The Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island is celebrating the upcoming National Daiquiri Day on July 19 with one of their signature beverages: The Dirty Banana Daiquiri.

The daiquiri, designed to keep guests cool during their sunny stay at the beach, blends refreshing bursts of Banana and Kahlua.

The drink is available at The Daiquiri Shack, as well as other restaurants throughout Atlantis.

Here’s how it’s made:

1 oz Kahlua

1 ½ oz Bacardi Gold Rum

½ oz Crème de Banana

Banana Purèe

Directions: Blend all of the ingredients with ice and enjoy!

— Dana Niland

The post At Atlantis, a Different Kind of Daiquiri appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico — US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) border patrol agents on Sunday apprehended 14 Cuban migrants after landing in Mona Island. “We consistently convey our concern of how human smugglers leave migrants in Mona knowing the dangers involved,”…

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Canadian air carrier WestJet released its June 2016 traffic numbers today, reporting a 12.3 percent increase in revenue passenger miles compared to the same period in 2015.

The airline also announced a record load factor of 80.4 percent – a 3.5 percent increase year over year – and a 7.5 percent increase in available seat miles over the same period.

In the second quarter of 2016, the airline reached a load factor of 80.8 percent, and flew a record 5.3 million guests – a year over year increase of 7.0 percent, or approximately 345,000 additional guests.

“We are very pleased with our double-digit traffic growth as we flew a record numbers of guests in the second quarter and also celebrated WestJet Encore’s third birthday,” said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. “As we transition into our busy summer season, I want to thank our almost 12,000 WestJetters for their commitment to providing our brand of friendly caring service each and every day.”

WestJet now expects its RASM for the second quarter of 2016 to decline between 5.5 to 6.0 percent year over year, as compared to its previous forecast of a decline between 7.5 to 9.5 percent year over year, with the difference primarily driven by a higher second quarter load factor than previously expected.

— Dana Niland

The post WestJet Reports 12.3 Percent Increase in Traffic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Uber, the global power player in ride-sharing, is expanding in the Caribbean.

After first launching last year in the Santo Domingo, the company has officially launched operations in Puerto Rico.

“We are proud to celebrate Puerto Rico, with its streets full of history, its clear and its countless tourist attractions,” the company said in a release.

The launch of the ride-sharing app could be a big boost for travelers in the capital, San Juan

The company said it had come to Puerto Rico to offer a “new option for safe and efficient transportation that will allow Puerto Ricans to visit every corner of the streets.”

While it has unsurprisingly met some opposition from taxi drivers, the service could be a boon for both tourists and locals in a destination that has often made it hard to find taxis outside of standing taxi zones or at the airport.

Thousands of drivers have reportedly signed on to partner with Uber ahead of the launch.

Thus far, the ride-sharing app is only offering its UberX service, its lower-cost option. In most of its markets, the company has launched some form of luxury and SUV option like Uber LUX and Uber XL, although that varies from city to city.

Uber has not yet announced plans to enter any other Caribbean markets, although in most of the Caribbean high car import duties and insurance rates will likely keep them out for some time.

Puerto Rico’s tourism officials have not yet commented on the launch and its potential impact on tourism.

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Choosing the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit this summer might come down to an even larger question: Why vacation in the Caribbean during the Summer?  Well, at Caribbean Journal, we view the Caribbean as a full-fledged year-round destination, with something to offer at every time of year. And while there are plenty of reasons to visit the Caribbean during the summer, one overshadows all else: it’s all about the beach. If you love the beach, the water and the ocean you simply must visit the Caribbean in the Summer.  The water is warmer, clearer and calmer  and everything you do in and around the water is better in the summer, whether you’re kayaking, paddle boarding, boating or just bobbing with a rum punch in hand. And unlike most southern cities in the US during the summer, you can dine al fresco at night thanks to cool ocean breezes.  That’s in addition to smaller crowds, lower rates, more availability and more last minute options. Yes, for many people, the Caribbean is an even better destination in the summer. Here are 10 islands we think you’ll love right now.

Virgin Gorda

It’s remarkable that this island in the British Virgin Islands still manages to have remained under the radar after all the years. In many ways an English-speaking St Barth, this archipelagic outpost is beautiful, luxurious but decidedly relaxed. And there are so many ways to enjoy it, whether in a hillside bungalow at the Bitter End Yacht Club, a cliffside suite at Oil Nut Bay, or renting a jeep and a villa and simply exploring the wonders of the island, from The Baths to Savannah Bay.

The post The 10 Best Caribbean Islands to Visit This Summer appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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