The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Cliff York, who sent in this beautiful shot of Playa Cofresi near Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

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.

It could be the next Caribbean Photo of the week!

— CJ

The post Caribbean Photo of the Week: Playa Cofresi, Dominican Republic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Even amid the challenges of the travel industry, one sector continues to lead demand: all-inclusive resorts. It’s why more major big brands are entering the increasingly competitive sector — all-inclusive resorts are what lots of people are looking for when they plan their vacations.

Because there’s just something about that combination of convenience and comfort that make this segment of resorts increasingly appealing. And that’s nowhere more true than in the Caribbean, an area that continues to redefine what all-inclusive means — and take a word that used to be a mere technical term and turn it into something of a badge of honor.

The 2021 edition of the best all-inclusive resorts brings you our editorial staff’s favorite all-inclusive options in the region, with examining criteria including design, rooms, food, service, ambience, amenities and location.

It should also be noted that all of these resorts are what we like to call exclusively all-inclusive. That means they’re not EP hotels with all-inclusive options available; they’re full-fledged all-inclusives, meaning you get food and beverages included in any room you choose. From gourmet-focused large resorts to tiny, hidden-away boutique hotels, here are the best all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean right now.

Hammock Cove, Antigua Elite Island Resorts is constantly innovating, and what the company and Chairman Rob Barrett have created here is the ultimate resort for the new realities of travel, with 42 standalone villas in a dramatic cliffside setting near Antigua’s Devil’s Bridge National Park. All of the  villas have their own infinity pools and a breezy indoor-outdoor aesthetic; stocked bars, Bluetooth sound systems and, well, they’re the kind of rooms you’ll never want to leave. And that’s precisely the point. 

The post The 25 Best All-Inclusive Resorts to Visit in 2021 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Bermuda has expanded its pre-testing options for travelers to the island. 

The Atlantic island has launched a program with Costco that offers in-store PCR saliva test kits, along with an OpenClear testing service in Midtown Manhattan. 

The Costco program is now accessible at more than 120 locations across the United States. 

The New York program, which launches Jan. 5, is an alternative to the existing PCR nasal swab tests, offered by appointment every Tuesday from 9 AM to 3 PM. 

New York is one of Bermuda’s prime source markets. 

“Costco and OpenClear tests are part of Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) collaborations and meet Bermuda Ministry of Health pre-travel turnaround time requirements,” the Bermuda Tourism Authority said in a release. “In fact, the in-store option at Costco is expected to further shorten turnaround times, because shipping schedules are susceptible to delays as a result of holiday demand or weather—priority given to the movement of COVID-19 vaccines is also creating a bottleneck on deliveries.”

The BTA said visitors would be required to secure pre-testing ahead of travel to the island “for the foreseeable future.”

For more on Bermuda’s travel protocols, see here. 

– CJ

The post Bermuda Expands Pre-Testing Options appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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