The waterfront town of Camana Bay, located just across from Seven Mile Beach, has long been a vibrant destination in Grand Cayman. 

And now it’s home to one of the Cayman Islands’ newest and arguably hottest real estate offerings, too. 

It’s called OLEA, and it’s the first-ever for-sale residential real estate at Camana Bay, set in the 685-acre, walkable community, with amenities ranging from a yoga green to a resort-style swimming pool to the first-ever lazy river on Grand Cayman. 

A 10-minute walk away from the acclaimed Seven Mile Beach and a 10-minute drive from the Owen Roberts International Airport further lends to the appeal of this harbourfront development.

OLEA is a joint venture between Dart Real Estate and the NCB Group, two of the Cayman Islands’ leading development companies, with the first phase of residences set for occupancy in May 2021. OLEA also has received award acclaim, having won the five-star award for Best Sustainable Residential Development in the Americas at the International Property Awards in 2019.

In all, OLEA will have 124 homes for sale across all of its phases. The residential properties include condominiums, townhomes and duplexes ranging in price from approximately US$660,000 to $2 million.

So far, 82 units have been released for sale, with 57 units already sold and just 25 units left, according to Provenance Properties, the exclusive Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate in the Cayman Islands, which is marketing the property. 

“Most of our interest is coming from our local working professionals (partners/lawyers/etc) and some overseas interest (USA/Canada) due to the Global Citizen  and residency by investment programs,” said Shanice Ebanks, sales specialist at Provenance Properties. 

The typical 7.5 percent stamp tax (land transfer fee) on real estate transactions in Grand Cayman will actually be paid by the developer for all purchases made at OLEA before June 30, 2021. 

Even better? OLEA is one of the Caribbean’s greenest real estate projects, with a broad focus on sustainability and its own solar array (it’s also built to Miami-Dade Hurricane standards). 

While it’s a residential community, OLEA is well-suited to those looking for the “lock and leave” lifestyle, too — from part-time residents to snowbirds looking to escape winter weather. 

“Another factor that is driving interest to OLEA would be the pre-paid stamp duty tax and the central location in the Seven Mile Beach corridor and unrivaled amenities that OLEA will offer,” Ebanks told Caribbean Journal Invest. 

And then there’s the greatest amenity: Camana Bay itself, the mixed-use community that’s a veritable town square, with an array of shops and restaurants, commercial office space, a movie theatre and an endless slate of activities from farmers markets to art installations. 

For more, visit OLEA. Here is a list of the available OLEA homes for sale, right now. 

The post Why OLEA is the Cayman Islands’ Hottest Real Estate appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

You’re on your own private pool deck, just a step above the sand, a sanctuary hidden away among the palm trees. 

it’s time for a three-course lunch with a glass of rosé followed by a nap in the shade, the art of the easy beach afternoon. 

In the increasingly competitive world of all-inclusive resorts, Antigua has long been an oasis. 

For years, the island has quietly been redefining the term, helping it transition from the mega-resort concept to a more artful, more authentic experience. 

And that’s precisely the case at Keyonna Beach, a lovely boutique all-inclusive on the southwestern coast of the island, that’s something of a well-kept secret. 

Keyonna, sister resort to Antigua’s Cocos Hotel, which opened its doors a decade ago, is tucked on the white sands of Turner’s Beach — and it’s remained a haven for travelers in the know, another home run for hotelier Andrew Michelin.

There are just 29 rooms and cottages here, from units in the resort’s main “Beach House” building to the especially lovely beachfront sanctuary pool cottages. 

The latter, set right on the sand, come with their own private plunge pools with decks; Adirondack chairs, his-and-hers outdoor showers and secluded, lush settings. 

The latter, set right on the sand, come with their own private plunge pools with decks; Adirondack chairs, his-and-hers outdoor showers and secluded, lush settings. 

It’s the height of serenity, a quiet, rarefied experience that’s the essence of the boutique beach hotel — and precisely what travelers are clamoring for amid the currently realities of tourism.

And yet, somehow, it’s an all-inclusive, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and beverages (from wine and champagne to local rum) all included in the plan, with rotating menus and three courses at each meal. 

The property’s intimate size, though, means things are taken to another level: the fish you eat comes from local fishermen; there’s an emphasis on locally-sourced fruits and vegetables. 

And then there’s that pervasive feeling of privacy, of seclusion, that you’ve found a place that’s wonderfully, inescapably, your own. 

For a few nights, or a week, or two — it’s your own secret beach resort. 

For more, visit Keyonna Beach Antigua. 

The post A Secret All-Inclusive Resort in Antigua appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has launched its latest Caribbean expansion, this time with new nonstop flights to the Dominican Republic and the Mexican Caribbean, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Frontier has launched a pair of new Caribbean routes out of Orlando International Airport, with new flights to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Cancun, Mexico. 

The new Santo Domingo flights are operating twice each week, while the Cancun flights are running four times each week. 

“We’re thrilled to continue Frontier’s incredible momentum in Orlando,” said Daniel Shurz, senior Vice President of commercial at Frontier Airlines. “Frontier remains the airline with the most nonstop routes from Orlando International Airport and this new service reinforces our commitment to providing affordable and convenient air travel to area residents.”

The new flights are a sign of the relative strength of both destinations amid the pandemic; while traffic is unsurprisingly lower than the same period last year, both the Dominican Republic and Mexico have seen far stronger tourism and occupancy numbers than their counterparts in the rest of the Caribbean. 

Indeed, next month Frontier will launch more flights to Cancun, with four-times-weekly service from Miami to Cancun. 

And next week, Frontier will be inaugurating another new Caribbean route from Orlando next week, with planned flights to Cyril E. King Airport in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. 

For more, visit Frontier. 

— CJ

The post Frontier Airlines Launches New Flights to Cancun, Dominican Republic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

American Airlines is planning to launch a host of new routes to the Caribbean this summer, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

In June, the world’s largest airline will kick off a new routes to Caribbean destinations including St Maarten and Saint Lucia. 

On June 5, American Airlines will launch new weekly flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport.

On the same date, the carrier will also launch new weekly flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport.

Both of the new seasonal routes will be operating on Saturdays, with both routes operated on Airbus A321 aircraft. 

American has already announced that the Dallas-Saint Lucia route will return in the winter of 2021. 

The St Maarten route will be operating from June through Aug. 14. 

St Maarten and Saint Lucia are both currently open for tourism.

Both routes will launch online sales on Feb. 15. 

The launch comes amid what American Airlines calls “a significant demand for travel to Latin America and the Caribbean.”

It’s a boost for the region, which has been expanding its eopening for international tourism over the course of the last eight months. 

— CJ

The post American Airlines Adding New Routes to St Maarten, Saint Lucia appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Another new all-inclusive resort has opened its doors in the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

It’s called the Sensiria Resort and Spa, and it’s home to 359 guest rooms and suites on Petempich Bay. 

The resort, which is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, is the latest development by Arriva Hospitality Group, and it’s yet another sign of the resilience of the Mexican Caribbean even amid the pandemic.

The property was designed by Grupo Casco’s Miguel Marques Michel, with interiors by designer Katya Collignon. 

“We are extremely excited to introduce this new brand and resort which carries the legacy of Arriva Hotels through a new lens,” said Arriva Hospitality Group Chief Commercial Officer Alma Lopez. “Sensira Resort & Spa is for the traveler who is looking to be centrally located, while also feeling a sense of seclusion, relaxation, comfort and most importantly the convenience of an all-inclusive experience throughout their entire stay.”

The property is also home to an adults-only wing called Amber, whose accommodations include exclusive amenities, butler service and access to a special lounge. 

The resort features 13 restaurants and bars, from a snack bar called Las Brisas to La Finca de Ana, a Mexican restaurant with a gourmet menu. 

The property’s fine-dining eatery is Galeria des Sens, which includes a menu curated by leading Mexican Chef John Bertrand. 

The resort also includes a convention center, and will soon debut a spa this spring. 

Sensira is offering on-site antigen rapid tests for all guests, with PCR tests available for a fee. The latter are facilitated at local hospitals and labs. (Both tests help travelers comply with the new CDC requirements for returning travelers). 

Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean have been open for tourism since last summer.

For more, visit Sensira.

The post Another New All-Inclusive Just Opened in Mexico’s Riviera Maya appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico