It’s hard to think of anyone who has better distilled the dream of island living than Jimmy Buffett. And Buffett’s empire has expanded far beyond music, from the famous, ubiquitous Margaritaville restaurants and bars to a fast-expanding portfolio of branded resorts, including in the Caribbean.
Margaritaville’s resort portfolio, which includes properties under several different sub-brands in the region, is a chance for travelers to experience the Margaritaville ideal in vacation form, from 5 O’Clock Somewhere bars to on-site breweries and splendid swim-up bars.
The latest expansion is the result of an alliance between Margaritaville and Karisma Hotels and Resorts, one that has led to a number of new brands (and several more new resorts currently in the pipeline).
We’ve gathered our five favorite Caribbean resorts under the Margaritaville umbrella for you, including the company’s freshest new all-inclusives, a unique boutique resort and even a vacation club. Whether you’re a full-fledged Parrothead, a beach seeker or a Caribbean aficionado, you’ll find a group of well-run, thoughtfully-designed resorts that exemplify the best of the beach life.
Margaritaville Island Reserve by Karisma Cap Cana, Dominican Republic If there’s a “flagship” Margaritaville resort in the Caribbean, it’s this 228-stunner in the tony Cap Cana enclave of the Dominican Republic’s tourism hub of Punta Cana. The resort, which is also home to 40 villas (all of which have their own private balcony pools), is set on the spectacular Juanillo Beach, with a signature St Somewhere Spa, a Gourmet Village with a number of restaurants and bars in a walkable format and even the only Landshark brewery in the Caribbean.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau Still something of a well-kept secret, this beach resort is set in a direct waterfront spot at The Pointe development in the heart of downtown Nassau. It’s a classic Margaritaville, from pizza at Frank & Lola’s to a JWB Prime Steak and Seafood eatery and a terrific beach bar called the 12 Volt Bar.. That’s along with a spa, a coffee shop and one of the Caribbean’s top cigar lounges, the rooftop Graycliff Sky Lounge. But the centerpiece is an outstanding waterpark called Fins Up featuring a lazy river, a 10-foot dive board and a host of water slides.
St Somewhere Resort Punta Coco Holbox Island, Mexico Margaritaville’s St Somewhere brand is a new kind of experience for the company: it’s a more intimate, EP (that is, not all-inclusive) boutique kind of resort, with a focus on what Margaritaville calls “casual luxury.” And the first in the region is the St Somewhere in Holbox, a naturally stunning island in Mexico at the crossroads of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico at the tip of the Yucatan peninsula. St Somewhere Punta Coco has just 39 suites in seven different categories, from swim-up suites to some with their own private plunge pools. It’s a great way to journey to an island known for its immaculate beaches, car-free roads and thriving whale shark population. As a boutique, there are fewer dining options: there’s the Sand Bar & Pan American Grill, a seafood-focused, shared-plate concept; The Harbour House Peninsular Cuisine and Wood Stove Bar, with pizza and Italian favorites; and a great little swim-up bar called Lone Palm.
Margaritaville Island Reserve by Karisma Riviera Cancun This 148-room all-inclusive Mexican Caribbean beach resort was the first-ever all-inclusive Caribbean resort by Margaritaville when it opened in the summer of 2020, the product of the aforementioned alliance with Karisma Hotels and Resorts. It’s home to all of the Margaritaville concepts you expect, along with special eateries like Rita’s Taco House, home to a broad tequila and mezcal bar, tacos and regular entertainment (including Mariachi-themed evenings).
Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham St Thomas For a long time, this was the primary Margaritaville-branded option in the Caribbean’s and that’s made this Water Bay resort a beloved following both among Parrotheads and beach lovers. While it’s primarily a Vacation Club, booking individual vacations here is also open to everyone. There are 264 suites at this EP property, from studios to one and two-bedroom suites; the latter have separate bedrooms and kitchenettes, including a rather nice touch: a “Frozen Concoction Maker” for making Cruzan-filled daiquiris. The St Thomas outpost has two dining concepts: the classic 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar and a full-fledged Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant.