You know that I am a fan of fractional ownership as a way to own your piece of Paradise in the Caribbean.  The large majority of property purchased in the Caribbean is accomplished with fractional ownership.  Bargains abound from Aruba to the Dominican Republic in the world of fractional condos and villas.  For the past two years I have personally witnessed the newest Caribbean resort’s development and construction, and it is now having it’s coming out party this month – Scrub Island Resort, the first resort to open in the BVI in 15 years!  This tropical paradise is on 230 acres on an unspoiled paradise. Read the rest of this entry »

Coastweeks is the what the locals in the USVI call International Coastal Cleanup (YouTube) week.  It starts September 19^th and the USVI’s are getting ready for a week’s of hard and dirty work – but much needed.  During that week you will find students, various organizations, business groups, and an army of people who will be heading to the beaches of the USVI to pick up and categorize the garbage they find.  Organized beach clean-ups will run through September and October.

At last year’s Coastweeks there were 1,400 volunteers on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix who picked up 18,600 pounds of trash from 43 miles of beaches!  St. Thomas won the prize for the most garbage, if anyone would really want that prize – 12,275 pounds of trash.  St. John was second with 3,000 pounds of trash, and St. Croix was third with 2,035 of trash.  The environment has no winners when our citizens are creating such a mess of Mother Nature’s playground.  This is in the same category of contributing to the well being of the earth as the USVI Waste Management Authority contract to create alternative energy in the USVI from trash. Read the rest of this entry »

Old guys  are still surfing – promise!  Jim Walberg  just discovered that Roy’s Cabana  has re-launched their board shorts and surfing apparel after 25 years.  Roy and Dody Colburn’s son, Tom Colburn, now heads the re-launching of the company his parents started in 1952.  It is now based in Cardiff, California  near San Diego with the surfing apparel available in the Caribbean by going on-line.  The Caribbean surfing community will love the clothing Roy’s is now ready to deliver!

Most of you know that I grew up in Redondo Beach  and surfed all through the 1950’s and 1960’s before I discovered the Caribbean in 1975.  Growing up, Roy’s was my board shorts for over 20 years.  Roy’s started as a motel and café that was just across the road from the beach in Santa Monica.   Roy and Dody Colburn began their business in 1948 by serving meals all day and evening at the café next to their motel next to the beach.  As the surfing community of Southern California started to grow in Santa Monica they began hanging out at Roy’s Café when they were not in the water, lathering themselves with Baby Oil for the darkest tan possible, and playing volleyball.  Read the rest of this entry »

Fractional ownership of property in the Caribbean is the most popular method of owning your piece of Paradise – from Aruba to the Mayan Riviera  in Mexico.  A new fractional opportunity in the Dominican Republic has just been announced.

One of the most beautiful and exclusive privately owned luxury villas in the Dominican Republic  is now offering the opportunity to purchase a 1/10^th share of Villa Castellamonte, which allows them five weeks of enjoyment in the DR.  You know I am a fan of fractional ownership.  It is a way for people to enjoy their slice of Paradise without having to fully own the property.  There are some “potholes” to avoid with developments that are promoting that they have fractional ownership opportunities, when, in fact, it is not true.  So, it is a “Buyer Beware” for people investigating a fractional ownership anywhere in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the truths about real estate is that all real estate is local.  The world news continues to report each day the demise of real estate because of the world’s credit meltdown, however there are always real estate locations that are still thriving.  The Caribbean fractionals are one of those locations.

I am constantly looking for the best opportunities in the Caribbean for people to secure their slice of Paradise.  For the last several years the real estate product that has represented half or more of the sales has been fractionals.  If you recall, almost ten years ago the Ritz Carlton in Red Hook,  St. Thomas, was one of the first to test the market of fractional deeded ownership as a method to own real estate with several other partners.  It was a huge success.  Below are six more Caribbean islands to consider for your slice of Paradise by purchasing a fraction of the property instead of the owning it all yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

So how does a surfer kid from Southern California end up falling in love with the Caribbean?  Have you ever seen the surfing opportunities in Barbados and Tortola?  If your answer is YES, then you know the other answer, too.

I arrived in Redondo Beach  in 1948, and lived on the beach for the first 21 years of my life.  I thought it was normal to live a block from the pier and enjoy all the Pacific Ocean offered – everyday!  I thought all things connected to the Pacific Ocean were normal – sailing, surfing, diving, beach volleyball, pier fishing, boat deliveries to Mexico, and a hundred more activities.  In hindsight I was one the luckiest kids I know because of growing up with amazing experiences connected to the Pacific Ocean – every day.  I had no idea that my love for the ocean would lead me to the Caribbean Islands and then create an international real estate company. Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, you can enjoy Jim Walberg’s Caribbean Paradise without owning a Fractional deeded ownership,  home, townhome, or villa.  Your alternative is a luxury Caribbean rental.

Those of you who enjoy a visit to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands are going to LOVE the luxury rental I discovered a few weeks ago.  In fact, I have stood on the deck and enjoyed the sunrise over American Yacht Harbor  in Red Hook – a magnificent sight!  This luxury rental is named “Harbor House”, and it sits on the hillside above the harbor. Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Walberg  has just discovered one of the most decadent and luxurious chartered sailing vacations in the Caribbean – just for two people in Paradise!

So, I was having a discussion last week with Chris and Julie, who own s/y Felicia - the Privilege 65 catamaran based in the BVI.  They told me about their dear friends, Ed and Natalie who have been sailing the Caribbean since 1994, and have created an ultra-luxury chartered sailing vacation experience in the Las Aves – an eight island chain just off of Bonaire , on their 52′ high-performance sloop, s/y Safari.  I LOVE new sailing adventures so my curiosity got the best of me.  I called Ed and Natalie up on Skype  and began an amazing series of conversations about what they have created for their very discerning guests.  What I discovered was SO exciting that I needed to share it with all of you immediately.  Here goes… Read the rest of this entry »

Ten romantic spots in the Caribbean not to miss – from a $2,000 a day luxury resort,  to a $10 Pain Killer rum drink on the most beautiful sunset beach in the Caribbean.

So, my wife, and fellow world adventurer and I sat down today and said, “Why don’t we share with our friends our Top Ten Romantic spots in the Caribbean?”  I have been remiss in not telling you know about these ten jewels that are our favorite romantic spots to hangout at.  They range in price from a $2,000 a day to just the cost of a Pain Killer rum drink for $10 each.  Here goes; Read the rest of this entry »

Another of Jim Walberg’s (YouTube)  picks for pure luxury in the Caribbean is the Cayman Islands and the Wyndham Grand Bay Waterford!  This Residence Club resort was just added to The Registry Collection!!!

There are a couple of other parts of the Caribbean that are missed with those who want a piece of Paradise.  One of those special places is the Cayman Islands.  The Wyndham Grand Bay Waterford  is one of my favorite luxurious choices that you can find in the Caribbean.  The Cayman Islands are not noted for the sailing experience that I love, however if you love mash potato coral sand beaches and breathtaking SCUBA diving these are the islands for you. Read the rest of this entry »