By the Caribbean Journal staff

Right now, it’s the beach capital of the Caribbean, and the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is easier to reach than ever, thanks to a host of new deals at resort properties across the island.

The Aruba Tourism Authority has released a new hot list of specials for savings, ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

So if you’re planning a getaway to Aruba, now’s the time.

See below for more information.

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort

Holiday Offer: Enjoy up to 20% off rates at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort this holiday season with reduced rates on all room categories.

Booking Window: Sept. 1 – Nov. 22, 2017

Travel Dates: Nov. 20 – Nov. 27, 2017

Redeem: Visit http://www.amsterdammanor.com to book and use promo code AMBRBLCK20.

Boardwalk Small Hotel Aruba

Black Friday Offer: Enjoy a boutique style experience at one of the fully equipped “casitas” at the intimate Boardwalk Small Hotel Aruba. Up to 15% discount; varying minimum length of stay depending on dates. Accommodations must be booked this week to apply.

Booking Window: Nov. 20 – 26, 2017

Travel Dates: Apr. 18 – Dec. 22, 2017

Redeem: Visit www.boardwalkaruba.com to book and enter promotional code ILoveAruba.

Brickell Bay Beach Blub & Spa

Holiday Offer: Book early this holiday season and receive an early booking special.

• Offer includes deluxe room upgrade and daily breakfast

Booking Window: Now until Dec. 5, 2017

Travel Dates: Jan. 2 – Apr. 2, 2018

Redeem: Visit http://www.brickellbayaruba.com/rooms.html to book and use promo code EBB2018.

Divi Resorts

Holiday Offer: Offering ‘Out of this World’ vacation savings for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Divi Resorts offers guests a plethora of savings for the holidays. Accommodations must be booked this week to apply.

Divi & Tamarjin Aruba All Inclusive: Rates start as low as $106 per night and as low as $127 per person, per night for an all-inclusive vacation package

Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort: Rates start as low as $125 per night or $162 per person per night for an all-inclusive vacation package.

Divi Village Beach Resort: Rates start as low as $120 per night or $143 per person per night for an all-inclusive vacation package.

Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort: Rates start as low as $178 per night (plus tax).

Booking Window: Now – Nov. 27, 2017

Travel Dates: April 2 – June 29, 2018 and Aug.18 – Dec.21, 2018

Redeem: Visit www.diviresorts.com.

Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino

Holiday Offer: Enjoy up savings up to 30% on select room types when purchasing a 4-night minimum stay starting in January of 2018. Accommodations must be booked this week to apply.

Booking Window: Nov. 21 – 27, 2017

Travel Dates:

• Jan. 5 -11, 2018
• Jan. 26 – 31, 2018
• Feb. 6 – 9, 2018
• Feb. 12 – 16, 2018
• Feb. 23 – Mar. 7, 2018
• Mar. 11 – 23, 2018
• Mar. 31 – May 8, 2018
• May 13 – Jul. 11, 2018
• Jul. 16 – Nov. 20, 2018

Redeem: Visit https://www.hiltonaruba.com/2017holidays from November 21 through November 27, 2017.

MVC Eagle Beach Resort

Holiday Offer: Enjoy up to 25% off rates at the MVC Eagle Beach Resort this holiday season, with reduced rates on all room categories. Accommodations must be booked by November 22 to apply.

Booking Window: Sept. 1 – Nov. 22, 2017

Travel Dates: Nov. 20 – Nov. 27, 2017

Redeem: Visit http://www.mvceaglebeach.com/hotel-special-offers-last-minute-aruba.html to book and use promo code MVCBLCK25.

Tierra Del Sol

Black Friday Offer:

• 20% off accommodations rate when you book a 5-night minimum stay
• Rates starting at $110 per person per night based on 4 people in a 2-bedroom Villa.
• Accommodations must be booked this week to apply.

Booking Window: Nov. 24 – 27, 2017

Travel Dates: Dec. 9, 2017 – Jan. 6, 2017 with a five-night minimum length of stay.

Redeem: Book the promotion by completing the vacation rental form at http://bit.ly/2d4bSRi with the offer code BLFR. Deal is subject to availability and blackout dates apply.

Tropicana Aruba Resort & Casino

Holiday Offer: Tropicana Aruba is offering super deals this holiday season, starting at 55% off the original published rate for one day only. Accommodations must be booked on November 24 to apply.

Booking Date: Nov. 24, 2017

Travel Dates: Jan. 1 – Nov. 1, 2018

Redeem: Visit https://app.thebookingbutton.com/properties/tropicanaarubadirect to book and use promo code bf2017.

The post How to Save on an Aruba Vacation Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a new way to get to the French Caribbean.

French national carrier Air France launches a new nonstop route between Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and the French Caribbean department of Guadeloupe on Tuesday.

The Atlanta-Pointe-a-Pitre flights depart Atlanta on Wednesdays and Sundays, with return flights from Pointe a Pitre on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The flights also offer the option of continuing on from Guadeloupe to Martinique on Wednesdays and Sundays and flying from Martinique to Atlanta through Pointe a Pitre on Tuesdays and Sundays.

While still largely under the radar, Guadeloupe is a charming archipelago in the Eastern Caribbean with a diverse set of islands, from agriculturally-focused destinations like Marie Galante (and yes, they make rum in Marie Galante, too) to the lush, rainforest-covered island of Basse-Terre (the filming location of the popular Death in Paradise television series).

It’s also home to the tiny island of Terre de Haut, still one of the region’s best-kept travel secrets.

Don’t miss our list of the best Guadeloupe hotels.

The post Air France’s New Atlanta-Guadeloupe Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Castles in Paradise villa resort in St Lucia has expanded with a new wing of apartment units at its Vieux Fort property.

Castles in Paradise, the only villa resort in the south of St Lucia, now has six new units with a range from one to two-bedroom apartments.

The apartments overlook Savannes Bay and Honeymoon Bay, with each including a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, maid service six days a week, ground maintenance and pool access.

Castles in Paradise has a total of 14 villas.

 

The post St Lucia’s Castles in Paradise Expands appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

SBE has debuted its first-ever hotel in the Caribbean with the official launch of the new SLS Baha Mar in Nassau.

SLS is the second brand to debut at the Nassau megaresort, following the launch earlier this summer of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.

SLS Baha Mar has a total of 299 rooms on Nassau’s sparkling Cable Beach, along with three bars, including the only rooftop lounge on the island of New Providence.

SLS Baha Mar’s culinary offerings are headlined by Katsuya by Starck Baha Mar, a Japanese eatery that is the partnership of Chef Uechi and designer Philippe Starck. It also inclues Cleo Medterraneao, and will soon be home to Fi’lia Baha Mar, the second outpost of Chef Michael Schwartz’s Miami-area Italian restaurant.

Guests can access Baha Mar’s wide-ranging amenities, from the Jack Nicklaus-designed Royal Blue Baha Mar golf course to a massive casino to an ESPA Spa.

As is often the case with SBE’s hotels, the pool is the epicenter, and that’s the case at Baha Mar, with the action centered around the Bungalow Pool Bar and Grill and the soon-to-debut Upscale Pool.

It’s the first international hotel, too, for the SLS Brand, which is also planning to open a hotel in Cancun, while sbe’s Mondrian brand is also planning a debut in downtown Playa del Carmen.

For more info on the Baha Mar, see Caribbean Journal’s recent in-depth feature on its debut.

The post SLS Baha Mar Opens in Nassau appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Low-cost air carrier Norwegian continues to show surging growth, according to the latest traffic numbers released by the company.

The European-based carrier that also flies to the Caribbean reported 3.1 million passengers in October, a 14 percent increase over the same month in 2016.

Total traffic growth increased by 29 percent, while capacity growth increased by 31 percent in the same period.

Norwegian’s Caribbean network significantly expanded last month with the launch of new routes to Martinique from both Fort Lauderdale and Providence, supplementing existing service from New York.

We’re very pleased to see that more passengers are choosing Norwegian for their travels,” said Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos. “The growth is highest on our intercontinental routes and the overall demand is satisfactory and stable. The competition is still strong, so global expansion is important to position ourselves in the market.”

The post Norwegian Continues Traffic Surge appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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