Recent years have seen a radical transformation in golf resorts in the Caribbean, which is quickly becoming a global epicenter for the game. There are more great places to stay and play than ever, from traditional golf-focused resorts to luxe hotels that also offer easy access to great nearby courses. That’s along with more and more tournaments coming to the region, on both the PGA and LPGA tour.

Caribbean golf is a singular experience, whether you’re on an inland track or playing right on the ocean’s edge. So many factors come into play, from wind to water, making it a unique kind of challenge.

The best golf resorts, though, combine a great golf resort with world-class accommodations. And we have you covered.

Here are our favorite golf resorts to visit right now in the Caribbean.

Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic This is the Caribbean capital of golf, with an unmatched offering of three championship courses all designed by the legendary Pete Dye, led by the world-famous Teeth of the Dog, a spectacular, challenging course that’s one of the most beautiful designs anywhere. And then there’s the resort, with a mix of rooms and villas, making this perfect for a family golf getaway or a larger trip with your golfing buddies.

The post The 10 Best Golf Resorts to Visit Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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If you’re looking for the perfect vacation experience, adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean are hard to beat.

Because when you find such an oasis, magic seems to happen.

While we all love our families, having “time out” for adults, without the kids, can make everything better. Vacationing in an adults-only atmosphere creates peace, serenity and naturally promotes romance.

It just might be the ultimate luxury.

You don’t have to ask for anything because everything is already there, with the comfort of never having to take out your wallet, and never having to search for quiet.

The best adults-only, all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean have taken the concept to the next level, with a range of properties and experiences, from ultra-laid-back hideaways to more uptempo varieties.

But at the end of the day, it’s all about the most important amenity : time alone with you and your loved one.

Here are our favorite adults-only all-inclusive stays for your next getaway.

Galley Bay Antigua remains one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets when it comes to all-inclusive resorts, with a range of high-level properties that don’t feel like your traditional large-scale all-inclusives. That’s definitely the case at this legendary resort, set on a remarkable stretch of white sand beach and offering a portal to the Caribbean, the way it once was.

The post The 10 Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

Another one of the top hotels in St Barth is planning a relaunch.

The ultra-luxe Hotel Le Toiny is planning to reopen Oct. 15, the property announced in a statement this week.

Reservations are already open for the property, which has been closed since Hurricane Irma.

The boutique hotel has also announced plans to open with eight new villa suites, the first major expansion for Le Toiny since the property first opened in 1992.

Other changes include updates to the cabana and restaurant, while the hotel’s original 14 villa suites will be fully restored “with elegant touches to add a dose of drama,” according to the property.

Hotel Le Toiny will also be adding a new bar to its Beach Club, while the hotel’s fleet of vehicles will be upgraded to Land Rover Defenders and electric cars.

The post St Barth’s Le Toiny to Reopen in October appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Fatima Thompson

The first month of the year is usually the start of the high performance season in the Caribbean, but hotel figures came in at their lowest January level in years, according to the latest data from STR.

Occupancy was nearly flat (-0.6%) compared with last January, but the absolute level (68.5%) was the lowest for the month since 2011. Even as supply growth has tapered, this was the Caribbean’s third consecutive month of year-over-year occupancy declines. At the same time, a 2.2% drop in average daily rate (ADR) was the largest for any January since 2009, and the absolute level ($232.01) was the lowest for the month since 2014. As a result, revenue per available room (RevPAR) dipped 2.8% to its lowest absolute level for a January ($158.91) since 2013.

Bucking the trend was the Cayman Islands, which experienced the largest increase in ADR (+18.8%) and the second-largest increase in occupancy (+14.8%), while Trinidad and Tobago showed the only other double-digit rise in occupancy (+12.5%).

When examining performance of the islands where STR maintains a sufficient reporting sample, we saw that Puerto Rico experienced the strongest increase in occupancy (+18.0% to 76.5%) and the second-largest increase in RevPAR (+30.7% to $169.84).

A sizable decline in supply (-10.0%) helped lift that performance, but the numbers are still attributable to post-storm demand from residents who have been displaced from their homes and are receiving refuge in hotels, along with workers and relief companies on the island working to rebuild the infrastructure.

The message has remained consistent that the Caribbean is open for business following a devastating hurricane season. The region’s hotels are no doubt hoping for better performance, especially with peak season on the books.

Fatima Thompson is the Associate Director of Business Development, Hotels, Caribbean & Mexico for STR.

For questions regarding hotel data reporting in the Caribbean, please contact Fatima at fatima@str.com.


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By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Maarten-based Regional Caribbean air carrier Winair has launched a new way to get around the Dutch Caribbean.

This week, the carrier launched the new “CN Express,” a flight aimed at connecting St Maarten, St Eustatius and Bonaire.

The flight is the product of a partnership between Winair and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The flights will operate Mondays and Fridays, connecting the three Dutch territories with direct air service.

“These flights will enhance tourism, business development and have offered employment to our people after the devastating effects of hurricanes IRMA and MARIA. Winair thanks their shareholders, its employees, PJIAE, the various Civil Aviation Authorities and most of all our customers by offering safe and dependable air transportation to these vital markets.” said M.D. Cleaver, President & CEO of Winair.

The post Winair Launches New St Maarten-Bonaire Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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