The latest edition of Beaches to Dream About is a vibrant mix of very different kinds of beaches. 

There’s a family-friendly beach; a private, rarefied retreat in the Out Islands of The Bahamas; a buzzing, energetic stretch of city sand. 

We miss every kind of beach in the Caribbean right now, and as we all wait for the days (sooner, rather than later), when our favorite destinations begin to open their doors again, we can find some Caribbean solace in these stretches of sand. 

Here is the latest Beaches to Dream About. 

What’s your favorite beach in the Caribbean? Let us know at news@caribjournal.com. 

Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia We can’t go a day without thinking about beaches like this, where families gather on the sand and children find adventures on the floating water park. It’s a slice of Saint Lucia life, where shimmering golden sand goes rather well with a Bounty rum. The home of the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, it just might be the dreamiest beach in Saint Lucia. 

The post From St Maarten to Saint Lucia, 5 Beaches to Dream About appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Apple Leisure Group’s AMResorts has introduced a new 360-degree quality, safety and hygiene program CleanComplete Verification, the company said this week. 

The CleanComplete Verification program expands the “standards of quality and cleanliness” at the company’s 58 beachfront branded properties across Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Panama.

The new program comes as major hotel brands continue to launch more exhaustive cleaning protocols amid the pandemic, from Sandals to Marriott.

Backed by one of the highest-level third-party certifications for quality and safety in the industry, the Cristal International Standards certification, the initiative addresses “all aspects of resort operations and guest experience from welcome to departure,” according to a statement. 

Each property has implemented Cristal’s Prevention of the Spread of Infection audit protocol—and POSI-check is one of the latest solutions available both from Cristal and in the industry. 

All AMResorts branded properties also employ Cristal’s FoodCheck Certification, which complies with certified and audited food safety practices based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, an internationally recognized system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in foods.

“As the world reopens to a new normal and travelers begin to plan vacations once again, the health and safety of guests remains a top priority through these elevated efforts,” said Gonzalo del Peón, AMResorts President. “Guests should feel well-informed and reassured knowing that AMResorts branded properties have implemented best-in-class practices.”

The CleanComplete Verification program includes arrival and check-in procedures, room cleaning procedures, sanitation throughout the resort, Explorer’s Club + Core Zone hygiene, food and beverage protocols and check-out and departure procedures.

AMResorts has also created new staff positions which are responsible for the oversight of health and sanitation measures, it said. 

Regular wellness training is provided to all personnel to ensure they take the correct steps for their own health as well as the safety of guests.

— CJ

The post How AMResorts Is Making Its Hotels Cleaner appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Caribbean regional airline LIAT has extended its the suspension of its passenger services through the end of May. 

The airline said it was continuing its flight pause through May 31, citing “the current border closures and travel restrictions within the regional network.”

“While there are ongoing discussions about the reopening of borders, no firm date has been set to facilitate regional travel as yet,” said LIAT Chief Executive Officer Julie Reifer-Jones. 

The CEO said passengers who had tickets during the extended suspension period would automatically “have their bookings canceled and would receive full credit for future travel.”

“We have been working with our stakeholders to develop a plan for resuming flights when this is possible,” she said. 

Like its major airline counterparts, LIAT is also launching new cleaning protocols “to ensure the health and safety of its passengers and staff,” she said. 

— CJ

The post Caribbean Airline LIAT Extends Flight Pause to May 31 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Demand for Caribbean private-island real estate is booming — as more people look to escape crowded cities and find seclusion in the tropics. 

But not every private island comes with a large price tag. 

That brings us to a new listing in Belize — this four-acre island is straight out of Robinson Crusoe. 

Set close to the village of Hopkins in the Stann Creek District in Belize, it’s the essence of the castaway fantasy. 

There’s a one-bedroom cabin-style house; a separate cabin on the beach; a jetty for your boat and a stretch of white-sand beach. 

“It’s also totally private, so it’s the perfect escape from all social interaction,” says realtor Franck Robert. “The seller spent years shaping the island up, creating a walkway, installing electrics and adding water tanks.”

Robert said the four-acre site would be perfect for either a self-sustaining resort or an eco-retreat. 

“This island has so much potential and for the right person it could be a wonderful escape and a great investment opportunity,” he said. 

Some say social distancing is the new luxury, and that’s exactly what you get here, right off the coast of one of the hottest destinations in the wider Caribbean region. 

For more, visit Belize Island Caye or email Frank Robert at franckpropertysquare@gmail.com. 

And for more on Caribbean real estate, visit Caribbean Journal Invest. 

— CJ

The post A Private Island in Belize for $550,000 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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