By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Right now, with kids all over the country returning to school, many parents are realizing that summer’s come and gone and with all the focus on family fun they haven’t managed to squeeze in any grown-up getaway time.

But there is hope.

We’ve found a sweet deal on a vacation that’s strictly for adults and which just might be the perfect finale to a sun-drenched summer.

It’s at Temptation Cancun, an adult-focused playground that reopened just last month after almost a year of top-to-toe renovations.

The multi-million-dollar enhancement project was led by designer Karim Rashid and includes a new seven-story multicolor façade and features such as a “sexy pool,” BASH nightclub and an “aphrodisiac restaurant,” SHE.

The deal: A whopping 45 percent off rates (which start at $329), valid for travel September 17 through October 31, 2017.

The post How to Save on Your Next Cancun Couples Retreat appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

Aruba has long been a haven for cigar lovers, with a host of cigar shops large and small for passionate travelers.

But navigating the island’s diverse cigar scene has never been easy — until now.

The walk-in humidor at LCDH Aruba.

That’s because there’s a true La Casa del Habano in the heart of Oranjestad’s Plaza Mall that is the island’s greatest cigar shop.

Led by one of Aruba’s leading cigar experts, Jay Ras, the “Cigar Emporium”’s popular manager, this shop has a vast walk-in humidor with a remarkably well-kept inventory of both individual smokes and boxes, with a particular emphasis on a diverse range of individual smokes — an uncommon but welcome feature in a La Casa del Habano.

And it’s a selection that goes beyond the usual offering, from Sancho Panza Belicosos to the rare Partagas Lusitania, among others.

And then there’s the very comfortable lounge, filled with leather couches and chairs, an espresso machine for Cuban coffee and, should the occasion arise, a stock of preferred Cuban libations.

In the always-bustling downtown of Oranjestad, it’s what the best cigar shops should be: an oasis.

Ultimately, though, the mark of any great cigar shop is its people — who know how to make one feel at home, to feel like they’ve walked into a private club. And that’s precisely what Jay Ras accomplishes.

There are all kinds of cigar shops in Aruba, but this one is easily the best.

The post The Best Cigar Shop in Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Club Med may have invented the all-inclusive vacation, but Jamaican hotelier Abe Issa introduced the model to the Caribbean when he rebranded his 1949-built Tower Isle Hotel as Couples Ocho Rios back in 1978 and put the island on the path to becoming the modern all-inclusive mecca it is today. In the decades since, the classic brand has expanded to four resorts, including a pair in the resort town of Negril and one in nearby Ocho Rios. So which of these adults-only beachfront enclaves to choose? Truth is you can’t go wrong with any of them. But read on to find the Couples resort that may be a perfect match for you.

#1: Couples Negril About 90 minutes’ drive from Montego Bay you’ll find this 234-room retreat occupying pride of place on Bloody Bay. The vibe is playful and appropriately laidback at this playground in the “capital of casual,” with a trendy poolside scene, five restaurants to sate the appetite, and a raft of included activities (think basketball, golf, tennis and fitness classes) to help you work one up. Perks such as couples’ spa treatments and private dinners on the sand raise the romance bar and make this resort a great choice for beach-craving, fun-loving couples who want to vacation among like-minded souls. All around, it’s our favorite.

The post Couples Resorts, Ranked appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Even on Palm Beach, a morning can’t begin without a proper cup of coffee. It’s simply part of the routine, even when you’re on holiday.

And making great coffee is precisely the plan at the new Ritual Coffee Culture, a sleek new cafe at the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba.

The coffee house, with a Brooklyn-meets-the-Caribbean wood and stone decor, has a range of classic coffee drinks from espresso to macchiato along with favorites like cold brew, nitro coffee, cold drip and even a selection of frozen coffees.

That’s joined by options like pastries, fruit and sandwiches for the traveler on the go.

Even better? Ritual Coffee Culture also has its own gelateria, with a perfectly manicured selection of classic gelato flavors, from pistachio to stracciatella.

Whether you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton or simply passing through, there’s no better place to start the day.

– CJ

The post Ritual Coffee Culture, Aruba’s Newest Cafe appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Bliss ship will have a Margaritaville at Sea.

The company announced the offering as part of a host of new amenities on the ship, which will include everything from a two-level race track to a hibachi steakhouse.

But that will include the floating Margaritaville, a concept that first debuted on Norwegian Escape before opening aboard Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway in 2016.

And yes, the open-air eatery will serve the famous Cheeseburger in Paradise.

– CJ Staff

The post Norwegian’s New Ship Will Have a Margaritaville at Sea appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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