The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Joe Pariso, who sent in this stunning shot of the NEOWISE comet as it made its away over St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean?
Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the subject line, including your first and last name and the location of the photo.
Aruba has always been one of the safest and friendliest destinations in the Caribbean, a reputation that’s especially valued given the realities of travel in 2020. COVID-19 cases on the island have remained low (currently about a dozen), and while there have been a handful of coronavirus cases among tourists, Aruba has remained open to international visitors (including Americans) since early July.
And there’s more good news: most of the dozen-plus resorts now open in Aruba are located directly on one of the island’s beautiful beaches, cooled by constant trade winds. (Note that some casinos and other facilities may be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Find everything you need to know about Aruba’s travel requirements here).
The Aruba Marriott on Palm Beach.
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino: This large resort complex on Palm Beach has something for everyone, including the adults-only Tradewinds Club, a 24-hour casino, family and adult pools, a Mandara Spa, and a la carte dining options that include a Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
The Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba.
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort: Luxury boutique sister resorts on Eagle Beach are adults-only hideaways with a focus on sustainability. Breakfast is included when you stay in any of the four-diamond resort’s 45 suites or 59 guest rooms.
Divi Aruba All Inclusive Resort: One of four Divi resorts on Aruba, this all-inclusive property sits on a 1.5-mile stretch of Druif Beach and has more than a dozen dining options, included water and land sports, nightly entertainment, and a kids club.
Divi Aruba Phoenix: Travelers looking for an all-inclusive getaway with some extra elbow room will enjoy the high-rise Phoenix, which has one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, many with views of Palm Beach.
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino: Centrally located on Palm Beach, the Hilton Aruba has a kid-friendly waterfall pool and freshwater lagoon, rooms with either patios or balconies, a spa, casino, and The Palm Beach Club, a private resort-within-a-resort.
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba: This casino hotel on Palm Beach has a full menu of amenities for an affordable Aruba vacation, particularly if you’re traveling with children. A family friendly activity center, spa and fitness center, and more than a half-dozen dining options make this more than your typical Holiday Inn.
Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa: Aruba has a bit of a go-go reputation, but while that may be true on Palm Beach, the boutique Manchebo resort on quieter, palm-dotted Eagle Beach has exuded relaxation and relaxation for more than half a century.
Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino: One of the Caribbean’s most unique resorts, the Renaissance combines the hip vibe of a downtown hotel with the otherworldly atmosphere of a private island with wandering flamingos, waterfront cabanas, and a secluded spa.
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba: The ladies and gentlemen of the Ritz-Carlton welcome guests (and their pets) to Palm Beach with attentive service and amenities that include Club-level rooms and perks, family and adult pools, casino and spa, and six restaurants.
These additional Aruba resorts are open, but across the street from the beach rather than on it:
Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort: This villa and suite resort has spacious accommodations around pools and a nine-hole golf course, with a beach club at “Divi Beach” between Manchebo Beach and Druif Beach.
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba: Poolside casitas and oceanfront palapas combine to make the Boardwalk a tranquil oasis near Palm Beach.
Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Aruba: Small by Aruba resort standards with just 72 rooms and suites, the Amsterdam Manor is notable for its traditional Dutch architecture and for being both budget- and pet-friendly.
… after Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico, tens of thousands of … with private funds.
A Puerto Rican government program known as … job has been completed. Puerto Rican officials say work is almost … yet complete.
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The iconic Jade Mountain resort in Saint Lucia, famous for its three-walled suites and its spectacular views of the Pitons, is back.
The adults-only resort officially reopened on July 24.
Jade Mountain is currently only accepting visitors who have undergone PCR testing within 7 days prior to arrival, with proof of negative result prior to arrival.
So what will the Jade Mountain experience be like?
“We will keep the experience from arrival to departure as touch-less as possible and you will be able to determine the level of service and interaction you wish to enjoy,” Jade Mountain owners Nick and Karolin Troubetzkoy said in a letter to guests. “Our team members are there for you from a safe distance, wearing face masks. Even if you cannot see their smiles, our team will be as cordial as always and smile with their eyes, with our legendary hospitality shining through. Our restaurants will operate on a rotating schedule and allow our guests to experience the various menus. Vegan and vegetarian dishes will always be available. Most spa treatments are available except facials and head massages. Remember that our resort encompasses 600 acres with two beaches, miles of private walking and mountain biking trails plus a variety of water sports.”
As part of Saint Lucia’s phased tourism reopening, guests “will not be able to enjoy activities off property,” the resort said.
Of course, the star of the show at Jade Mountain has always been its stunning “sanctuary” design, with each room boasting private infinity pools overlooking Saint Lucia’s legendary Pitons — in other words, the sort of jaw-dropping rooms you’ll rarely want to leave anyway.
“Over the past few months, we have been touched by the many guests who have reached out to check on us and our team members,” the Troubetzkoys said. “We also received several messages from guests expressing their regret of having to postpone their trip. But most importantly, not only did they not cancel, they also wrote about the importance of having future travel dates to look forward to. The anticipation of beautiful scenery and sunshine at the end of this long tunnel may just be the medicine some of us need to keep going.”
Jade Mountain joins a growing list fo properties that are now COVID-19-certified to be open for travelers to Saint Lucia.
Palladium Hotel Group has revealed reopening plans for a host of its resorts across the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
The company, which already reopened the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, TRS Coral, Grand Palladium Vallarta and two more resorts in Jamaica, will next relaunch the Dominican Fiesta resort in Santo Domingo on July 27.
That will be followed by the reopening of four more resorts in the Dominican Republic’s tourism hub of Punta Cana on Oct. 9: the Grand Palladium Palace, Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites, Grand Palladium Punta Canaand TRS Turquesa.
On Oct. 30, the property’s TRS Cap Cana hotel will also relaunch, with the TRS Yucatan on the Riviera Maya set to relaunch on Oct. 30.
The TRS Cap Cana.
All of the company’s resorts will be reopening with a series of new health and safety protocols, from infrared temperature checks to social distancing.
“Considering the uncertainty of these times, Palladium Hotel Group wants guests to travel with confidence; that is why we are looking to continue enforcing our brand pillars of innovation, technology, and service-driven approach. Palladium Hotel Group is a family-owned business, and throughout the years, our guests have become part of our extended family; equipping our hotels with the best tools and protocols that can enhance their wellbeing is of the utmost importance for us,” said Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart, VP of Sales and Marketing for the Americas for Palladium Hotel Group. “The new protocols in place are the result of exhaustive analysis prepared by an experienced Task Force Team of executives and associates of Palladium Hotel Group. Our goal is to gain travelers’ trust and show our commitment to their safety without compromising a memorable vacation experience.”
