Haiti Tourism Scope
A Caribbean country known for its scenic locations and friendly people, Haiti is slowly gaining momentum as a tourist hot spot. The locals in this country speak French and Haitian Creole and take pride in traditional practices that are customary to this place. Although Haiti is constantly in the news for its utter state of poverty, violence, and instability, the vast expanse of scenic locations in different parts of the country attracts crowds from all over the world. A majority of the flights arrive at The Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport in Haiti. The affordable prices of air travel prompt individuals to take flights to different locations in Haiti. If you take the road, public transport available in the form of ‘tap-tap’ which are brightly colored vans, trucks, or buses, run at a painfully slow pace, and are loaded with passenger stares. If you have time at hand make sure you experience a ride in one of these, whatever the experience, the nostalgia of a bumpy ride in one of these candy colored vehicles is a thrill.
There are a lot of luxury car rentals that provide cars along with experienced drivers at a nominal price. It is recommended that you hire a car with an experienced driver as the locals are well versed with the mountainous terrain. A driver also serves as a guide, and interpreter, with the locals. A lot of tourists that choose to drive around by themselves find it difficult to communicate with the locals. Even if you’ve gained knowledge on the commonly used Haitian words, your pronunciation and accent while uttering these words will evoke broad smiles that lead to a laughter. There are a variety of hotels that you can choose from in Haiti. Quaint guest houses providing accommodation are excessively popular with single travelers. These compact rooms are offered to travelers on per night basis. Most guest rooms serve three meals a day. If you intend to stay for a long period in these guest houses it is advisable to get a local contact or guide to get you a good offer on your stay. Amusing the owners with a few words of French or Haitian Creole can do wonders during a bargain.
If you want to be pampered in the confines of exquisitely designed guest rooms, there are several luxury hotels and resorts you can choose from. Every luxury hotel consists of decor that is carefully chosen in accordance with the architectural style of the hotel. The restaurants that are housed within a luxury hotel offer an international cuisine, whereas most restaurants and eateries in different places around Haiti offer mouth watering local delicacies. Make sure you only drink bottled water as tap water in Haiti may contain impurities. Consume a lot of fruit juices that are devoid of ice. The ‘kabrit’, a dish made of goat meat delicately cooked with herbs and spices is tenderized to perfection. This melt in the mouth meat is recommended for the hungry carnivorous traveler. ‘Griot’ a fried pork dish served as an accompaniment with rice made with wild mushrooms too leaves a divine taste in your mouth. Vegetarian’s can look forward to the stews that are on offer. Colorful markets, scenic locations and beautifully crafted handicrafts in Haiti are popular with tourists.