By Caribbean Journal Staff It’s the most legendary place to stay in St Croix: The Buccaneer, the storied beach resort near Christiansted that’s home to one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Caribbean. If you’re planning a springtime vacation, the resort has unveiled a new program with significant savings for those who book four nights. It’s called “Spring Fling,” and the promotion gives guests a free fifth night if you book four. The offer is valid for bookings made now through May 31st, with travel dates through Dec. 20, 2024. So…what about getting to St Croix? Most major airlines fly nonstop between the US mainland and the largest US Virgin Island, with flights on carriers including Delta, American, Spirit and Frontier. You can also fly from Puerto Rico on smaller carriers like Fly the Whale and Cape Air. Fly the Whale also flies between St Thomas and St Croix. For more, contact reservations@thebuccaneer.com or call 800-255-3881. Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal.com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean. About the Buccaneer The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort celebrates more than 75 years of Caribbean hospitality as it blends timeless charm and elegance with modern luxury. Owned and operated by the Armstrong family for three generations, The Buccaneer has received high honors from the travel industry and earned a multitude of “World’s Best” accolades. Most recently, the resort has secured the #4 spot among the Top 10 for Best Caribbean Resort in the highly coveted 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. This achievement reflects The…
By Bob Curley If a Caribbean vacation rates as a dream, the fantasy is to get the trip paid for by someone else. And one way to do that is by signing up for a credit card where you earn points that can be used to defer the cost of travel. Airfare and lodging are typically the two biggest expenses for Caribbean travelers, so choosing a credit card that rewards your purchases with points that can be used for flights or hotel stays is your best bet for underwriting your next tropical trip. Some of these cards are specific to certain airlines or hotel chains, while others deliver reward points that can be used generally to book travel on the airline or at the hotel of your choice. Here are our picks for the top rewards credit cards for Caribbean travel: American Airlines AAdvantage Mastercard American Airlines has more flights to the Caribbean and Latin American of any airline, with more than 800 weekly flights to 35 Caribbean destinations plus Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Holders of the Citi bank issued American Airlines AAdvantage Mastercard thus have the most choices for redeeming rewards points for an island getaway. The Advantage Mastercard comes in four versions — the entry-level MileUp Mastercard, the Platinum Select Mastercard, the Executive Mastercard, and the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard. Introductory miles bonuses range from 10,000 to 65,000 points, depending on the card selected; useful perks include priority boarding and — for the Executive Mastercard — entry into American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounges. However, Caribbean-bound travelers should note that the free checked bags offered on the Platinum, Executive, and CitiBusiness cards are for domestic flights only, so you’ll still pay to check bags to the Caribbean. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles American Express Card Delta flies to 13 Caribbean destinations plus…
By Alexander Britel It’s a mile-long pond in Hatchet Bay on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. But this body of water is filled with wonders. Sweetings Pond, a land-locked saltwater pond, is home to what is said to be the densest population of seahorses anywhere in the world. The unique population has helped earn this global seahorse capital a new title: the newest national park in The Bahamas, called, fittingly, Seahorse National Park. It’s called Seahorse National Park, and the park encompasses 548 acres — protecting both the pond itself and the area beyond — including the Hatchet Bay Caves system, what The Bahamas National Trust calls “one of the longest dry cave systems in The Bahamas.” It’s part of a nearly decade-long effort by the Trust to have Sweetings Pond declared a national park. The park designation “has been a long time coming,” said Bahamas Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting. “. It represents a milestone in our journey towards sustainable development. It symbolizes our collective responsibility to safeguard our natural heritage and create a harmonious relationship between economic progress and environmental preservation.” The idea is to “transform Sweetings Pond into a world-class national park,” said Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, executive director of The Bahamas National Trust. Seahorse National Park is now the 33rd national park in The Bahamas, though just the second one in Eleuthera (along with the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve in Governor’s Harbour). “The declaration of Seahorse National Park is more than just a designation; it is our shared promise to our community, to future generations, and to the world that we are committed to conserving our unique and diverse ecosystems for the benefit of all Bahamians,” she said. The park is yet another reminder of Eleuthera’s vast, pristine natural environment, from…
By Alexander Britell & Staff It’s the most anticipated new resort on the island of St. Vincent, well, maybe ever. In just two months, Sandals is opening the new Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, an all-inclusive resort that should inject significant new energy into the destination. The new resort, which is already taking reservations, now has an official opening date: March 27, 2024. It will be the second major new all-inclusive opening for Sandals in a year, following last spring’s celebrated launch of the new Sandals Dunn’s River resort in Jamaica. St. Vincent is the ninth destination in the Caribbean for the Sandals brand, and, going by the track record, it’s likely that it should be a transformative new property for the island, long one of the least-visited places in the Caribbean (that’s excepting the islands of the Grenadines, which have long been very popular, particularly private-island destinations like Palm Island.) Palm Island in the Grenadines, is the top all-inclusive resort in the nearby Grenadines. That’s precisely what happened when Sandals debuted its Sandals Royal Curacao resort on that island in 2022, quickly ushering in record-breaking tourism arrivals, particularly from the US market. The resort, set on 50 acres, will have 301 rooms including, most notably, the first-ever overwater villas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. That’s along with 12 different dining concepts, five bars and five different pools. The overwater villas, a concept Sandals has defined in the Caribbean, are two-story overwater bungalows with outdoor tubs, sea windows in the floors and overwater hammocks, among other touches. Other special room categories include beachfront one-bedroom butler villa suites with their own private plunge pools, and Lady Palm Club swim-up suites, among others. Even better? It’s just a short drive from the island’s Argyle Airport, which first opened in 2017 as…
From the Publisher: While we know that some of you are still recovering from NYE 2023, we feel like it’s never too early to plan for a fantastic New Year’s Eve 2024. We talked about spending the Christmas holiday in the islands in the December issue so why not consider welcoming in the New Year on an island as well. We consulted with our friends at the Caribbean Journal and YachtCharterFleet.com to get a bit of insight on what you can look forward to if you choose the island of St. Barth. Book your villa now and we realize that not everyone owns a “yacht” but that’s the beauty of chartering one with friends and family so you can split the bill. There are several villa and charter companies to choose from. The Ultimate Caribbean New Year’s Eve Is On St. Barth When it comes to New Year’s Eve, there’s no place in the Caribbean quite like St. Barth. The tiny French Caribbean jewel is buzzing, with hotels and restaurants full and a roster full of boldfaced names in town for the celebration. The island is filled with special New Year’s celebrations, anchored by a colorful fireworks celebration above Fort Oscar in Gustavia — a rather stunning sight to behold with the super yachts bobbing around below in the harbor. The yachts themselves get in on the action, sounding their foghorns in unison to mark the occasion. For years, it’s an event that has attracted celebrities from around the globe: *Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul McCartney and Mariah Carey, to name a few. And you can join them, with some rooms still available including a selection of top villas at the island’s premier villa company, WIMCO St. Barth Properties. If you stay around past the first, the island also hosts an annual music festival…
By Suite Life Yachting Many travelers choose to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands over the Christmas season for several reasons. December kicks off the tourist season in the USVI (which, yes, could mean higher tourist rates at big resorts and hotels — just one reason why you might want to consider staying on a yacht charter instead). You’ll find warm temperatures in the 80s during the day and cooler, windier temperatures at night. Not to mention, there’s plenty to do and see in December, from can’t-miss holiday events to activities the region is known for, like snorkeling. The best part is American travelers find visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands incredibly easy. As an American territory, the islands are accessible with no passport or special documentation required, and travelers can often expect the same level of service and basic amenities that they could in any American destination. The territory’s primary airport is located on St. Thomas, but from there, travelers can easily head out by boat to the territory’s other two islands, St. Croix and St. John. The Crucian Christmas Festival The St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival and Carnival is a month-long celebration that is one of the largest and most popular that the territory hosts. Events take place starting the first weekend in December and then last all through the first weekend in January (which also means that, if you want to catch some Christmas fun in the islands, but don’t want to miss the actual Christmas holiday with your family in the States, it’s totally possible to have both!). Events mainly take place in the St. Croix cities of Christiansted and Frederiksted. Expect calypso shows, Latin live music, classic St. Croix cuisine (the island is known for its amazing food!), parades, street parties and more. Christmas Traditions in the…
By Caribbean Journal Staff It’s the frontier of The Bahamas: the far-off island of San Salvador, a tiny destination with sparkling blue water, a remarkable history and some of the best diving and snorkeling on earth. Now, the island’s biggest hotel is open again, with the relaunch of the Club Med Columbus all-inclusive resort. The property, which just reopened its doors for the season this weekend, is set on 1,500 feet of beachfront on San Salvador’s coastline. The resort has a total of nearly 240 rooms, set across a collection of two-story bungalows. There are several dining options, from La Pinta, a beach lounge with all-day dining, now offering Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The main restaurant, Christopher’s, is also adding new plant-based menu items following a training led by noted vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli. The resort has also enhanced its wellness program, with a new “Wellness Fusion” program including comprehensive yoga, meditation, moonlit massages and holistic treatments at the Club Med Spa by Sothys. The resort also has a partnership with Only Blue Diving to help discover the island’s undersea world. San Salvador is best known as the landing point of Christopher Columbus on his initial voyage to the New World in 1492, a moment marked by a monument that can be accessed only by snorkeling or diving. The water in San Salvador is spectacular. If you’re looking for a smaller option, the island also has a handful of boutique hotels, none better than the beachfront resort called The Sands. Bahamasair flies nonstop between Miami and San Salvador. For more, visit the Club Med Columbus at clubmed.us. Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular…
By: Bob Curley If a Caribbean vacation rates as a dream, the fantasy is to get the trip paid for by someone else. And one way to do that is by signing up for a credit card where you earn points that can be used to defer the cost of travel. Airfare and lodging are typically the two biggest expenses for Caribbean travelers, so choosing a credit card that rewards purchases with points that can be used for flights or hotel stays is your best bet for underwriting your next tropical trip. Some of these cards are specific to certain airlines or hotel chains, while others deliver reward points that can be used generally to book travel on the airline or at the hotel of your choice. Here are our picks for the top rewards credit cards for Caribbean travel: American Airlines AAdvantage Mastercard American Airlines has more flights to the Caribbean and Latin American of any airline, with more than 800 weekly flights to 35 Caribbean destinations plus Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Holders of the Citi bank issued American Airlines AAdvantage Mastercard thus have the most choices for redeeming rewards points for an island getaway. The Advantage Mastercard comes in four versions — the entry-level MileUp Mastercard, the Platinum Select Mastercard, the Executive Mastercard, and the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard. Introductory miles bonuses range from 10,000 to 65,000 points, depending on the card selected; useful perks include priority boarding and — for the Executive Mastercard — entry into American Airlines Admirals Club airport lounges. However, Caribbean-bound travelers should note that the free checked bags offered on the Platinum, Executive, and CitiBusiness cards are for domestic flights only, so you’ll still pay to check bags to the Caribbean. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles American Express Card Delta flies to 13 Caribbean destinations plus Mexico,…
By Alexander Britell The locals call it the “Portofino of the Caribbean.” Peering at St George’s, Grenada, you’ll find fishing boats bobbing in the harbor, pastel buildings on the edges of green hills and surely as compelling case for a postcard as its Italian counterpart. The picture-perfect, nearly 400-year-old harbor is also home to a rich, vibrant Caribbean capital, home to charming Georgian architecture, scenic waterfront eateries, myriad local shops and some of the best chocolate anywhere on earth. You can take in an art exhibition at the Grenada National Museum (home to a dazzling new-look mural) and venture up the street to tiny art galleries and even one of the Caribbean’s top batik outlets, the world-class Art Fabrik. The Museum hosts frequent exhibitions from popular Caribbean artists, but the biggest draw here is certainly the House of Chocolate, a remarkably layered place that is equal parts chocolate factory, cultural center, café, crafts shop and candy parlor. It’s here that you can journey into the deep history of chocolate-making and cacao production in Grenada, where the industry has blossomed again in the last two decades, with the rise of companies like the Grenada Chocolate Company, Diamond Estate, Belmont Estate and others. The House of Chocolate is generous with its samples, letting you try every manner of dark-chocolate magic, that is, before you inevitably leave with a bag filled with locally-made bars. You won’t find styles like this in other Caribbean towns. You can wash it all down just up the street at the lovely little City Inn, a corner courtyard just off the street with great drinks and a delicious locally-focused menu (go for the escovitch fish with some boiled provision or festival on the side). The centuries-old streets of St George’s wind and bustle, as pedestrians vie for space with…
By Bob Curley Sailing through the British Virgin Islands on a chartered catamaran is every bit the fantasy journey it sounds like, but here’s one surprise I got during my time cruising around Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke on a Moorings charter yacht: the trip can actually be pretty affordable as well as remarkably customizable. Design your own vacation — in advance, or on the fly During my most recent BVI trip with Moorings in February 2022, I had a fairly rigid plan to make stops at all the major islands, along with two resorts, Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht Club — both beautifully restored and reopened after being heavily damaged by hurricanes in 2017. On past trips, however, we were more or less able to plot each day’s itinerary the night before based on weather, distance, and mood. A stop for snorkeling at The Indians, perhaps, or drinks aboard the legendary party boat Willy T? A nice meal at Pirates Bight, or sampling from the rum bar at Cooper Island? And when do we make the obligatory stop for our Painkillers at the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke? Every day can be an adventure of choices — (almost) all of them fun. “The beauty of a yacht charter vacation, and especially a charter vacation in the British Virgin Islands, is the flexibility,” says Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager at the Moorings. “The number of islands in the region and the wide variety of picturesque stops to explore allow visitors to craft their own unique schedule and itinerary, and being aboard your very own yacht means you can go anywhere you like, whenever you like.” If you’re a first-timer, the range of options can be intimidating. That’s why Moorings provides sample itineraries on its website, and employs a staff of vacation planners who can help you iron…
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