long term relocation and as such we had to cancel everything including our Canadian resident status for tax purposes (which doesn’t affect our citizenship). Employees do not incur income tax in the Cayman Islands; however, prior to our departure we researched the tax implications of moving to the Cayman Islands within Canada.

We cancelled magazine subscriptions, all credit cards but one, as we needed it for the first few weeks; cable, phone and internet services. If you want to take your cell phone with you (GSM mobiles work in the Cayman Islands), make your final payments and have your provider unlock it. Cancel your home and car insurance and all other services you will no longer need, like that gym membership.


What to take on the Plane

Depending on your carrier, it might be cheaper to pay for additional bags instead of using a shipping company. We checked 17 bags, weighing about 1000 lbs, for just over $2200. Bargain!

Shipping to Cayman is not as straightforward as you might think, this requires a lot of planning, and be sure to pay for insurance, there’s nothing worse than planning and packing for weeks only to find that your cargo is damaged or in pieces. Contact IMP Shipping for more information, they were a great help to us.

Organize important Documents

This process was the most tedious of all, but OH so liberating! It took days to sort, shred and scan 10 years of tax documents and mostly useless paperwork. It was an interesting experience as I took us back in time, revisiting our 10 years in Vancouver and our previous expat life in Dubai.

Documents you must carry with you

Before you travel, make sure that you have evidence of any professional memberships, and copies of your employment contract, university/college degree and immigration documentation.

References and copies of your bank statements from your bank and any records with credit companies. This will make it easier to open a bank account in the Cayman Islands.

Also, get a letter from your auto insurance carrier stating your no claim record (if applicable), as this will help with securing a better rate with an on island auto insurance provider.

Bring along your driver’s license. You will be able to drive with it for the first few weeks, after which you will have to take a driver’s test to get your Cayman driver’s license.

Documents that you must keep, such as tax history, house title, and other.

Decide whether you will take these documents with you or whether you will put them in storage. We chose to take it all with us, but instead of shipping boxes of paperwork, we made digital copies of everything and stored it all on an external hard drive.

We kept originals of the most important documents (birth certificates, marriage license) and shredded the rest.

Moving abroad is both exciting and nerve racking, so being organized and having useful information at hand is essential. Take a peak at the links below for more on moving and living in the Cayman Islands. Also, take advantage of your connections, Affinity was a wealth of information, giving us advice on where to live, where to buy a car, and even which days are best to buy groceries (Monday and Tuesday, because that’s when the ships come in).

Wishing you all the best in your new adventure!

The Letko Family

Useful Sites

Cayman Resident www.caymannewresident.com
Ecay Online www.ecayonline.com
Cayman Islands Government www.gov.ky
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism www.caymanislands.ky
Explore CAyman www.explorecayman.com

The job search process has become extensive due to the rise of social media, writing the perfect resume has become the least of our worries. Not only do you have to have a CV and cover letter, but you now have to have a LinkedIn profile, professional Facebook presence, a Twitter handle and sometimes even a blog to keep up with the competition. That said, you can be a rock star in online networking, but if your resume is poorly constructed, your application will fall flat and won’t make the cut.

So before you hit the send button, make sure that your soon to be perfect resume includes these top tips.

A targeted and personalized cover letter: don’t send your resume on its own, introduce yourself in a professional cover letter, this is your first chance to impress so be polite and thank the reader for considering your application.

Contact information: please include a professional email address (no [email protected]) and a phone number. If you are applying as an overseas applicant, don’t forget the country and area code.

Summary: briefly describe your unique value proposition, highlighting your key accomplishments. Present yourself as a solution; remember the employer is trying to fill a need.

Work History: make sure that you only add experiences that are relevant to the job that you are applying to, and don’t leave any gaps.

Keep it Simple: make sure that your font is easy to read, Arial is best, and add some personality to it, but nothing over the top. Unless you are seeking a creative role such as graphic design, don’t add any fancy graphics. Limit it to 2 pages.

Include Degrees only: In your “education” section don’t add uncompleted course work, or university degrees. List the institution, qualification and graduation year.

Accomplishments: List achievements, not experiences. Employers want to see what you have succeeded to do, not what your duties were. For example, instead of noting “sales experience”, write “increased sales targets by X%”.

Your resume is your showcase – it should clearly and articulately display how your work experience and professional abilities speak to the job at hand. A job posting is a company’s expression of a need, a problem that needs solving, so make sure that your resume specifically speaks to how you will fill that need and solve that problem.

For all resume assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team will help you identify your strengths and highlight your accomplishments.

When you already live and work in a Caribbean holiday spot, where do you go for a vacation?

Many expats choose to go home to the UK, Canada, or USA for some down time, but others stay close to home. Here are some unique vacation destinations for Caribbean dwellers. Happy Travels!

NEVIS
Known as one of the most unspoiled in the Caribbean, Nevis is a lush 36 square mile island, approximately. 350 km southeast of Puerto Rico. This dormant volcano, has a very rich heritage and has no shortage of unique hotels, villas and plantations to choose from.

DO THIS! Golf, Hiking, Fishing, Tennis, Scuba Diving, Turtle monitoring, and all other water sports.

RELAX HERE…..

Four Seasons Offering a consistently pleasant climate and lack of frantic commercial center, this five-star resort gives you the chance to experience the Caribbean as it should be – unspoiled and peaceful.

Golden Rock Inn
Dating back to the early 1800’s, Golden Rock sits on a hundred acres stretching up the verdant slopes of Nevis Peak. Eleven guest rooms offer privacy and spectacular sea views.

Montpelier Plantation
Boutique hideaway in the heart of the Caribbean. This Relais & Chateaux basques in stunning natural beauty. Only 6 miles from its private beach, the hotel is idyllically situated 750 feet above the Caribbean Sea in the foothills of Nevis Peak.

BONAIRE
Known for its love of nature, Bonaire is the perfect eco-tourism destination. Located off Venezuela’s coast in the southern Caribbean, Bonaire is part of the Dutch Caribbean. As an acclaimed diving and snorkeling destination, its reef-lined coast is protected within the Bonaire National Marine Park. Due to its positioning, this idyllic island is outside of the hurricane belt and, consequently, enjoys beautiful weather throughout the year.

DO THIS!
Biking, Caving, Kayaking, Birdwatching, hiking, rock climbing, windsurfing, kite boarding, and all other water sports.

RELAX HERE…

Bamboo Bali Bonaire
An intimate family operated boutique hotel that offers rental in cottages in a tropical, romantic setting with a personal touch. Lush private oasis with pool and hot tub.

Harbour Village Resort
World-class accommodations and amenities, on a secluded private beach and a dive center rated among the finest in the world, Harbour Village is Bonaire’s Leading Hotel, where nature and luxury are in perfect harmony.

Buddy Dive Resort
An unhurried, unspoiled natural paradise offering spectacular sunsets, gentle breezes and crystal clear, turquoise waters. Buddy’s is a resort where you can DIVE DIVE DIVE, take part in a multitude of activities or just sit back, relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

GUADELOUPE
Known as the “butterfly” island because of its shape, Guadeloupe is a French overseas territory located in the southern Caribbean sea. This fascinating archipelago, is home to a mangrove swamp, a volcano, natural waterfalls and of course marvelous stretches of sandy beaches.

DO THIS!
Hiking, diving, deep sea fishing, cultural tours, botanical expeditions, surfing and sailing

RELAX HERE…

La Toubana Hotel and Spa
Thanks to its unique setting overlooking the Caribbean Sea, you will savour every minute of your stay, refreshed by the Trade Winds. A small beach is at the bottom of the hotel, idyllic and very tranquil.

Tendacayou Ecolodge & Spa Set in the heart of the untouched and protected wilderness of a rain forest, it blends into he island’s natural surroundings with breathtaking Caribbean views.