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Katherine - Cancun, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Paradise. So many people go to great lengths to find the perfect vacation spot, and in the search for that perfect spot, many often make the mistaken of overlooking one of the hottest scenes to be found in the northern hemisphere…a place none other than Cancun, Mexico. Last year, I went on my first trip to Mexico, and absolutely fell in love with the Cabo San Lucas and Cabo San Jose areas. For this year's summer vacation, I wanted to see more of Mexico, and the choice was simple. Where can I find a vacation destination which offers private beach areas, allows me to lower my inhibitions, and most importantly of all, gives me the freedom to parade around in my new Malibu Strings bikini? The answer sprang to my mind almost instantly, Cancun! I arrived in Cancun rather late in the evening (thanks for the flight delay Continental) and quickly began my vacation by donning a dress and heading to dinner.

Stellar dining. One major item on any checklist that is used by a person searching for a vacation spot involves what that person's dining experience is going to be like. As many people from the United States know, sushi and hibachi restaurants are spreading like wildfire throughout the country. It seems that there has been a great cultural awakening in the last 10 years, and Americans are branching out and seeking new alternatives to traditional dining. Since I had arrived late in the day, my first stop after getting checked into the resort was the Asian themed restaurant at the resort. As you can see below, the hibachi and sushi served at the restaurant were to die for. Other notable dishes I had while at the resort included a wonderful duck dish, a magnificent pea risotto, and a flaming coffee desert drink that you would die for.

Just do it. As mentioned previously, dining is obviously high on the list for many vacationers, but for those that know me, they know that I'm constantly on the go. While I absolutely love laying by the pool, on a beach bed, or knocking back a chocolate martini, I can only do that for so long before I have the itch to leave the resort and go explore. So, one of the trips I took out of the resort were a bus ride to Chichen Itza, which had a stop at a gorgeous cenote where I was able to swim. I've included a picture of the cenote below, it truly was a beautiful site. Chichen Itza was awe inspiring. The ancient Mayans were truly a civilization to marvel at, and while the pyramid at Chichen Itza is certainly nothing to scoff at, it is such a loss to all of us that so much of that civilization was lost over the ages.

Absolutely fantastic. There are no other words to describe my experience while staying in Cancun. I had the opportunity to sail, kayak, snorkel, play both water and beach volleyball, and the best part of it all? I was able to do all these activities wearing my red liquid metal Malibu Strings bikini! You wouldn't believe the attention women who wear these bathing suits receive from other guests at the resort. Sure, a lot of women wear thong bathing suits in Mexico, but a Malibu Strings bikini goes far beyond your typical thong, it's definitely a statement maker about your personality! Speaking of making statements, one of the things I loved about the resort I stayed at in Cancun was the different theme parties the resort holds at the disco each and every night. One particular night while I was staying at Desire, the theme was "wild and wicked." Well, next to my Malibu Strings swimwear, my next favorite article of clothing is my purple latex dress from Vex Clothing, which is what I wore to the disco that night. I don't think wild and wicked night will ever be the seen the same way again at that resort!

Well, that about wraps up my story, well, at least the part of the story I can share with all of you :). Malibu Strings bikinis are all about allowing a woman to wear a bikini which makes them feel confident and sexy…you don't have to travel far to find a place where you can wear a Malibu Strings bikini. Cancun is a short flight from most of the United States, has a number of resorts where the beaches are private to those at the resort, and still allows you to enjoy some incredible history and culture, while at the same time allowing you to let loose and remember why you went on vacation in the first place (when else but during vacation can you lean up against a palm tree in a dress?). Give Cancun a try, but don't forget your Malibu Strings bikini!

Elisa - Harbour Island (Bahamas)

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Just off the north east coast of North Eleuthera, Bahamas, lies the quaint and romantic Harbour Island. For more information on the island, check out (http://www.harbourislandguide.com)

We connected through Nassau, then North Eleuthera where we took a 5 minute water taxi across the harbor to the municipal dock. All along the way the Bahamian people were extremely kind and helpful. This is a picture of the harbor side of the island from the water taxi ride in…

We stayed at the famous Rock House (http://www.rockhousebahamas.com/RHB.html), where we were greeted by one of the owners, Wallace, at check in. Though it was our first visit, everybody there treated us like family. The Rock House is a boutique hotel – really more like a large house with a great restaurant, bar and pool. Other than at dinner, there were rarely more than just a few couples hanging around. Here we are with owners Wallace and Don…

On Wallace’s advice, we took our golf cart as far north as the paved roads would allow, parked at the northernmost beach access, and took about a 10 minute walk north on the famous Pink Sand Beach. Within about 2 minutes of starting the walk, we were out of sight of the “crowd” which consisted of about 30 people in a 200 yard area where there were some chairs and umbrellas – see what we mean???

We stopped near the north end of the beach, and in an entire day of playing in the sun and calm sea, only saw 3 other couples walk by. Although the general rule in the Bahamas is that they frown on topless and nude sunbathing, this beach is so remote, and the people are so relaxed, that I was topless and in a Malibu Strings Tiny String bottom most of the time and nobody seemed to mind, even right in front of the main beach access where the Rock House has some chairs and umbrellas I was topless the entire time and nobody seemed to care.

If you are spending the day on the Pink Sand Beach, you have to hit the Blue Bar Restaurant at the Pink Sands Resort (http://pinksandsresort.com/index.htm) where you will have the island’s best beach view from atop a cliff about 30 feet above the beach.

For a little more adventure, on day two we rented a boat for the day. Well, my husband claimed it was once a boat…but I’m not so sure that is an accurate description. Maybe once upon a time it was…it’s a good thing he is good with his hands because we thought we were stranded more than once. Here are a few pictures of our day rented motor yacht…

But I must say, as much as we love boats, it really was awesome to make the short trip to the deserted islands just to the north of Harbour Island. The water is shallow and calm, with sand bars only 12 inches under water stretching hundreds of feet out into the bay…

The dinners and drinks – especially the famous “Goombay Smash” – at the Rock House are second to none…just be careful with the Goombay Smash…be VERY careful…my husband doesn’t remember part of our trip thanks to those frozen marvels…Here is a picture of the sunset from the balcony of the Palm Room just before dinner on our last night…

We can’t wait to go back – of course with some of the awesome new Fall 2008 suits from Malibu Strings!!!

Deborah - Negril, Jamaica

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:34:00 +0000

Deborah – Negril, Jamaica.

We always love beach vacations and there are a lot of great places we’ve enjoyed visiting, but there’s always just something special about Jamaica. As soon as you step off the airplane and get a deep breath of the warm humid air, you know you are back. We tend to stay in Negril which is such a beautiful destination, with Hedonism 2 being one of our favorite resorts.

We’ve been to other resorts in Negril. For sure the Grand Lido in Negril is an absolutely beautiful place, with outstanding food and room service. We went there on our first trip to Jamaica when we got married and it was such a lovely place. Hedo 2 on the other hand has decent rooms although they are nothing to brag about. The food there is fine, with some nights being really good. The resort in general is a little older and will never be as pretty or nice as some of the surrounding resorts. But, with all that said…a stay at Hedo 2 will easily be the best vacation you’ve ever taken.

The resort really is what it is due to the great people who work there and especially the guest who visit. It’s a place where you can really have all extremes. There will be massive water fights around the pool, to naked waterslide runs, to plenty of chances for nice romantic walks and time alone. But no matter what, it always has a warming sensual charge to the resort and everything that goes on there.

We enjoy our walks along the beach, and take them in the mornings and also many times before sunset prior to dinner. Those walks are some the times we capture a few of the photos which we’ve been lucky enough to have posted on the Malibu Strings pages.

The ‘ECs’, which are the entertainment coordinators, always keep things moving with tons of activities and games of all sorts. We enjoy a lot of these, especially sand volleyball. Granted with a few too many drinks, it may not be Olympic caliber by any means…but when you’re drunk enough it looks like it to you.

We also enjoy sailing the small Hobie cats as well as snorkeling as much as we can. It’s also a lot of fun to take one of the bigger catamaran rides around the some of the island which is also another chance to capture some great photos.

The evenings are always fun with a lot of things going on. This is also a wonderful time to dawn those eloquent and risqué dresses. I love the chance to dress up and wear a number of my outfits and dresses from 1 Sexy Night and Hedo 2 is such a wonderful venue for that.

All in all, Negril is a wonderful place to visit no matter the resort you choose. But, if you are truly looking for a place to wear your “swimsuits for the uninhibited” Hedo 2 is the place for you.

Natasha - British Virgin Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:10:00 +0000

Climbing on the ferry from St.John to head over to Little Dix Bay Resort in the British Virgin Islands, my husband and I couldn't imagine a more beautiful place than Caneel Bay. Well, we sure did find it when we arrived to Virgin Gorda! Rosewood Resorts did it again with an amazing setting on the Little Dix Bay. Our room's balcony overlooked the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean. All we wanted to do was head out and walk along the water, and we were thrilled to have another four nights in paradise. We stopped to have a light casual lunch and a Mojito at the Beach Grill before we went for a swim. I, of course, loved taking a dip showing off my Malibu Strings bikinis. You could walk into the bay for a hundred yards before your feet could no longer touch bottom.

In the evening, we made reservations at the Sugar Mill and had a romantic dinner on the bay. The Caribbean food was incredible and the wine list offered excellent choices...just the way we like it. After dinner, there was always festive music playing at the Pavilion Bar. Every evening my husband enjoyed a Cuban cigar along with our night cap sitting outside enjoying the warm trade winds. It was a beautiful walk back along the bay to our room, and somehow we couldn't help ourselves but skinny dip under the moonlight! What a great way to cool off before heating up again!

The resort offers many excursions during the day. No trip to Virgin Gorda is complete without a visit to The Baths which are located only five minutes from the property. The rocks sit directly on the water and each climb through the formations bring you to incredible views of the clear blue water.

Our favorite excursion, however, was a trip to a private island. A twenty minute trip by boat will drop you off at a nearby uninhabited island. For four hours you can swim, enjoy the sun, and sip cold beers from the ice chest they send you with. It did feel like we were a million miles away, and for a while we hoped our ride back would forget about us. Malibu Strings, or any bikini, were definitely not required on this beach, but I brought them along anyway to take plenty of pictures to remember our unforgettable trip to Virgin Gorda!

Jacqueline - Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:12:00 +0000

Aloha! 7 days, 4 suits, and a ton of pictures!

Having previously been on all the other islands of Hawaii, we have picked the Big Island as our most favorite and as always, we had an absolute blast. This time, our accommodations were at the Surf & Racquet Club in the Kona-Kailua area. The luxury condo was so big and fully furnished with a large kitchen; it was really more like an apartment!

Our condo faced out onto the ocean and was aboot, (not a typo, it’s a Canadian thing, eh?), 20 feet from the lava rock that surrounds most of the island. We left our bedroom lanai open at night because I absolutely LOVE falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore. It’s kind of mandatory when we travel that if there’s water, I want see and hear it from where we’re staying. In fact, one night the surf was particularly high and the pounding waves shot up over the lava rock 25 feet into the air...an incredible sight. The booming was so loud I thought it was an earthquake!

As some of you may know, I have been training to participate in a Figure Competition taking place this June, and it’s my first! I had to be able to keep my exercise/meal schedule and found a great gym called Pacific Island Fitness. A very good friend of ours lives in Hawaii and put me in the right direction with this facility. The folks there were fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable. Pasqual owns the gym and operates it with his son, Isiah. I was also inspired by Carol, a 55 year old woman who doesn't look a day over 40. She runs a breakfast/lunch kiosk in the gym and cooks healthy meals made to order. She also competes in figure competitions, and came in 2nd in last years Fitness Competition for the entire Big Island. I saw her pictures, she should have won! I have to go back to talk with, and learn more from her, (she's been into bodybuilding/fitness for over 30 years), what a sweetie!

The gym itself is hu-uge and split into 2 sections: an open air 'hardcore' side, with free weights and some really, really big guys walking around, and an air-conditioned side with cardio machines, muscle-specific machines, and free weights that I could lift. I was doing 2 sessions of 55 minutes each day, low intensity. I also squeezed in some weight training as per my trainers instructions.
Despite the food restrictions, my trainer luckily gave me one ‘cheat’ meal and we headed off to The Hard Rock Café in Kona.

Now I have to tell you, the classic cheeseburger and fries were to die for, not quite as good as In-N-Out, but trust me, when you’ve been deprived of it, it always tastes spectacular!
Right next to the Hard Rock is a beach volleyball court. This is so cool, and you can work off your lunch/dinner by just heading down and starting up a game. Or you can just sit in the bleachers and watch one. It was very entertaining to say the least.

Other fun restaurants to try in the downtown Kona area include Bubba Gumps, get a table on the water and watch the sunset. Lava Java where the whole menu is as good as the service is slow, but who’s in a rush in paradise? We have also eaten at Lu-Lu's which is another great party place with a spectacular view of the bay.
Of course the Big Island is more than just a gym and burgers! It has some of the most spectacular, and if needed, secluded beaches that you could ask for. One thing we learned from our trip last year was to pick up the book, "Hawaii - The Big Island Revealed". Written by a local couple, it gives you the entire do’s and don’ts, and must see’s and how to get there’s, for the whole island. The authors don’t accept advertising, and only write aboot what they themselves have experienced in a very none ‘touristy’ or ‘wanna sell you sumptin’ way’.

The book describes almost every beach on the island, and pointed us to the right beaches to suit our needs. Most of the beaches on Kona are primarily lava rock, but there are several that have sand as well. The Big Island is way less crowded than the others, and on more than one occasion we had the entire half mile long Mahai’ula beach to ourselves, and I mean the entire beach. It matters not what you are looking for, this island has it all.

Another must for us on vacation is golf. We played 4 courses, Makalei GC, Kona CC, Big Island CC, and Waikaloa GC. My brief not-so-expert course reviews are as follows:

Makalei GC was nice and is popular with the locals. It is located half way up the volcano and is rather hilly which makes for some tough shots. There are dozens of peacocks walking all over the course, it's wonderful! I *ahem* beat hubby by 2 strokes, (who in fairness was nursing a bad back and has had persistent tennis elbow - or so he said).

Kona CC was by far my favorite course. Several holes on the course run along the ocean and they have a par 3 that you have to tee off over a huge lava flow. My errant tee shot actually hit the lava, but got a favorable bounce back onto the green. Unfortunately, hubby returned to truer form...and whipped me badly.
Big Island CC was just OK. Unbeknownst to us they had top-dressed the greens. Their greens keeper must have taken the whole 'golf near the beach' thing to the extreme. The greens actually looked sand traps! True story: if we dragged our putter along the sand, we would have left a groove to the hole, that's how bad it was! We had to play the '2 putt' rule because there really was no way putt at all. They did reduce the green fees to compensate, which was nice. Overall it’s a beautiful course though, complete with wild turkeys running around and gorgeous jacaranda trees all over. The two finishing holes are pretty and tough!

Waikoloa is part of a huge hotel/condo/golf complex. The course is nice, but nothing earth-shattering. Maybe I say that because I kind of sucked that day, nothing was working and my game was quite inconsistent....well, at least it didn't rain. There were 2 pretty ocean holes, but the rest of the course is rather typical.

We took 4 Malibu Strings bikini’s with us, a black mesh, a black sling, a white sexy halter, and the new stars & stripes, which had more than one person saluting! Several new Malibu Strings galleries to follow!

In the mean time, if you have never been to Hawaii, just go!.....there is so much to see and do. In 2007 we explored the Volcanoes and did lots of sightseeing and exploring, this year was R&R and beaches, next year who knows, maybe it’s time to learn to surf!...Hawaii really is the most gorgeous place on earth. Go...go now, and save me a spot on the beach!

Love, Jacqueline

Laurie G. - Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie G) — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:29:00 +0000

This is my fourth visit to Playa Del Carmen since 2000. We love Mexico and the Mexican people. They are very welcoming and friendly and always make you feel special. These RIU Palace resorts are some of the best in the Caribbean and are usually a first choice for us no matter the country or island. The food, service, rooms, grounds, and staff are all amazing and at a very appropriate price.

Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed with the beach this time. Apparently the 2006 hurricane and erosion have greatly diminished this beach. While the beach and overall area are still quite nice, you no longer can stroll down the flat sand beach like you can at other Caribbean locations. A beach walk today is more of an adventure, more like an obstacle course. There are huge sandbags (see those whale like humps in these photos) that are placed all along the beach in front of the hotels to affect the erosion. Not sure the sand bags are working and they are not my favorite part of the beach. Some hotels are being affected by the erosion more than others.

I did find some sandbags useful to lean against however.

There is still a great area of undeveloped beach beyond the hotels. It was quite a walk from our resort in terms of distance and challenge. It was an adventure; we walked up and down the sandbags, through shallow water in front of some hotels, and encountered some sandbag staircases. The journey was only half the fun because when we got past the hotels the beach was pristine. It was a perfect setting for taking some pictures.

The best part was the wedding party that had the same good idea. We didn’t even notice them until the groomsmen started whistling at me (at least the groom didn’t whistle, I think). Who would have thought I could wear Malibu Strings to a wedding!?
Once we finished our photo shooting the walk back to our hotel took us right past the rest of the wedding reception. We had quite a few laughs imagining the groomsmen’s stories. I hope the bride has a good sense of humor!

Later during the vacation we decided to do a photo shoot out in front of our hotel. The beach wasn’t too crowded for some reason; maybe it was the extra strong breeze that day or the time of day. We took our pictures relatively early and enjoyed the beach for the rest of the day. Well I guess the pool bartenders weren’t too busy and had a good view of the beach. I got some nice compliments and more smiles as we came off the beach for happy hour. This one bartender was my biggest fan, even out of my bikini. I never waited long for a drink for the rest of the week.

The resort is fun even off the beach. It is beautifully landscaped and has lots of birds and small lizards that are fun to watch while lounging at the pool or sitting on a bench taking in the surroundings. The birds make great sounds, quite different than any bird sounds I’m accustomed to which adds the tropical paradise ambiance.

One of my favorite things in Mexico is Mariachi. The music and the outfits are awesome. Everyone is having a better time when there is a Mariachi band around.

The resort also brings the shopping to you. A few nights a week they invite local craftsmen to set up within the resort and sell everything from jewelry, to art work, handicrafts, clothing, cigars, etc. It adds a nice energy to the evening after a tough day playing on the beach. The resort also hosts specialty drinks on different nights, like Tequila shots. I’ll stick to something a little lighter and send in my husband for this one.

Outdoor dining is a treat coming from New England and the dining area is beautiful. Having breakfast and dinner outside really enhances the vacation.

Hope you enjoy my perspective on Mexico Playa Del Carmen. Now go get you Malibu Strings and get out on vacation!

Laurie G. - More St Martin...

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie G) — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Here is French Marigot in St Martin viewed from the water. It is a beautiful place to walk, dine, or shop. The people a quite friendly and the café scene is alive and well. You can see and tour the old fort that guards the city. As much as I love the beaches and beach bar/restaurants this small Caribbean city deserves a visit. Stroll along the waterfront and café-hop down the main street. The city is quite lively most nights with locals and tourists alike. The shopping bazaar can be a lot of fun too. There are multiple marinas at Marigot and some quite impressive yachts to say the least. One of the marinas is hidden from view by buildings and set quite deep into the tiny capital. This amazing protected marina is surrounded by restaurants and a few shops. It is an amazing place to dine and stroll among the yachts which are backed right up to the dock; you are one step form going onto any of them. There are luxury yachts, fishing charters, and tour boats all beautifully lined up in this small marina. The outdoor bar/restaurant patios are usually full and lively. La Belle Époque seems to attract the most locals and once you try their pizza you too will know why.

Not every yachts stays within the confines of the marina. We had this lovely boat anchored offshore from our hotel and would see it at Orient beach during the days. My husband figured they liked my Malibu Strings bikinis so much that they had figured out how to follow us. At night this boat became a floating disco and from the sounds of things much fun was being had for the better part of the night. Funny how quite the yacht would be in the morning though ;^>

One morning we went to our deck for breakfast and saw this catamaran. My husband joked it was the dinghy from the yacht coming to fetch me for the day. That or some late night reveler was going to have serious explaining to do! Lucky for him this sign post cluster just up the beach might point him in the right direction. Who knew the Taj Mahal was so nearby?

As you can see everyone loves the beach at sunset to relax, enjoy the cooling of the day, and enjoy such memorable views.

This beach has a beautiful view of Anguilla and has calm waters all day long. It is just a short walk from Grand Case and the location of Sunset Café. Not to be confused with the Sunset Bar, the café is a quiet location and a wonderful spot to wind down and sip a quiet romantic drink without the crowds.

Another great place to visit is Pine Island. It is a short 500 yard boat ride leaving and is a paradise within St Martin’s paradise. Amazingly calm water with a great view back to St Martin. Two beaches and two amazing restaurants make for a great day trip (bring cash, they have no credit card machines). You can stand at the tip of this little island and look down both rows of umbrellas at the same time, this little island actually comes to a point is shallow water. Avoid the weekend unless you really want to meet the locals (and their children).

A good reason to rent a car is to drive up above Orient Beach for this view! This isn’t the only great vantage point either; you’ll be blown away at the heights on this island and the views that come with such amazing peaks. You can see Pinel Island in the right side picture with some boats anchored in front.

Another really nice aspect of St Martin is how many beaches have bars, restaurants, and beach chair/umbrella service. Too bad it the sea was too rough to spend the beach day here at Baie Rouge, this place looked fun and is highly recommended some of the other Malibu Strings girls!

No matter which way you look at St Martin, it’s all about the Beach!

…from Sunset Beach Bars, to big screen football outdoors, to heartwarming sunsets!

Jody - Playa del Carmen

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Playa del Carmen is located just south of Cancun. It's about a 45 minute ride from the Cancun airport. A very nice, clean small city with lots to do. After traveling all day it was nice to be greeted with a glass of champagne and a cool hand towel upon our arrival and a very speedy check-in. The Royal Hideaway Resort and Spa is a beautiful gated resort. This resort was a perfect setting for the family wedding we were attending.

There are about 200 rooms in this beach side resort, so you really do not feel like just another tourist on vacation. There are about ten or so "villas" each only 2 to 3 stories high. Each "villa" had it's own concierge to assist you with your dinner reservations and all accommodations with your stay. Being an all-inclusive resort, we took advantage of the 24 hr room service. Great food and perfect portions. We didn't get to try out all the restaurants during our short time there. But what we did have was most scrumptious.

The staff couldn't of been more attentive. Before anyone in our group finished a drink, another was arriving as if they could read our minds. Since I am the only one in the group that smokes cigars, I was fortunate enough to have it literally walk by us on the beach. Not many beach vendors, but the ones that are allowed offered very nice goods. I ended up buying a box of 5 Cohiba Cuban cigars. Mmmmm what a treat. Sipping the best Mojito I've had in a long time, smoking a nicely aged Cuban cigar on a beach with white powdery sand and soaking up lots of sunshine wearing one of my favorite suits. Really who could ask for anything more.

I was told that there was a significant amount of damage to the beach due to the hurricanes of last year. They were actually adding sand to the beach while we were there. It really didn't distract from any part of the trip and was actually nice to have the 'sand bags' create little tide pools to dip in. They had water crafts available for any type of water sport and their own lifeguard.

Because we were only there for 3 days, the beach, sun and saltwater was our priority. So having my Malibu Strings suits were definitely being put to good use, I just wish that we had more time there to wear them all. By far, these suits could not be any more comfortable. I truly feel so confident wearing them in and out of the surf. We had fun running around the resort find neat areas to do a 'photo shoot'. The attention these suits get was overwhelming.

I can't thank Malibu Strings enough for being there for me, these suits will always be my travel companion where ever life takes me.

-Jody

Kimmy - Sint Maarten

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:42:00 +0000

St. Martin, or Sint Maarten…This tiny island is the smallest land mass shared by two countries…France, and The Netherlands…

There are no check points when you travel from the Dutch side to the French side of the Island…The Dutch side seems more American, and the French side is more European.…Electricity on the Dutch side is 110v…on the French it is 220v…If you want US $$ which are accepted all over the Island you should go to the Dutch side to an ATM…you will find plenty of them.

Most people either visit briefly, off one of the many cruise ships that stop at the Island for the day, or fly into Princess Julianna airport, which was recently expanded and renovated with a new terminal…expansion of the runway is underway…Speaking of runway…one of the attractions on the island is going to Maho beach and Sunset Beach Bar…which are located at the end of the runway…You can listen to the radio traffic between the pilot, and tower, then watch up close, and personal as the planes come, and go…most spectacular of which are the 747’s screaming overhead…

Some adventurous souls try to hang on to the chain link fence while the planes run up the engines for take off…I’ve done this myself…The hot jet wash and sand pelting you…quite a rush… I have seen a few less hearty souls take a tumble when they fail to hold tight… I know it sounds crazy…but it’s great entertainment…

Maho has a lot to offer…Casinos, Fine restaurants, Night clubs, and shopping…
Some of my favorites...

After a day on the beach we often stop at Sunset beach bar for cocktails, and a snack…They usually have local entertainment, and topless women drink free…yes I have had my share of free drinks…They also have live entertainment that goes into the night as well as a Bikini contest for those who dare…and a best physique for the guys…

Bamboo Bernies, restaurant, bar, night club, great sushi…Bliss, restaurant, bar, night club, they have a small pool too…very nice for lounging an afternoon away…

Cheri’s café is a must for first timers, the show hasn’t changed since our first time in 94, but you really should do it once…you’re sure to have a good time…Casino Royale…

The Q club which was featured in Wild on with Brooke Burke a while back…is a dance club above the casino…open late, and only on the weekends…and of course Sopranos piano bar which has great entertainers, usually for a month at a time…last time we had the pleasure of Heather Sullivan’s talents for our entire four week stay…We even had the good fortune to have Luciano drop by while he was on island for a concert, and do a few songs with Heather…Luciano is said to be the new Bob Marley…

Heather will be back in June 08…It’s best to grab the weekly entertainment guide to know what’s going on, and on which night it’s happening…There’s also the Platinum Room for adult entertainment.

Right next to Maho is the only golf course on the island…it is, or was part of the Mullet bay beach club, and resort…In 1995 Hurricane Luis damaged the resort, and it was never repaired…the story is someone took the money and ran…The golf course is still in operation although it is not the beauty it once was…and Mullet bay beach is still a nice beach…there are facilities and vendors for refreshments…

One thing you must know about the Island is the Bridge schedule…There are two draw bridges…one in Simpson Bay, and the other in Marigot…avoid driving near the bridges when they’re up, you will be stuck in your car for quite a while…you may as well be sitting at the bar, or on the beach, or whatever else you’d like to do…check the schedule…plan accordingly trust me…

Since we’re talking about cars and driving…you really need a car if you plan to enjoy the experience that is Sint Maarten…you can rent one pretty reasonably at the airport…they will negotiate…

Elisa - Bare-Boating the British Virgin Islands

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:37:00 +0000

Exploring the British Virgin Islands (BVI) by boat is at the absolute top of our list of vacations. While it is work if you are the “captain of your own ship”, the rewards of being able to search out a deserted beach, drop anchor, and dinghy ashore with a cooler, some towels, and little more, is second to none.

Getting to the BVI can be a bit of a chore. You can connect through St. Thomas and take a ferry over, or through San Juan on American. If you chose to take another airline (we took US Airways into San Juan) then you will probably have to connect to Beef Island (BVI) by way of a carrier like Caribbean Sun or Caribbean Star. We actually chose Cape Air. They fly old Cessna 402s, which hold a max of 9 passengers and take about 45 minutes to get to Beef Island. The up side of going via Cape Air is that the customs staff at BVI is small and they have a lot of paperwork to fill out on each passenger, so if you arrive on a flight of 50, you can spend an hour waiting to clear customs. Going on a small flight gets you through much quicker. Also, when we left at the end of our vacation, the line for check in on American was packed and everybody was afraid they would miss their flight. Nobody was in the Cape Air line, so we were in and out in about 5 minutes. One note – if you change carriers in San Juan (both coming and going) you will have to re-check-in and get your boarding passes, so on the way home, that means you have to totally exit the airport and go back through the check in line, which can be very long if you are not a preferred status frequent flier or flying first class.

We always use the Catamaran Company for our charters. They are located in Nanny Cay, which is about 45 minutes from the airport (taxi is around $12pp one way). Our boat for the week was a 43ft power catamaran by Lagoon. On arrival, the office was already closed, but they had us hooked up to shore power and left the lights and air conditioning on for us. The next morning we had a brief check out and were on our way.

Day 1 – We made the trip west out of Nanny Cay and around the West End of Tortola then turned north to Jost Van Dyke, where we spent the day on White Bay. This is a great multi-purpose beach. On the west end there are watersports, a trampoline, and 4-wheelers for exploring the island. More to the center and to the east, there is only sand and vegetation. This is an area where you can go topless and be far enough from the bars and families that nobody bothers you.
http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/jvd_white_bay.html

Day 2 – After an overnight in Soper’s Hole (West End, Tortola) we headed back toward Jost Van Dyke and stopped for the day at Sandy Cay. This is an uninhabited island with great snorkeling, sand and sun. That night we stayed close by and anchored overnight, grilling fresh Mahi-Mahi on the boat and putting a few bottles of wine to good use.

Day 3 – We took a long cruise south and around to Peter Island, where we anchored on the south side on lovely White Bay (part of Peter Island Resort, but very desolate). Rumor has it that the house on the hillside, which you can see in some of Elisa’s pictures, is owned by Bill Gates. After a great day on the beach, we took a late afternoon cruise around the south and then east side of the island and headed back into the Sir Francis Drake channel and ended up on a mooring ball for the night in Trellis Bay, where we dined at “The Last Resort”. This was by far the most gourmet meal we had on our trip and would strongly recommend stopping in.

Day 4 – Getting up early and dropping the mooring ball at sun-up, we made a 45 minute cruise over to the Baths on Virgin Gorda. If in the BVI, this is a must. We spent some time in Devil’s Bay and then made the 20 minute hike through the caves and boulders. For lunch we made the 5 minute walk up to “Top of the Baths” where the views are outstanding. Later that day, we headed all the way east to Bitter End Yacht Club where we took a dock slip for the night.
http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/virgin_gorda_the_baths.html
http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/bitter_end_yacht_club.html

Day 5 – We cruised the entire length of the BVI this morning, leaving Bitter End (nearby Neckar Island is owned by Sir Richard Branson) and headed west back to Jost Van Dyke, where we stopped at the tiny island of Sandy Spit. We took a mooring at nearby Diamond Cay and spend the day on Sandy Spit. About 4pm, the last of the other visitors left the island, so we had about an hour and a half alone on the island and took another round of photos for Malibu Strings.
http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/sandy_spit_bvi.html

Day 6/7 – Short trip back to White Bay, Jost Van Dyke where we spent our last two days drinking Coronas and Painkillers at the Soggy Dollar Bar, before heading back to Nanny Cay to turn in our boat and try to figure out how soon we can make it back!

Belle - Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 07:19:00 +0000

Israel is a little smaller than New Jersey. It is similar to California in geographic diversity with mountains, desert, and world class beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

There is a lot of military, religious and cultural significance in the land of Israel making for interesting adventures and the opportunity to take lots of photos. In many places in the Middle East, wearing a bikini in a public place would get you arrested or killed but thankfully Israel has lots of places where a girl can show off her Malibu Strings.

Our journey started with a tour of the Golan Heights. While most tourists never visit the area, (Israel and Syria are still technically in a state of war) it is typically safe and beautiful but best to go with someone who knows the area. The Golan Heights is a little less than 500 square miles of high ground overlooking the Kinneret (also called the Sea of Galilee or Lake Tiberius). Prior to the Six Day War of 1967, the Golan Heights was controlled by Syria which used the area to stage artillery attacks on villages below. In addition to being militarily significant, the region is strategically important because it provides about one third of Israel’s fresh water supply. Evidence of the area’s recent military history can be seen today in the form of Israeli bunkers and Syrian mine fields.

Gan Hashlosha is a national park commemorating the deaths of three prominent Jewish leaders who were on a land surveying mission in September 1938 when their jeep hit a land mine and all were killed. Located a short drive south from the Kinneret, the park contains beautiful waterfalls and fresh water springs fed by an aquifer. There is an ancient Arab legend that claims this area is the Garden of Eden.

Located on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea and the third largest city in Israel, Haifa is a port city and home of the Bahai religion’s World Centre and Gardens.

North of Haifa are the ruins of Caesarea which was a Phoenician city 4000 years ago. Conquered and re-conquered many times it is best known as a Roman city and was the official residence of Pontious Pilate about 2000 years ago. You can still see parts of an ancient Roman aqueduct which transported fresh water down the beach.

No trip to Israel would be complete without a trip to the Dead Sea which is so salty that you will float but you can’t swim in it. At 1,300 feet below sea level, it is the lowest place on earth and is known for its healing properties. A short drive west of the Dead Sea, is Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. All buildings in Jerusalem are required to be faced with Jerusalem stone so they complement one another.

Eilat is Israel’s most southern city and is situated on the Red Sea between Jordan and Egypt. The road to Eilat passes through the Negev Desert. Bedouin people preserve their ancient ways of nomadic life living in tents and using camels, animals which apparently have no fear of highways. Eilat is home to some of the best diving in the world. Eilat is the type of place that makes you want to relax on the beach (or your private Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean) and drink in all the beautiful sites.

Laurie G. - St. Martin Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie G) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:48:00 +0000

St Martin is a great place to vacation in the Caribbean and have a reasonable European experience at the same time. Legendary beaches of course and beaches where even your Malibu Strings might have you overdressed. And while Orient Beach is known for clothing optional you'll find the whole island, French or Dutch side, is quite open to skimpy swimwear. The nice thing is the attitude - enjoy the beach, the sun, the water, wear what you want or not and don't worry about it. A lot less staring occurs here than anywhere else we've been. That is until and if the cruise ship tour bus shows up, then just smile, wave and send some lucky gawker home with the best vacation photos he's ever taken (and possibly and angry/jealous wife?). Then enjoy your sunset on the beach while he's heading back to his cruise ship.

If you like good food and great dining, this is the place. We all know the French can cook; no doubt about it. Now take that culinary skill, influence it with local flavors, preserve that French flair for presentation, relax the atmosphere to island level while maintaining the French sophistication and you are going to have some of the best dining experiences of your life.

Not all the dining is so fancy. Outdoor barbeques are common, casual, cheap, and delicious.

Our favorite area for dining is Grand Case. A one way street lined with restaurants of all styles and price ranges. Restaurants on one side have dining rooms overlooking the beach; the other side tries to make up for lack of beach view with customer service and perhaps a few Euros cheaper.

You can't go wrong either way and every restaurant has their menu posted outside so you can stroll the street looking for that perfect mixture of ambiance and menu selection.

Plenty of restaurants will even give you a 1 Dollar to 1 Euro exchange if you pay cash, don’t be afraid to ask.

Beyond the beaches, St Martin has huge pitons that rise right up out of the ocean. The largest is Pic Paradis at 1,492 feet high. I haven’t yet taken in the view from the top but enjoy just looking up from the beach at what we call mountains where I come from.

Having a car in St Martin is well worth the expense and let’s you visit multiple beaches, dine on the French side one night, the Dutch side the next, or just take a drive and explore the island. The island is easy to navigate with just a tourist map. One beach we recently discovered for ourselves is named Le Galion Bay.

It has the calmest water, a beach restaurant, and chairs/umbrellas for rent. It’s also a learning place for windsurfing and kite boarding due to the calm water caused by the reef at the bay inlet where the reef stops the waves but lets the strong Caribbean trade winds flow through. It’s easy to spend the day watching kite boarders soar through the air across such calm water.

à tout à l'heure …

Laurie G. - Dominican Republic - Punta Cana

noreply@blogger.com (Laurie G) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:51:00 +0000

One of the nicest beaches in the Caribbean and some of the kindest people are found in the Domican Republic. The beach is huge so you can walk for close to an hour in either direction. Great exercise, people watching, and opportunity to survey the other resorts. One really nice feature is that resorts do not exceed the height of the beach palms so your view is water on one side and palms on the other. You feel like you are on an undeveloped beach despite the fact that there are so many great hotels all along the beach.

There is an old barge wreck just off shore which makes for a nice backdrop for taking pictures or providing a destination for taking a sailboat ride. And is the wind picks up, the waves crashing the barge can be amazing to watch from the comfort of your beach chair.

My favorite resorts are the Riu chain, with the Riu Palace Punta Cana at the top of my list. The food, the grounds, the lobby, the staff, the rooms are all first rate yet still well priced.

The swimming pools are beautiful and have great views of the main grounds of the resort. There is even an infinity pool to finish off the day watching the sunset. The beach faces east so sundown on the beach isn't fully sundown at the pool. Of course the pool swim up bar! Friendly people and beautiful locale make Puta Cana the perfect spot for a relaxing vacation. Toss a bunch of Malibu Strings bikinis in your bag and get going! See you there.

Danielle - Bora Bora...Paradise found

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:58:00 +0000

After many months of searching for just the right place, we finally agreed on Bora Bora as our belated honeymoon destination. It was quite a voyage getting there from the Pacific Northwest, but as soon as we could see the bright blue and greens of the scenery we knew we had chosen well. Bora Bora welcomes you with the views and imagery you see on postcards. It's dramatic scenery and total privacy offers you what I think of as the most romantic island in the world. If you are looking for white sand and crystal blue waters with a backdrop of lush green mountains and hibiscus flowers, this is the place for you.

We were greeted at the St. Regis with a welcome fit for a king, and queen. The staff and the resort left nothing to be desired. If you are looking for true luxury accommodations, the St. Regis offers you just that and more. It comes at a price but if you have the option, go for it. Many resorts offer the classic overwater bungalow accommodations. We loved ours. We were diving off the deck like little kids and snorkeling right outside our room. Where else in the world can you stay in a bungalow like that?

The food was a reflection of the French culture fused with the Polynesian culture. There is plenty of seafood and lots of french delicacies. Croissants and crepes for breakfast and local fish for dinners. We spent most of our time at the resort but a great local restaurant was Bloody Mary's. It was one of the few nightspots on the island. Bora Bora isn't a big late night place. It's pretty quiet and romantic. The wines were amazing thanks to the link to French culture and champagne was available everywhere. An interesting point to note about French Polynesia is that it is not expected or encouraged to tip. The price on the menu is the price and tipping is not expected. Kind of nice since everything was quite pricey.

Tahitian black pearls are a big deal around there as well. We shopped at one of the many pearl shops in town for a whole day looking for just the right ones. Be sure to educate yourself about pearls before buying any. It is quite an investment and the details of it are quite similar to purchasing a fine diamond. Lots of things to learn before purchasing one.

We did a few days of scuba diving as well. The visibility was fantastic and the sea life was plentiful. Large lemon sharks, sea turtles, and giant barracuda were just a few of the fish we spotted. TOP Dive was wonderful and we would suggest using them for your diving. Their equipment and boats seemed the nicest and most up to date.

We spent 10 days in paradise and loved it all. If you are looking for privacy and a low key romantic trip in a gorgeous setting, you will love Bora Bora.

Love,
Danielle

Stacie - St. Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:13:00 +0000

My husband and I have traveled to St. Martin five or six times now. The island is owned half by the French and the other half by the Dutch, so the island has two distinct personalities. The French side has a more European flavor with fine restaurants, boutiques, pristine topless and clothing optional beaches. But be prepared to pay the price. The French side uses the Euro, and the current exchange rate is 1 Euro = 1.47 us$. The Dutch side is more Americanized with lots of bars, fast food, more conservative beaches and a more outgoing nightlife. The Dutch Guilder is at a fixed rate with the US dollar so there is no devaluation.

We always stay at Le Flamboyant Hotel, on the French side at Baie Nettle. The hotel is located on Simpson Lagoon, the largest natural lagoon in the Caribbean. It is not necessary to speak French but it is helpful to have some knowledge of the language. Most of the French people we meet enjoy trying to help us speak their language better. A three minute drive from the hotel is Baie Rouge, one of our favorite beaches. This beach is very long and offers soft sand, blue surf and two local restaurants. All of the beaches on the French side are topless and a few (Baie Rouge & Orient) are clothing optional.

Just over the border on the Dutch side is our other favorite beach, Cupecoy. This is the only clothing optional beach on the Dutch side. Johnny and Danny offer drinks and cook the best barbeque chicken and ribs on the island.

After sunning in the mornings we usually head over to the Sunset Beach Bar. This unique beach bar is located at the end of the Queen Juliana Airport (SXM). 747’s and other jumbo jets pass just 50-75 feet over your head! Photographers flock to this bar to capture photos like none other in the world.

Since there are so many great restaurants in St. Martin, all-inclusive hotel packages are not recommended. Marigot (capital of the French side) has a beautiful marina with plenty of wonderful water-side dining and shopping. Grand Case is renowned for its fine French restaurants. Simpson Bay on the Dutch side offers a more relaxed, causal international dining experience. Our favorite is Bavaria, an authentic German restaurant; be sure to get the potato soup!

If you ever get tired of St. Martin, trips to Anguilla, St. Barts or Saba are only a 1-2 hour boat ride away.

Thanks for all the great emails when I post photos on Malibu Strings. I hope to have my new website up very soon. Until next time…

Kisses,
Malibu Stacie

Natasha - Caneel Bay Resort on St.John

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:46:00 +0000

A trip to the US Virgin Islands would not be complete without a visit to the Caneel Bay Resort on St.John. And where better to show off sexy Malibu Strings bikinis?

The property offers 7 beautiful beaches, each offering a different view of the Caribbean Sea and soft white sand to work on a beautiful tan. Some have a rugged coastline that you have to hike down to and a couple of the beaches are right outside your room! Don't be surprised if a herd of wild donkeys or deer decide to follow you around the 170 acres of national park which surround the property. These animals are tame and very beautiful to look at, though the resort does ask that you do not feed them.

Don't pass up an elegant dinner at the Turtle Bay Estate House on the property. The restaurant offers a very romantic atmosphere with panoramic views of the waters around St.John. I do remember that a jacket was required

for my husband, and a summer dress and sandals was all I needed. Just remember they do run the air conditioning inside so it can get a little cool.

For a more casual dinner try the Equator Restaurant on top of an old sugar mill. It's outdoor dining with another amazing view of the sea. Even though it's casual, they still offer a complete bar and wine list..what's dinner without and amazing bottle of wine? It was our favorite restaurant on the property.

For breakfast we were at the Caneel Beach Terrace..actually, that's not true. We were right next door at the at the Breezeway Bar getting the day started right with Devon's special Bloody Mary's! They actually sold the special hot sauce at the gift shop. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of it because it was taken from me at the airport...don't forget you can no longer take over 3 ounces of liquid in a carry on bag! Oh well, just another reason to go back to St. John!

The property also offered day trips over to St. Thomas for shopping, and a trip to their sister property Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Lucky for us, we spent another 3 nights there. But I'll save that story for another day.

http://www.caneelbay.com/

Daly - Mai Tais or Margaritas?

blog@hellodaly.com (Daly) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:26:00 +0000

When it comes to nice places to get away, Hawaii usually comes to mind but for a change, my husband and I headed South to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Just a couple hours away from the Southwest, this popular destination on the Baja Peninsula has something for everyone.
We stayed at the Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar just 15 minutes from downtown Cabo. This 28-acre resort with its cobblestone lanes, fountains, private gardens, restaurants, and shops has all the amenities that you will need from luxurious spa treatments to tee time at the nearby 18-hole golf courses. We're not golfers but sure wished we were!
If we weren't soaking in the main infinity pool overlooking the resort's private beach and Sea of Cortez, or playing on the sandy beach, we were frolicking at the Delfines swim-up pool overlooking the Cabo del Sol Golf Course. Even during the last week of November, the temperatures were perfect--in the high 70s, low 80s; so wearing Malibu Strings was definitely not a problem.

There's not a shortage of places to eat at the resort. Our favorites are:

Sirenas - casual bar and grill near the main infinity pool with a panoramic view of the Sea of Cortez

Pitahayas - enjoy a romantic dinner of Pacific Rim cuisine underneath the canopy of giant palapas

Girasoles de la Hacienda - dine at the highest point of the resort overlooking the ocean

Tomatoes - great place for breakfast and themed buffets

In town you'll find La Golondrinas (seafood and steaks), Romeo and Julieta (Italian), Margaritavilla (go for the mega margarita) and Taco Loco (by far the best build-your-own taco bar). Other days we walked along the Marina Cabo San Lucas browsing the street vendors and stopped to have an ice cold beer with lunch at Baja Cantina. But at the end of the day, nothing was better than lounging on the wide open beach sipping margaritas and watching the gorgeous sun set over the horizon.

What about the night life, you ask? Well there is definitely plenty of night life but you'll need to head to downtown Cabo to El Squid Roe or Cabo Wabo and immerse yourself in the lights and sounds into the late night. Don't forget to stop by the world's smallest bar, Slim Elbow Room, and catch a seat on one of the four barstools.
Before our trip was over, we took a guided ATV tour through hills and valleys to the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula. We did donuts with our ATVs and, when we were tired of riding, listened to the waves crash as we watched the sun set over a stretch of beach that looked virtually untouched by man. This excursion was a lot of fun and well worth eating dust during the ride! ;) We felt like little campers as we puttered back through the dark dirt trails towards our bunks.
We'll always remember the fishing trip where we caught an 8'5" marlin. It was such a beauty, we made sure to release it back into the ocean before passing by the infamous El Arco on our return to the dock. (You can catch a glass bottom boat to be dropped off at the beach of El Arco and have a little picnic.)
Of all our days spent in Cabo, our best memories are of the times we spent by the pool and on the sandy beach where I can wear my Malibu Strings. (I think my husband enjoyed it the most!)

A blog to the good life.

noreply@blogger.com (Malibu Strings Insider) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:37:00 +0000

This blog is meant to explore the finer things in life - from travel to diamonds - and everything in between...