Frontier Airlines is launching another new nonstop route to the Caribbean, with service from Orlando to Antigua and Barbuda.
The low-cost carrier will kick off its new nonstop flights on Dec. 4, with service weekly on Saturdays, just ahead of what’s projected to be a very strong holiday season for the destination.
“Enjoy beautiful planes, excellent service, and huge savings when you fly Frontier Airlines from Orlando, Florida to the gorgeous Caribbean island of Antigua this winter,” Elite Island Resorts’ the destinations leading all-inclusive company, said in a statement.
That slightly mirrors Antigua and Barbuda’s entry protocols, which stipulate that all travelers 18 and up must have taken at least one vaccine shot. (You can find more here).
The new flight launch comes as Antigua and Barbuda was recently named Best Honeymoon Destination in the Caribbean at the CJ Travelers’ Choice Awards 2021.
The terraced Versailles Gardens at Four Seasons’ Ocean Club are already one of the most beautiful places in The Bahamas, anchored by a 12th century cloisters complex imported from southern france.
And now another major French import is coming to Paradise Island.
It’s called the Rosé Paradis Garden, and it’s a new pop-up rosé bar at the Ocean Club, running now through Jan. 29, 2022.
It’s the product of a partnership with France’s Chateau d’Esclans, perhaps best known as the company behind Whispering Angel rosé.
The garden, which will be open to guests and locals, runs Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5 PM to 10 PM.
Guests can sample both Whispering Angel and other wines from the Chateau d’Esclans portfolio in lounge-style seating.
“We are thrilled to be bringing to life the iconic Versailles Gardens in this magical way for our guests,” said John Conway, General Manager of The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort. “In the lead up to our Diamond 60-year anniversary in 2022, this partnership will kick off an exciting year of activations at our glamorous Resort. As guests experience the vibrant Rosé Paradis Garden, they will feel as if they’ve been transported to days long ago while sipping wines from Château d’Esclans as part of this special experience.”
The gardens were developed by George Huntington Hartford II, the former owner of the Ocean Club and of Paradise Island itself.
The gardens ascend to 12th century imported cloisters, making for one of the wonders of The Bahamas.
It ‘s a ritual for travelers to the British Virgin Islands.
Land at Beef Island Airport, go through customs, gather your luggage and head to Trellis Bay, where you’d find your ferry or charter, step on your boat and begin your BVI vacation.
But in recent years, Trellis Bay has become more than just a jumping-off point.
It has become a destination in its own right.
And that’s in large part thanks to the Loose Mongoose, a Mecca in the British Virgin Islands, a restaurant and beach bar and town square all in one.
The open-air eatery on the waterfront in Trellis Bay is a marvelous mix of outstanding food, creative cocktails and even a bustling weekend brunch, along with morning coffee for boaters in search of java fuel (or those heading to an early ride on the Anegada ferry).
It’s not new, of course. For years, Loose Mongoose was a haven for boaters, travelers and rum lovers — until the storms of 2017 had their say.
And now, following a dramatic reconstruction project, the Loose Mongoose has a whole new look and a new place in the pantheon of Caribbean beach bars, and a compelling argument for BVI travelers to stay a little longer in Trellis Bay.
Loose Mongoose, which is the sister company of the renowned Anegada Beach Club hotel, is green, too, having been built from recycled hardwoods in true Caribbean style, with a thatched-roof look married with sleek, modern design.
“Loose Mongoose was created to be a multi-faceted gateway to the outer islands, while serving as a unique destination in of itself,” owner Doug Riegels tells Caribbean Journal.
That’s precisely what it’s done: Loose, as it’s affectionately known, has instantly become one of the coolest-looking beach spots in all of the BVI, one that should make anyone heading to another island from Trellis Bay think twice.
Because when you get here, you’re not going anywhere.
Another compelling argument to stick around is what is one of the best rum selections in the BVI — a rum bar-within-a-bar called the “Honor Society” whose collection ranges from sought-after rhum agricoles like Rhum Clement to Cuba’s signature Havana Club 7 to a member of the rum pantheon, the ultra-rare Brugal Papa Andres from the Dominican Republic.
The Honor Society, a legendary rum bar in the BVI.
The rum bar itself is nestled into the original structure of Loose, as locals call it; there’s opulent leather furniture, aged teak flooring, historic photos and some other worthy spirits, too.
Then there’s the food, the product of award-winning chefs, with a blend of Caribbean and American food and the sort of service that’s tailor-made for locals, boaters and day trippers.
It all adds up to more than just a place to begin your Journey, more than a restaurant, more than a bar and more than a rum retreat.
“We feel that we have created a genuine arrival and departure location that caters to both tourists and local guests,” Riegels says.
In other words, before you step on that boat, you may want to stick around awhile.
Barbados has long been defined by its grand Sandy Lane resort; but for in-the-know travelers, the best way to experience the island is at its smaller hotels and resorts, places that ooze Barbados charm in a smaller, more intimate package.
But on an island filled with every manner of hotel, navigating them can be a challenge, to say the least.
But we’re here to help. From boutique all-inclusives to modern, design-forward luxury hotels, here are our six favorite small resorts in Barbados.
The HouseOne of Marriott’s newest Barbados all-inclusives, this was recently awarded best adults-only hotel in the Caribbean. And The House has long been the hippest, most energetic place to stay on the always-bustling Platinum Coast. It begins with its endlessly indulgent, daily champagne breakfast and ends with evenings marked by torchlight and fine rums sipped neat.
Luxury hotel brand Rosewood has finally opened one of the company’s most highly anticipated resorts: the new Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth.
The new hotel is a transformation of the former Le Guanahani hotel property that had long been one of the island’s signature places to stay since it debuted back in 1986.
Now, it’s a Rosewood, and that means a new level of luxury, service and amenities.
“It’s an honor to officially unveil Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth, a beacon of refined yet relaxed beach living that undoubtedly ushers in a new era of luxury to the island,” said Martein van Wagenberg, managing director of Rosewood Le Guanahani.
The Beach House, the new social hub of the resort.
Van Wagenberg was the longtime managing director of the property in its previous iteration as well; the property had been closed since Hurricane Irma back in 2017.
“Years in the making, the refreshed resort reflects the very best in design, service and setting, which together create an idyllic environment that is both aspirational and familiar,” he said. “We’re thrilled to welcome guests at long last to experience the indescribable energy and allure of the property and the island at large.”
The architecture and design was led by David M Schwartz Architects and Luis Pons Design Lab, with a total of 66 accommodations, 2- of which have their own private pools.
An ocean-view pool suite. Photo by Ken Hayden.
Also new are a handful of signature suites, ranging from one to three bedrooms.
Amenities include two pools, a Rosewood Explorers Club for children, a tennis court and two fully-serviced beaches.
The property has unveiled a new gastronomic program, anchored by the Beach House St Barth, an open-air eatery accompanied by Bar Melange.
Rosewood says the Beach House will be the social hub of the resort.
Rosewood Le Guanahani also has the largest dedicated wellness facility on St Barth, with four treatment roos, two couples’ suites, a hydrotherapy area and a separate adults-only pool.
Rosewood’s Caribbean portfolio now includes Le Guanahani along with properties in Nassau, The Bahamas; Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands and the Mexican Caribbean.
