Sunwing Relaunching St Maarten Flights

By: - August 27th, 2018
st maarten aviation conference

By the Caribbean Journal staff

In a huge boost for St Maarten’s tourism recovery, the island will be getting back its flight service from Canadian travel giant Sunwing this winter.

Sunwing will be resuming year-round, weekly nonstop flights from both Montreal and Toronto to St Maarten, with service slated to begin Feb. 28, 2019.

A rendering of the new-look Maho Beach resort.

“St. Maarten offers excellent accommodation options for both families and couples and is perennially popular amongst our clientele. We are delighted to be reintroducing vacation packages here this coming winter so that our customers can once again enjoy this varied island destination,” said Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations for Sunwing.

The timing of the relaunch means travelers will have several of St Maarten’s major resort options back on line, most notably the Sonesta Ocean Point and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.

Both properties are currently undergoing large-scale rebuilding projects.

— CJ

News

Cayman Airways Is Launching Nonstop Flights From Denver

southwest airlines 2018

By the Caribbean Journal staff The Cayman Islands’ national flag carrier is making a big move. Cayman Airways has announced plans to launch its longest-ever commercial flight service, with the launch of new flights between Denver, Colo. and Grand Cayman beginning March 2, 2019. The new flights will be operated on Cayman Airways’ new Boeing […]

News

Caribbean Airlines’ New Locally-Focused In-Flight Service

By the Caribbean Journal staff Caribbean Airlines has launched a sweeping reform of its in-flight service, this time with an emphasis on authenticity. It’s called Caribbean Cafe, and the new snack and beverage catalogue will focus on locally made products from Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana. That means everything from tamarind balls to mango to premium […]

News

American Airlines Is Adding Another Daily Flight to Saint Lucia

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.

By the Caribbean Journal staff The Pitons, the rum, the drive-in volcano, the three-walled rooms at Ladera. There’s a reason Saint Lucia has always been one of the Caribbean’s most romantic, sought-after destinations. And now it’s getting even easier to get there. American Airlines has announced plans to add another daily flight to Saint Lucia […]


St Croix Eyes Major Airport Expansion, Modernization

By the Caribbean Journal staff Another major airport project could be coming to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Less than two months after the initial designs were revealed on St Thomas’ $230 million airport transformation project, the island of St Croix got its first look at its own proposed airport revamp. The proposed project would be […]

United Expanding Flights to Mexico

By the Caribbean Journal staff United Airlines is launching more new flights to Mexico, the company announced this week. United will be launching a new flight between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Mazatlan beginning Jan. 9, 2019. The flights, which will through March 30, 2019, will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays on Embraer ERJ-175 […]

Antigua’s New Historic Restoration Push

By the Caribbean Journal staff Another major airport project could be coming to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Less than two months after the initial designs were revealed on St Thomas’ $230 million airport transformation project, the island of St Croix got its first look at its own proposed airport revamp. The proposed project would be […]

Puerto Rico’s Caribe Hilton to Reopen in December

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of Puerto Rico’s landmark hotels will be reopening, Caribbean Journal has learned. The iconic Caribe Hilton, one of the purported birthplaces of the piña colada cocktail and the first Hilton to open beyond the continental United States, is reopening after closing last year following Hurricane Maria. The property will […]