The Caribbean’s “sweetest” festival is coming back for 2022.
The popular Pineapple Festival in Eleuthera will run June 3-4 on the island of Eleuthera, the heart of the country’s pineapple industry.
After a pandemic hiatus, the event is back this year for what will be its 33rd edition.
Pineapple Fest was first launched in 1987 to honor the pineapple farmers of Gregory Town, Eleuthera for their contribution to the farming industry.
It’s held in the settlement called “Pineapple City,” where locals invite visitors to experience food, fun, games and musical entertainment.
For kids, that means a “Kids World” with games and sports all day long, joined by culinary competitions, a pineapple eating contest and a two-day concert.
From Magens Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches on earth, to stunning mangroves to some of the Caribbean’s best shopping, St Thomas is a vibrant, energetic destination that has been among the most popular in the entire region since the onset of the pandemic.
And the island’s hotel product is diverse: a St. Thomas stay can feature anything from a tiny boutique hotel to five-star luxury; here are our picks for the top hotels and resorts on St. Thomas.
Located on Great Bay on the quieter east end of the island, the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas comes off a $100-million renovation with a beautiful oceanfront infinity-edge pool lined with private cabanas, four restaurants that include Sicilian fine dining at Alloro, and a renovated lounge for Club-level guests. A spa and catamaran for private sailings round out the five-star amenities. And then there are those views of St John.
The legendary, family-owned Bolongo Bay is a no-stress hideaway just a few minutes drive outside of busy Charlotte Amalie. When the point of your Caribbean vacation is to just chill out over cocktails and lounge on the beach, this family run resort is the place to be. Rooms are right on the sand and steps from the shore, and the dining at the poolside Iggie’s restaurant makes the all-inclusive package well worthwhile. No visit is complete without a sunset cruise on the Heavenly Days catamaran and taking part in the weekly treasure hunt for sunken rum bottles.
Every room at Lindbergh Bay resort has an oceanfront balcony, and the laid-back garden setting embraces a swimming pool with a waterfall and the Caribbean Fusion restaurant, serving locally inspired cuisine. The Emerald Beach Bar is one of a few truly waterfront watering holes on the island.
This condo resort has one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas located hillside or beachside about a mile outside of Red Hook, the east end gateway to nearby St. John. The beach is tucked into the side of a quiet harbor, as is the restaurant and beach bar; up the hill is the swimming pool with a lovely view of Nazareth Bay. On-site activities are provided by a water sports center; there’s also tennis courts and a fitness center.
Boutique hotels are a rarity in St. Thomas; Two Sandals is not only that, but a bed & breakfast, too. Located in Red Hook just a short walk from Secret Harbor Beach, the hotel has a modest collection of guest rooms, villas, and a private condo unit. There’s no pool, but that’s what the beach is there for, and Two Sandals also is within easy walking distance of Red Hook’s bars and shops and the ferry to St. John — perfect for day-tripping.
This Jimmy Buffett themed resort is part of Wyndham Vacation Clubs, but condo units can be rented by non-Club members, too. One-bedroom villas are located hillside and poolside, and the resort sits on a stretch of east coast beach close to Red Hook.
The history of Bluebeard’s Castle (recently rebranded as simply “Bluebeard’s) dates back to the 1600s, when the stone tower was built by the Danish to protect Charlotte Amalie. Although there’s no evidence it was ever occupied by the pirate Bluebeard, the tower remains a prominent landmark on the city’s skyline, and the surrounding property has been renovated after 2017 hurricane damage to include a pair of lodging options: the Castle Villas and Pirate’s Pension. Guests have access to a trio of restaurants, a pool, and tennis.
The views don’t get much better than those from this hotel in the hills above Charlotte Amalie, where you can spend your days watching seaplanes take off and cruise ships sail in and out of the harbor below. The hotel has 22 rooms — including what’s billed as the tiniest room on St. Thomas — and stays include a full breakfast served by the pool. The fine-dining restaurant is magical after dark, with an open-air patio overlooking the lights of the city below.
It’s the most glamorous place in the Caribbean — St Barth, the tiny French Caribbean wonderland home to breathtaking beaches, out-of-this-world food and the buzzy energy of the Riviera in the heart of the West Indies.
And one of the best ways to experience St Barth is in a villa, where you can savor all of the island’s signature experiences while also enjoying unmatched luxury and privacy (particularly if you’re on the island for events like the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth or the St Barth Gourmet Festival).
As the island’s tourism boom continues, several new villas have hit the market, from modern stunners to petite honeymoon retreats.
Here are the eight hottest new villas to try in St Barth, according to the experts at WIMCO, St Barth’s leading villa provider.
Gypsea This sparkling hillside retreat is set high above Gouverneur, one of the most beautiful beaches in St Barth. It’s in Lurin, which is just a short drive from town, with four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a dramatic pool and entertainment deck overlooking the sea.
It’s one of the biggest trends in travel since the onset of the pandemic: the rise of the digital nomad, and the increased popularity of long-term, remote-work stays.
And that’s precisely the target at Marriott’s newest Caribbean hotel, the new Residence Inn in one of Puerto Rico’s most popular beach towns.
The new Residence Inn by Marriott San Juan Isla Verde made its debut this week in the always-bustling beach neighborhood of Isla Verde outside of San Juan.
The property, which is operated by Highgate, has a total of 231 suites, all with fully-equipped kitchens, separate living and sleeping areas and a design aimed at longer stays. The latter is of course one of the biggest trends in travel since the onset of the pandemic.
Inside a room.
“We are delighted to open the first Residence Inn in Puerto Rico in the Isla Verde neighborhood, surrounded by restaurants and experiences that welcome business and tourism. Each suite has been developed to create sensations of being close to home with personalized welcoming moments.”
Amenities at the property include The Market, a 24-hour grab-and-go food and beverage store, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a kids water-play pool and free Wi-Fi, among others.
Marriott says the property is designed for stays of five nights or more, with a concept of “travel the way you live.”
“The world’s leading long-stay brand, Residence Inn by Marriott, is an excellent addition to our growing portfolio in Puerto Rico, offering more choices to our guests and Marriott Bonvoy members,” said Brian King, President for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America. “As travel evolves, the longer stay segment has increased in popularity, especially for digital nomads who blend work and leisure travel together seamlessly.”
Jimmy Bufett’s ever-expanding Margaritaville empire has launched its newest offering: a cruise line.
It’s called Margaritaville at Sea, and the brand’s new Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cruise ship officially launched this week.
The first cruise on the ship will be a VIP sailing on May 12, following the inaugural cruise on May 14.
This week, Margaritaville announced that NFL star Shaquem Griffin had been named the ship’s godfather.
The new ship will offer two-night, round-trip voyages to the island of Grand Bahama in The Bahamas.
What a room looks like.
That’s along with 658 cabins, several dining venues, including the JWB Prime Steak and Seafood; Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria; and the “Port of Indecision Buffet”; joined by pools, retail shops, a casino and a signature St Somewhere Spa, among other amenities.
The entertainment offering includes Tales from Margaritaville, the show written by Buffett and produced by Buffett and Frank Marshall.
It’s a transformation of the former Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which Margaritaville acquired last year.
