The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is full of marvelous beaches, from Baby Beach to Arashi Beach to Malmok; but when it comes to finding perfect sand, Eagle Beach is king. It’s a stunningly wide stretch of beach with clear turquoise water and almost blindingly white sand.
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A new place to shop in Christiansted
By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor
Believe it or not, the holiday season is only about 10 weeks away. And if you’re a serious shopper like I am, you know that it’s never too early to start hunting for presents for your nearest and dearest.
I particularly like to give gifts from the Caribbean destinations I visit throughout the year, and in this respect St. Croix is always a winner. My friends and I can’t get enough of the handmade jewelry this USVI has become famous for (hook bracelet, anyone?) And in a couple of months, there’ll be yet another “shopportunity” to add to my Christiansted Christmas list.
On November 4, Kriss Massicott and Savannah Ridgway of well-known jewelry store IB Designs will begin a new retail adventure, Adorn. On the corner of Company and Queen Cross Street (in the same building as hot new restaurant, balter), the home accessories and gift store aims to revive the pleasure of gift giving with a curated inventory of items that beg to be given – and received.
“We want to bring back the art of gifting,” Massicott told me yesterday, during a chance meeting at the crossroads of the Caribbean (ie: Miami International Airport). “We’re all now so accustomed to shopping online and at big box stores, but we’re trying to bring to our market stuff that no one here has ever carried. Many of our vendors have a story, and we’re excited to share those stories, as well as their products, with the world.”
Items will run the gamut, from yoga pants and scented candles, to costume jewelry and inflatable “big balls of love.” Caribbean-made stock includes watercolors from St. Thomas-based artist Gina Fedderson’s Isola Bella line and Ridgway’s own collection of leather clutches and pochettes.
One thing Adorn won’t sell: the whimsical feel-good jewelry (we’re currently crushing on the Dreamcatcher bangle) on which IB has built its name over 17 years. The good news: Since IB Designs is also on Company Street (you can see it from Adorn’s door), you only have to cross the road to get your fix.
For store updates, go to Facebook.com/AdornStCroix or adorncaribbean.com
The post A New Must-Visit Shopping Destination in St. Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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One of the Caribbean’s most exclusive resorts is now for sale.
The private-island Deep Water Cay resort has been listed for sale, brought to market by Colliers International Hotel Group.
The property is located in the East Grand Bahama National Park and just 120 miles from Palm Beach.
The property includes the existing resort and approvals in principle for a repositioning of the resort, along with approvals in principle for a second luxury resort that would include overwater bungalows.
Long a celebrity favorite, the resort was acquired by Deep Water Cay Holdings, Ltd in 2009; the company has since invested more than $18 million in improvements.
“It’s already an extraordinary property today but the opportunity for development is huge,” said Colliers International South Florida Broker Rich Lillis, who is marketing the asset on behalf of Deep Water Cay Holdings, LTD. “It’s almost an extension to the South Florida fishing and tourism communities, just a short 40-minute flight away.”
The offering also includes 48 private, oceanfront residences lots, according to Colliers.
The aforementioned approval calls for the construction of 68 resort units, 23 custom-built residences, 20 overwater bungalows and expansion of the island’s existing 4,200-foot runway.
“The vision for the property is two luxury resorts, one with overwater bungalows and partial overwater spa and the other as Fisherman’s Village Resort,” explained Kent Schwarz of Colliers International Hotels who is also marketing the property with Lillis. “Key Approvals in Principle are in place and a Heads of Agreement is being finalized that will allow the transfer of these approvals to new ownership. These factors provide Deep Water Cay with the unique marriage of expansion and development opportunities with protected views and marine habitat.”
Colliers has been active in the Bahamian market in recent years, including the sale of the British Colonial Hilton to China Construction USA; the company has also been retained by the joint receivers of Baha Mar.
The post Bahamas’ Deep Water Cay Resort Is For Sale appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
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There’s a new Adults-Only Mexico resort, and it’s got a familiar name.
That’s because the Beloved Playa Mujeres resort in Playa Mujeres on Mexico’s Caribbean coast has officially transitioned into an adults-only property.
Excellence Group’s falgship boutique all-inclusive property became an adults-only on Sept. 1, the company announced this week.
The property, which is surrounded by a marina and a Greg Norman-designed golf course, is located on one of the best beaches on the Riviera Maya.
The transition included upgrades to the resort’s luxury amenities and services for guests who book any of its 9 suite categories, from the ocean view suites to beachfront casitas.
The hotel is also home to a 35,000-foot wellness facility that includes a complimentary Agua Viva hydro-therapy circuit.
Excellence said more new features would be announced in the near future for the resort.
Excellence manages hotels in the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
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United Airlines is significantly ramping up its service to Puerto Rico, the carrier announced this week.
The airline said it would be increasing its flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport to six times a week, up from just one flight per week.
More crucially, the route will operate with Boeing 777 aircraft offering 344 seats.
The expanded service will begin Dec. 18, according to United.
“For the last 25 years, United Airlines has been a proud member of the San Juan business community and has played a vital role in connecting Puerto Rico to the world,” said Millie Uriarte, United’s regional director of Sales for Puerto Rico. “Today’s announcement is just the beginning and we look forward to continuing to do business with customers throughout the island.”
The launch is a major lift for Puerto Rico, which has been seeing a steady increase in new airlift both from domestic airlines and from international carriers like Air Europa and Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Old San Juan.
Are you heading to Puerto Rico?
Check out some of CJ’s recent features on the island, from a new House of Rums to the Best Hotels in Puerto Rico.
And check out our Puerto Rico page.
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