By the Caribbean Journal staff

Nassau’s Baha Mar is continuing its culinary push with the debut of another new restaurant: Shuang Ba.

The eatery at the Baha Mar in the Bahamas aims to showcase “authentic tastes” and offer travelers the flavors of contemporary Chinese haute cuisine.

“Our vision is to create an immersive dining experience that transports guests across the world through taste, aesthetic and ambiance,” said Graeme Davis, president, Baha Mar. “Our exceptionally curated team will deliver the highest level of Chinese taste profiles – both food and design – to a sophisticated audience interested in cultural experiences.”

Baha Mar

The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar’s flagship eatery will focus on a menu of flavors that “meld traditional and contemporary,” from “cherry foie gras” to traditional peking duck to Chaozhou-style truffle and vegetable dumpling, among others.

Shuang Ba is led by executive chef Brent Martin, who hand-picked a slate of 15 chefs from some of China’s most esteemed hotels, including the Park Hyatt Beijing and the Wynn Palace Macau.

“Inspired by connectedness to local culture and passion for creating extraordinary experiences, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar caters to world travelers seeking international tastes,” said said Scott Allen, general manager, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. “Shuang Ba will uphold the Grand Hyatt brand’s legacy by embodying the highest standard of international luxury and cultural culinary experiences.”

It’s one of several new high-end eateries to debut at Baha Mar, following the debut of the Japanese restaurant Katsuya and Michael Schwartz’s Italian-focused Fi’lia.

The post Shuang Ba Opens at Baha Mar appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

It’s one of coolest spots in St Croix: the Hotel on the Cay, the sandy spit just across the harbor in Christiansted.

While the hotel is an option, an all-day ferry takes travelers back and forth to the sand to give you the perfect beach day.

(And yes, you can buy beer and rum to your heart’s content, along with beach chairs for the day).

So what are you waiting for?

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

The post VIDEO: On the Cay in St Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Ocho Rios has long been one of the best destinations in Jamaica for travelers willing to journey the extra mile, and that’s still the case today. Ocho Rios, which means “eight rivers” in Spanish, is a fascinating enclave of Jamaica teeming with natural beauty, all centered around one of the country’s more bustling small cities. Yes, Ocho Rios has a little bit of everything for travelers, from ATV safaris to the natural beauty of Dunn’s River Falls to tucked-away shopping stalls.

So where do you stay? Ocho Rios has a range of accommodation options: hotels, everything-included options and more, and we’ve narrowed the wide product down to a few great choices.

Here are our favorite places to stay in Ocho Rios.

Jamaica Inn One of Jamaica’s most legendary places to stay, this iconic property (that first opened its doors back in 1950) is all about old-school Jamaican hospitality accompanied by a world-class stretch of beach. It’s charming, it’s intimate and it makes for the perfect Ocho Rios vacation. Even better? Every cottage and suite has ocean views.

Goldeneye One of Chris Blackwell’s signature Island Outpost properties, Goldeneye is famous as the onetime residence of James Bond creator Ian Fleming, who wrote all 14 of the Bond novels at the still-extant desk in the Fleming Villa at Goldeneye. The property, set on picturesque Oracabessa, features a mix of beach huts, cottages and private villas (there’s even a real estate component). And yes, you can even splurge and stay in the villa itself. Either way, it will be an unforgettable stay.

Jewel Dunn’s River This adults-only option is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, and spares no amenity: that means six restaurants, two pools, an impressive spa and, perhaps most importantly, five bars. And the private beach is terrific, made even better by the fact that watersports are included. See more information here.

Sandals Royal Plantation Maybe you’ve been to a Sandals. Well, Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios is a different kind of Sandals. It’s boutique, it’s endlessly charming and it’s, well, truly beautiful. This is a different side of Sandals, and it’s an experience that can only happen at Sandals’ best-kept secret.

Beaches Ocho Rios Looking for a family vacation in Ocho Rios? Look no further than Beaches Ocho Rios, one of the region’s most entertaining resorts, with everything from world-class golf to a water park to three pools. Beaches has made the Caribbean family getaway something of an art form, and that’s nowhere more true than here.

The post Ocho Rios Jamaica — The Six Best Places to Stay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Florida-based Spirit Airlines is expanding its footprint in the Caribbean with another new destination: Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

The carrier has announced plans to launch new nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cap-Haitien, Haiti beginning April 12, 2018.

The flights will operate three times per week, year round, according to the company.

“We are excited to add even more international options to our growing network,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit. “With more daily, nonstop flight options from Fort Lauderdale this spring, we know our guests will be able to save tons of money on air travel, and instead spend those savings exploring new places.”

It’s another boon for Cap-Haitien, a beach filled destination on the northern coast of Haiti.

Cap-Haitien has been steadily growing its air traffic, with new flights from carriers including American Airlines, Sunrise Airways and Bahamasair.

The post Spirit Launching Nonstop Flights to Cap-Haitien, Haiti appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Caribbean hotels keep getting better and better, and the region’s hotel development pipeline shows no signs of slowing down, with new properties continuing to sprout across the Caribbean and Mexico, both large and boutique, EP and all-inclusive.

So what are the Caribbean hotels we’re excited about in 2018?

They range from Leading Hotels of the World to creative new small hotels to all-inclusives.

Here are 10 new hotels coming on stream in 2018 that need to be on your radar.

Silversands Grenada Grenada is one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean right now, in large part due to a burgeoning luxury hotel development pipeline headlined by the soon-to-debut Silversands Grenada, which is already a member of Leading Hotels of the World. Silversands, a mix of 43 luxe suites and nine villas. It’s set to open in March.

The post 10 New Caribbean Hotels We’re Excited About in 2018 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico