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Saint Lucia Has a New Kind of Luxury Resort, With Beachfront Villas, Private Pools and Butler Service

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Saint Lucia’s new Sapphire Sands Villas brings a villa-first luxury resort to Reduit Beach, with flexible beachfront accommodations, private plunge pools and around-the-clock butler service. Sapphire Sands Villas is now open on Reduit Beach in Saint Lucia, and the new property from Bay Gardens Resorts is something notably different for both the island and the […]

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Delta Launching New York-Antigua Flights

By Alexander Britell Another major carrier is adding service to Antigua and Barbuda. Delta Air Lines has announced plans to launch a new route between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Antigua. The new service, which will operate weekly on Saturdays, will launch Dec. 22. The announcement comes soon after American Airlines announced […]

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A Climate of Change for Caribbean Internet

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By Gerard Best CJ Contributor Spring storms with winter qualities clobbered North America this week, threatening Canada with slow-moving storms, and pounding the United States with near-record snowfall in the midwest, low temperatures in the south and tornadoes further east. You could say change was in the air. And although the unseasonable weather didn’t reach […]

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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 with their surroundings to bring you to a different plane of experience. Naturally, it begins […]


A Climate of Change for Caribbean Internet

By Dana Niland CJ Contributor Antigua and Barbuda is looking to continue the rapid expansion of its cruise sector. That was the top priority for the destination throughout a series of high-level one-on-one meetings at the Seatrade Cruise Global Tradeshow, held in Florida last week. The islands’ delegation consisted of officials from the Antigua and […]

Robert De Niro Hotel Project “Still Going Ahead” in Barbuda

By Alexander Britell The highly anticipated Paradise Found hotel project in Barbuda on track, according to Antigua tourism officials. The project, the brainchild of Hollywood legend and hospitality investor Robert De Niro, is “still on track,” according to Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. The originally planned $250 million project is […]

Antigua Tourism Off to Surging Start in 2018

By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua and Barbuda tourism is off to a surging start so far in 2018, according to new data from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. Stayover visitor arrivals to the destination are up by 9 percent for the first month of 2018, with an increase to 27,895 in January. The […]

St Vincent Moves to Strengthen Cybersecurity

By Gerard Best CJ Contributor KINGSTOWN —Internet adoption in the Caribbean is increasing rapidly,  but so, too are new threats and risks for persons, business and governments that are going online. Cyber attacks and cyber crime are being reported with greater frequency. Now the Eastern Caribbean country of St Vincent and the Grenadines has become […]

The Caribbean Travel Awards - 2017

This year was not without its challenges in the Caribbean. But in the face of overwhelming adversity, the Caribbean showed its toughness and resilience. It’s something that’s eminently clear, as hard-hit islands quickly recover, with most already welcoming back travelers, from the British Virgin Islands to the US Virgin Islands to St Barth. And let […]

Antigua and Barbuda Names New Tourism Minister

By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has named Henry Charles Fernandez as the country’s new Minister of Tourism. Fernandez had already been serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration; the Tourism portfolio will be added to his duties. Fernandez replaces former Tourism Minister Asot Michael, who was relieved […]

Prince Charles’ Caribbean Visit

By the Caribbean Journal staff The United Kingdom’s Prince Charles is visiting the Caribbean this weekend. Prince Charles is making his first official visits to Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands and Dominica, in the wake of last month’s storms. Charles began his visit in Antigua on Friday, followed by a visit Saturday to […]

Antigua to Set New Record for Cruise Arrivals

By the Caribbean Journal staff Antigua and Barbuda’s cruise industry is booming, according to recent projections from the country’s tourism ministry. Between October and Dec. 31 of this year, the destination will receive a projected 459,138 cruise arrivals across 226 cruise ship calls. Of those, 57 were recent additions to the schedule and 12 will […]