St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands is home to one of the most iconic hotels in the Caribbean (more on that here) as well as the only all-inclusive resort in the USVI and an eclectic assortment of other lodging options, including what might be the most affordable “private island” resort anywhere.
In other words, there are some great options to choose from on this fascinating, culturally rich destination.
Here are the best hotels in in St Croix, from boutique hotels to classic beach resorts and historic inns.
The Buccaneer in St Croix.
The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort Born as an 11-room guest house in 1947, the Buccaneer has grown into a timeless symbol of hospitality on St. Croix. Having recently joined the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, but family owned for more than 70 years, the landmark resort has a pink Colonial style Great House on a hillside overlooking an 18-hole championship golf course and a variety of lodging, dining, and entertainment venues. For a classically elegant vacation, there’s nothing like a stay at the Buccaneer.
American Airlines has added more flights to Martinique for the rest of the summer season, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The world’s largest airline is now flying four times per week between Miami and a place that’s very much the beating heart of the French Caribbean.
American is currently operating flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Miami International Airport and Martinique’s Aime Cesaire International Airport outside Fort-de-France.
The service will be running through at least Sept. 10, the Martinique Tourism Authority confirmed to Caribbean Journal.
It’s a big boost for the French Caribbean department, long one of the most fascinating destinations in the wider Caribbean, a remarkably diverse place to visit, from its position as the Caribbean Capital of Rum to sparkling beaches, broad watersports and an outstanding culinary scene.
The Blue Moon villa in Le Diamant, Martinique.
So where should you go?
At 436 square miles, with almost 400,000 people, Martinique is a big, diverse island, meaning while you can explore to your heart’s content thanks to its fabulous roads and infrastructure, it’s good to pick a primary destination.
For history and culture lovers, there’s the town of Saint Pierre, the so-called Caribbean Pompeii and site of a dramatic volcanic eruption of Mont Pelee back in 1902.
Nearby, there’s the beachy hotspot of Le Carbet, home to the world-renowned Rhum Neisson and the celebrated Le Petibonum beach bar led by Chef Guy Ferdinand.
Guy Ferdinand, the island’s most famous chef and the propietor of the wonderful Le Petibonum beach bar in Le Carbet.
The capital, Fort-de-France, is a vibrant, culturally fascinating city, with art galleries, shopping, bakeries, eateries and a host of small, charming hotels, from the historic L’Imperatrice to the modern, oceanfront Simon.
Across the Bay, there’s the tourist hotspot of Trois Ilets, a rich, fun destination filled with restaurants, beach bars and some spectacular views across to Fort-de-France.
Hotel Plein Soleil in Le Francois.
To the south, there’s Le Diamant, one of the hottest beach towns in the Caribbean, with spectacular ocean-view and direct beachfront villas and a growing culinary scene.
Plage du Bourg des l’Anse-d’Arlet.
As the Caribbean capital of rum, there are great rum distilleries within reach from just about every major destination on the island, from Rhum JM, Rhum Depaz and Rhum Neisson in the north of the island to Trois Rivieres and La Mauny at the south — with 12 on the island in total.
That’s just the beginning though, for a destination that’s quickly getting on the radar of adventurous, sophisticated travelers who love the Caribbean.
The Dominican Republic’s best hotel has just added a major new offering: the Premier Club at Casa de Campo, a new level of luxury for the legendary property.
The Premier Club will include a total of 58 new suites: 26 premier junior suites, 27 premier junior suites, four premier one-bedroom suites and one premier presidential suite.
Each suite has amenities not found in other parts of the hotel: that includes an exclusive Premier Club golf cart, private concierge service and nightly turndown service — including an aromatherapy menu.
The Premier Club Lounge.
Premier junior suites and premier suites, for example, will have private balconies or terraces, either 55-inch or 65-inch Smart TVs with international cable and streaming channels, full-size premium wet-bars and beverages, Kohler-accessorized bathrooms and amenity fixtures and even a selection of artisanal gourmet coffees and teas, among other touches.
“The Premier Club at Casa de Campo will create an unprecedented level of privacy and exclusivity for our guests to enjoy,” said Jason Kycek, Senior Vice President at Casa de Campo. “From the moment they arrive, guests will be privately checked-in by our welcome receptionists at the exclusive Premier Club Lounge and be able to relax in seclusion while enjoying a drink or light appetizers at the Club Lounge Bar. Featuring both indoor and outdoor areas, Premier Club guests will be able to maintain autonomy that is exclusive only to guests staying in our new suites.”
A rendering of a room.
It’s a significant new addition for the La Romana property, one that has long been the leading place to stay in the Dominican Republic and, since the pandemic, one of the hottest hotels anywhere in the Caribbean.
The 7,000-acre resort is also home to an unmatched golf offering, led by the number one course in the Caribbean, the Teeth of the Dog, deigned by Pete Dye. (That’s along with two other Dye-designed tracks, Dye Fore and The Links).
The new Premier Club will be available for reservations starting in December 2022, the property told Caribbean Journal.
“It is an exciting time for our company and guests alike with all of the improvements we are making throughout the property,” Kycek said. “We are grateful to be able to take Casa de Campo to the next level and raise the bar in luxury hospitality within the Dominican Republic.”
The new Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya is slated to open its doors on Dec. 1, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The new adults-only resort, part of the Playa Hotels and Resorts portfolio, will feature 291 suites in a beachfront in the increasingly popular town of Puerto Morelos.
Puerto Morelos is the heart of what’s considered the “Riviera Cancun,” set about six miles from Playa del Carmen in one of the Yucatan peninsula’s most charming beach towns.
It’s the latest expansion for a growing Hyatt brand that now includes resorts in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
That means a total of four Zilara-branded adults-only resorts in the wider region.
Playa will be operating the resort, as is the case with all Hyatt Zilara and Ziva (the family-friendly counterpart) resorts.
“The Hyatt Zilara brand redefined the adults-only all-inclusive experience more than a decade ago and set a new standard for the category,” said Dean Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Playa Hotels and Resorts.
This week, Playa official launched reservations for the resort, one of several in-development Caribbean properties to do so.
Hyatt continues to grow in the all-inclusive space, most notably with its acquisition last year of Apple Leisure Group.
Cayman national carrier Cayman Airways is launching a major new nonstop route this fall, Caribbean Journal has learned.
Beginning Nov. 5, the carrier will be kicking off nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Grand Cayman.
The flights mean a nonstop trip from California to Cayman in less than six hours.
Los Angeles becomes the fifth U.S. city from which Cayman Airways provides service, joining existing flights to Cayman from Miami, New York, Tampa and Denver.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Cayman Airways has not yet announced when the flights will go on sale.
The route launch capitalizes on what is very strong demand for the wider Caribbean — and Cayman in particular.
Indeed, the California market doesn’t get as much attention as it should from Caribbean destinations, but it’s actually one of the strongest feeder markets for the Caribbean, particularly in the luxury sector, an area in which Cayman is, unsurprisingly, quite strong, thanks to a strong slate of luxury villas and five-star hotels like the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman and the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, among others.
That’s precisely why the new route makes so much sense.
