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…
By Greg Cottrell Flashback to the fall of 1991 when, as a young professional, I was informed during an interview the position I was soon to be hired for had the perk of an annual trip in January to St. Thomas in the USVI because the firm had a client located there. When I left the firm three years later, I hadn’t been once on those annual boondoggles. Somehow, the firm’s partners determined it more important to take their wives along than a young staff member. With this in mind, I lobbied hard for St. Thomas when Michele and I began planning our first Caribbean trip in mid-2011. Still a little bitter, I wondered what I had missed all those years ago. The lobbying, along with some TripAdvisor research, worked. Soon, we had a February 2012 reservation for a multi-night stay at At Home In The Tropics, a four room bed & breakfast (B&B), located on Blackbeard’s Hill. Soon after the B&B’s founders, Pam and Matt Eckstein, checked us in for our first stay, we discovered the panoramic view of the Charlotte Amalie harbor from the B&B’s pool deck. That first afternoon and evening we soaked in the sights of the harbor – seaplanes departing and landing, catamarans slowly coming and going, cruise ships departing for their next port of call, and the sun lighting up a bank of clouds as it set to the west. The Eckstein’s purchased the property that would become the B&B in 1993. Over the next thirteen years, they made improvements as Pam’s job with the Virgin Islands government and Matt’s job operating his contracting business would allow. In 2006, Pam resigned from her job and outfitted four upper-level rooms of the house for guests. A few months later, concluding what Pam described as “the…
By Alexander Britell It’s just across the water from the people watching at Nikki Beach and the endless lunches at the Eden Rock; a short drive from the buzz of Gustavia and the scenes at Shellona and Bagatelle. But you might never know it was here. And that’s the way they like it. Hidden away on the other side of Remy de Haenen Airport in St. Barth is one of the island’s best-kept secrets: Les Ilets de la Plage, the boutique beach hotel that is also the island’s best value resort. Set on a vibrant stretch of St Jean sand, Les Ilets is home to just 11 villas, some one-bedroom bungalow-style cottages at the water’s edge, others hillside retreats perched among the palm trees. It’s a hotel that has one of the most devoted followings on the island, where the guests come back year after year, often staying several weeks, finding their home in the French Caribbean. The same devotees say it’s a portal to a St. Barth that doesn’t really exist, a throwback to the island’s roots as a quiet little fishing town. And they’re right: check in to Les Ilets and you’ll be stunned at the level of serenity, with the only aural interruption being a landing at the airport. But even that adds to the charm, the way only tiny prop planes landing on short runways can. If you haven’t been to St. Barth, it’s a wonderful way to get into the island; stay at Les Ilets and you’re immediately living on the island, heading to the Super U for your groceries and Bacchus for your rum and Nespresso; getting your daily croissants and baguettes at Choisy in Lorient. You’ll become immersed in the Les Ilets routine: morning strolls on the beach, afternoons with a book in your lounger or in…
By Alexander Britell The Caribbean’s most legendary beach bar hotel has a long-awaited reopening date. The Sandcastle at Soggy Dollar, the boutique beach hotel at the world-famous Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, will begin welcoming back guests on May 15, the Soggy Dollar confirmed. “We are very excited to be reopening Sandcastle at Soggy Dollar,” the property said in a statement. For now, reservations will only be accepted six months in advance of arrival; all guests must be a minimum of 25 years old, the hotel said. Since 1970, nestled on the pristine white sands of White Bay, Sandcastle Hotel, located at the world-famous Soggy Dollar is the ultimate Caribbean beach bar resort. With two beachfront cottages, two garden cottages, and two garden view rooms with exclusive beach access and onsite bar and restaurant privileges … it’s no wonder they have been voted number one by USA Today “10 Best” year after year. It is a triumphant return for a beloved boutique hotel that has been shuttered since Hurricane Irma back in 2017. Stay in White Bay … keep it shady … stay at Soggy! For more, visit soggydollar.com/hotel. Getting There! You can fly either into Tortola (Beef Island Airport) or St. Thomas. Getting to Soggy Dollar is easiest from Tortola, but airline fare variations and frequent flyer programs may make St. Thomas a more practical point-of-departure. From Tortola you will need to get to West End Tortola and you’ll take either the ferry or a chartered boat to Jost Van Dyke. To ensure catching the last ferry to Jost Van Dyke (6pm) you should arrive at Beef Island not later than 4pm. If this not possible, we will be glad to assist you in making arrangements for you to stay at a guest…
By Alexander Brittell In case you haven’t been following, the historic downtown of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas is in the midst of a renaissance. There is a new energy here, new life in these centuries-old streets and a dramatic waterfront transformation project undertaken by the USVI Department of Public Works. And now, perhaps most importantly, there’s a very cool new hotel. For the first time in more than two decades, St. Thomas as a new hotel — and, crucially, it’s in the heart of historic Charlotte Amalie. It’s called the Pink Palm, and it’s a hip, retro-chic hotel that’s the sister hotel to the American Beech hotel in Long Island, NY. The 27-room hotel, which began welcoming guests last month, is a significant boost to downtown Charlotte Amalie, with a bright, colorful, fun aesthetic that’s a new kind of hotel for the island. “We also have two hotels on the North Fork of Long Island, American Beech and Aqua Beach, and as that area is pretty seasonal to summer and fall, I was looking to open another hotel that was seasonal to winter and spring. I first saw the listing for the property online. There were a couple of other places I was considering, but as soon as I came down to St. Thomas and saw [it], I fell in love,” says Brent Pelton, owner and CEO of the Pink Palm. “We’re the first fully new hotel on the island in over twenty years. We’ve been working to create strong relationships with the local businesses, galleries and restaurants, as well as organizations like the St. Thomas Historical Trust, and overall there is an air of excitement about what’s happening in Charlotte Amalie.” It’s the history that really makes it unique, Pelton says. The hotel is set at what was once Smith’s Fancy, a…
By Caribbean Journal Staff June 12th – 17th Maybe you’ve been to a rum festival. Maybe you’re just beginning a journey into the world of premium rum. Or maybe you’re just looking for a new kind of beach vacation. Either way, Bonaire Rum Week should be on your calendar and you should start making your plans to attend NOW! The ultimate summer rum festival in the Caribbean is back again this June, a weeklong celebration of premium rum – set against the backdrop of the ultimate Dutch Caribbean paradise. If you have been to a rum festival, forget everything you know. This isn’t an expo in a stuffy conference center in a densely populated city. This is about enjoying the premium Caribbean rum where it’s meant to be enjoyed — at the edge of the ocean. And it’s also about enjoying Bonaire, the Caribbean capital of ocean conservation, home to a dynamic culinary culture (and some of the region’s greatest restaurants) and a growing fine spirits movement. Bonaire Rum Week is a series of events held across the island, from beach parties with steel bands to rum-pairing dinners to sunset cocktails, all in spectacular waterfront settings. “The first edition of Bonaire Rum Week was a massive success, and we can’t wait for the 2023 edition,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal, which organizes the event in collaboration with Tourism Corporation Bonaire. “There is no summer festival quite like this; it’s a must-visit event whether you’re a longtime rum aficionado or just looking for a great beach vacation in the Caribbean.” The event puts the spotlight on Bonaire, the crown jewel of the ABC islands, one that’s renowned as the global capital of diving and marine conservation, from a landmark marine protected area that goes all around the island…
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