The Conch Republic is officially the new home of the first in what will be a portfolio of five new Kimpton-branded Key West resorts. 

InterContinental Hotel Group’s fast-expanding Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants brand has launched the new Winslow’s Bungallows hotel. 

The hotel is part of five new resorts in the pipeline for Key West, a project that is “reimagining” the Historic Inns of Key West. 

Winslow’s Bungalows has a total of 85 rooms about two blocks off the city’s popular Duval Street. 

It’s a mix of properties, some of which are as old as the 19th century. 

The next two Key West resorts to open will be a pair of boutique properties: Ella’s Cottages and Ridley House, both of which are right now scheduled to open later this spring. 

The final two resorts will be the Lighthouse Hotel and the Fitch Lodge. 

Overall, the project is adding 219 keys to Key West across the five-property collection. 

Los Angeles-based design firm Powerstrip Studio is behind the project, which mixes what they call a “laid-back Caribbean style” with details of Victorian and Colonial architecture. 

“It is so exciting to welcome the first guests to the collection and begin this exciting new era in Key West,” said Cheryl Martin, Kimpton Key West’s General Manager, in a statement. “These hotels embody the inclusive spirit and culture of Key West, and we look forward to showing our guests Kimpton’s signature heartfelt hospitality as they experience our unique destination.”

The new property is filled with Kimpton’s signature touches: that means a welcome glass of the Key West-brewed Waterfront Brewery beer; complimentary bikes and indoor yoga mats and a “liberal” pet-friendly policy. 

Each of the new Key West resorts will have its own pool, along with hammocks and and daily breakfast spots. 

Kimpton has been steadily growing its portfolio of tropical resorts, including a Caribbean expansion that includes highly-anticipated new resorts in both Roatan and Grenada. 

For more, visit Kimpton Key West Resorts. 

— CJ

The post Kimpton Opens First of Five New Key West Resorts appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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People sometimes forget the sheer vastness of The Bahamas. You may know there are 700 islands and cays, but you may not realize that The Bahamas covers an expanse of almost 655,000 square kilometers. It is not just a country — it is a turquoise-hued universe, and across its shimmering waters you will find every manner of beach, from tiny coves to pink-sand masterpieces and undiscovered sandbars hidden away in the sea. You could fill an entire list of the best beaches in the region exclusively using Bahamas beaches — they’re that good.

As you can imagine, then, narrowing down a list of our 25 favorites is no small task, but we’ve put together a comprehensive ranking that touches on nearly every accessible land mass in The Bahamas, from popular beach destinations to some out-of-the-way gems.

Here are the 25 best beaches in The Bahamas.

Gold Rock Beach, Grand Bahama The signature stretch of sand on on gorgeous Grand Bahama, this “welcome mat” of the island is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of the  wider Caribbean, set on the edge of the Lucayan National Park. It gets its name from the way the sunset can illuminate a small offshore cay in the distance; and when it comes to Bahamas beaches, it’s the gold standard. 

The post The 25 Best Beaches in The Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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While Puerto Rico has only five confirmed cases of coronavirus so far, the island has announced a series of strong measures to contain the virus in the territory, according to Discover Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico has put an Island-wide issues management plan in place as a preventative measure, and is exercising an abundance of caution with strict new policies to avoid mass spread of COVID-19 throughout the Island,” the organization said in a statement. 

In what Puerto Rico officials are calling a stronger response than many states on the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico has imposed an island-wide curfew from 9P to 4AM through March 31, with exceptions for cases of emergency and those who are working. 

All visitors to San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport will receive a “brief” temperature check, with further screening if necessary. 

The island has also suspended all large events until March 31, while all “non-essential businesses,” ranging from casinos to theaters to bars and gyms, closed immediately. 

Taxis and Ubers will only work from 5AM to 9PM, excepting those servicing airports, while supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open. 

— CJ

The post How Puerto Rico Is Working to Contain Coronavirus appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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