By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Whether you want to light a new love’s flame or simply head on a romantic retreat, there’s no better place to do it than the Caribbean, where every sunrise brings the promise of secluded sands for two. And while there’s nothing wrong with checking into a sprawling property, we’re partial to smaller places, those intimate places to stay where we receive a hotel-style welcome and service, yet somehow still feel as if we have the whole place to ourselves. These tiny romantic hotels, none exceeding 13 rooms, are some of the most romantic places in the region.

Secret Bay, Dominica A Dominica vacation doesn’t get any more romantic than a getaway to these eight eco-luxe villas, which boast outdoor showers; private plunge pools; and dedicated butlers who’ll focus on your needs (while you focus on each other’s). (It’s also our favorite of all Dominica resorts).

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Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants has named Allison Reid its new chief development officer for the Americas region, the company announced.

Reid comes to the company after having served most recently as senior vice president of North America development for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, overseeing all of Starwood’s 11 brands in North America, the Caribbean and French Polynesia.

In her role at Kimpton, Reid will lead real estate development and management contracts across the brand.

“With 18 projected openings through 2020, demand for the Kimpton brand is growing around the world,” said Mike DeFrino, CEO of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. “Allison’s successful track record will further fuel our development pipeline and strengthen our presence in key urban, resort, and gateway markets.”

Kimpton opened its first Caribbean property last year in the Cayman Islands with the Kimpton Seafire and recently launched a new project in Grenada.

“Bringing a pioneering boutique brand like Kimpton to new destinations will continue to challenge and evolve the hospitality industry,” said Allison Reid. “I’ve also been a longtime fan of Kimpton’s empowered company culture, and look forward to working side by side with Mike and the senior leadership team.”

— CJ Staff

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One of the Caribbean’s most expensive homes is currently on the market in Antigua and Barbuda.

The impressive 12-bedroom Villa Antiqua is listed with Hilton & Hyland for $49.55 million, according to real estate portal Point2homes.

Villa Antiqua. (All photos by Hilton & Hyland)

Antigua has become a major celebrity hotspot in recent years, with homeonwers including Giorgio Armani and Eric Clapton, among others.

Villa Antiqua’s main estate includes six rooms and 12 bedrooms, along with three single-level guest villas along the waterfront containing 13 rooms and 26 guest suites.

It’s among the most stunning properties in the Caribbean and one of the most expensive homes to ever hit the market in the Caribbean.

The listing is presented by Hilton & Hyland’s Carol Dotson, Adam Lint and Susan Pekich.

See the full listing hereSee the full listing here.

– CJ

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

It’s hard to imagine a beach more perfect: Sand as white and fine as confectioners’ sugar. Water the same transparent turquoise as a Tanqueray gin bottle. Near constant breezes that straddle the line between blissfully warm and blessedly cool.

But apart from these obvious physical qualities, White Bay, the most popular of seven beaches on the 850-acre private-island resort, Guana Island, has another, less obvious but equally attractive asset.

It’s not the swimming platform that bobs seductively in the distance, offering Guana’s maximum of 40 guests a handy floating tanning table.

Neither is it the little white beach bar on its casuarina tree-shaded sands, where Guana Mojitos (made with organic mint and Key limes from the island’s orchard, naturally), are served with pleasing regularity.

Rather, it’s the lightning-fast WI-FI that extends from that bar almost to the beach’s water line, making envy-inducing Instagram posts and boastful Facebook status updates as easy as pressing “Share.”

Because, trust us: When you’re lucky enough to be on Guana Island, you want everyone to know.

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Southwest Airlines is making moves in the Caribbean.

The carrier officially launched new daily nonstop service to four Caribbean destinations on Sunday, all out of its growing Caribbean-network hub in Fort Lauderdale.

The carrier has launched daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Belize City, Belize; and Cancun, Mexico.

The Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Also Sunday, Southwest launched two other new Caribbean routes: one between Cincinnati and Grand Cayman and the other between Chicago-Midway Airport and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

The new flights are the latest part of a major regional expansion for the low-cost carrier, which earlier this year launched service between Denver and Belize.

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman.

Southwest had already been operating daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau, Bahamas, along with a number of flights to destinations in Cuba.

Nassau, Bahamas.

The new flights represent the first significant challenge to competitor JetBlue’s fast-growing Caribbean network, as rival American Airlines seems to have slowed its expansion in the Caribbean.

—Alexander Britell

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