You’re perched above the dunes at the edge of the Caribbean, just you and the breeze and the frothing waves. 

This is Anegada, the frontier of the British Virgin Islands and the island that’s the most closely-guarded secret in an archipelago full of them. 

It’s a place for beach lovers, for those searching for a Caribbean that doesn’t really exist anymore, for a sandy dream; a place for mopeds and jeeps, rum punch afternoons on Loblolly Bay and lobster dinners at the water’s edge. 

The latter can quickly become a daily ritual — this being the Caribbean Capital of Lobster.

And here on the dunes you’ll encounter the pinnacle of the Anegada experience. 

This is the Anegada Beach Club, the island’s leading hotel, a bucket-list destination that’s always drawn in-the-know travelers to a place beyond what you know of the Caribbean. 

And it’s the most unique luxury hotel in the BVI, a destination that has no shortage of high-level resorts. 

There’s just something different about this one; whether you’re spending your days at Tommy Gaunt’s on-site kitesurfing school or going toes-in-the-sand with a painkiller all day, there’s always a sense of adventure, of energy. 

Even as the luxury abounds, there’s no pretense here — it’s all about authenticity, the feeling of being connected to this untouched corner of the Caribbean. 

There are two options here: sleek, crisply designed hotel rooms; and a collection of beachfront “palapa retreats,” the ultimate in Caribbean clamping. 

And in the age of social distancing, this is the zenith, where you’ll practically have the whole beach, the whole island to yourself. 

In these breezy, chic, endlessly romantic oceanfront rooms, you’ll be closer than ever before to the beauty and magic of the West Indies, with a raw, visceral experience married to all of the comforts of luxury design. 

You can travel all around the Caribbean and never find anything like this. 

And that’s a wonderful thing. 

For more, visit the Anegada Beach Club. 

— CJ

The post In Anegada, Finding the British Virgin Islands’ Bucket-List Hotel appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s one of the ultimate vacations in the Caribbean: a private luxury villa. 

There’s just that added degree of luxury, of independence, of serenity. 

It’s a rich, unique way to experience an island, one where you’re not just staying there — you’re living there. 

And now the Caribbean’s leading villa provider, WIMCO, has released a list of the hottest new-build villas across the Caribbean, from St Barth to Turks and Caicos to Tulum. 

Each year, WIMCO looks or the top newly-constructed private villas across the Caribbean.

“Luxury vacation rentals in the Caribbean remain in high demand, despite the on-going global pandemic”, says WIMCO’s president Stiles Bennet. “The upcoming season is booking up well ahead of the pace of recent years. For example, in Turks & Caicos, occupancy of the private villas we represent is at 81% for Thanksgiving and 85% for Festive. In St Barth, Thanksgiving is at 90% and Festive is at 75%”. For Spring Break and mid March , private villas are also booking up ahead of the pace of recent years. Travelers planning to vacation in private villas in the Caribbean this coming season would be wise to start their search now.”

WIMCO is also the exclusive villa partner for the upcoming Caribbean Rum Awards in St Barth. To choose your villa for the event, see here. 

And check out the list of the hottest new villas in the Caribbean below.

Villa Blue Vista, Turks and Caicos 

This four-bedroom, four-bathroom stunner is set in the sought-after Turtle Tail neighborhood of Providenciales. The modern home, set right on the edge of the water, is anchored by a fully-opening glass wall to the ocean. 

The post From Turks and Caicos to Tulum, 11 New Caribbean Villas to Try appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Sir Richard Branson’s newest private-island destination is officially open, according to Virgin Limited Edition. 

The-125 acre Moskito Island, set in the heart of the British Virgin Islands, is the “newest jewel in the Caribbean,” Virgin says. 

The island’s accommodations are set across three “estates”: The Oasis Estate, the Point Estate and the Branson Estate. 

The Oasis Estate sleeps up to 18 guests; with The Point facilitating 14 guests and eight children and the 11-bedroom The Branson sleeping up to 22 guests (The Branson comes with its own private beach.). 

The Point and The Oasis are both new developments. 

The Oasis, set on the highest point of Moskito Island, has nine rooms, including a four-story main house with everything from a swim-up pool bar to a billiards and movie room. 

The Point is a cliffside villa on Moskito’s Manchioneel Beach, with a massive infinity pool and broad views of the water. 

In keeping with the style of Branson’s other British Virgin Islands private destination, Necker Island, the island is all about enjoying nature and the BVI’s marine environment. 

That means a broad selection of watersports and other activities, along with options like boat excursions, spa treatments and communal spaces to enjoy time with other guests on the island. 

The island has been 14 years in the making, according to Virgin. 

“Moskito Island is the newest, and one of the most exclusive, private islands in the Caribbean,” the company says. 

Both the Point Estate and the Oasis will be available for exclusive buyouts beginning Oct. 10, the company said. 

For more, visit Virgin Limited Edition. 

— CJ

The post Richard Branson’s Newest Caribbean Private Island Is Open appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire is set for a big boost to its airlift this winter season, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

American Airlines and Delta have already relaunched their service to the island; now, United Airlines is relaunching its service from both Houston and Newark. 

On Nov. 6, United will resume once-weekly flights between Houston and Bonaire, along with weekly Saturday flights between Newark and Bonaire. 

The flights are already accepting reservations, according to Tourism Corporation Bonaire. 

Delta is also expanding its service, ramping up to two weekly flights from Atlanta and Bonaire (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) between Nov. 24 and Dec. 15. 

On Dec. 16 through the peak holiday season, Delta will offer five flights per week, with four flights per week from Jan. 5 to April 9, 2022. 

American Airlines is also increasing its Bonaire flights, with three flights each week (service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays) running from Nov. 8 through Jan. 3, 2022 (that’s along with daily service from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3). 

For more on how to visit Bonaire, see here. 

— CJ

The post Bonaire Is Getting More Nonstop Flights from the US appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The world’s largest airline is relaunching another destination in the Caribbean: the French Caribbean island of Martinique, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

On Nov. 6, the carrier will resume its nonstop service between Miami International Airport and Fort-de-France’s Aime Cesaire International Airport. 

The flights will initially run weekly on Saturdays before increasing to at least thrice weekly, according to American Airlines. 

American is operating the service on its Embraer 175 aircraft with 76 seats, the company confirmed. 

American first launched its Miami-Martinique service in 2012; American remains the only U.S. carrier serving Martinique.

The Miami-Fort-de-France flight takes around 3.5 hours. 

It’s a major boost for what remains one of the Caribbean’s emerging destinations, thanks to a remarkable cocktail of spectacular beaches, magnificent gastronomy and vibrant culture. 

Oh, and it’s also the global epicenter of rum, with 12 rum distilleries on the island making it what some call the “Napa Valley of Rum.”

It’s also seen renewed hotel development in recent years, particularly on the boutique side, from the urban Hotel Simon to the hillside French Coco to the Diamant Les Bains; the latter is a reimagining of what was the first true hotel on the island. 

For more, visit Martinique. 

— CJ

The post American Airlines Is Relaunching Flights to This Caribbean Destination appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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