The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire has lifted all of its testing requirements, Caribbean Journal has learned.

That means no pre-testing is required of travelers, regardless of vaccination status.

Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers will just have to fill in a health declaration for their trip to Bonaire.

Bonaire joins a handful of Caribbean destinations that have removed their pre-testing requirements.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Tourism Corporation Bonaire said the number of hospital admissions had been stable for a long time on the island, paving the way for the move.

“If in the future a new variant of the virus emerges that causes serious complaints, the travel conditions will be reassessed,” the spokesperson said.

It’s another boost for an island that has been seeing very strong tourism numbers since the summer of 2021.

Indeed, Bonaire, home to the smallest population of the ABC Islands (which comprise Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao), continues to attract travelers drawn to its combination of a remarkable natural environment and a buzzing culinary scene).

In June, the island will host a major new festival in June, Bonaire Rum Week, which will celebrate premium rum and highlight the island’s growing cocktail and spirits culture.

For more, visit Bonaire Rum Week.

The post Bonaire Just Lifted All of Its Testing Requirements appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Like all of the greatest recipes, it’s a secret. 

And while the ubiquitous, yellow Goombay Smash has traveled the world as one of The Bahamas’ signature cocktails, there are none quite like this one. 

This is Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar, the beating heart of the tiny town of New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay, the place where the Goombay Smash was born. 

More than a half century ago, the late Emily Cooper came up with her now-renowned concoction, when a customer suggested she create a signature tropical drink. 

Quickly, the Goombay Smashed, and the bar remains a mixology Mecca, drawing every manner of cocktail-loving pilgrim to this tiny island in Abaco, with a brand-new look after a post-Dorian rebuild.

“It was all word of mouth,” says Phylicia Smith, Cooper’s granddaughter, the family’s third generation to run this legendary watering hole on Green Turtle Cay. “There was no internet back then.” 

Locals and visiting boaters buy the drink by the gallon, with large containers of pre-made Goombay Smashes awaiting guests at the entrance to the bar. 

So what’s actually in it? 

There’s a Goombay Smash in just about every bar in The Bahamas, and if you’ve traveled the archipelago you’ve encountered one, typically some mix of pineapple, coconut and rum. Some variations use Nassau Royale, others apricot brandy, others Malibu. 

This one is different, though. 

There’s real balance, with none of the sometimes cloying sweetness or synthetic flavors you find in other Goombay Smashes; plainly, it’s perfect. 

Phylicia admits there’s some Bahamian-made Ricardo coconut rum; the Pineapple juice is a sure thing, too. 

But the rest she won’t reveal, keeping the promise Cooper made so many decades ago.  

“The secret is what makes it all special,” she says. 

But no matter what’s in it, it’s clear that Cooper was a mixological genius — only underscored by the fact that she never actually tasted the drink. 

Cooper, you see, had a lifelong allergy to pineapples, and remarkably invented the cocktail without ever trying it. 

“She was a fortune teller,” Phylicia says. “She knew.” 

For more, visit Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar. 

The post In The Bahamas, the Birthplace of the Goombay Smash  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Jamaica has officially eliminated all pre-arrival testing rules for travelers. 

International visitors to Jamaica are no longer required to present a negative antigen or PCR test before their trip to the island. 

Additionally, Jamaica has ended its mandate to wear a mask in public places. 

“Eliminating mask mandates and the need for travelers to present a negative COVID test result are important strides toward our continued gradual relaxation of travel protocols as the spread of COVID-19 keeps declining,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. “We are optimistic that these simpler requirements will serve to increase the appeal of Jamaica as a premier destination and keep us moving along the road to a stronger recovery for both the tourism sector and the nation’s economy as a whole.”

All other public health measures in the country remain in place, including the requirement for public establishments to provide hand washing stations and hand sanitizing equipment for anyone entering the premises. 

The news comes after the move last week by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade Jamaica to a Level 1 travel designation, its lowest-risk category. 

“As we review our Jamaica CARES program and travel protocols regularly, taking these actions was the logical next step to keep Jamaica aligned with best practices globally,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board. “Many destinations in the Caribbean region and around the world have been easing travel requirements, so this change will help us ensure that Jamaica retains its leadership position among the world’s top tourism destinations.”

The move should only expand tourism to the island, which has been steadily improving since the country first reopened its doors to tourists back in the summer of 2020. 

Jamaica is one of an increasing number of Caribbean destinations to eliminate all travel requirements, joining destinations like Curacao, Aruba and Grenada. 

For more, visit Jamaica. 

The post Jamaica Just Removed All Testing Rules for Travelers appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Cape Air, the Massachusetts-based airline that has a strong presence in the Caribbean, is going electric. 

The company has signed a letter of intent to purchase 75 all-electric Alice commuter aircraft, meaning the longtime regional carrier will become the Caribbean’s first electric airline.

“Truly sustainable aviation not only reduces the impact of air travel on the environment but also makes business sense,” said Jessica Pruss, Vice President of Sales at Eviation. “We are proud to support Cape Air, a recognized leader in regional air travel, to chart a new path in delivering innovative solutions that benefit airline operators, passengers, communities and society.”

With the move, the company says it wants to “set up an unparalleled regional electric fleet, taking a pioneering step into the sustainable era of aviation.”

Cape Air’s Caribbean network includes destinations like St Thomas, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, St Croix, Culebra and Vieques. 

“Cape Air remains committed to sustainability, growth, and innovation, and our partnership with Eviation allows for these commitments to become a reality,” said Cape Air President and CEO Linda Markham. “Our customers will be at the forefront of aviation history and our communities will benefit from emission-free travel.”

The Eviation Alice is the world’s first fully electric aircraft, with a range of up to 440 nautical miles on a single charge – and a top speed of 250 knots. 

“Cape Air has always maintained a deep commitment to social responsibility. As an early supporter of all-electric air travel, we are dedicated to leading the industry towards a sustainable future,” said Cape Air Board Chairman, Dan Wolf. “Together with Eviation, we are creating the next generation of air travel, in which electric flight will be the industry standard.”

The Caribbean’s regional airlines have been leading the way from a sustainability perspective.

Indeed, earlier this year, luxury airline Tradewind Aviation launched the region’s first-ever carbon offset program, covering the cost of 100 percent of the airline’s carbon emissions.

For more, visit Cape Air.

The post Cape Air Will Become the Caribbean’s First Electric Airline  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Buoyed by the region’s most liberal testing policies, the Mexican Caribbean has seen stunning tourism growth since the summer of 2020 — outpacing much of the rest of the region and cementing its place as one of the Caribbean’s most popular travel hotspots. 

And it’s not just new flights and travelers – the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan peninsula continues to see new hotel development at a blazing place. 

The newest addition is the latest property by the fast-growing Secrets brand, which is debuting a sparkling new resort in Playa del Carmen this week. 

The new Mexican Caribbean property is Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen, an all-suite, 485-unit beach resort about 10 minutes from Playa’s bustling Quinta Avenida and the newest addition to Apple Leisure Group’s AMR Collection, now part of Hyatt. 

It’s a significant new addition to the most popular beach town in the Mexican Caribbean, and the 12th Secrets resort to open its doors in Mexico. 

There are a total of 18 dining concepts, from a pool bar called The Cove to the Ember steakhouse and Dos Almas, which specializes in “authentic Mexican cuisine” — with a taco tasting bar to boot. 

That’s including a Preferred Club eatery called the Observatory, set on a rooftop overlooking the sea. 

The biggest story might be the diverse poolscape – which includes a total of seven different heated pools, some of which are what Secrets calls “man-made cenotes” — the latter a nod to the natural pools for which the Yucatan peninsula is famous. (There’s also a rooftop pool for the resort’s Preferred Club guests). 

That’s along with one of Secrets’ essentials — a Pevonia spa, featuring 16 treatment rooms, 5 VIP double treatment rooms with private plunge pools and a hydrotherapy circuit, sauna and steam room, among other amenities. 

No area of the region has seen stronger growth than the Mexican Caribbean, and the Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen is yet another new stunner. 

For more, visit Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen. 

The post There’s a New Adults-Only All-Inclusive in Playa del Carmen appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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