There’s a new lunch spot in the heart of Antigua’s English Harbour. 

It’s called Ti Lolo, and it’s a classic French bistro with a spectacular view of the water. 

Ti Lolo, which officially opened its doors on Wednesday, has a menu focusing on French favorites: that means everything from a superb Coq au Vin to quiche, aubergeine tarts and a house signature, the croque “mademoiselle” (the egg is the special). 

The Ti Lolo team tells Caribbean Journal the spot is all about “long lunches,” and that’s not a surprise given the wine list. 

There’s a terrific selection of rose, whites, reds and champagnes (and not just from France), carefully curated, with a story behind each selection on the list. 

And with a name like Ti Lolo, it’s no surprise there’s ti’ punch on the menu, the perfect cocktail for gazing out on the boats in Horatio Nelson’s old stomping ground. 

It’s a welcome addition to the scene on Dockyard Drive. 

— CJ

The post A New Lunch Spot in Antigua appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

The Curacao Marriott Beach Resort has officially relaunched following the completion of a $40 million renovation project. 

The 336-room hotel has been renovated “to represent the latest innovative design thinking from the Marriott hotels brand,” according to a statement from the property. 

That includes a new “clean and contemporary” design, with a mix of Dutch colonial architecture and “plantation-style elements.”

“As we continue to re-invent concepts and grow our portfolio across all product categories, we are grateful to be partnering with such an established and respected hospitality brand such as Marriott Hotels for a product of this caliber,” says Rob Smith, Executive Vice President of Aimbridge Hospitality, which manages the resort. “Proud to see that our vision for Curaçao has finally come to fruition, we hope to continue this momentum with Marriott International in the Caribbean.”

The renovation is part of a regional push for Marriott to transform its Caribbean hotels. 

The Curacao relaunch comes as Marriott has announced plans to open its first-ever all-inclusive resort in Curacao. 

Noted Chef Dino Jagtiani is leading the culinary program at the hotel, including a fine-dining eatery, C-Spice, along with several bars. 

“At Marriott Hotels, we strive to create spaces where our guests can feel their most inspired,” says Manny Rappenecker, VP, Marriott Hotels. “The reimagined Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort more than lives up to that promise – melding our signature clean design aesthetic with local touches inspired by the beautiful Caribbean surroundings to give guests the ultimate space to relax and recharge.”

— CJ

The post Curacao Marriott Reopens After $40M Renovation appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Bomba is a Puerto Rican musical tradition, rooted in … who aren’t familiar with Puerto Rican culture may not be … the oldest surviving genre in Puerto Rico, probably first documented in about … I became involved in the Puerto Rican Culture Center. [This group] …

Powered by WPeMatico

The Dominican Republic’s tourism hub of Punta Cana is seeing a massive rebound in tourism demand, according to a new report from Allianz Global Assistance. 

The travel insurance giant said analysis of nearly 2.4 million flight itineraries showed that the number of Americans traveling to the Dominican Republic for Thanksgiving has nearly quadrupled in size since last year. 

Indeed, while Cancun has for years topped the company’s annual travel survey, the Dominican Republic’s tourism hub of Punta Cana is now the number one international destination for Thanksgiving travelers from the United States, according to the report. 

“Our survey shows that Americans are returning to the Dominican Republic, now more than ever, to enjoy the island nation’s exquisite beaches, world-class resorts, hotels and vacation experiences,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications for Allianz Global Assistance USA. 

Punta Cana and Cancun were joined in the top 10 destinations by three other Caribbean destinations: Nassau, Bahamas, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

 The travel period covered in the report spans Nov. 23 to Thanksgiving day. 

— CJ

The post Allianz: Punta Cana Tourism Is Rebounding appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

The Bahamas is one of the most fascinating travel destinations on earth. 

From its incredible people to its remarkable natural beauty, there’s a reason why The Bahamas continues to be one of the world’s trending getaways. 

And that’s why we at Caribbean Journal have launched the Bahamas Travel Awards, in partnership with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. 

The Bahamas Travel Awards aims to celebrate the people, places, hotels and experiences that make The Bahamas what it is — with categories from destinations and hotels to restaurants, people-to-people programs and the hottest bartenders and chefs. 

CJ has scoured The Bahamas for a comprehensive list of nominations — and if you don’t see your favorite, feel free to submit a write-in vote in any category. 

In the wake of this year’s storms, visiting The Bahamas is more important than ever, and the BTA wants to celebrate the wonders of this 700-island paradise. 

“The ultimate goal of all those of us who work in the tourism and hospitality sector in The Bahamas is customer satisfaction. Validation of hard work is always appreciated,” said Joy Jibrilu, Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is pleased to partner with Caribbean Journal, one of our region’s leading tourism publications, to create the Caribbean Journal Bahamas Travel Awards — another opportunity to reward excellence in the destination’s tourism industry.”

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to contribute to help Abaco and Grand Bahama in their recovery here.  

Make your votes in the CJBTA at this link: The CJ Bahamas Travel Awards or below.

Nominations close 12:00 PM EST on Dec. 20.

Create your own user feedback survey

The post Vote for Caribbean Journal’s Bahamas Travel Awards appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico