By Alexander Britell

Martinique has no shortage of must-visit beach towns, from historic Saint Pierre to the up-and-coming destination of Le Diamant.

But if there’s one beach town that exemplifies French Caribbean cool on this island, it’s Le Carbet, the tiny hotspot a short ride away from Saint Pierre.

It’s most famous as the home of Le Petibonum, star chef Guy Ferdinand’s gourmet beach bar that’s as close to a Mecca as there is in Martinique.

The rum bar at Le Petibonum in Le Carbet.

But Le Carbet is so much more, with charming Creole shacks, toes-in-the-sand eateries and even some great little gourmet markets.

Perhaps more importantly, it’s also home to Rhum Neisson, a boutique rum distiller that’s among the best anywhere in the world. (They even make organic rum)

The Neisson distillery in Le Carbet.

And then there’s the beach, touched by the volcanic sand of the nearby Mont Pelee, a kind of obsidian-gold that’s utterly intoxicating.

This is Le Carbet, and it’s a must for any true Caribbean aficionado.

See more in the video at the top of the page.

— CJ

The post VIDEO: Le Carbet, a Must-Visit Beach Hotspot in Martinique appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Is this the beginning of a major partnership?

The Chairman of Caribbean Airlines, Ronnie Mohammed, visited China this week to meet with officials from the NHA Group and Air China.

The delegation, which is led by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, met with the Chairman of the HNA Group, Chen Feng.

The HNA Group owns over 1,200 aircraft, and is a major shareholder in international hotel chains.

It is also the largest tour operating company in China.

The HNA Group has been invited to establish code sharing and interline agreements with Caribbean Airlines, through its international airline and tourism industry affiliates, according to a statement from the company.

Mohammed also met with senior officials from Air China, the Vice Chairman, of the Commercial Committee, Rao Xinyu and the Deputy Director Bilateral and Government Affairs, International Affairs and Cooperation, Zhang Baoru.

The meeting explored the possibility of code sharing and interlining opportunities between the two air carriers.

Air China is China’s sole flag carrier and a member of the world’s largest airline alliance, the Star Alliance.

On its own, Air China serves 185 destinations in 40 countries and regions, of which 66 are international destinations, including Havana, Cuba and John F. Kennedy, New York, which are destinations serviced by Caribbean Airlines.

Through its partnership with the Star Alliance, Air China’s reach extends to 1,330 destinations in 192 countries.

China represents a potentially huge new source market for Caribbean tourism, but whether the region can secure regular flight service will be a major factor.

In a statement, Caribbean Airlines said it was “optimistic that these preliminary discussions will develop into a productive partnership between the two airlines.”

The post Air China, Caribbean Airlines Hold Talks appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Guy Britton

It’s long been a paradise for flyfishermen: Long Island, the aptly-named 80-mile-long destination in the heart of The Bahamas.

The island’s lee-side bays are nothing short of ground zero for flyfishermen, with some particularly large bonefish catches in the waters.

But any bonefishing journey on Long Island typically begins here: Bonafide Bonefishing, the island’s Mecca for everything flyfishing related, from rods reels and tackle to fishing knives to authentic Bahamian souvenirs and, yes, world-class fly fishing adventures.

Docky.

This is the home base for James Smith aka “Docky,” one of the Bahamas’ top fly fishing guides, who can take you out to find every kind of flats fish, from bonefish to tarpon and permit and knows these waters better than anybody.

The shop, which first opened its doors back in 2002, has become an institution on Long Island, a kind of must-stop place on any journey to the island — whether you’re going fly fishing or just looking for an authentic slice of Long Island life.

And it simply doesn’t get any better than this.

For more info, visit Bonafide Bonefishing.

— CJ

The post The Best Fly Fishing Shop in The Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Copa Airlines has confirmed its plans to launch new flights from Panama to Barbados.

The new flights, which will launch July 17, will operate twice weekly between the two destinations.

“Copa Airlines is proud to begin flights to Barbados and be the only airline connecting this beautiful and dynamic Caribbean island with Latin America. With this new destination, we uphold our leadership and presence in the Caribbean region, where we serve 16 destinations,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.

The Copa flight will leave Panama on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Panama at 9:30 AM and arriving in Barbados at 2 PM, with the return flights departing Barbados at 3 PM and arriving at 5:30 PM in Panama.

“This new route is very important for us and our industry service providers, as it provides the opportunity to show all of Latin America our culture, our incredible beaches, our range of hotels, our culinary identity and the many activities we have to offer,” said William “Billy” Griffith, CEO of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. “This undoubtedly is beneficial for both countries and strengthens the economy and tourism sector, as well as elevates the recognition of the island in Latin America.”

Copa will be operating the route on Boeing 737-800 aircraft with capacity for 16 passengers in business class and 138 in the main cabin.

The new service will be a boost for Barbados as its seeks to draw more travelers from Latin America; Copa’s Tocumen International Airport base has long been an important gateway for travelers heading from South America and Central America to the Caribbean.

“The connectivity between Panama and this new destination will generate important opportunities for the development and strengthening of tourism and commercial activity, both for Panama and the 76 additional destinations serviced by the airline,” Heilbron said.

The post Copa Is Officially Coming to Barbados appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Caribbean’s leading aviation conference is back again, this time in The Bahamas.

The Caribbean Aviation Meetup, a high-level conference on regional aviation issues, will be held at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island June 12-14.

The event, hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, focuses on solutions to Caribbean airlift problems, from improving competitiveness through air connectivity to ways to improve the conditions for local carriers.

The conference, which is the brainchild of Cdr. Bud Slabbaert, will include 30 presentations by speakers from 13 different countries and territories.

For more info, contact cdrbud@gmail.com.

The post Top Caribbean Aviation Conference Heads to Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico