Before Grand Case was Grand Case. Before Cabarete was Cabarete.

There was something. An energy, a draw, a feeling that one day a small beach town would become something else entirely.

That’s the feeling you get when you walk down the streets of Le Diamant, the wonderful, still largely undiscovered village in the south of Martinique that just might be the Caribbean’s next great beach town.

It starts, of course, with the beach, a stunning stretch of sand lushly lined with palm trees, all in plain view of Martinique’s wonder, Le Rocher du Diamant, the “Diamond Rock” that juts out from the sea, an imposing monument to the beauty of nature.

And then there’s the food — more and more restaurants are opening up here, from the truly terrific La Voile Blanche to the quirky La Table de Mumu to the eclectic Hakuna Matata. There are great pizza spots (like the cheekily named Pizzbook), a gelateria, a bustling fish market.

There are a host of world-class villas (like Blue Moon, a place we’ll cover more deeply in an upcoming issue) and even a soon-to-open hotel, the reinvigorated Diamant Les Bains.

The Blue Moon villa.

But then there’s that feeling. You see it on the faces of the travelers here, of the eminently warm locals, that something is happening.

And then it’s clear. This is the next great beach town.

Which is why you need to visit right now.

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

The post VIDEO: Le Diamant, Martinique: The Next Great Caribbean Beach Town appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Guy Britton

The colors, the light and the view rule the day here.

From the watery vistas at the restaurant to the shimmering sunsets, there is a rainbow of hues here that changes as the day moves by you.

Grenada’s True Blue Bay is far more than a hotel.

It feels like a boutique hotel, but it’s something else — a complete resort, with a marina, a waterfront emporium and of course the Dodgy Dock, the bar and eatery that’s a veritable Town Square for Grenada, a meeting place for locals and travelers alike. (It’s also home to the best Thursday night in Grenada).

This is a portal to the real Grenada.

True Blue has a life of its own, with each room unique, each cottage with its own character, whether you’re poolside, cliffside or up on the hill.

Time stands still here, and life comes to you. (Just ask the Buddha in the yoga studio).

Here, True Blue isn’t just the color of the waves, or the sky or the walls. It’s a state of being.

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

For more information, visit True Blue Bay.

The post VIDEO: Experiencing Grenada’s True Blue Bay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Seven Stars Resort and Spa in Turks and Caicos has unveiled a new room class aimed at families and groups.

The Providenciales property has debuted a new two-bedroom garden-view suite with 740 square feet, a king bed, two twin beds, a kitchen, two bathrooms and a balcony.

Each suite includes kitchens, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi along with showers and soaker tubs.

Seven Stars guests have access to a heated saltwater pool, private pool deck cabanas, beach butler service and an on-site spa, among other amenities.

The property is located on the famous Grace Bay Beach.

The post Turks and Caicos’ Seven Stars Debuts New Family Suites appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Germany’s Condor Airlines has launched a new nonstop flight between Frankfurt and The Bahamas.

The first Condor-Nassau flight arrived to the sounds of Junkanoo drums at Nassau’s Lynden Pindling Airport on Monday.

Condor has made a substantial investment in the Bahamian economy with the new weekly service, which represents the first direct service between Germany and The Bahamas in more than a decade.

Condor is operating the service on Boeing 767 aircraft.

The seasonal service will operate through April 30, 2018.

“Because of the partnership not only with Condor but the various tour operators, we will now have the ability to bring people from places like Munich, Berlin, Milan, Copenhagen, Denmark and other areas in Germany,” said Tyrone Sawyer, Senior Director of Airlift Development at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. “We will also have representation from the various Out Islands, Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Promotion Boards, and through an interline arrangement with Bahamasair, passengers will have the opportunity to go to every single island in The Bahamas. This allows us to spread tourism not only to Nassau but throughout The Bahamas.”

The post Condor Launches New Bahamas Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Apple Leisure Group subsidiary AMResorts, the Caribbean’s fastest-growing hotel company, is expanding again with a pair of new resorts in St Lucia.

AMResorts will manage two new luxury all inclusive resorts in what will be the company’s first entry to St Lucia.

AMResorts has 16 properties in the development pipeline; Apple Leisure Group will have more than 60 resorts open across Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Panama by 2019.

“The ALG family of companies has a deep-rooted relationship with the Caribbean,” said Alex Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group. “We are invested in joining projects that bring tourism to the region, creating jobs and driving an economic stimulus.”

The resorts will be the flagship of the Canelles Resort and Residences at Honeymoon Beach master-planned community, which is being developed by Infinite Property Group Ltd, a subsidiary of Infinite Holdings.

A rendering of the Canelles project.

The project will also feature an 18-hole Nicklaus Design Golf Course and Club, along with luxury condominiums and villas.

It is slated for completion in 2020, by which time Apple Leisure Group plans to have signed its 100th resort deal and have surpassed the 20,000 room milestone.

“This project is the perfect example of how the ALG team works closely with owners to bring their vision to fruition, as our partnership with Infinite Holdings will create an all inclusive experience that is unlike anything in our portfolio,” said Javier Coll, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Apple Leisure Group.

St Lucia will become Apple Leisure Group’s ninth country.

“St. Lucia is an easily accessible slice of paradise, with non-stop flights available from several major gateways in the U.S. and Canada year-round. Recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful islands, the destination’s unique mix of award-winning beaches, lively culinary scene, rich culture and natural beauty make it the perfect fit for our portfolio,” said Gonzalo del Peon, President of AMResorts.

The post Apple Leisure Group’s AMResorts Expanding to St Lucia appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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