Hello again fellow travelers,

So sorry, we made a boo-boo recently – you may have received the same newsletter twice, one a week later. That darn “Send” button! Well, we promise this one’s fresh, new and hot-off-the-press!

Let’s start with those secret islands...

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Have you heard of Ilse des Saintes?

We hadn’t either – until we dropped anchor there on a Caribbean sailing cruise with Star Clippers.

(By the way, if you’re active, like the romance of sailing and want to escape the crowds, you’ll love Star Clippers and their three small cruise ships!)

Anyway, part of Guadeloupe, this cluster of nine tiny French-Caribbean islands (commonly called Les Saintes) is wonderfully under the radar.

Only two are inhabited, and Terre-de-Haut is the one to visit.

To get there, fly to Guadeloupe, then hop on a 30-minute ferry. Once on the island, rent a moped or golf cart – or just walk. It’s that small.

Don’t expect nightclubs or big beach clubs.

Instead? Charming patisseries, toes-in-the-sand cafés, darling boutiques and quiet beaches with great snorkeling.

It’s totally laid-back and unspoiled. We’re already planning to go back!

What to do?

• Hike up to Fort Napoleon for sweeping views.
• Sip a glass of wine at a seaside café in Le Bourg, the main village.
• Swim or snorkel at Anse Rodrigue or Anse Crawen (you might spot sea turtles!).

Where we’d stay on Ilse des Saintes

• ​Hurlevent Hotel Residence: Clean, simple, beachfront and just a 5-minute walk from town.
• ​Blue Lagoon Cottage or Villa Rackam: Both are highly-rated 2-bedroom cottages (vacation rentals on Vrbo) close to the beach and village, with sea views and a garden or private pool.

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Bocas del Toro

Also far less touristy than many Caribbean hot spots, Bocas del Toro is a laid-back cluster of islands on Panama’s Caribbean side (a one-hour flight from Panama City).

Most accommodations are small eco-resorts – think solar power, rainwater showers and candlelight dinners. As some are remote, boat transfers and meals are often included.

(We stayed at three different places on two islands – each unique.)

Bocas is all about nature and adventure. Surf, snorkel, hike, spot monkeys – or swing in a hammock and bliss out.

What to do?

• Snorkel at Starfish Beach to see hundreds of bright orange sea stars.
• Hike the trails near Red Frog Beach, alive with tiny red frogs.
• See bioluminescent plankton light up the sea on a nighttime kayak or boat trip.

Where we’d stay on Bocas del Toro

• ​Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge: Simple overwater huts where you can snorkel off your deck – we saw tons of fish and baby sharks! (➡️ See: Our review.)
• ​Nayara Bocas del Toro, with luxe overwater villas on a private island (some with private pools).
• ​Plantation Island Resort: Bali-style boutique hotel on a lovely beach. (➡️ See: Our review.)
• ​Casa Cayuco: Rustic bungalows with fantastic food! (➡️ See: Our review.)

More hidden gems and under-the-radar places

• ​Matera: Italy’s Stone City That Time Forgot​
• ​10 Fun Things to Do on BC’s Galiano Island​
• ​Brac Island: Croatia Without the Crowds​
• ​Chilling With 7 Playful Types of Penguins in Antarctica​
• ​15 Lesser-Known Gems to Discover in Greece​

Awesome cruise savings

🚢 Crystal Cruises “Sensational Savings”

Want to sail in serious style? Book a new Crystal cruise before June 30, 2025, and you’ll snag:

• A discount of up to $4,000 USD (or $6,000 CAD) per suite
• A credit of $500 per suite to use onboard during your cruise

We’ve cruised before on their lovely refurbished Crystal Serenity – so elegant! We’re sailing on her again later this year (from Barbados), and we can’t wait!

See: Crystal’s Sensational Savings offer

🚢 Last-minute Windstar Cruises

Love a spontaneous escape? Windstar Cruises is offering last-minute specials of up to 30% off on select sailings. A few tempting options:

• July 24 “Dreams of Tahiti” (7 nights)
• August 10 “Treasures of the Greek Isles” (7 nights)
• August 14 “Culinary Capitals of Spain and France” (21 nights)

We’re big fans of Windstar’s boutique ships – we especially loved our Tahiti cruise with them.

See: Windstar’s last-minute specials​

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That’s it for now. We’ll talk again later!