Blog | Page 45 of 62 | Rum Therapy

May 15, 2013April 18, 2021

Coconut Bar, Young Island Resort

I was looking at some FB pics the other day and saw a picture of a bar that looked very familiar. As I read on, I realized that we had visited the bar a number of years back and had completely forgotten.

The name of the bar is Coconut Bar and it’s a swim up bar in the water just off of Young Island Resort, which is a private resort/island just off the coast of St. Vincent. I looked through our archives of pictures from past trips and found it.

Located just a few strokes away from the beach, Coconut Bar had a good selection of rum cocktails as well as good cold Hairouns (St. Vincent beer).

We were ready to embark on a week long sail through the Grenadines and our boat was anchored on the southeast side of St. Vincent at the Young Island Cut. While waiting to board, we were told that we might enjoy taking the free water taxi over to Young Island and enjoying a bit of sunbathing and a beverage.

The island itself looked like a tropical rainforest with lush foliage and flowers everywhere.
The beach had a selection of comfortable lounge chairs and hammocks and we enjoyed the afternoon lounging in the sunshine while watching the boats move in and out of the Cut and looking across at beautiful St. Vincent….

And the best part? When we got a little too warm (or thirsty!) we just took a short swim over to the Coconut Bar to chat with the bartender and enjoy another beverage!

Have you been to the Young Island Resort or the Coconut Bar? If so, let us know about your visit!

To find out more about Young Island Resort and the Coconut Bar, you can visit their website here:
Young Island Resort

To see more posts on St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC. All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

May 13, 2013June 5, 2013

Relieving the Zing of a Jellyfish Sting

Do you love spending time in the ocean, swimming, floating, wading, surfing, etc? Well, we certainly do, but sometimes we’re reminded that we are guests in that vast blue expanse and need to respect – and be careful of some of the native ocean inhabitants.
While floating in a particularly beautiful area in the Caribbean recently, I suddenly felt a piercing sting on my upper left arm. I immediately stood up and moved – happy that I was in a shallow enough area to do so, and saw a jellyfish floating in the water next to me. I immediately exited the water and sat down on the beach to survey the damage. The stinging was intense and not having experienced this phenomena before, I was uncertain of what to do. After asking some locals for advise, I was able to relieve the pain and aside from a week or so of red welts on my arm, came out of it absolutely fine.

Will this occurrence prevent me from floating in the ocean ever again? Heck no! I will, however, know how to treat a sting in the unlikely event that I, or one of my travel mates ever experience it again.

So what is the best way to treat a jellyfish sting? I’m sure we’ve all heard our share of suggestions for treating a sting. First of all, realize that most jellyfish stings are not dangerous, but some do cause intense pain. If, however,the person stung begins to experience any symptoms of a severe allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, hives, chest tightness or a change in level of consciousness, promptly seek emergency attention. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you know the sting was from a Portuguese Man O’ War or a Box Jellyfish (Sea Wasp) as these stings are extremely dangerous and may require anti-venom.

The current recommendations for treatment of a sting (other than a Box Jellyfish, Sea Wasp or Potuguese Man O’ War) appear to be the following:
If you, or someone you know are stung,
1. Get out of the water immediately.

2. Stop the stinging:
a. Rinse the sting area with hot water or saltwater to remove the tentacles. Don’t use freshwater as it can cause the stinging cells (nematocysts) that haven’t fired yet to release their venom.
b. Inactivate the toxin by flooding the area with vinegar or using a baking soda paste. If vinegar or baking soda paste are not available, you might try diluted ammonia, unseasoned meat tenderizer or papaya, although there are some that say these substances don’t do much at all to neutralize the toxins. Urine is no longer recommended due to the possibility of causing a bacterial infection.
c. Remove any remaining tentacles by applying shaving cream or a paste of mud, sand and seawater and scrape area with a razor or credit card, or pull them off with tweezers. Do not attempt to remove the tentacles with your fingers as they can continue to release venom.
d. Apply more hot water or vinegar.

3. Treat the swelling and pain.
An oral antihistamine or a cream with lidocaine may help with the itching and swelling.

Be sure to seek medical attention if the symptoms persist or the individual displays any signs of an anaphylactic or allergic reaction.

Are there any ways to prevent getting stung by a jellyfish?
1. Pay attention to any warnings of jellyfish in the area and do a little research on times of the year when more jellyfish may be present in the area you are going to visit.
2. Cover up while swimming or snorkeling with a wet suit or long sleeved Lycra swim shirt. Clothing may not totally protect you from getting stung, but should protect a larger area of skin.
3. Try a product called Safe Sea Lotion which purports to protect the skin from jellyfish stings as well as sea lice and even fire coral.

The likelihood of experiencing a problem with a jellyfish while enjoying the waters of the Caribbean is quite low. You are much more likely to experience the sting of a bad sunburn – so don’t let the fear of the jelly prevent you from getting your toes in the water!

copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

May 11, 2013June 6, 2019

Rum Therapy Sailing in the British Virgin Islands (Part 4)

It was hard to sail on from Anegada. Such a laid back beautiful island. Think I could stay there for weeks, wandering the amazing deserted beaches….perhaps another trip will be in order.

We moved on with a nice sail back to Great Camanoe where we stopped to snorkel in a beautiful cove. The pelicans were going crazy dive bombing for minnows and we jumped in the gorgeous calm blue water to see what we could see.

It was a virtual minnow smorgasbord; easy to see what the pelicans were after. We also saw a fairly large school of squid in ultra clear water.

The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying the water and the scenery before moving on to our anchorage for the night – Trellis Bay.

Trellis Bay is a popular anchorage on Beef Island, and although crowded that evening, it gave us a chance to go ashore and experience Aragorn’s Studio and the other shops and sights in the area.

We spent a little time just hanging in the awesome hammock outside of Aragorn’s.

And checked out the fireballs and burning man used for the Trellis Bay Full Moon Parties.

We topped our stay in Trellis Bay off with a hilariously fun evening at The Last Resort on Bellamy Cay in Trellis Bay where we enjoyed a great dinner, played some foosball, sang at the top of our lungs and probably enjoyed just a little too much rum…

Although the party continued early into the morning hours, we dinghied back to our boat around midnight to rest up for a sail the next day to Jost Van Dyke.

Part 1 of this series: Rum Therapy Sailing in the British Virgin Islands (Part 1) – Norman Island and Peter Island.

Part 2 of this series: Rum Therapy Sailing in the British Virgin Islands (Part 2) – Virgin Gorda.

Part 3 of this series: Rum Therapy Sailing in the British Virgin Islands (Part 3) – Saba Rock and Anegada

Part 5 of this series: Rum Therapy Sailing in the British Virgin Islands (The Wrap Up) – Jost Van Dyke, The Willie T – Norman Island

To see more posts on the BVI and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

May 9, 2013April 27, 2021

The Baths, Virgin Gorda

The Baths, Virgin Gorda – one of the most recognized beaches in the British Virgin Islands. The Baths “biggest” feature? HUGE boulders that pepper the light sandy beach.

Devils Bay, to the south of The Baths and Spring Bay, to the north of The Baths both have gigantic boulders as well, but highest concentration of boulders are in The Baths area and you can find a trail here that will lead you around, over and through some of the most spectacular of them.

See what it’s like to explore The Baths here: Exploring The Baths, Virgin Gorda

The path starts at the BVI National Trust building near the parking lot near the Top of the Baths Bar/Restaurant and shopping area and winds down the hill toward the beach.

You’ll find yourself walking on a sandy path one moment, then entering an opening between mammoth boulders, wading in shallow blue water between the rocks, climbing a few ladders and using ropes placed on some rocks to help navigate the incline.

And if you can make it through the maze to the end of the trail, you will be rewarded with the beautiful Devil’s Bay beach – a great place to sunbathe, and to swim and snorkel when the water is calm.

When you are done hiking, exploring, swimming and sunning, you can head back up the hill to enjoy a frosty beverage at the Top of the Baths, as well as a stunning view of The Baths, Sir Francis Drake Channel Beef Island and Tortola in the distance.

To see more posts on Virgin Gorda and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC.
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

May 8, 2013June 5, 2019

Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant

Several years ago while sailing out of Simpson Bay lagoon through the Simpson Bay Drawbridge, we saw what seemed to be a bar/grill with an excellent deck overlooking the bay and the bridge.

It looked like a great place to enjoy a beverage while watching the boats and yachts, so we decided on a return trip to St. Maarten/St. Martin, to check it out.

Located right at the base of the drawbridge, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar and Restaurant can be accessed by car (limited parking next to the building), by dinghy (tie up on their dock) or by walking if staying in the area.

They have indoor/outdoor seating and we ordered a few brews on special for happy hour then grabbed a few chairs on the deck overlooking the bridge and lagoon.

As it got closer to the time that the drawbridge was set to open, the deck really filled up with patrons. While enjoying the view and the beverages, we made a few new friends from North Carolina (note the Rum Bum Cap!)

We really enjoyed watching the huge yachts make their way back to the lagoon before sunset.

Great view, good cold drinks and good conversation with fellow boaters and travelers – not a bad place to spend an evening!

To find out more, check out their Facebook page here:
Sint Maarten Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant

To see more posts on St. Maarten and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

May 4, 2013February 22, 2020

Rum Margarita Recipes

Need a Margarita recipe using rum for Cinco de Mayo or National Margarita Day? Si, si – we did too, so we experimented a little and came up with these two. With the rum, the taste resembles a daiquiri, but with not a lot of added sugar, it’s not as sweet and you get the nice margarita tartness. Mmmm – Salud!

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

Print Recipe

Classic Rum Margarita

Servings:

Ingredients

3 oz. Light Rum
1.5 oz. Cointreau
1.5 oz Lime Juice
Splash of Simple Syrup
Margarita Salt
Lime Slice

Instructions

Rub the edge of a margarita glass with a slice of lime then dip the edge in the margarita salt to lightly coat.
Shake all ingredients over ice then pour over crushed ice in the glass.
Garnish with a lime.

And if you would like something a bit fruitier:

Print Recipe

Strawberry Rum Margarita

Servings:

Ingredients

2 oz. Light Rum
5 large Strawberries (plus one extra for garnish)
1 oz. Rosie's Lime Juice
Splash Simple Syrup
1 c. Ice
1 tbsp. Sugar or Raw Sugar

Instructions

Rub the edge of a margarita glass with a slice of lime, then dip in sugar or raw sugar.
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Pour into the margarita glass and garnish with a strawberry.

Find more rum recipes here:

Rum Recipe Picture Directory

Rum Recipes by Category

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

May 4, 2013June 6, 2019

To Sail or Not To Sail…

Cruise ship, catamaran, sailboat, tall ship….Are you thinking of trying a cruising or sailing vacation in the Caribbean, but can’t decide which boat is right for you?

This can be a tough decision as all of the vessels listed above provide a great, but very different experience. Here are a few questions that may help you narrow down your choices:

1. Do you like to travel with:
A. A lot of people
B. Smaller crowds
C. I want to vacation with the few people I choose

2. What type of islands or ports do you want to visit?
A. Large ports with lots of amenities
B. Smaller, off the beaten path places
C. Ability to explore unspoiled less visited tropical locales that the bigger ships may not be able to reach

3. Dining:
A. Fine dining with lots of dining options
B. Family style dining or fine dining at set times
C. Flexible dining times and options

4. Excursions:
A. Variety of excursions to book at each stop
B. Set excursions or fewer excursion options, but the ability to see more remote destinations
C. Ability to create your own itinerary

5. Entertainment:
A. Lots of nightlife on the ship, shows, casinos, bars
B. Occasional bars or restaurants at the anchorage, some entertainment provided by the crew, or I just want to sit on the deck and relax on the boat in the evening
C. Occasional bars or restaurants at the anchorage, or I just want to relax on the boat in the evening

6. I like to feel:
A. As little movement on the boat as possible
B & C. I like to sail and don’t mind feeling the movement of the boat

If your answers are mainly A’s, a larger cruise line might be your best bet. Larger cruise lines offer a multitude of entertainment, dining and excursion options and the ability to get a taste of some of the larger, more visited islands and ports. There is always something to do and see on the larger ships. The down side to all of this convenience is that many of these vessels can accommodate several thousand guests at one time – so if you don’t like crowds, you might explore another option. Some of the larger cruise lines that offer cruises in the Caribbean are: Royal Caribbean, NCL, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, and Disney.

If your answers are mainly B’s, you might prefer a vacation on a smaller cruise ship or a tall ship. Smaller cruise ships and tall ships frequently offer some of the amenities of the larger cruise ships, but accommodate far less guests at one time and can explore smaller ports that some of the larger ships cannot. A vacation on one of these vessels can be more intimate and offer the ability to see some more remote locations than larger vessels. Some companies that offer a smaller cruise ship or tall ship experiences are: Island Windjammer, Seabourn, Star Clippers, and Wind Star.

If your answers are mainly C’s, you might prefer a vacation on a crewed charter on a sailboat or catamaran. These smaller vessels typically sleep from 4 – 12 guests and include a captain and a cook. If your party has booked all of the cabins on the vessel, you frequently will have a least some say in the itinerary, ie: the length of time spent at a location, what time you want to eat your meals, the type of locations or activities you want to enjoy, etc. You won’t find the glitz and glamor sometimes found on the larger cruise ships, but the food can be just as gourmet and delicious. This may be the best option for exploring some of the smaller and remote tropical destinations.

Once you’ve decided on the size and type of ship you think best fits your vacation needs, be sure to do your homework on the different options within the category. Prices, itineraries and amenities vary greatly between companies and even vessels within each company.

Have you sailed in the Caribbean? What’s your favorite type of sailing vacation?

copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

May 2, 2013April 18, 2021

Petit Tabac, The Grenadines

While sailing the Grenadines a few years ago, we made a stop at the stunningly beautiful Tobago Cays. From our anchorage, we could see an island in the distance called Petit Tabac. Our Captain informed us that this pretty little island was a location used in the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Specifically, it was the island that Capt. Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth ended up on when forced to walk the plank.

Intrigued, we asked if we could sail over and explore it and he happily he obliged.

The grove of palm trees shown burning in the film were very recognizable as we approached. Thankfully the burning palms were merely cinematic wizardry as the the palms were alive and well.

The plan was to find the rum. If you’re familiar with the film, when Jack Sparrow was marooned on this island with Elizabeth Swann, he knew of a rum stash and set out to find it.

Knowing that we’d find no actual rum, our Captain and Cook prepared a large jug of rum punch for us to enjoy as we explored the island.

We then paced off in the same area Jack Sparrow did while looking for his rum stash in the film.

Of course, we didn’t find anything, but enjoyed re-enacting the antics of Captain Jack – and the rum punch didn’t hurt either.

The deserted little island was beautiful and we took our time walking the entire perimeter.

We were the only ones on Petit Tabac that day.

From Petit Tabac we could see Union Island,

And the other Tobago Cays.

From our perch in the shade we took the amazing beauty of the area in,

The almost blindingly white sand against the vibrant blue water was stunning.

We reluctantly headed back to the boat after a day on a deserted island filled with rum and browned by the sun and looked forward to our next adventure in the Grenadines.

Have you been to Petit Tabac? Tell us about it!

To see more posts on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

April 28, 2013July 10, 2021

Best Strawberry/Rum Recipes

The sweet and fruity taste of strawberries pairs so well with rum in cocktails, and now that spring has finally sprung and strawberries are abundant in our produce sections, we thought it might be a good time to list some of our favorite strawberry and rum cocktail recipes. Which one is your favorite?Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiquiri #2 Using Strawberry Rum

Strawberry Mojito

Strawberry Rum Sundae

Skinny Strawberry Rum Lemonade

Miami Vice

How to Make Your Own Strawberry Infused Rum

copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

April 28, 2013May 21, 2020

Strawberry Infused Rum

We love cocktail recipes that combine berries and rum – especially strawberries, so we thought we’d try to make a batch of our own strawberry rum to use in some of our favorite strawberry + rum recipes.

The hardest thing about infusing rums is having the patience to let the process work. This one is no different. It takes between 2 weeks and a month to get the desired “strawberryness” so be prepared to wait a while to sample your creation – but, it’s worth it!

Strawberry Infused Rum
Slice about 3 cups of fresh, ripe strawberries and put them in a clean jar that can be tightly sealed. Add enough light rum (we used Bacardi) to cover the strawberries plus about an inch and seal. Store the jar in a cool, dark place and gently shake once a day.

Test your infusion after about 2 weeks and if the taste is not as strong as desired, seal it back up and wait another week. Once happy with your results, use in your favorite strawberry rum cocktail recipes!

Find other Strawberry and Rum Recipes in our Rum Recipes page!