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USVI Travel Demand Keeps Rising

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Demand for travel to the US Virgin Islands continues to surge. That was the takeaway from talks between the USVI’s Department of Tourism and several major airlines last week. There has been strong demand for …

Nassau Fly

A New Way to Fly to Nassau

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Nassau is booming right now, with surging arrivals, new places to stay and a host of hot new eateries. And now there’s another new way to fly the capital of The Bahamas, as part of …

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American Airlines’ New Route to Grand Cayman

 By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines has launched another new route to the Caribbean. The carrier has added a new route from Chicago O’Hare, with a new weekly service between Chicago and Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. The …

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turks and caicos chicago

 By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines’ winter expansion has added another new route to the Caribbean, this time to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean Journal has learned. The world’s largest airline has launched a new weekly route between …

aruba flights

 By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines has launched a pair of new routes to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. American is now operating weekly flights on Saturdays from both Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare to Aruba’s Queen Beatrix …

all-inclusive saint lucia hotels

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Air Canada is adding a host of new flights to the island of Saint Lucia, Caribbean Journal has learned. The carrier will be adding a new nonstop flight on Air Canada Rouge beginning Oct. 31, …

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 …

aruba flights

 By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines is adding another new route to the Dutch Caribbean. The carrier has announced plans to launch a new weekly route between Chicago O’Hare and the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba, Caribbean Journal has …

turks and caicos engles

 By the Caribbean Journal staff The food. The shopping. The sheer natural beauty. And, oh yeah, Grace Bay Beach. There are so many great reasons to visit Turks and Caicos, and now it’s getting even easier to get there. American …

 By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines is adding a new route to the Cayman Islands, Caribbean Journal has learned. The company is launching new nonstop flights between Chicago-O’Hare and Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport on Dec. 22. The …

 By the Caribbean Journal staff Fresh off new flight launches from Fort Lauderdale to both Punta Cana and Providenciales, fast-expanding Southwest Airlines has announced even more new routes and expanded services to the Caribbean. Southwest Airlines is adding a new …

 United Airlines is launching a pair of new routes to Mexico, the company announced this week. Beginning in late December, United will launch flights from both Houston and Chicago to the resort town of Mazatlan, Mexico. “We are pleased to …

 United Airlines has launched a new nonstop route to the Caribbean. The carrier has begun operating service from Chicago to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The flights, which will operate on Saturdays, will run through April 30, 2016. …

 By Dana NilandCJ Contributor United Airlines is continuing its Caribbean expansion out of Chicago. The carrier will be launching a new nonstop flight from Chicago to St Lucia beginning Dec. 19. The inaugural service comes in response to increasing travel …

 Above: the Malliouhana Hotel in Anguilla By the Caribbean Journal staff Auberge Resorts has been tapped to manage and rebrand the Malliouhana Hotel & Spa in Anguilla. The 55-room property, which shuttered in May 2011, was acquired by Chicago-based Adventurous …

 

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