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By the Caribbean Journal staff

A potentially transformative hotel is coming to the rural Whitegate area of St Kitts.

Wyndham’s Ramada brand is coming to the island with a 273-suite resort.

The first phase of the new-build resort project is slated to debut this September, according to a statement from the government.

The first phase is set on an eight acre site in St Paul’s Parish, about 15 minutes from St Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.

That project includes a mix of sesa-view units, pool villas and garden villas.

Hotel amenities will include conference space, a bar, a restaurant, a cultural center and a swimming pool, among others.

Officials say the hotel could be a transformative one for the rural Whitegate area.

The project is part of the island’s Citizenship by Investment development program, an initiative that has turned the island into one of the Caribbean’s hotel investment hotspots in recent years.

St Kitts Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards said the property could “significantly transform” Whitegate — and draw new investment to that part of the country.

“I think this hotel holds much potential in terms of changing the landscape within this particular area and the environs,” he said.

It will be one of the largest projects outside of Basseterre and the island’s southeast peninsula, according to Richards.

It will be the second Ramada-branded hotel in the wider Caribbean, alongside an urban hotel in Belize city.

This will be the region’s first Ramada-branded resort, and one of two current Wyndham-branded resorts currently in development in the Caribbean.

The other is the Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle in Barbados, which will debut under the Wyndham Grand banner.

— CJ

The post St Kitts Is Getting a New Ramada Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

MARIGOT — No matter where you are in the Caribbean (outside of Cuba of course), it’s rarely easy to find great Cuban cigars.

That includes most of the region’s top cruise destinations, where, even if you can find a stick that appears to be Cuban, it’s often a fake.

Thankfully, there’s an oasis in the heart of St Martin.

This is La Casa del Habano in Marigot, St Martin, the relaunched cigar hotspot that is the best place to buy cigars on either side of the island — Dutch or French.

The selection is outstanding, with everything from the more popular Montecristo and Cohiba to harder-to find La Casa del Habano editions from brands like Hoyo de Monterrey and Punch.

The shop itself is beautifully designed, with two rooms: one a wood-lined humidor space, the other a full-fledged cigar lounge with comfortable leather chairs and rum for sampling (and for purchase).

That design extends to a beautiful mural on the wall outside the store, and a quirky array of photos of celebrities partaking in Habanos.

This is what a great cigar lounge is all about: warm, knowledgable service, a diverse, authentic selection and, most importantly — a place to enjoy your purchase.

If you’re here on a cruise, it’s worth the journey to Marigot — and if you’re staying on the island, well, it’s the place for the perfect leisurely afternoon.

This is the best cigar shop in St Martin — and one of the best in the Caribbean — period.

— CJ

The post The Best Cigar Shop in St Martin appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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