By Guy Britton

Maybe you’ve been to the beaches of Punta Cana, the sights of Santo Domingo, or the golf courses of La Romana.

But here, hidden away among the large resorts of Puerto Plata, there is a jewel.

This isn’t the Dominican Republic you think you know.

This is VH Hotels’ Casa Colonial, and it is the best-kept secret in the Dominican Republic.

This 50-room hideaway on the golden beach in Playa Dorada is a true work of art, with astonishing designs by Estudio Sarah Garcia and the sort of boutique, cosmopolitan luxury that is so rare these days.

The rooms are beautiful, with Garcia’s inspiration touching every detail, while the spa is even more spectacular.

And then there’s the signature rooftop pool, which achieves the rare feat of pulling you away from the sand, the sort of pool scene that has you staying all day long.

There’s an uncanny ambience here, a sort of indulgent but unpretentious luxury that pervades the whole place.

It feels different, it feels special, it feels unique — because that’s precisely what it is.

For more, see the latest CJ Video at the top of the page.

Or visit Casa Colonial.

The post VIDEO: Casa Colonial: The Best-Kept Secret in the Dominican Republic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… in Toledo.
Given that the Puerto Ricans range in age from 11 … of work.”
Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 with winds … third trip to Puerto Rico last December. A teenage Puerto Rican girl was volunteering … figures it’ll be the Puerto Rican girls’ first trip to the …

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By Alexander Britell

It’s getting even easier to visit the fascinating French Caribbean island of Martinique.

The expanded flights are headlined by this week’s announcement that European carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle will be adding another major new route to the island from Canada.

The low-cost carrier will be planning a new route from Montreal to Martinique beginning Nov. 1, according to the Martinique Promotion Bureau.

The new flights from Canada to the French Caribbean will operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The seasonal flights will run for the winter season, from November through the end of March 2019.

“The new service from Montreal to Fort-de-France is also excellent news,’ said Karine Mousseau, Martinique Tourism Commissioner. “The additional offer provided by Norwegian will make Martinique more accessible than ever and increase traffic from and to this crucial Canadian market. This is an opportunity for us to expand our reach and showcase Martinique Magnifique, its multiple assets, its vibrant culture, its authenticity, along with the warmth of its people. We are looking forward to see more and more Quebecois making Martinique their own.”

The new comes after Norwegian announced it would be expanding its flights from Fort Lauderdale to Martinique this winter, with a total of four weekly flights.

Norwegian is also adding two more flights from New York to Martinique, with a total of six weekly flights.

“The additional offer provided by Norwegian will make Martinique more accessible than ever,” Mousseau said.

Those flights will complement existing six-times-weekly service from Miami to Martinique on American Airlines along with recently-launched flights from Atlanta to Fort-de-France.

Le Diamant, Martinique.

It’s another significant boost for a destination that continue to see very strong growth, buoyed by a unique cultural and culinary offering that has long made it a sought-after destination for travelers in the know, from its status as the rum capital of the Caribbean to a happening beach bar scene.

Now, the secret is getting out.

— CJ

The post Norwegian Is Adding More Nonstop Flights to Martinique appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Royal Caribbean has returned its Mariner of the Seas ship to PortMiami following a $120 million transformation project.

The ship, which will be sailing four-night weekday and three-night weekend cruises from Miami to The Bahamas, has added a host of new concepts, from the Bamboo Room tiki bar to the Sky Pad virtual-reality trampoline experience.

Royal Caribbean has also added a pair of three-story high racing waterslides; a laster tag center; a FlowRider simulator; and an escape-room offering called The Observatorium.

Other new dining options include Jamie’s Italian; Izumi Hibachi and Sushi and the Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade.

“With the combination of more thrills than you can count and visits to tropical destinations, Mariner is changing the game and taking the short getaway experience to a whole new level,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

Bayley said many of the changes were specifically targeting the millennial segment.

“Millennials want more frequent and shorter vacations that offer as much of that exhilarating adventure they seek,” Bayley said. “We’ve answered that call by investing $120 million in Mariner of the Seas and bringing her to Miami to sail 3- and 4-night cruises.”

Mariner of the Seas’ first voyage will be June 25 for a four-night Bahamas cruise including stops in Nassau and the CocoCay private island.

CocoCay is undergoing a significant renovation project of its own, being rebranded as Perfect Day at CocoCay, a $200 million project that will launch in May 2019.

The Mariner renovation is part of a wider $900 million fleet enhancement by Royal Caribbean called “Royal Amplified.”

The post Royal Caribbean’s $120 Million Cruise Ship Transformation appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… was fantastic and it was Puerto Rico. We spent our pre-cruise night … , after Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico last fall. If I didn … to generators but also the Puerto Rican spirit. I heard a variation … . We just keep going.” The Puerto Rican spirit is alive and well …

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