… Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico with songs including “La Bamba …

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Divers have long known the charms of the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, home to some of the most marvelous diving (and snorkeling) in the hemisphere. 

But, increasingly, more and more travelers are beginning to discover that there is far more to Bonaire than the world beneath its sea — from what is one of the hottest food scenes in the entire Caribbean to a vibrant, friendly cultural scene that is as diverse as it is rich. 

But Bonaire is also home to a lovely collection of resorts, most of them on the intimate side, from classic dive retreats to luxury beach hotspots and everything in between. Even better? It’s also home to one of the best value hotel products in the region, meaning you can find terrific stays at rates you simply won’t find in other destinations.

And getting to Bonaire has never been easier, thanks to American Airlines’ launch of four weekly flights to Bonaire from Miami, all year round.

If you’re thinking of planning a getaway to discover Bonaire, these are 10 perfect gateways for your Bonaire vacation. 

Harbour Village Bonaire The undisputed grande dame of Bonaire resorts, the Harbour Village is an elegant, refined, serene resort that just so happens to be set on the most beautiful stretch of sand of any hotel on the island. There is a mix of 43 rooms and suites (and some private villas, too), many with full kitchens and ocean views. The restaurant, La Balandra, is among the romantic waterfront dining spots in Bonaire, and the dive center offers every type of underwater experience. It’s the best all-around resort in Bonaire, the top luxury resort in Bonaire and, well, you get the idea. 

The post The 10 Best Bonaire Resorts appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Apple Leisure Group has announced three new appointments to its executive leadership team to oversee the company’s “rapidly growing” Vacations brands. 

The travel company has tapped Jacqueline Marks, Steve Dumaine and Ray Snisky to the ALG executive committee, overseeing the Vacations brands, according to new Apple CEO Alejandro Reynal. 

“The strength of ALG lies in our ability to remain dynamic in the ever-changing travel industry, and having a leadership structure that allows for increased accountability and agility is essential to our long-term success,” said Reynal. “As ALG continues to evolve, strengthening our executive committee with the addition of Jacqueline, Steve and Ray is the next step to accomplish our goal of improving overall performance and delivering the best service to our customers and partners.”

The new appointments will each oversee a distinct area of the company’s vacations business.

Marks, who had previously served as executive vice president of trade sales and engagement, is now the executive vice president for travel agent business.

Snisky is the current chief commercial officer of ALG Vacations, while Dumaine is the current executive vice president of ALG’s B2C-focused Vacations brands.

“We are committed to building a strong foundation that can support the exponential growth ALG has experienced,” said Alex Zozaya, Executive Chairman of ALG. “Our new executive committee members understand our business and our customers, and I am confident in their ability to lead the Company into the next chapter of its growth.”

The post ALG Taps New Executive Leadership for Vacations Push appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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One of Aruba’s most beloved hotels is getting bigger. 

Aruba’s Boardwalk Small Hotel will soon debut the fruits of a major expansion project that will see the property rebranded as the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel. 

On Nov. 15, the Boardwalk will be reopening with the addition of 32 new casitas, along with amenities like a new pool, a fitness and spa facility, a transformed lobby and “on-trend food and beverage offerings at the added Lobby Cafe,” according to a statement. 

The 32 new casitas will complement the Boardwalk’s existing 14 casitas, which were also refreshed and refurbished. 

The family-run hotel is set in the area of Aruba’s Palm Beach, with a mix of suites, one-and-two-bedroom casitas, a standalone villa with a plunge pool and a palapa-style lodge. 

It’s long been one of the greener properties in Aruba, with solar panels, energy management systems, 100 percent LED lighting and double-glassed windows and doors. 

Every unit has a “barefoot luxury” aesthetic, along with a barbecue grill, a patio, a hammock and modern kitchens and kitchenettes. 

A major part of the relaunch is the new “multi-experience” pool, which includes a series of pool decks, an overwater hamoock, a kid-friendly pool entry and daily poolside bar service. 

The changes turn what had been a popular small hotel (and one of the best hotels in Aruba) into Aruba’s premier boutique hotel.

For more, visit the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba. 

— CJ

The post This Aruba Hotel Is Expanding appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The hottest Caribbean hotel opening of 2019 is here. 

Kempinski’s first-ever Caribbean resort has officially opened its doors in the north of Dominica. 

The 151-room Cabrits Resort and Spa Kempinski Dominica resort is a monumental new addition to an island that has always been one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean.

It’s another major new development for Range Developments, the team behind the now-renowned Park Hyatt St Kitts (with a Six Senses project on the way in Grenada, too). 

“The jewel of the Caribbean is finally here,” said Mohammed Asaria, founder of Range Developments. 

The property, set on Douglas Bay and surrounded by Dominica’s stunning Cabrits National Park near Portsmouth, has a spectacular spa, four restaurants and bars, a large fitness facility, two floodlit tennis courts and a total of four pools. 

That’s along with a large spate of meeting space: more than 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor facilities. 

The culinary offerings include what the property describes as both farm to table and “sea-to-table” dining, from a beach cafe called Kweyol to an open-concept eatery called Cabrits Market. 

There’s also a signature bar called RumFire, with a tapas menu, a selection of local herb-and-fruit-infused cocktails and a large offering of cigars for the evening hours. There’s also a pan-Asian eatery called Bonsai.

And then there’s The Spa at Kempinski, an 18,000-square-foot wellness center with both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

The hotel has even debuted its own air service, with regular transport for interest guests who travel to Dominica through nearby Antigua and Guadeloupe (both of which have international airports, unlike Dominica, which can only be accessed via prop planes).

It all adds up to the most significant hotel to debut in Dominica since the boutique Secret Bay first opened its doors back in 2011. The pair of properties could combine to turn the north of Dominica into one of the hottest luxury destinations in the Caribbean. 

They’re also a reminder of how far Dominica has come in the last two years since the storms of 2017, a message that the Caribbean’s most naturally beautiful destination is ready for travelers to return. 

The new Kempinski resort becomes just the second Kempinski-branded hotel property in the wider Caribbean, following the Gran Manzana in Havana, which first opened in the summer of 2017. 

For more, visit the Cabrits Resort and Spa Kempinski Dominica. 

— CJ

The post Kempinski’s First Caribbean Resort Is Open in Dominica appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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