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- Destinations
- Caribbean
- Haiti
- Labadee
Labadee
An oasis of pleasure in a troubled land, the holiday destination
of Labadee is a cordoned off peninsula on the north coast of Haiti,
owned and operated by a cruise line (Royal Caribbean) with the aim
of providing a safe and secure base for passengers to disembark and
be tendered ashore to enjoy the tropical delights of the island of
Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and the
Republic of Haiti. Labadee is situated in Haiti, a country that is
rife with civil unrest, crime and corruption, and although it has
plenty to offer tourists, has become something of a pariah on the
international travel scene in recent years. The cruise company has
picked a beautiful spot as a private holiday playground for those
enjoying its Caribbean cruises, and improved upon it. Labadee has
five white, powdery beaches, all lapped by crystal clear waters
with offshore coral reefs, a water park, restaurants, bars, shops
and markets. Labadee resort is more than just an extension of the
ship and a place to tread on dry land, though, for visitors can
take a number of excursions to experience the local culture and get
a taste of the island's rich history. The resort was unaffected by
the catastrophic earthquake in early 2010 that devastated the rest
of the island.
Information & Facts
Activities
There is plenty of fun to be had in Labadee besides just
enjoying the beaches. The child-oriented water park is a hit with
families, while the more daring can rent a jet ski or indulge in a
variety of watersports like parasailing or a banana boat ride.
Several excursions can be arranged, including a narrated coastal
tour, a kayaking trip to a nearby Haitian fishing village, or a
snorkelling expedition to Amiga Island.
Climate
Located on Haiti's north coast, Labadee experiences a tropical
climate. The weather is constant throughout the year with average
temperatures hovering around 80F to 90F (27C to 32C) making Labadee
a great destination to visit at any time of year. Brief showers can
occur at any time though are mostly short-lived. Travellers
planning to visit between December and June should not that this is
the Hurricane season.
Language
Creole is the official language, and French is widely
used; English is spoken in the capital and at Labadee cruise
port.
Money
The official currency is the Haitian Gourde (HTG), divided into
100 centimes, but US Dollars are also widely accepted. Credit cards
are welcome nearly everywhere, but ATMs are scarce and the few
there are in Port au Prince are often out of order. Travellers
cheques are difficult to exchange.
Negatives
Some visitors find it disturbing to realize that Labadee is
fenced off from the 'real Haiti', in a compound surrounded by armed
guards. The fence is unobtrusive; those who take a closer look
might find it is upsetting to see the exceedingly poor local people
begging for handouts as they peer through into the tourist's
paradise. Essentially a visit to Labadee is not a visit to Haiti,
but simply a relaxing day on the beach for cruise passengers
heading to Miami.
Night Life
Since most of the holiday visitors come ashore just for the day
from cruise ships, there is no nightlife in Labadee.
Restaurants
Cruise ship passengers on holiday in Labadee are served barbeque
lunches at three different beachside open-air venues. There are
several bars operating to slake the thirsts of sunbathers, and
vendors wander along the beach offering refreshments.
Shopping
Labadee is a wonderful place for holidaymakers to browse for
souvenirs and gifts to take home from your cruise. The Haitian flea
market contains shops and stalls offering local arts and crafts,
coffee and cognac. Alongside an informal local artisan's market has
grown up, the colourful merchandise consisting of everything
imaginable from baskets and beads to carvings and clothing.
Bartering is expected, and adds to the fun, the norm being to start
negotiating at around half the asking price.
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