By Alexander Britell

In the biggest flight expansion to the Caribbean in several years, American Airlines has announced plans to launch eight new nonstop routes to the Caribbean this year, along with a huge expansion in frequencies from Miami.

Beginning in December, American, the world’s largest airline, will launch new Saturday service across the region.

That includes flights from Charlotte to both North Eleuthera and Abaco; flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Aruba; from Miami to St Vincent; and from Chicago to Aruba, Grand Cayman, Nassau and Providenciales.

All of those new routes will launch on Dec. 22, with Charlotte and Dallas flights set to operate year round and Chicago flights to operate in the winter tourist season.

American Airlines will also be operating expanded daily service from Miami to Barbados; Curacao; Grand Bahama; Puerto Plata; Port of Spain; Santo Domingo and Saint Lucia, all of which will begin operations on Dec. 19 for the winter season.

It’s a huge statement from American, which has seen a significant increase in competition in the Caribbean from carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, both of which have been on massive expansion pushes to the region in recent years.

The Miami-St Vincent service is particularly notable, making it the first regular service by a US-based carrier to St Vincent and its new Argyle International Airport (Air Canada and Caribbean Airlines were the first carriers to launch flights to Argyle in the last year).

See below for a full chart of the new flight launches:

The post American Airlines Is Launching 8 New Nonstop Routes to the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It was always a bucket-list destination: Pinel Island, the sandy oasis a short ferry ride off the coast of Cul de Sac on the French side of St Martin.

Pinel Island.

And now, the legendary island is open again — and so are both of its legendary beach bars.

The Karibuni beach bar and lounge.

In a huge step for the island’s post-Hurricane Irma tourism recovery, both the Karibuni and Yellow Beach beach bars have relaunched operations.

That means beach lovers can return to the pair of Cote D’Azur-style beach destinations, replete with freshly-made cocktails, classic French Caribbean food and some spectacular scenery.

Karibuni.

And as always, it means two beach bars for the price of one, and the perfect place to spend an entire day (or more), with lounge chairs, cocktails and calm waves.

The menus have returned, too, with everything from tuna tartare to fresh-cooked marlin.

It all adds up to what is still a must for any lover of Caribbean travel, and a reason in itself to return to St Maarten, where more and more flights are relaunching every day.

As for Karibuni’s namesake hotel, the plans are to return in the first quarter of 2019, according to a spokesperson.

— CJ

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of the region’s hottest music festivals is returning for its eighth year.

The Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival is set for Aug. 30-Sept. 1, with headliners including Damian Marley, Burt Bacharach, Farruko, Patti LaBelle and KC and the Sunshine Band, among others.

Marley, the youngest son of Bob Marley, won his third consecutive Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album this year.

Bacharch, one of the world’s most legendary composers, is making his first appearance at the festival.

Past performers at the popular festival have ranged from Alicia Keys to Stevie Wonder.

For more info, visit the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Another jewel of St Barth tourism is planning a relaunch.

LVMH’s only Caribbean hotel, the Cheval Blanc St Barth Isle de France is planning to reopen at the end of 2018, according to a statement from St Barth Tourism.

The launch is timed with what is expected to be a major winter season, with many of St Barth’s hotels primed to reopen in the last quarter of 2018.

The Cheval Blanc, long one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive places to stay, is set on Flamands Bay.

— CJ

The post St Barth’s Cheval Blanc to Reopen in Late 2018 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

This year’s Saint Lucia Jazz Festival will have a special sound.

The 2018 edition of the leading jazz festival in the Caribbean will showcase the female jazz movement at the forefront in the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

This year’s festival will be highlighted by female jazz artists including Lalah Hathaway, Zara McFarlane, Pauline Jean, Carolyn Malachi, Jazzmela Horn and Avery Sunshine, among others.

Lalah Hathaway.

“There are so many outstanding female jazz singers who belong to any Jazz Hall of Fame, sharing their messages of love, resistance, hope and humanity through unforgettable songs,” organizers said in a statement. “There is no doubt now that a new jazz wave has emerged – a growing movement led by artists who feel empowered and are inspired by the reality of the times.”

The festival will feature a broad range of styles, from Jean’s Caribbean-focused sound to Malachi’s reggae and hip-hop-infused jazz influences.

For more info, visit Soleil Saint Lucia.

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