Ocho Rios has long been one of the best destinations in Jamaica for travelers willing to journey the extra mile, and that’s still the case today. Ocho Rios, which means “eight rivers” in Spanish, is a fascinating enclave of Jamaica teeming with natural beauty, all centered around one of the country’s more bustling small cities. Yes, Ocho Rios has a little bit of everything for travelers, from ATV safaris to the natural beauty of Dunn’s River Falls to tucked-away shopping stalls.

So where do you stay? Ocho Rios has a range of accommodation options: hotels, everything-included options and more, and we’ve narrowed the wide product down to a few great choices.

Here are our favorite places to stay in Ocho Rios.

Jamaica Inn One of Jamaica’s most legendary places to stay, this iconic property (that first opened its doors back in 1950) is all about old-school Jamaican hospitality accompanied by a world-class stretch of beach. It’s charming, it’s intimate and it makes for the perfect Ocho Rios vacation. Even better? Every cottage and suite has ocean views.

Goldeneye One of Chris Blackwell’s signature Island Outpost properties, Goldeneye is famous as the onetime residence of James Bond creator Ian Fleming, who wrote all 14 of the Bond novels at the still-extant desk in the Fleming Villa at Goldeneye. The property, set on picturesque Oracabessa, features a mix of beach huts, cottages and private villas (there’s even a real estate component). And yes, you can even splurge and stay in the villa itself. Either way, it will be an unforgettable stay.

Jewel Dunn’s River This adults-only option is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, and spares no amenity: that means six restaurants, two pools, an impressive spa and, perhaps most importantly, five bars. And the private beach is terrific, made even better by the fact that watersports are included. See more information here.

Sandals Royal Plantation Maybe you’ve been to a Sandals. Well, Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios is a different kind of Sandals. It’s boutique, it’s endlessly charming and it’s, well, truly beautiful. This is a different side of Sandals, and it’s an experience that can only happen at Sandals’ best-kept secret.

Beaches Ocho Rios Looking for a family vacation in Ocho Rios? Look no further than Beaches Ocho Rios, one of the region’s most entertaining resorts, with everything from world-class golf to a water park to three pools. Beaches has made the Caribbean family getaway something of an art form, and that’s nowhere more true than here.

The post Ocho Rios Jamaica — The Six Best Places to Stay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Florida-based Spirit Airlines is expanding its footprint in the Caribbean with another new destination: Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

The carrier has announced plans to launch new nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cap-Haitien, Haiti beginning April 12, 2018.

The flights will operate three times per week, year round, according to the company.

“We are excited to add even more international options to our growing network,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit. “With more daily, nonstop flight options from Fort Lauderdale this spring, we know our guests will be able to save tons of money on air travel, and instead spend those savings exploring new places.”

It’s another boon for Cap-Haitien, a beach filled destination on the northern coast of Haiti.

Cap-Haitien has been steadily growing its air traffic, with new flights from carriers including American Airlines, Sunrise Airways and Bahamasair.

The post Spirit Launching Nonstop Flights to Cap-Haitien, Haiti appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Caribbean hotels keep getting better and better, and the region’s hotel development pipeline shows no signs of slowing down, with new properties continuing to sprout across the Caribbean and Mexico, both large and boutique, EP and all-inclusive.

So what are the Caribbean hotels we’re excited about in 2018?

They range from Leading Hotels of the World to creative new small hotels to all-inclusives.

Here are 10 new hotels coming on stream in 2018 that need to be on your radar.

Silversands Grenada Grenada is one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean right now, in large part due to a burgeoning luxury hotel development pipeline headlined by the soon-to-debut Silversands Grenada, which is already a member of Leading Hotels of the World. Silversands, a mix of 43 luxe suites and nine villas. It’s set to open in March.

The post 10 New Caribbean Hotels We’re Excited About in 2018 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Port St Maarten kicked off 2018 on a very high note Tuesday with more than 12,000 passengers arriving to St Maarten on three cruise ships.

The first cruise vessels of the year in St Maarten were Disney Fantasy, Marella Discovery and Harmony of the Seas.

Disney’s visit marked the cruise line’s return to St Maarten in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

“We have started the New Year with a bang and are happy to see the return of Disney Cruise Line as well as Royal Caribbean International Genesis class vessels such as Harmony of the Seas,” the Port said in a statement. “At the same time, we call on all stakeholders and the community to continue to give the cruise ship guests a warm St Maarten welcome and smile.”

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class sister ships Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas carry up to 6,000 new visitors each week.

“The return of these mammoth vessels to weekly calls is a major development for the destination,” officials said.

The post Port St Maarten Kicks Off 2018 With Strong Start appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It will soon be significantly easier to get to one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.

American Airlines will be launching new nonstop flights between Miami and Bonaire beginning in June, an American Airlines spokesperson confirmed to Caribbean Journal.

Bellafonte Bonaire, one of our favorite places to stay in Bonaire.

The new service will operate weekly on Saturdays on an Airbus A319 aircraft, beginning on June 9.

The flight takes approximately three hours.

Bonaire’s arid climate produces some landscapes largely unseen in the Caribbean.

It’s a boon for the Dutch Caribbean island, one of the world’s greatest diving and snorkeling destinations and an emerging culinary hub (indeed, its At Sea Bonaire restaurant has been on Caribbean Journal’s list of the top 50 restaurants in the Caribbean ever year since 2013).

At Sea, Bonaire, the island’s destination eatery.

Don’t miss our list of the top Bonaire hotels, ranging from luxury stays like the beachfront Harbour Village to the bohemian, laid-back Sorobon.

Bonaire also has a range of condominium and vacation home options, including the very popular Sand Dollar.

The post American Airlines to Launch Nonstop Flights to Bonaire appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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