By Alexander Britell

There are fire breathers in Marigot Bay.

It’s Tuesday night, and the Marina Village is filled with brilliant hues and pulsing moves, as the heart of one of the most prestigiuos superyacht marinas in the Caribbean is alive with the sounds and tastes and rhythms of Saint Lucia.

For centuries this place has had a siren song, a green hilled nook of Saint Lucia that is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful bays.

And Marigot Bay is again sending its call — and rewarding those who make the journey to this western edge of the island.

This bay is alight again with the relaunched Marigot Bay Resort, Spa and Marina, a tucked-away resort that is perhaps the island’s best-kept secret.

There are 124 rooms here, including 57 suites, all gorgeously appointed with rich woods and modern touches like Nespresso machines and, in the suites, particularly welcome outdoor hot tubs.

It’s a resort where the luxury abounds but does so with understated elegance, where the service marries approachable friendliness with exactness — the latter as good as any resort on the island.

And it’s a place where the vastness of the amenities and the completeness of the offerings almost sneak up on you — but without overwhelming you.

It’s not just a resort. It is a true destination.

While the marina-front setting has the feel of a boutique, the amenities are broad: a waterside spa tucked among the trees; several eateries, all with outstanding food.

The beach is the resort’s most interesting amenity, accessed by an all-day ferry (a ride measured in seconds), a kind of sandy cay with sweeping views of the entry to the bay, several bars and eateries and wonderfully still water.

And then there is the Rum Cave.

This is a temple for rum, a dimly-lit speakeasy-style spot filled with rum lockers and barrels and a place where you can begin an education in the Caribbean’s most famous export, taking rum tastings of rums local and West Indies-wide (and dine on terrific tapas, too).

It’s part of a focus here on the experience, on giving travelers a true taste of the island, of the life beyond the luxury.

You can find more in the aforementioned Marina Village, with its Tuesday night local barbecues, its Hurricane Hole all-day restaurant (and, upstairs, the Marigot Bay outpost of beloved local Indian fusion eatery Masala Bay).

The marina adds an extra something to this resort; the boaters and the yachters, as they so often do, add an energy to the place, another beat, a constant refreshing of sailors and island-seekers.

Marigot Bay.

It’s something you acknowledge as you look out through the terrace to the marina, where the masts of the superyachts peer over the trees, becoming bright sky ornaments when the sun goes down.

They’re a reminder that travelers and explorers and captains have been coming to this bay for centuries, drawn here, pulled here.

And that here, with the boats and the beach and the beauty and the fire breathers, you are relaxed — but never bored.

And that is a feeling that is rare indeed — and a reason why this is Saint Lucia’s true destination resort.

For more, visit Marigot Bay.

— CJ

The post VIDEO: Marigot Bay: Saint Lucia’s Destination Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The only new oceanfront and harbor-frotn real estate developments in Barbados are planning a major new sales push.

As part of its agreement with the Barbados-based construction and development firm JADA Group, IMI Group will manage global marketing and sales for three developments: the St Peter’s Bay Luxury Resort and Residences; the Port Ferdinand Yacht and Beach Club Residences and Palazzate, a beachfront development of five-bedroom villas.

Palazzate.

“Barbados is the Caribbean at its finest, and we are thrilled to partner with three properties that capture the island’s blend of natural beauty, luxury, and laid-back living,” said Mike Collins, Founding Partner & Chief Executive Officer at IMI. “Saint Peter’s Bay, Port Ferdinand, and Palazzate offer a range of luxury real estate options and amenities that truly reflect the allure of this incredible Caribbean island.”

Port Ferdinand.

All three developments are set on Barbados’ tony western coast, known as the Platinum Coast.

Amenities at St Peter’s Bay range from a lagoon pool to a host of dining options; owners get access to Port Ferdinand, which is reached by a private water-taxi service.

Palazzate consists of four oceanfront estates, each with 13,000 square feet and five bedrooms, six bathrooms and a swimming pool.

The new luxury real estate push comes as Barbados is seeing strong tourism growth — and an increasing profile in the global luxury market.

“This is a very exciting time for Barbados, as it’s seeing significant interest from the American market,” said Collins. “We can’t think of a better time for making our debut on the island, and we can’t think of better partners than Saint Peter’s Bay, Port Ferdinand, and Palazzate.”

— CJ

The post A New Luxury Real Estate Push in Barbados appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Lin-Manuel Miranda reprised his … a two-week run in Puerto Rico expected to raise millions of … to sing that here in Puerto Rico because you know better than …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Saint Lucia has expanded an initiative to add free Wi-Fi zones across the island.

The latest iteration of the Government Island-Wide Network has added five free Wif-Fi “zones” across the island.

That includes spots in Constitution Park in Castries, Vieux Fort, Micoud, Canaries and Dennery.

The latest Wi-Fi wireless network expansion came at a cost of $4 million.

The project has two major aims: to provide Internet access for residents and to ensure that “visitors to Saint Lucia can stay connected while enjoying the island.”

Free Wi-Fi is now accessible in almost 30 public spaces in Saint Lucia as a result of the project, which is being undertaken in collaboration with the government of Taiwan.

— CJ

The post Saint Lucia Adds More Wi-Fi Zones appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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A candlelit dinner on the cliffs of Negril. A beachy afternoon in Uvero Alto. A secluded picnic on a deserted island.

The Caribbean teems with romantic vacations — but what if you could combine a magical retreat with your loved one without ever having to reach for your wallet?

The increasingly diverse collection of all-inclusive vacations in the Caribbean means everything from traditional megaresorts to charming little tucked-away boutiques — and that means a romantic all-inclusive vacations aren’t just possible — they’re easier to plan than you think, specially in the Caribbean.

Here are five of our favorite romantic all-inclusives for your next getaway — properties that combine that perfect mix of charm, sexiness, seclusion and gorgeous design in an all-inclusive package.

Fowl Cay, Exuma, The Bahamas Exuma is one of the most beautiful places anywhere on earth, with the kind of Windex-hued water for which The Bahamas is famous. But you may not have heard of this tucked-away private-island retreat, luxurious all-inclusive that comes with a party piece: every villa comes with its own personal motorboat with unlimited gas — the perfect tool with which to explore the marine pleasures of this archipelago.

The post 5 Romantic All-Inclusive Caribbean Vacations appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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