Lying on the eastern edge, in the Lesser Antilles, of the Caribbean Sea, is the island of Barbados. Visitors enjoy the wonderful, natural beauty and well-educated, friendly people. The low crime rate engenders a feeling of safety so visitors feel free to fully enjoy adventurous exploration of the island.

Though it is now an independent country, Barbados was ruled by Britain for over 300 years. There is a strong British character to the island and the Bajans, as they are known, have tremendous pride in their British heritage.

Of all the Caribbean islands, Barbados is one of the most popular with visitors. Barbados has one of the best airports in the world, Grantley Adams. You can fly into the capital city of Bridgetown or come by cruise ship to enjoy a visit.

After arriving, you can tour the Seven Wonders of Barbados or catch a game of the island’s favorite sport, cricket.

The Seven wonders of Barbados are:

1. Harrison’s Cave. This magnificent, crystallized limestone cavern is said to be one of the wonders of the world. Its pure clear water and flowing streams helped to create the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites which propagate the cave. You will be amazed by nature’s mastery as you journey through this living cave.

2. The ‘Monkey Tree’ is a huge baobab tree. Two magnificent trees with possibly the widest tree-trunks to be found in the Caribbean, grow in Barbados! The largest can be seen in our Queen’s Park in Bridgetown. To give an example of the size of this tree of great distinction, it takes 15 adults joining with outstretched arms to cover its circumference.

3. St. Nicholas Abbey in St. Peter and Drax Hall in St. George, two of the oldest buildings in Barbados, both built in the 1650’s, stand as proud examples of the Jacobean tradition. Drax Hall is the oldest surviving Jacobean mansion in the Western Hemisphere. Only three of these mansions exit in the Western World, and it is Barbados’ good fortune to have two of these treasures.

4. The Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill. It has been restored with its windmill intact. Morgan Lewis is one of the only two intact and restored sugar mills in the Caribbean. The other is at Betty’s Hope Estate on one of our sister islands, Antigua.

5. There is currently one synagogue situated in Bridgetown. Built in the 17th century (1654) it was destroyed by hurricane in 1831. In 1983, it was bought back by the Jewish community and was restored to its present state.

6. The National Ordinance Collection. The Caribbean is still full of secrets. One recently revealed is that Barbados has the world’s rarest collection of 17th century English iron cannon. Not too long ago it was decided to create a National Ordnance Collection of all the old guns on the island and to date more than 400 have been unearthed.

7. Bajans produced the first grapefruit here by cross-pollinating two varieties of oranges. There is an old Barbadian legend telling us that the “Grapefruit” was first developed in Barbados, in the beautiful Welchman Hall Gully and was first recorded in the eighteenth century. It’s parents were Shaddock and Sweet Orange, immigrants from across the Asian Sea. A natural cross-pollination was produced between Shaddock and Sweet Orange. As a result, the “Forbidden Fruit” (as it was named many moons ago) was born for the first time!

A wildlife preserve and gorgeous plantation mansions as well as the Seven Wonders can also be seen in Barbados.

Although you can partake of the customary activities most people expect to find, such as golf, tennis, diving, fishing and horseback riding, there are also some more unique activities, too. Among them are boat tours that you can take to go Turtle Swimming. Being able to swim with these amazing animals in their natural habitat is something that will be remembered for life.

As an experienced traveler I have come to realize that the encounter with the food of a destination holds equal weight to the scenery and accommodations. Setting out on a Caribbean travel vacation will set you on a collision course with a Soul Food experience; one that truly consummates the trip and transforms it into a Caribbean vacation. Many people spend thousands of dollars, travel hundreds of miles and spend days on a vacation and never partake of the cooking available.

When it comes to vacation destinations that are all about having fun in the sun, nothing beats the Caribbean. Positioned just southeast of Mexico and northwest of Venezuela, South America where the waters are clear and the sun is hot, a Caribbean travel vacation has something for everyone - whether you are one for native music, water sports, hiking, swimming, diving, and just plain frolicking on its white sand beaches.

But we understand that choice destination like the Caribbean can be quite expensive, and for this reason, many people balk at the idea of a Caribbean travel experience. Indeed, is it worth spending so much on a single vacation when you could visit much cheaper vacation destinations? And do I consider the fact that these places don’t even come close to what a Caribbean travel entails?

Does the thought of becoming an international traveler, Caribbean soul food expert or the opportunity to bathe away the stress and fatigue of day-to-day life in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean seem priceless? What about clear starlight nights with the ocean breeze whisking through your hair as you and your significant other write another page in your history book. Do you think it is worth the investment?

Ah, but what if we told you that there’s a much better way to spend a vacation? What if we told you that you could go on a Caribbean travel vacation, indulge in Caribbean soul food, soak in the sun without having to take out a second mortgage on your house?

Caribbean travel for less! Now, there’s a thought.

Below are four chic hotels where you can keep the island flavor high and the prices at a bare minimum while on a Caribbean travel vacation:

Flash and Glamour - Anguilla

The most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, Anguilla is an island known for the flash and glamour of many of its resorts. For this reason, the island is a popular Caribbean travel destination for many visitors who want to bask in the compelling charm, romance, and excitement that the islands are known for.

Rendezvous Bay Hotel & Villas may not have all that flash and glamour, but what it lacks in that department, the hotel makes up for in its location and fantastic rates (starts at $130 while villa costs $275). This Caribbean travel resort hotel offers 46 rooms, all sitting directly on 50 palm tree -laden acres of fronting a 1½-mile long sugary sand beach. The resort has been recently renovated, offering white tile floors and simple rattan furnishings, and is divided among a dozen low-rise buildings.

Another worthy hotel group is Ku, its name meaning “sacred place” in the Arawak Indian language. With room rates starting at $295, this 27-suite hotel overlooks Shoal Bay East and is South Beach-chic, with minimalist white décor, air conditioning, and full kitchens.

Honeymoon Favorite – Antigua

Located just south of another popular Caribbean travel destination of Barbuda, Antigua markets itself as a luxury Caribbean travel escape. Its many hotels and resorts located around the coastline are all favorites when it comes to honeymooning while on a Caribbean travel.

While you don’t have to be on your honeymoon to enjoy Antigua’s island charm, the Coco bay Resort’s location on a hillside facing the Caribbean Sea makes for a very romantic atmosphere. The idyllic hotel is made of 47 Creole-style cottages in soft pastel hues with rates that are very affordable at $240.

Old Bahama Bay – Bahamas

If you want a truly authentic seaport experience during your Caribbean travel vacation, then the Old Bahama Bay is exactly for you. Nestled on the outskirts of the oldest settlement on Grand Bahama Island with all the modern comforts such as televisions, phones, and Internet connections –but I am sure you will not want to be bothered with things that distract you from the sheer beauty and tranquility of the ocean just outside your room. Not to mention their excellent marina you cannot help but experience true Bahamian living. Many local restaurants serve down home Bahamian Soul Food that will make your mouth water and your heart long to stay. Here are some soul food recipes. Soul food cooking is the center of a Bahamian cultural experience. The friendly West end community welcomes all to share in their daily life. And for only $240, you can get one of the bay-view rooms, which offer the best views of the harbor.