Month: April 2018

News

Dominica’s Must-Visit Music Festival

By the Caribbean Journal staff Looking for another reason to visit the Caribbean this spring? Dominica’s popular Jazz ’n Creole music festival is back on the calendar, with plans for a major music event on Sunday, May 20. It’s another […]

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Caribbean Occupancy Sees Decline
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Dominican Republic Villa Heads to Auction
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Puerto Rico's Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton to Reopen in October
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Mahekal Names New Director of Sales and Marketing
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United Airlines Returns to St Maarten
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JetBlue to Launch Daily Nonstop Flights to Grand Cayman
Markets

New Ultra-Luxe Real Estate Coming to Puerto Rico's St. Regis Bahia Beach
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Barbados Looks to Continue Tourism Surge
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Bonaire’s Belmar Completes Renovation Project
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A New Way to Cruise to Grand Bahama
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In the British Virgin Islands, Seeds of Love
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Spirit Launches New Nonstop Flights to Cap-Haitien, Haiti
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United Resuming St Thomas Flights

By the Caribbean Journal staff United is making a big return to the island of St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. United resumed its flights to St Thomas from both Newark and Washington, D.C. this weekend, according to […]

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Neptune’s Treasure Hotel Returns in Anegada

By the Caribbean Journal staff The Caribbean’s lobster capital, Anegada, has been a symbol of the British Virgin Islands’ post-Hurricane-Irma recovery, and now another of the island’s best places to stay has relaunched. The Neptune’s Treasure hotel, perhaps most famous […]

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The Anegada Reef Hotel Is Back

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By the Caribbean Journal staff A beloved boutique hotel has reopened its doors in the British Virgin Islands. The Anegada Reef Hotel is the latest British Virgin Islands hotel to relaunch in the wake of last year’s storms, and the […]

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Anguilla’s Quintessence Hotel Joins Relais & Chateaux

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of the world’s most exclusive hotel portfolios has added a new member in the Caribbean. The new Quintessence Hotel in Anguilla, which just opened in January, has become the newest Caribbean property in Relais […]

Grand Cayman’s New Luxury Green Real Estate Project

By the Caribbean Journal staff There’s a new luxury real estate project set to launch in the Cayman Islands. The new, eco-friendly Lighthouse Point Residences are being developed on a prime site adjacent to the Lighthouse Point dive hotel, just […]

Caribbean Photo of the Week: Antigua's Pineapple Beach Club

By the Caribbean Journal staff The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal subscriber Ken Jeffery, who took this shot at Mary’s Outhouse at the Pineapple Beach Club in Antigua. “BBQ ribs, chicken grilled fish and ice cold beer!” Ken writes. Sounds […]

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CHIEF Hospitality Conference Returns for Fourth Year

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By Dana Niland CJ Contributor The fourth annual Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum is slated for June 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, which puts on the Miami-based conference, says unity and innovation will […]

Turks and Caicos’ Point Grace Sold

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of the top resorts in Turks and Caicos has been sold. Grace Bay Resorts has acquired the boutique Point Grace resort on Grace Bay Beach, the company announced in a release. Grace Bay Resorts […]

New Eco-Park Opens in St Maarten

By Dana Niland CJ Contributor There’s a new eco-tourism attraction on the island of St Maarten. Rainforest Adventures has celebrated the grand opening of its Rockland Estate Park in St Maarten. This eco-adventure park features rides such as The Flying […]

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Antigua Sailing Week Readies for 51st Edition

By Dana Niland CJ Contributor The 51st edition of Antigua Sailing Week was launched this week in an event at Nelson’s Dockyard. The event, themed around “The Next 50 Years,” will run from April 28 to May 4 and has about 116 […]

The Top 25 Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean

 Few Caribbean destinations boast the sheer diversity of Saint Lucia’s hotel product. The range is vast, from tiny eco-friendly retreats to sprawling beach resorts to all-inclusives and full-fledged bucket-list experiences. That means there’s something for every kind of traveler here, whether you want to bring your family to the sand, take your significant other on an adults-only escape or spend a few nights in the rainforest.  
 Here are 15 great Saint Lucia resorts worth checking into right now.  
 Marigot Bay Resort It’s hard to find a more complete resort in Saint Lucia, with a broad portfolio of amenities, including a spectacular island beach, outstanding, diverse food, a serene spa and the added benefit of the energy of a megayacht marina. And that’s without mentioning the spacious, beautifully appointed rooms (just make sure you get one with a private hot tub.)
 Ladera The resort that pioneered the three-walled concepts remains one of the Caribbean’s most romantic hotels — and one of the region’s most authentic places to stay, too. The wood construction, warm service and breathtaking scenery will take you to another place entirely — while never letting you forget you’re in Saint Lucia. 
 Jade Mountain Home to perhaps the world’s most iconic infinity pools, this resort is equal parts luxury hotel and spaceship, a transformative experience that has long set the standard for adults-only retreats. The only problem here is the withdrawal when you come back to earth. 
 Cap Maison This is Saint Lucia’s hotel for gourmands, for those who love good, old-fashioned luxury, the kind you find in world-class restaurants, in gastronomically-inclined beach bars and in voluptuously designed hotel rooms. This is the essence of boutique hospitality. 
 The Landings You can travel across the island and not find better service than you get at The Landings, perched on a gorgeous stretch of beach in view of Saint Lucia’s Pigeon Island. This is one of the island’s best beach hotels, and it’s got some of its most comfortable rooms, with the full kitchens giving travelers the chance to experience a different level of living in Saint Lucia.  Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort The blinding white sand and position at the base of Gros Piton provide for an intoxicating ambience, one that’s only enhanced by the amenities from on-the-sand bungalows to the ethereal Rainforest Spa. That’s without mentioning one of our favorite bars on the island, the rum-focused Cane Bar. 
 Ti Kaye This has long been one of Saint Lucia’s best-kept secrets. There are just 33 cottages and rooms at this adults-only resort, with breezy oceanfront accommodations and a locally-focused spa. But the real standout is the food and beverage offering, which includes the largest underground wine cellar on the whole island.    Fond Doux Whether you stay here for one night or a week, a stop at Fond Doux is a must for those in search of the essence of Saint Lucia. Set on a 250-year-old plantation, travelers here become immersed in the natural splendor of the island, from freshly-grown cacao to a host of nature trails. When you stay here, you’re right in the heart of the rainforest — and it’s not an experience you’ll soon forget.  
 Bay Gardens Beach Resort You won’t find a better value anywhere in Saint Lucia than this Reduit Beach standout, long one of the most beloved Saint Lucia resorts. And if you want to hop around, it’s part of a burgeoning collection of hotels, from the Bay Gardens Marina Haven to a new villa collection called Water’s Edge.   Stonefield Villa Resort This is a place that just oozes romance and authenticity, with a collection of 17 one, two, three and five-bedroom villas in view of the Pitons. And, yes, they’re full-fledged villas, each of which boasts its own private pool and outdoor shower. This is a place for serenity and seclusion, where you’ll enjoy a very different kind of life in Saint Lucia. 
 St James’s Club Morgan Bay It’s a classic Caribbean all-inclusive, but it’s also got the laid-back ambience Saint Lucia is famous for. That’s a rather delightful combination. Here, you get six restaurants, six bars, four pools (including a spectacular rooftop adults-only pool near the spa) and a wonderful location that puts everything from golf to nightlife within very easy reach.  Sandals Regency La Toc We couldn’t do a list of must-visit resorts in Saint Lucia and not mention Sandals, which boasts three Saint Lucia resorts, including the Grande St Lucian, the Halcyon Beach and the La Toc, with La Toc our favorite for some time. The property, set on a 220-acre estate and a lovely stretch of beach, has nine eateries, eight bars and offerings like unlimited scuba diving and free greens fees. Serenity at Coconut Bay The newest addition to the popular Coconut Bay resort on the south of the island is a stunner, with 36 beautifully-appointed suites, all of which have their own private plunge pools. This adults-only oasis is a new level of luxury all-inclusive in Saint Lucia, and instantly one of the island’s most sought-after stays. The Harbor Club, Curio Collection by Hilton This new hotel in the Gros Islet area is a wonderful addition to Saint Lucia. The maritime-inspired design is hip and fresh, the dining options are varied and the pool complex, home to four multi-level pools, is worth the trip on its own. Add that to a marinafront location and you have an energetic hotel perfect for active travelers. Hotel Chocolat It’s hard to think of a cooler place to stay in Saint Lucia than this tiny boutique in Soufriere set on a working cacao plantation. It rather deftly marries the cool and the authentic, with rustic-chic “lodges,” a show-stopping infinity pool and one of the best restaurants on the island. But what you really won’t forget is the joy of making your own very own chocolate bar.

Great luxury is its own form of travel. It’s a journey away from the ordinary, from the adequate. It’s a journey to the indulgent, to the beautiful, to the extraordinary. The best luxury resorts take you on that journey, working […]

Jose Andres Expands Culinary Empire to The Bahamas

By the Caribbean Journal staff World-renowned Chef Jose Andres has expanded his Caribbean footprint. The Spanish chef has debuted his new Fish by Jose Andres at The Cove resort at Atlantis Paradise Island. The new dinner-only eatery serves a menu […]