By Karen Udler We are so happy to feature these three islands this month. We are particularly fond of St. John and are hoping to get back to the islands this year. Caribbean Connection’s Karen Udler fills you in on what awaits you when you arrive at these island paradises. – Lani Gering The white sands of Lindquist Beach. The shimmering turquoise of Sandy Point. The green hills above Magens Bay. The sound of a steel pan carrying across an open shoreline. This is what travelers are finding when they arrive in the U.S. Virgin Islands right now — places that feel unmistakably Caribbean, with deep-rooted culture, local rhythms, and beaches that haven’t been overbuilt. At the same time, getting here stays simple, familiar, and direct for U.S. travelers. In 2026, that combination of authenticity and ease is translating into record demand across the territory. What’s Driving the Demand Right Now The entry point stays simple. No passport required for U.S. travelers, the U.S. dollar in circulation, and frequent flights from mainland cities keep the process straightforward from the start. You land, collect your bags, and leave the airport without another checkpoint. That ease continues once you’re on the ground. Roads connect easily across each island, taxis are readily available, and ferries between St. Thomas and St. John run consistently throughout the day. You can stay in one place or divide your time between islands. What travelers find is comfort: clear water, beaches that remain accessible, and towns where restaurants and bars sit within short distances of each other. It’s easy, and it’s exactly what you want. St. Thomas: Harbor Activity and Immediate Access The harbor in Charlotte Amalie fills early, with cruise ships docked along the waterfront and foot traffic moving through the streets. A short drive changes the setting. On the Northside, Magens Bay stretches in a wide arc with calm water and a long shoreline that…
By Guy Britton. Last month we published a piece about a very luxurious and very pricey slice of Caribbean heaven so we thought it a good idea to let you in on a more laid-back piece of paradise in Barbados. While I have never been, this island has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I would definitely stay where the action is but after reading Guy’s piece below, Foul Bay just might be a good place to spend a day away from it all. – Lani Gering, OTC The first time I drove out to Foul Bay, I thought I’d taken a wrong turn. The road narrowed, the houses thinned out, and then there was only wind coming off the Atlantic and a strip of coastline that didn’t look arranged for anyone in particular. You park on the edge of the bluff, step out of the car, and the island changes in a single instant. And no — while you do encounter myriad roosters walking around here, it’s not that kind of fowl. It’s Foul, as in the bottom of a ship. Down below, the beach runs in a long, uninterrupted line, white sand meeting a restless Atlantic that never settles. The water carries a deeper blue here, streaked with white as waves break in steady sets. There are no umbrellas, no beach bars, no one directing where you should go or how long you should stay. You walk down the worn path in the cliff, the sound of the surf getting louder with every step, and by the time your feet hit the sand, you understand exactly why this place stays with you. Maybe you stop at a picnic table. Maybe you just find a corner of shade under an almond tree. It’s a place for slow travel….
By Karen Udler When I was reading this piece, I was totally enamored with the whole concept and was all set to see if I could schedule a time to check this place out in person until…I got to the price tag info. At this point in my life, however, I would have to win the lottery to be able to spend a weekend here. However, the more I thought about it the more I realized that there are several people in the Old Town Crier’s distribution realm that could easily afford to splurge on this adventure. In fact, I have a few close friends who fall into this category. Maybe they would take me along just because. For now, enjoy the authors description of what you can expect to experience at the Mayakoba. – Lani Gering These Overwater Suites at Rosewood Mayakoba Have Emerald Lagoon Views, Butler Service, and Heated Private Plunge Pools
By Caribbean Journal Staff Congratulations to all of This Year’s Winners! I can’t believe we haven’t been back to our favorite places in the Virgin Islands – mainly St. John – for almost ten years. We were going at least one a year for several years in a row. Guess time and money, or lack thereof, has kept us mainland bound. Will, hopefully, rectify that this year! Alexander and his Staff at the Journal did a fabulous job covering these awards. We are very happy to see that The Saint Hotel on St. John received the New Caribbean Hotel award and that Charlotte Amalie on St. John took the Experiential Destination of the Year award. Looking forward to checking out The Saint and being back in Charlotte Amalie again soon. The following isn’t all inclusive. The entire listing can be found at caribjournal.com – Lani, Old Town Crier. Full article here: https://www.caribjournal.com/2026/01/21/caribbean-travel-awards-2026/
By Karen Udler Wow…I have been to some great places here on the mainland that have interesting monikers including The Bitches Corner Bar located pretty much in my hometown in Wyoming and, yes, I’ve known the “original” bitch for close to 50 years. I have been in more than one Pecker’s and Dick’s as well. This month I was really intrigued by the piece in the Caribbean Journal on Big Bastard’s! I have got to figure out a way to get down there. I don’t know anywhere you can go spend a day on the beach on an island in the Caribbean with all of the bells and whistles – including adult beverages and eats – at your beck and call for a mere $149.00 per couple! – Lani, Old Town Crier.
By Guy Britton If you are still looking for some last-minute plans to ring in 2026 and your savings account hasn’t been depleted from the US Government shut down, one of these amazing villas might be just the ticket to welcome in the New Year. I have often dreamt of spending one of the big holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s – on a tropical island but the closest I have gotten, so far, is spending a great 4 days in the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel on the beach in Rehoboth, Delaware for Christmas a few years ago. Not exactly tropical but….it was on the ocean. Guy Britton, the managing editor of the Caribbean Journal, who, by the way, has more than four decades of experience traveling the Caribbean and is considered one of the world’s foremost experts covering the region has put together his recommendations below. – Lani Gering, Old Town Crier These St Barth Villas Are Perfect for New Year’s Eve The last sunset of the year feels different in St. Barth — the air is charged, the hills shimmer, and the champagne seems colder. As fireworks ignite above Gustavia Harbor and the island hums with celebration, there’s nothing like having your own private hillside villa to toast the year ahead. These are the St. Barth villas made for New Year’s Eve — each one an escape for gathering, celebrating, and waking to a brand-new year in paradise, from the island’s top villa company, Wimco. Villa Crystal Breez, St. Jean The newest addition to the island’s villa scene, Crystal Breez opens its doors this November — and might just be the most romantic place to start the year. A sleek one-bedroom retreat with a private pool, it’s perfect for couples chasing a quiet, elevated celebration. Guests receive a $175 concierge…
It has long been a dream of mine to celebrate one of the major winter holidays in the Caribbean or any tropical locale for that matter. I have celebrated Christmas oceanside in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware but it isn’t exactly the same sitting on my sand mat with palm trees behind me and an umbrella drink in my hand. This month Alex and his crew have supplied us with some fabulous information about the remote Seiri del Mar in Belize and how to celebrate Thanksgiving in Punta Cana and a Winter Festival in Cancun. Time might be short to book for this year but it certainly gives you plenty of time to plan for 2026. – Lani Gering Why This Beach Resort Is One of the Best-Kept Secrets in Belize By Alexander Britell and Guy Britton The beach at the Seiri del Mar resort in Belize. The moment you arrive in Hopkins you know you’ve found it. You rumble down the dirt road, past the beach shacks and the palm trees, just ahead of the creek. Hopkins, set in the eastern middle of this spectacular country, is one of those beach towns you fall in love with instantly, one of those places you can’t imagine even exists anymore. It’s a place of cold beers, uncrowded sand, friendly smiles and the sense that you’ve escaped the world, or somehow transcended it. And it’s also home to one of the country’s best-kept secrets: Seiri Del Mar. Whether you’re on the main drag, hanging at the Driftwood, or paddling to nearby Kalipuna Island, the is the sort of place you want to live while you’re here. And at this 18-unit residential resort, that’s exactly what you get: a luxurious, easy, comfortable beachfront resort with huge rooms, direct access to the access to the sand and one of the best…
By Guy Britton You still have time to get in that last minute island vacation before the “season” starts to crank up. While quite a few popular spots closed their doors in September due to hurricane season, the islands are back up and running in October. While not mentioned below – since Guy wrote this piece in September – Both Foxy’s and the Soggy Dollar are back up and running on Jost Van Dyke. Both places are a “must experience” in my view. See below for some great reasons to head south this month as Guy Britton gives you some good tips. – Lani Gering, OTC Why This is One of the Best Times of Year to Visit the British Virgin Islands
By Guy Britton This month Guy Britton from the Caribbean Journal staff has written about one of our very favorite islands in the BVI’s! It has been wayyyy too long since we have swum to shore to procure the absolute best dark rum concoction on the planet, the ORIGINAL Painkiller! Originally made with the Pussers Royal Navy rum, it is a delectable concoction of said rum mixed with some coco lopez, pineapple and orange juices topped with just the right amount of fresh grated nutmeg. The proportions of this beverage are key and I’ve come really close to getting it right but something about drinking them on the beach in front of the Soggy Dollar Bar! Not to be outdone – Foxy’s is another icon on this small piece of island paradise and not to be missed! He also is a frequent visitor in Old Town Alexandria. – Lani Gering Why Jost Van Dyke Is the Ultimate Caribbean Beach Bar Island
Best of the Caribbean Yes…you read that headline correctly. This is something that is great to know especially in this day and age with the processing of passport applications taking such a long time. I let mine expire long enough ago to have to totally re-apply and awaiting its arrival, however, if I want to head down to St. John to see our island friends, I just have to make my plane reservations and pack my bag! Only draw back is that I wouldn’t be able to make the trek to one of my very favorite places in the Virgin Islands – the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke since it is part of the BVI’s. Guy Britton tells us what to expect at these Caribbean Jewels below. – Lani Gering
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