GRAND CUL DE SAC — It’s early.

Not morning, but not quite lunchtime.

On a hot summer day in the French Caribbean, that means only one thing: a Ti’ Punch.

The world’s greatest (and simplest) cocktail: Rhum agricole blanc, a quarter lime (or sometimes more), cane sugar. Sweet enough for this time of day, powerful enough to get the day going right.

Because this is how one starts the day, even when the day has already started.

The site? O Corail, a great little Caribbean beach bar on Grand Cul de Sac, a few steps away from the tony Le Sereno hotel.

This is an archetypical Caribbean beach bar that’s also the height of French Caribbean cool: no pretentiousness, just divers and snorkelers and those in search of ti’ punches, just a soft patch of sand and calm waves.

Le Sereno, just a few steps away.

And it’s never too early for that.

The post Rum Journal: In St Barth, the Right Beach Bar at the Right Time appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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For a few days in early November, St Barth will become the center of the culinary world.

This year will be the third edition of the St Barth Gourmet Festival, bringing together top chefs, restaurants and hotels for a gastronomic extravaganza.

The four-day event will take place from Nov. 3-6.

Some of the island’s leading hotels will host visiting chefs preparing special menus with wine pairings, while local restaurants on the island will offer a special Taste of St Barth lunch. There will also be a mixology competition for barmen.

Chef Christian Le Squer, who received three Michelin stars for his Le Cinq restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, will be the festival’s “godfather.”

Restaurants and chefs participating include

• On the Rocks -Eden Rock Hotel : Chef Virginie Basselot
• La Plage – Tom Beach Hotel : Chef Gilles Marchal
• Case de l’Isle – Cheval Blanc St Barth Isle de France : Chef Arnaud Donckele
• Aux Amis – Le Barthélemy : Chef Chef Guy Martin
• Taïno – Christopher Hotel : Chef Sylvestre wahid
• Bartholomeo – Le Guanahani : Chef Fabien Lefebvre
• Le Sereno : Chef Jérôme Banctel
• Taïwana : Chef Christophe Saintagne

Tickets are either 95€ which includes a four course tasting menu, or 130€.

The post St Barth’s Must-Visit Food Festival appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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You can’t fly into St. John (catch a plane to St. Thomas and then hop the ferry over) but its behind-the-gateway location only adds to the appeal of the smallest U.S. Virgin Island. Once you arrive you’ll find plenty of enchanting beaches and a relaxed, flip-flop-friendly vibe, but you won’t find a surplus of accommodation options. Which makes choosing the right roost even more important. To guide you, here are our recommendations for the best hotels on St. John.

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Caneel Bay Resort On its own peninsula within the island’s vast national park, this classic 166-room resort gets raves for its pristine setting and exceptional service. Seven beaches (two exclusively for adults) add to the appeal.

Westin St. John Resort & Villas Families will enjoy this 175-room/146-villa hotel, which is a five-minute drive from Cruz Bay and offers something for everyone. Villas offer the conveniences of home; the kids’ club keeps little ones entertained; and a huge pool and beach draw sun-seekers.

Estate Lindholm With just 16 rooms and a cottage suite, this Cruz Bay bed-and-breakfast set on a former Danish plantation is perfect for travelers who crave the intimacy and personal service of a boutique property. Walk into town to dine or drink, or take a short hike over park trails to Honeymoon Beach.

Hotel Cruz Bay Smack in the center of Cruz Bay and just a short walk from the ferry dock, this 10-room/one-penthouse boutique offers a homey feel and warm welcome – as well as complimentary breakfast and WI-FI. Rooms are small and simply furnished but you won’t find a location more convenient for the town’s bars, shops and restaurants.

Gallows Point Resort It’s one of the first things you see when you arrive on the ferry in Cruz Bay: Gallows Point, the largest resort in town with a preferred perch on a five-acre peninsula. And the location is great, with an easy walk to Cruz Bay — that is, if you ever want to leave.

The post The Best Hotels in St. John appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s one of those pilgrimage destinations for boaters: Stocking Island, that tiny oasis off the coast of Great Exuma in the Bahamas. It’s home to the famous Chat ‘n Chill bar, but it also boasts a spectacular beach of its own. Here’s what it’s like to walk to the water.

The post VIDEO: A Walk on the Beach on Stocking Island, Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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WASHINGTON, USA — The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and its Puerto Rico Chapter on Monday jointly took issue with recent media reports blaming emergency patients for seeking care and for contributing to an ongoing fiscal crisis in the US territory.

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