It’s one of the great fantasies of Caribbean travel: your own private island, teeming with white-sand beaches, edged by sparkling turquoise, just you and the wonder of the Caribbean Sea. 

And for decades, that’s what Palm Island has been, the sought-after private-island destination in the heart of the Grenadines.

Even better? It’s also an all-inclusive resort, a unique combination in the Caribbean.

And now Palm Island, one of the jewels of the Elite Island Resorts portfolio, has unveiled a major new addition. 

They call it the Seahorse Villa, and it’s a new bucket-list, toes-in-the-sand luxury destination in the Caribbean. 

The 4,000-square-foot private retreat has two bedrooms in a setting right on the sand. 

The interiors are filled with locally-crafted furniture, large wicker pendant shades, high-vaulted ceilings and lovely little touches. 

There’s a large kitchen with a breakfast bar, one with shelving from salvaged ship masts; the living and dining areas are all designed for endless relaxation, with a large flat-screen and a surround sound system and sliding doors that open out right to the ultimate toes-in-the-sand experience. 

Each of the two bedrooms has a super-king size bed, with ceiling fans, TVs, massive walk-in closets, a desk and a makeup table. 

The bathrooms have double basins, plush robes and sarongs and large walk-in showers with handmade Mexican tile. 

There’s even a fully-equipped laundry room with storage space. 

There are even outdoor showers. 

And as a guest, everything is all-inclusive, meaning you get access to all of the amenities at the resort: two restaurants, a world-class spa, a full gym and endless watersports. 

But the ultimate amenity is your own private beach, a shimmering stretch of sparkling coastline that you can only find in the Grenadines, that you can only find on this rarefied corner of the 135-acre Palm Island. 

For more, visit Palm Island. 

The post A Bucket-List Caribbean Private Island Villa (And It’s All-Inclusive)  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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All-inclusive brand Bahia Principe is reopening its Grand Cayacoa resort in the Dominican Republic. 

The Samana-area property is set to welcome back guests on Nov. 1, 2022,  the company told Caribbean Journal. 

The 284-room hotel has two pools, five restaurants and four bars. It’s set right on Samana Bay. 

It has been closed since the onset of the pandemic. 

“We’re pleased to welcome back visitors to one of our beloved properties and continue expanding our offerings in Dominican Republic,” said Lluisa Salord, SVP Global Sales for Contracting & Distribution at Bahia Principe. “Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa is an ideal destination for those looking to discover nature and experience the authentic Dominican Republic. Guests can savor the best views from their room and guests staying between December and March may even spot humpback whales that visit the area during that season.”

The resort is part of Bahia Principe’s “Grand” category; that means guests receive unlimited Wi-Fi, three a la carte dinners in the resort’s restaurants each week, beach service and an hour of free paddle surf, kayaks or snorkeling. 

Bahia Principe has a portfolio of 20 all-inclusive esorts in the wider Caribbean, set in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. 

That include four total resorts on the Samana peninsula, one of the most pristine destinations in the Dominican Republic. 

The Dominican Republic has been seeing record-breaking tourism growth in 2022, with projections for its highest total of annual visitors in history. 

For more, visit Bahia Principe. 

The post This Dominican Republic All-Inclusive Resort Is Reopening  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Tourism in Antigua and Barbuda is breaking all-time records, buoyed by a surge in visits from the United States, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The surge has made the country one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean, particularly in the summer of 2022. 

And the growth was driven by a significant increase in visitors from the United States, officials said. 

Antigua and Barbuda welcomed 24,673 visitors to the destination, representing a 7 percent increase over the same month in 2019, before the pandemic — which had itself been a record for the month. 

 “For a second year, we are experiencing a healthy summer season as consumer travel confidence grows and travelers make the decision to take that long-awaited vacation or previously delayed trip,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez. 

Indeed, 13,305 of the tourists visiting the twin-island destination last month were from the US, a 30 percent jump compared to July 2019. 

Antigua and Barbuda is also seeing strong growth from the United Kingdom market, with a 5 percent increase in UK visits over the same period in 2019. 

Canadian arrivals showed a 1 percent increase over 2019. 

Last month, just under 9,700 visitors stayed in hotels, while just under 11,500 visitors stayed in villas and guest houses. 

“Antigua and Barbuda is presently listed amongst the top ten Caribbean destinations leading the Caribbean tourism recovery efforts,” said Colin C. James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. ““With good month-on-month growth and our overall tourism arrivals for the year to date only 16% less than the 2019 figures, Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism rebound prospects are looking positive, particularly when we consider global tourism forecasts. For the Fall, our teams will continue to focus on closing the gap and achieving full recovery.”

For the first half of the year, visitor arrivals stood at 154,099, a 16 percent “narrowing of the gap” of the same period in 2019. 

That’s one of the strongest tourism recoveries in the Caribbean since the onset of the pandemic.

The post Antigua and Barbuda Is Breaking Records, Leading Caribbean Tourism Recovery appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It wasn’t just the hotel that put Dominica on the map with luxury travelers — it was the one that helped turn Dominica into a luxury destination, period. 

When Secret Bay opened its doors back in 2011, it was the first-ever five-star hotel in Dominica, and a new kind of luxury resort for the Caribbean.

Today, the hotel is regularly recognized not just as one of the best hotels in the Caribbean but the best anywhere on earth. 

To learn more, Caribbean Journal’s new feature, Caribbean Hotelier, talked to Gregor Nassief, the proprietor of Secret Bay (and Dominica’s Fort Young Hotel), about his hospitality philosophy. 

What was the first hotel you fell in love with? Why?

My wife Sandra and I spent our long postponed honeymoon in 2003 at Luna Sonrisa, a boutique hotel in Valparaiso, Chile, where I was working at the time. It felt comfortable and familiar, a home we never knew we had. The hotel was the result of the owner’s love story which became intertwined with our own.  And history repeated itself, as our love story resulted in creating Secret Bay.

How do you define hospitality? 

Hospitality to me is really about caring for others.  It’s about being a part of people’s lives in a meaningful, transformative and lasting way.

What makes hospitality unique in the Caribbean?

Hospitality in the Caribbean is largely defined by our people, our food and our culture. It’s inimitable. 

What is your philosophy on luxury? 

It’s the simple things in life that give us the greatest pleasure.  Simplicity is the new luxury, and simplicity begins with nature, with authenticity and with caring for our planet.

How has luxury changed in the last decade? 

Luxury has shifted from marble floors and butlers-in-waiting to “the simple things” that feel authentic and come without pretension. It’s also about attention to detail and very importantly making human connections that feel natural and sincere. 

What do you see as the biggest trends in hospitality right now? 

We’re seeing travelers wanting to have authentic, immersive experiences that allow them to build a connection with the destination, especially with its people. Regenerative and impact travel is also a growing trend; people want to feel like they’re not just taking from an experience, but giving something back. And, lastly, wellness travel is still pervasive, though it’s really evolving beyond luxe spa treatments and yoga – it’s about eating sustainably, doing activities that are inspiring and connecting with nature. 

What should a guest expect at your hotels? 

Guests can expect the luxury of time and space along with authentic experiences rooted in above-and-beyond  hospitality and service, along with knowing they’re supporting sustainable-minded operations. Our culinary programs are also outstanding, with the chefs focusing on local, seasonal and sustainable cuisine. And, we always come back to wellness in the sense of guests feeling like they have transformative experiences – whether that’s a rejuvenating waterfall hike, bucket-list activity like a lionfish expedition or swimming with the whales, or simply being pampered on property by our sincere and caring team. 

What do you want your guests to remember about your hotels? 

I want guests to feel reconnected with themselves, with the ones that they love and with nature. 

For more, visit Secret Bay.

Have an idea for someone we should feature in Caribbean Hotelier? Contact news@caribjournal.com with Caribbean Hotelier in the subject line. 

The post Caribbean Hotelier: Gregor Nassief of Secret Bay in Dominica on Luxury    appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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You can spend all day watching Nevis Peak.

The green, daunting, cloud-crowned volcano is the towering core of this island, its energy imbuing itself into just about every moment of your day. 

But Nevis Peak is watching you too. 

It’s what makes this island just so magical. 

And it’s the essential backdrop, the tone-setter and the heartbeat of one of the Caribbean’s truly iconic resorts: the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. 

It was the first-ever Four Seasons in the Caribbean when it opened just over three decades ago, a resort that began as a vision by Isadore Sharpe and became the model for what a Caribbean hotel can be, not just from a hospitality standpoint but for the way it sustains and connects with the island. 

And while the resort has maintained its place as a Caribbean legend, it’s got a decidedly new look, thanks to a renovation project that kicked off in 2018 and, over several years, reimagined much of the property. 

The large-scale transformation ranged from a new Crowned Monkey Rum Bar to an inspired new-look Great House to a sparkling, centerpiece infinity pool, along with a splendid redesign of the guest rooms and suites. 

What hasn’t changed is the marvelous, friendly, endlessly warm-hearted service, one that extends across the resort, from the beloved Mac Kee France, the property’s director of guest experience, to world-renowned mixologist Kendie Williams, whose Kendie’s Kick is the resort’s most delicious drink. 

And then there are the amenities: the almost mystical spa; what’s almost certainly the most impressive tennis center in the Caribbean, built by Agile Courts; the spectacular views and even better West Indian cuisine at the waterfront Mango; and a pool for just about every purpose, from adults-only serenity to family-focused fun (with a splash pad to boot). And then there are the experiences, whether you want to learn about Alexander Hamilton’s history in Nevis or spend a week at Sea Turtle Summer Camp.

But there’s something more here, just as there always has been, something you feel the moment you step off the boat at the newly-expanded dock on Pinneys Beach (where there’s now a delightful sunset happy hour). 

There’s a reason, after all, that this is one of those Caribbean resorts travelers always talk about reverentially, whether they’ve stayed there or know someone who has. 

And it always comes back to Nevis Peak, whether you’re savoring the remarkably cool afternoon breezes the Peak sends your way even on what should be a hot summer afternoon, or scaling its foothills as you battle Robert Trent Jones Jr’s stunning 18-hole golf course carved into the side of the volcano.

No matter what time of day, what you’re doing or where you’re going, it’s there, green with gravitas, pulsing with enchanting energy, breathtaking even stationary; you simply can’t move around the resort without looking at it. 

And it’s always right there, looking back. 

For more, visit the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. See more in the latest CJ Video at the top.

The post The Four Seasons Resort Nevis, a Caribbean Icon appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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