The new Pineapple Beach Club adults-only all-inclusive resort in Antigua is planning a Oct. 1 grand opening.

The debut will follow a month-long renovation project that will include upgrades to the property’s guest rooms, grounds, facilities, equipment and ovreall operations.

The new Antigua Adults-Only resort will be closed for renovations from Aug. 25 to Sept. 30.

Earlier this summer, the Antigua property returned to the Elite Island Resorts group led by Chairman Rob Barrett, who had originally owned and operated the resort from 1986 to 1998.

“This resort and I share a history together that makes its reopening all the more significant for me,” said Barrett. “I’m very excited to have Pineapple Beach Club Antigua back under our care. We’ve got some great plans to gently steer the property in a new direction. Starting with the transition to a more laid back, Adults-Only environment, and continuing with the renovation project, we’re carefully crafting a vacation experience that I know our guests will love.”

The post New Antigua Adults-Only Resort Planning October Grand Opening appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Mariott’s AC hotel brand has opened its first hotel in Mexico.

The new AC Hotel Guadalajara opened its doors this week with 188 rooms.

The property was developed and is owned by FibraHotel, and is operated by Marriott International.

The AC brand is Marriott’s design-focused marque; it was first founded by hotelier Antonio Catalan in 1998; there are now more than 90 AC Hotels properties around the world.

“AC Hotels’ rapidly growing portfolio illustrates Marriott International’s commitment to making distinctive architecture and design affordable and accessible for creatives, innovators and entrepreneurs around the world,” said Toni Stoeckl, Vice President of Lifestyle Brands for Marriott International.

AC will be continuing its Latin America and Caribbean expansion with new hotels in Mexico City, Panama City and Santiago, Chile in the coming months.

“Guadalajara is one of Mexico’s most vibrant cities, its active arts scene is central to the energetic urban culture,” comments Tim Sheldon, President of the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) for Marriott International. “This hotel is located in the thriving arts and financial district, not far from the city’s main cultural attractions – perfect for a new generation of travelers looking to experience everything Guadalajara has to offer.”

The property was designed by Sordo Madaleno Architects, with interiors by Jihei Aoki.

The post Marriott’s AC Brand Opens First Hotel in Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Is this the perfect St Barth beach?

Gouverneur Beach has it all: powder-white sand, sparkling turquoise water, sweeping cliffs … and it’s often got far less traffic than some of its more popular counterparts.

That means it isn’t just beautiful — it’s tranquil.

In other words, the perfect beach for an afternoon stroll.

The post VIDEO: A Walk on the Beach in St Barth appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Martinique is booming.

The French Caribbean department is seeing a significant increase in visitors from the United States and Canada, following a concerted push in recent years to focus on the North American market.

This year’s peak tourist season saw a 179 percent increase in visitors from North America, with just under 17,000, up from 6,071 in the 2014-2015 tourist season, according to data provided to Caribbean Journal by the Martinique Tourism Authority.

The jump has come from a number of factors, most notably the launch of nonstop flights from Miami to Fort-de-France on American Airlines, along with last year’s launch of nonstop flights on Norwegian from a number of northeastern US destinations.

Les Anses d’Arles, one of Martinique’s top beach destinations

The island is poised to build in these gains, with continued flight service and the launch of more new hotels.

Chief among them is the Hotel Simon, a new boutique hotel in the Fort-de-France urban core that includes a new eatery helmed by a Michelin-starred local chef, Marcel Ravin.

The other, French Coco, is set in the hills above the beach town of Tartane on the island’s Atlantic coast.

One of the island’s top hotels, the Hotel Plein Soleil.

Martinique has also had success marketing its rum production with what’s effectively the Napa Valley of rum, with 11 distilleries making rhum agricole, or rum distilled from sugarcane juice, not molasses.

The Rhum JM distillery in northeastern Martinique.

It’s all adding up to what’s becoming one of the more in-demand destinations in the Caribbean for high-income travelers from the US and Canada.

The post Martinique Seeing Huge Jump in US, Canadian Visitors appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s one of the most-sought-after islands in the Caribbean: Eustatia Island, set in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda.

And now it’s home to one of the region’s most exclusive villa experiences.

Much like nearby Necker Island (home to Richard Branson), the island can be rented out for up to 16 guests.

A stay at Eustatia Island includes four guest homes, two hosts with fitness and watersports experience, two expert watersports instructors, a BVI boat cruise, chef-prepared meals for lunch and dinner, daily cocktails and canapes, breakfast and snack provisions, Wi-Fi throughout the island, a selection of beverages, twice-daily housekeeping and John Masters Organics amenities in each room, among other amenities.

It’s all about watersports at Eustatia.

Eustatia Island has four private beaches, 10 powerboats, a helipad and a surf shop, all set on a 35-acre island in the heart off the British Virgin Islands.

The helipad at Eustatia Island.

Even better? The whole island is powered by solar energy, with 400 solar panels generating 93 kW of power, stored in a 400 kWh battery.

While prices are not yet listed, they will likely be in the ballpark of rates at nearby Necker and Moskito islands.

For more information, contact stay@eustatia.com.

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