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When winter gets underway, many of us start dreaming of a Caribbean vacation. The region's appeal is undeniable: Swaying palm trees, swaths of beach, turquoise waters, and great nightlife are just some of the islands' draws. But knowing you want to hit the beach and choosing which island to visit are two different matters. Considering the region is home to hundreds of islands, many with incredibly different personalities and offerings, first-timers are easily confounded by the array of choices, and even return visitors can make mistakes. Our Caribbean 101 Spotlight is meant to help you decide which island suits you best – whether you're heading south for the first time, or the hundredth.

We've reviewed 25 of the most popular islands below, and included quicklinks to information on how to get there by plane. But, to start, we've also listed some of our top island picks by interest – beach, price, golf, diving, culture, you name it – to help you fine-tune your research. After all, if all you want is a beach vacation, there's no point considering islands that don't have any (indeed, while it may come as a surprise to some, many Caribbean islands lack beaches of note). Some of our top islands fall into several categories (their varied offerings usually a large part of their appeal); simply click on those that interest you to jump straight to our review, or, pick and choose from the full list that follows.

ShermansTravel Experts' Favorites:
Aruba (affordability), Barbados (a bit of everything), Cayman Islands (diving), Nevis (romance), St. Barths (chic), Turks & Caicos (beach)

I present here the best general interest true films I've found. I define true films as documentaries, educational films, instructional how-to's, and what the British call factuals - a non-fiction visual account. The very best of these non-fiction films are as entertaining as the best of Hollywood blockbusters.
In contrast to the fiction that most movies are, true films offer authentic plot twists, real characters, and truth stranger than fiction. They aim to both entertain and to inform - a powerful combo. It is no puzzle that true films are enjoying an expanding audience and rising prestige.






As dogged as I have been in tracking down great true films, I have seen only a fraction of the estimated 40,000 that have been made. So I am ready for more. However I will only list true films and documentaries that are available as VHS tape or DVDs at consumer prices. In other words, films that are easy for most people to see upon request. I won't include films that are only shown in theaters, or available via high=priced rentals, or simply out of print.






If you know of an available amazing true film that I've missed please recommend it to me.

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