Sandals Resorts International has kicked off its Bahamas reopening with the relaunch of its Sandals Emerald Bay resort in Great Exuma, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The all-inclusive resort officially reopened this week, including the relaunch of the Greg Norman-designed Sandals Emerald Bay golf course.
Sandals Emerald Bay “is a jewel in Great Exuma and we are overjoyed with reopening this important Bahamian resort,” Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart told Caribbean Journal. “We have had a love affair with The Bahamas for 25 years and this unique resort is a haven for golfers, water enthusiasts and couples looking for the ultimate romantic seclusion.
“Guests can travel with confidence to Sandals Emerald Bay, as all our other resorts, with the respected Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness in place, in addition to our on-resort testing, conducted by certified medical professionals with guests’ convenience top of mind,” Stewart said.
The company will be reopening the other Sandals in The Bahamas, Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, on March 31.
Sandals has now opened 11 of its 15 resorts in the wider Caribbean.
“When restrictions began to lift across the Caribbean, we led the way in the region’s safe reopening and are poised to continue reopening our resorts, with the wellbeing of our guests and staff as our ultimate priority,” Stewart told Caribbean Journal. “Ultimately, we remain confident and committed to stimulating the Caribbean and the communities within, as we build upon the valued trust formed after 40 years of excellence.”
The company has one other property in the country, Fowl Cay, a boutique luxury resort that reopened over the summer.
St. Croix packs an abundance of attractions in its 84 square miles — in fact, acre for acre I’d put this U.S. Virgin Island up against any Caribbean destination for its diverse, interesting, and quirky activities. Here are 10 of the best things to do in St. Croix (including many that are inherently socially distanced for COVID-19 safety).
Bar Hop on the Christiansted Boardwalk
The broad boardwalk running along the edge of Christiansted Harbor is lined with some of St. Croix’s best watering holes, and nearly all of them boast outdoor seating. Create your own pub crawl by bouncing from Nate’s Boathouse to Rum Runners to Shupe’s and the Brew STX microbrewery. Any are good for a good rum drink or beer and some friendly conversation, but when you want a cocktail with a bit more craft, don’t overlook the classic tiki concoctions at Breaker’s Roar in the King Christian Hotel.
Sun on the Cay
Christiansted is the rare capital city with a fine beach right downtown. Well, just across a narrow channel from downtown, anyway. A $5 ferry departing from the Christiansted Boardwalk delivers sun-lovers to the beach on Protestant Cay, which has a broad swath of sand, shallow waters for wading, snorkeling, and chasing sea turtles, plus a convenient beach bar for snacks and drinks.
Fort Christian.
Storm the Forts
Both Christiansted and its sister city, Frederiksted, have historic Danish forts guarding their harbors — one yellow, one red — and both are worth a visit for their history as well as magnificent views of city and sea. Fort Christiansvaern, built in 1749, is part of a complex of 18th-century buildings that comprise the Christiansted National Historical Park, and stands pretty much as it did nearly 275 years ago. Like Fort Christiansvaern, Fort Frederik remains a formidable site in the heart of the city it was raised to defend in 1760, its cannon still pointing menacingly towards the Caribbean Sea.
Drink with the Pigs
The giant hogs inhabiting the Mt. Pellier Domino Club in the hills above Frederiksted aren’t lushes, but they will crush and drink a can of (non-alcoholic) beer on demand for visitors. It’s a spectacle that’s worth investing a few bucks in a can of O’Doul’s for, if only for the photo op and a chance to admire the impressive tusks and jaw power of these big pigs. When you get to the bar, however, give the NA beer a pass in favor of a shot of mamajuana, the house-made bush rum.
Buck Island.
Day Trip to Buck Island
Buck Island Reef National Monument is a quick tour-boat ride from the Christiansted boardwalk to an island of tranquility. The 176-acre island is fringed by a protecting (and protected) reef with colorful live corals and even more photogenic tropical fish. An underwater trail guides snorkelers. Visiting catamarans practically glide right onshore at Turtle Beach for half- and full-day visits, often including lunch on the beach and plenty of time to catch some rays or swim. Hiking trails lead to Diedrichs Point and West Beach, both of which have picnic areas and more privacy.
Scramble to the Tide Pools
The Annaly Bay tide pools come with an advisory warning: when the tide is up on the northwest coast of St. Croix, what’s normally a fairly simple scramble along the shore to reach can get a little hairy, even dangerous. So wait for calm weather but don’t miss the chance to take a dip in these natural pools, protected from the crashing waves by a tall wall of volcanic rock. The pools are deep and warm, and there’s even a sliver of beach to relax on, but be sure to wear some water shoes (not flip flops) to protect your feet from the sharp rocks. The tide pools are included on Bush Tribe jeep tours of St. Croix, or you can try driving your own four-wheel drive vehicle; the cheaper option is to park your car near the Carambola Beach Resort and follow the moderately difficult 2.7-mile Trumbull Trail to the pools.
Greet the Day at Point Udall
Point Udall is the easternmost point in the United States, making it a pilgrimage site for those looking to catch the first sunrise of each new year (a giant sundial helps mark the spot). But you can catch a spectacular fireball rising over the horizon nearly any day of the year at Point Udall as long as you’re willing to set your wakeup call early enough to drive out to the eastern tip of St. Croix. If you want to linger a while, follow a steep path down from the promontory to Jacks Bay and quiet Isaacs Bay Beach.
Take a Tiki Tour of the Harbor
If you see a tiki bar floating by as you walk the Christiansted boardwalk, it doesn’t mean you need a sobriety check. The owners of Tropical Tiki Tours have converted a pontoon boat into a floating tiki bar — bamboo, thatched roof, and all — that can be booked for daytime excursions and sunset cruises around Christiansted Harbor. It’s BYOB, so pack onboard some Cruzan rum and your other favorite drinks and snacks and set course for a booze cruise that will be the eye-catching envy of everyone left back onshore.
Dive the Cane Bay Wall
You don’t need to book a charter boat to SCUBA dive over one of the most spectacular sites in the Caribbean. Just don your gear and wade into the water from Cane Bay Beach to the famous Cane Bay Wall, just 200 yards offshore. Here, the Puerto Rico Trench drops 3,200 feet, and the wall is home to tropical fish, corals, sharks, the occasional passing humpback whale … and whatever else decides to venture up from the depths. Celebrate your dive afterwards at one of Cane Bay’s fun beach bars, including the aptly named Off the Wall and Leatherback Landing, where you can score some locally brewed beers straight from the tap.
Glow with the Flow at Salt River Bay
There are only a handful of bioluminescent bays in the world, and two of the best are in St. Croix. Wait for a moonless night to book a kayak tour of theSalt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, more popular than the other biobay due to its darker and more remote location. After dark the bay lights up with the movements of tiny, glowing sea creatures known as dinoflagellates and ctenophora, which each use biochemical light as a defense mechanism when disturbed — such as by a kayak paddle passing through the water. It’s a hauntingly beautiful experience enhanced by tour operators’ use of translucent kayaks so you’ll never miss a moment of this great natural light show.
American Airlines is launching more new routes to the Caribbean beginning in June, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The world’s largest airline will be launching new routes from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to both Providenciales, Turks and Caicos and Saint Lucia.
On June 5, American will kick off weekly Saturday flights to both destinations.
The new routes come as a result of the new “Northeast Alliance” between American Airlines and JetBlue Airways.
Ocean Club Resorts in Turks and Caicos.
Both the Turks and Caicos and Saint Lucia routes will complement JetBlue’s existing service to the destinations.
The Saint Lucia route is the second new route to the island announced in this month; on June 5, American will also launch new weekly flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Saint Lucia.
Stonefield Villa Resort in Saint Lucia.
“Our alliance with American opens the door for JetBlue to successfully enter into new markets, introducing more choices and our award-winning service and low fares to more customers,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “The alliance is also essential to getting our planes back in the air profitably and crew members working again.”
Marriott International has opened its first-ever hotel property in the hip beach town of Tulum on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
The new Aloft Tulum, which is managed by Highgate, opened its doors this week in the heart of Tulum’s downtown district.
The newest hotel in Mexico has a total of 140 “loft-style” rooms and suites, along with a signature Aitco Rooftop Lounge and Bar with an infinity pool.
“After much anticipation, we are thrilled to welcome visitors to the Aloft Tulum,” said Sergio Parra, general manager of Aloft Tulum. “It is the perfect choice for travelers and digital nomads who are in search of a more affordable boutique hotel option with luxury touches. Not to mention, we are celebrating several firsts including being the first Marriott International property and first internationally branded hotel to enter Tulum.”
The property also includes a grab-and-go eatery called Re:fuel by Aloft; a lounge called Re:mix with a pool table; and a bar called W XYZ with a focus on local entertainment.
Each room has free Wi-Fi, free coffee, custom toiletries, walk-in showers and 55-inch LCD TVs.
It’s the second Aloft hotel in the Caribbean, following last year’s debut of the new Aloft San Juan in Puerto Rico. Another Aloft is set to debut in the Caribbean next month with the new Aloft Ponce, also in Puerto Rico.
It’s the second major brand to debut in Tulum in just a few months, following Kimpton’s recent entry to the market, the Kimpton Aluna Tulum.
The resort’s debut another boost for the Mexican Caribbean, which is seeing more visitor volume than any other destination in the wider region amid the pandemic.
This story is part of Caribbean Journal Invest, the authority on Caribbean hotel, real estate and tourism business news. Join to access this and other great features, including our biweekly newsletter. Subscribe to Read More.
