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Nightlife
in the Caribbean
Nighttime
is sleep time on the British Virgins, Montserrat,
Nevis, Anguilla, St. Eustatius, Saba, St. Barts,
Dominica, Bonaire, St. Vincent, and all of The
Grenadines. The serious partier will probably
want to choose one of the following destinations
below.
Aruba:
This island has 10 casinos, each with its own
unique decor and each with a following of devoted
gamblers. Some offer their own cabarets and
comedy shows, dance floors with live or recorded
music, restaurants of all degrees of formality,
and bars. The casinos are big, splashy, colorful,
and, yes, people even occasionally win. Drinks
are usually free while you play. The legal tender
in most of Aruba's casinos is the U.S. dollar.
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Aruba >>
Barbados:
Bridgetown is home to at least two boats (the
Bajan Queen and the Jolly Roger) that embark
at sundown for rum-and-reggae cruises, as well
as oversize music bars like Harbour Lights.
Otherwise, a host of bars, British-style pubs,
dozens of restaurants, and discos (both within
and outside large hotels) beckon from St. Lawrence
Gap or the crowded southwest coast.
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Barbados >>
Curaçao:
Although outdistanced by Aruba, the action spinning
around the island's casinos make this one of
the southern Caribbean's hot spots for gamblers.
Salinja, a sector of Willemstad, has lively
bars where locals and visitors drink and party
until the wee hours, and live jazz often fills
the air.
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Curacao >>
The
Dominican Republic: Large resort hotels
in the Dominican Republic evoke a Latino version
of Las Vegas. If cabaret shows aren't your thing,
there are enough discos in the major towns and
resorts to keep nightclubbers busy for weeks.
The tourist areas of Puerto Plata and Santo
Domingo are sprinkled with casinos, and the
island's ever-developing north shore contains
its share of jingle-jangle, too. Our favorite
is the casino in the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel
& Casino in Santo Domingo, which offers
floor shows, live merengue concerts, a wraparound
bar, and at least five different restaurants.
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Dominican
Republic >>
Jamaica:
Many visitors are drawn here by a love for
the island's distinct musical forms. Foremost
among these are reggae and soca, both of which
are performed at hotels, resorts, and raffish
dives all over the island. Hotels often stage
folkloric shows that include entertainers who
sing, dance, swallow torches, and walk on broken
glass. There are also plenty of indoor/outdoor
bars where you might actually be able to talk
to people. Local tourist boards in Negril and
Montego Bay sometimes organize weekly beach
parties called "Boonoonoonoos."
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Jamaica >>
Puerto
Rico: Puerto Rico contains all the
raw ingredients for great nightlife, including
casinos, endless rows of bars and bodegas, cabaret
shows with girls and glitter, and discos that
feature everything from New York imports to
some of the best salsa and merengue anywhere.
The country's gaming headquarters lies along
the Condado in San Juan, although there are
also casinos in megaresorts scattered throughout
the island. The casinos here are the most fun
in the Caribbean, and they're also some of the
most spectacular. Each contains lots of sideshows
(restaurants, merengue bars, art galleries,
piano bars, and shops) that can distract you
from the roulette and slots. Puerto Ricans take
pride in dressing well at their local casinos,
which enhances an evening's glamour. Note: You
can't drink at the tables. If you're a really
serious partyer, you'll have lots of company
in Puerto
Rico. Be prepared to stay out very late;
you can recover from your Bacardi hangover on
a palm-fringed beach the next day.
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Puerto Rico >>
St.
Maarten/St. Martin: This island has
a rather cosmopolitan nightlife and contains
the densest concentration of restaurants in
the Caribbean, each with its own bar. Discos
are often indoor/outdoor affairs. Hotel casinos
abound on the Dutch side, and if you're addicted
to the jingle of slot machines and roulette
wheels, you won't lack for company. The casinos
tend to be low-key, which might appeal to you
if you dislike high-stakes tables with lots
of intensity.
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Saint Martin / Sint Maarten >>
St.
Thomas: The Virgin Islands' most active
nightlife is found here. Don't expect glitzy
shows like those in San Juan's Condado area,
and don't expect any kind of casino. But you'll
find plenty of fun at the beach bars, restaurants,
concerts, clubs, and folklore and reggae shows.
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Virgin Islands >>
Links
& Sources:
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