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Carnival Conquest Is Back in Miami, With a New Heroes Bar, a Reimagined Club O2, and Revamped Retail

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Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest is back in Miami following a 12-day dry dock at Grand Bahama Shipyard, unveiling a series of new venues and refreshed public spaces ahead of its return to year-round sailings. The most notable addition is the Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge, a dedicated venue honoring military veterans and active-duty service members. The space […]

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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 […]

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A Cool New Resort Is Coming to Negril: Skylark

jamaica new flight

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of the coolest spots in Jamaica is getting even cooler. The Skylark Negril Beach Resort, the sister property to Negril’s nearby Rockhouse Hotel, is slated to open this summer on Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach. The quirky, colorful hotel will have a similar vibe to that of the beloved […]

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Holland America’s Newest Ship Set for December Debut

By the Caribbean Journal staff Holland America Line’s new state-of-the-art cruise ship is set for a December debut. The highly-anticipated Nieuw Statendam will have a capacity for 2,666 guests, with eight more staterooms than its sister-ship Ms Koningsdam. That includes a redesigned Pinnacle Suite and reconfigured family staterooms, among other changes. “As with every new […]


A Cool New Resort Is Coming to Negril: Skylark

All-inclusives have changed a lot in recent years. Everything has been taken to the next level: the food, the activities, the entertainment, the overall design. But Jamaica’s newest all-inclusive is something else entirely — a new kind of all-inclusive concept. The terrific Jewel Grande Montego Bay isn’t just a resort — it’s a group of […]

A Celebration of Tourism in Jamaica

By the Caribbean Journal staff The best of Jamaican tourism was on display in Kingston this weekend as Caribbean Journal presented the Caribbean Travel Awards to Jamaica’s winning contingent, highlighted by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett receiving the award for Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year. Last year’s fourth annual Caribbean Travel Awards awarded trophies to […]

Six Senses Coming to St Kitts, The Caribbean’s New Luxury Hotspot

By Alexander Britell First it was Park Hyatt. Then it was Ritz-Carlton. Now it’s Six Senses. St Kitts is quickly becoming the Caribbean’s next luxury hotspot. Range Developments, the developer of the highly-acclaimed Park Hyatt St Kitts, has announced the new Six Senses St Kitts, slated to debut on the island in 2021. The resort […]

Rosewood Baha Mar to Open in June

By the Caribbean Journal staff One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated hotel openings of 2018 is coming in June. The new Rosewood Baha Mar at the Baha Mar resort complex in Nassau is opening June 1, Caribbean Journal has learned. The resort is now taking reservations on its Web site. Rosewood Baha Mar will feature […]

Two New Villas to Try at Jamaica’s Tryall Club

By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s Tryall Club villa resort has added a pair of new luxury villas to its rental portfolio. The Montego Bay-area property has added the hip four-bedroom Aqua Bay, along with the “timelessly elegant” Quinntessential [sic]” villa. Each comes with its own private staff and unique amenities, from a gym with […]

Radisson Blu Coming to Costa Rica

By the Caribbean Journal staff Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is adding a major new property in the Caribbean Basin. The company has announced the signing of a new Radisson Blue in Costa Rica. The new-build hotel will feature 100 rooms, with plans to break ground in late 2018 and a projected opening date of December […]

St Barth’s Villa Marie Set to Reopen in March

By Alexander Britell The Villa Marie boutique hotel in St Barth is planning a quick comeback, Caribbean Journal has learned. The hotel will make its post-Irma debut on March 2, according to the property’s Web site. The Sibuet family’s Villa Marie is set in the hills above Colombier, overlooking St Barth’s Flamands Bay, with a […]

The Perfect Turks and Caicos Diving Vacation

By the Caribbean Journal staff Turks and Caicos is one of the region’s most beautiful diving destinations — and now there’s a great way to enjoy the waters of the archipelago. Beaches Resorts has partnered with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors on a special five-day all-inclusive diving package. The package includes daily private dive […]

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