Month: October 2018

Virgin Voyages Reveals Its First-Ever Caribbean Destination

New Hire to Lead USVI Cruise Push

By the Caribbean Journal staff The US Virgin Islands is looking to deepen its ties in the cruise industry, and has announced a major new hire to spearhead the strategy. The USVI Department of Tourism has tapped industry specialist Joe …

Rum Journal: Nicaragua’s Flor de Caña Is Now a Fair Trade Rum

By the Rum Journal staff Popular Nicaraguan rum Flor de Caña has become one of the first global spirit brands to be Fair Trade certified, and likely the first-ever rum to do so. Fair Trade USA verified that the raw …

Travel Portal Rizort Is Expanding in the Caribbean

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor Luxury vacation marketplace Rizort is adding new destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. The portal, which launched in April, uses virtual realty to offer a new way for travelers to choose their destinations. “Rizort is a …

A New Look (And a New Leading Chef) at Dominica’s Signature Eatery

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor It’s the place to eat, the place to be, the place to be seen in Dominica, and it just got even better. The Palisades restaurant at Dominica’s Fort Young hotel has officially relaunched, with a newly …

How to Arrive in Barbados

By Alexander Britell It’s an issue at too many airports across the Caribbean — long immigration lines, meaning lengthy waits for travelers after they’ve just spent hours on an airplane. And while some islands, like Aruba and Curacao, have come …

Cuba Travel Is Making a Comeback

By Dana NilandCJ Contributor U.S. demand for travel to Cuba is making a steady comeback. Since May, tour operators like insightCuba, are seeing increases in leads and bookings, while new hotels on the island are about to launch and U.S. …

From Barbados to Barbuda, 7 Caribbean Vacations for November

The Caribbean his heating up for the winter season, and that’s being buoyed by a truly impressive lineup of hotel relaunches, from boutique St Barth stays to venerable Anguilla retreats. And whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving getaway or looking to …

The Best Way to Fly to Martinique Right Now

By Alexander Britell Norwegian has officially relaunched its array of nonstop flights to one of the Caribbean’s most fascinating destinations: the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The European low-cost carrier is operating flights for the winter season from a number …

Le Barthelemy Makes Its Return in St Barth

By the Caribbean Journal staff Le Barthelemy, one of St Barth’s newer boutique hotels (it first debuted in 2016), has officially returned. The Grand Cul de Sac-area property is the latest St Barth accommodation to open its doors, part of …

A New Way to Get to San Miguel de Allende

By the Caribbean Journal staff United Airlines is expanding again in the wider region, this time with more flights to Mexico. The carrier has launched new year-round, daily flights between Chicago O’Hare and Leon in central Mexico. United is the …

Casa de Campo Set to Complete $12 Million Renovation

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of the leading hotels in the Dominican Republic is set to complete a major $12 million renovation project. The Casa de Campo Resort and Villas in La Romana is putting the finishing touches on …

Guadeloupe’s La Toubana Hotel Relaunches

By the Caribbean Journal staff Guadeloupe’s leading boutique hotel has relaunched following the completion of a multi-year renovation project. The Sainte-Anne-area hotel reopened earlier this month after a two-month closure to complete the two-year, $13.9 million transformation project. The relaunched …

Puerto Rico’s El San Juan Hotel Targeting December Relaunch

By the Caribbean Journal staff Puerto Rico’s legendary El San Juan hotel is now targeting a December reopening. The landmark 388-room hotel in Isla Verde will hold its grand reopening on Dec. 14. The property, which has been shuttered since …

BVI’s Cooper Island Beach Club Reopens for Season

By the Caribbean Journal staff Cooper Island is open again. The beloved Cooper Island Beach Club in the British Virgin Islands, which had already rebuilt and reopened over the summer, has officially reopened for the season. The family-owned eco-hotel, long …

The Dominican Republic Has Another New Resort Project

By the Caribbean Journal staff The Caribbean’s hottest hotel investment market has another high-level project. The luxe Hacienda Samana Bay project has officially broken ground on the lush, pristine Samana peninsula of the Dominican Republic, a corner of the country …

Caribbean Photo of the Week: Port St Charles, Barbados

By the Caribbean Journal staff The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Valerie Hoyte, who sent in this lovely shot of Port St Charles in the parish of St Peter in Barbados. Have you taken a great photo …

Rum Journal: A Bourbon-Edged Expression from Papa’s Pilar

We’ve long been fans of the upstart Papa’s Pilar rum brand, thanks to what is one of the industry’s most drinkable rums and a terrific, authentic Hemingway-backed story. The brand has taken that drinkability both to hard-core rum aficionados and, …

Palladium Set to Debut $250M All-Inclusive Expansion

By the Caribbean Journal staff All-inclusive brand Palladium Hotel Group is debuting the fruits of a $250 million expansion project in the Mexican Caribbean this week. The result? Two new all-inclusive properties: the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort and Spa, …