Tiny eco resorts. Grand luxury hotels. Rarefied retreats. The Caribbean’s newest hotels for 2022 are a melange of styles and sensibilities, from all-inclusive to boutique and everywhere in between. 

Even amid the pandemic, the Caribbean hotel pipeline keeps growing, and that includes a number of highly-anticipated openings set for this year, from the Mexican Caribbean to tiny islands like Dominica. 

Check out the openings we’re most excited about this year in the latest edition of the New List. 

Sandals Curacao The first-ever Sandals resort in the Dutch Caribbean, it’s also one of the most anticipated new Sandals resorts. A transformation of the former Santa Barbara resort, the completely remade resort will be set on 3,000 acres, with 350 rooms and suites and a collection of seaside bungalows with their own private plunge pools. That’s along with other new additions for the brand, from a “floating restaurant” to a fleet of Mini Coopers. It’s set to welcome guests on April 14. 

The post 10 New Hotels Coming to the Caribbean in 2022 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Caribbean is mourning one of its shining lights, following the passing of legendary actor, director, humanitarian and ambassador Sir Sidney Poitier, who passed away this weekend at the age of 94. 

Poitier was a native of Cat Island in The Bahamas (though the was born in Miami on a weekend trip with his family), and spent his childhood there. 

His passing has led to a wave of heartfelt tributes from around the region and the world.

Moving to the US at 15, he rose quickly into one of the biggest young stars in Hollywood; his success reached its zenith with an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1964, making him the first Black actor (and first Bahamian) to win an Oscar for his role in Lilies of the Field. 

Other career highlights included roles in The Heat of the Night; To Sir, With Love; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; and Sneakers, among others. 

After his acting career, Poitier had a long diplomatic career, serving as The Bahamas’ Ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007, accompanied by a term as the country’s Ambassador to UNESCO for five years. 

The bridge linking the islands of New Providence and Paradise Island is named for Poitier as well. 

“On a global scale, Sir Sidney embodied greatness,” Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Chester Cooper told Caribbean Journal. “Through his cinematic roles, he challenged stereotypes, modelled the highest attributes of human dignity and universally typified the individual who, through sheer human resolve and determination, overcomes challenges imposed by the larger society.”

“Sir Sidney, by the measure of his bearing, belonged to the world. Yet, at his most authentic self, Sir Sidney was a Bahamian, and of that fact, the People of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas will be eternally most proud,” Cooper said.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. 

The post Caribbean Mourns Sir Sidney Poitier, a Son of The Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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A few decades ago, the term “luxury all-inclusive” might have seemed like an oxymoron. But that’s how much the all-inclusive space has changed, particularly in the Caribbean — where all-inclusive has become far more of a technical term than a qualitative one. 

And at the finest all-inclusives in the region, the luxury abounds, from truly gourmet cuisine to cutting-edge design and world-class service. 

That means things like champagne breakfasts on the beach. Your own ocean-view plunge pool. A room that opens out right onto the sand. Your own private, fully-gassed boat. 

Luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean range from tiny boutique all-inclusive resorts to more “traditional” large resorts; but wherever you choose: two things main remain constant: you’ll never have to reach for your wallet, and you’ll have everything your vacation needs. 

Here are our favorite luxury all-inclusive resorts to try in 2022. 

Hammock Cove, Antigua  It’s the quintessential luxury all-inclusive resort, set on one of the most majestic bays in Antigua. But the biggest story at Hammock Cove is the design: every single room has its own private plunge pool and entertainment deck, meaning no matter where you stay, you’ve got your own mini resort. The food is outstanding, as is the beverage and cocktail program, which even includes an all-inclusive rum bar featuring some of the region’s finest aged expressions. 

The post The 10 Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts to Visit in 2022 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It may feel like a new resort opens in Punta Cana every week. And while that’s not literally true, the coastal hotspot in the Dominican Republic is home to almost 50,000 hotel rooms — with more in the pipeline.

Indeed, the stretch of beaches ranging from Uvero Alto to the north to the corner of Cap Cana to the southeast has been one of the most sought after development spots in the wider Caribbean.

And while you probably know most of the major brands: names like Melia, Paradisus, Royalton, Palladium, Barcelo — in a sea of large resorts, some can get lost in the shuffle.

Our latest look at Punta Cana takes you to five of the area’s newest resorts – all of which are the first-ever Punta Cana locations for their brands, and all of which have opened their doors in the last two years.

Here are five new Punta Cana resorts to discover right now.

Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana  Put simply, it’s one of the best resorts to debut in Punta Cana in years, the product of a partnership between Margaritaville and Karisma Hotels and Resorts. All the Jimmy Buffett signatures are there: the Five o’Clock Somewhere Bar, the St Somewhere Spa, the sleek, colorful aesthetic; but it’s far more than that; there’s a central Gourmet Village that makes you feel like you’re staying in a little town called Margaritaville; a focus on live entertainment; and even the first-ever Landshark Brewery outside of the mainland United States. It all adds up to the best Margaritaville resort experience in the Caribbean. 

The post 5 New Punta Cana Resorts to Discover Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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In a major change to its testing rules, Aruba has implemented a two-day requirement for visitors from the US and Canada. 

The new rules mean all visitors need to complete a PCR or RT-PCR test — antigen tests are not accepted. Aruba will also not give travelers the option to test upon arrival. 

The rules apply regardless of vaccination status.

The window means travelers need to take the test and receive their results in a two-day window prior to arrival on the Dutch Caribbean island.

Children aged 11 and under are exempt from the testing requirement. 

Aruba had been using a 72-hour testing window that is no longer applicable. 

“This is a precautionary measure to protect our residents and our visitors,” the Aruba Tourism Authority said. “The level of risk of each country is identified based on government health data, particularly the total number of new cases compared to the total population.”

Aruba is the most recent Caribbean destination to implement a tighter testing window amid the rise of the omicron variant. 

Other destinations that have narrowed their windows include The Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Bonaire, among others. 

For more info, visit Aruba.

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