It’s just you and the sand, a cool breeze and a cold rum cocktail. This is Eagle Beach, Aruba’s marvelous strand of sand, steps in front of the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.

This is your moment.

The post VIDEO: Under the Palms in Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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There’s a new way to get to Bimini — quickly, thanks to a new Miami Bimini Ferry service.

Resorts World Bimini and FRS Group have announced a new ferry that launches Friday between Miami and Bimini, the closest Bahamian island to the United States (just about 50 miles away).

The ferry effectively places the Miami-Bimini cruise ship Resorts World had been operating for several years but had been stalled for some time.

The new Miami Bimini Ferry will operate from the Port of Miami to the new pier at Resorts World Bimini, sailing on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The ship, MY San Gwann, can reach speeds of up to 38 knots and make the trip from port to port in two hours, according to the company.

“This new ferry service will allow South Floridians and visitors to Miami a quick, cost-effective way to visit the island of Bimini and experience the hospitality, stunning new accommodations and high-end entertainment that is offered at Resorts World Bimini,” said Edward Farrell, President of Resorts World Bimini. “Coupled with expanded air service to Bimini from both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, visitors to Resorts World Bimini now have two seamless ways to reach the island as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Paradise Beach at Resorts World Bimini

Resorts World recently debuted the new 305-room Hilton at Resorts World Bimini hotel on the island.

“We are thrilled to expand our North American operations to include service from Miami to Bimini,” said Götz Becker, CEO of FRS. “This beautiful island is considered one of the best Caribbean escapes for discerning travelers, and we look forward to providing a relaxing and convenient way to visit.”

Radio Beach in Bimini.

Are you heading on a getaway to Bimini? Check out some of CJ’s latest features, from a new rooftop bar to a top beach spot to the island’s must-visit excursion: going bone fishing in the mangroves.

The post A New Miami Bimini Ferry appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Puerto Rico is getting set to host one of the Caribbean’s leading hotel summits: CHIEF.

CHIEF, or the Caribbean Hotel Industry Exchange Forum, will be held at the El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico next week from Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

“There is a tremendous amount of expertise, ingenuity and talent within our industry and we are tapping into that at CHIEF,” said Frank Comito, CEO of the CHTA.

The slate of presenters is set to include Marriott Hotels’ Diana Plazas, Vice President Brand, Marketing & Digital for Latin America & the Caribbean, as well as Veronica Stoddart, the former Travel Editor of USA Today who serves as Executive Editor in Residence at Percepture Travel, among others.

Other in hand will include top executives from Airbnb, Google, STR, JetBlue Getaways, MMGY Global and a number of hotel executives from across the wider Caribbean region.

“We have an incredible line-up of presenters to take us through three days of educational discussions aimed at making businesses better,” said Vanessa Ledesma, Chief Operations Officer of CHTA. “Throughout the sessions at CHIEF, we will provide all the tools that you can take back to your property, to your business, to your destination, and activate them immediately.”

Sessions this year will see topics including environmental sustainability, operations, sales and marketing and technology, among others.

For more information, including how to register, see www.chtachief.com.

The post Puerto Rico Readies for CHIEF Caribbean Hotel Conference appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is full of marvelous beaches, from Baby Beach to Arashi Beach to Malmok; but when it comes to finding perfect sand, Eagle Beach is king. It’s a stunningly wide stretch of beach with clear turquoise water and almost blindingly white sand.

The post VIDEO: The Joy of Eagle Beach in Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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A new place to shop in Christiansted

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Believe it or not, the holiday season is only about 10 weeks away. And if you’re a serious shopper like I am, you know that it’s never too early to start hunting for presents for your nearest and dearest.

I particularly like to give gifts from the Caribbean destinations I visit throughout the year, and in this respect St. Croix is always a winner. My friends and I can’t get enough of the handmade jewelry this USVI has become famous for (hook bracelet, anyone?) And in a couple of months, there’ll be yet another “shopportunity” to add to my Christiansted Christmas list.

On November 4, Kriss Massicott and Savannah Ridgway of well-known jewelry store IB Designs will begin a new retail adventure, Adorn. On the corner of Company and Queen Cross Street (in the same building as hot new restaurant, balter), the home accessories and gift store aims to revive the pleasure of gift giving with a curated inventory of items that beg to be given – and received.

“We want to bring back the art of gifting,” Massicott told me yesterday, during a chance meeting at the crossroads of the Caribbean (ie: Miami International Airport). “We’re all now so accustomed to shopping online and at big box stores, but we’re trying to bring to our market stuff that no one here has ever carried. Many of our vendors have a story, and we’re excited to share those stories, as well as their products, with the world.”

Items will run the gamut, from yoga pants and scented candles, to costume jewelry and inflatable “big balls of love.” Caribbean-made stock includes watercolors from St. Thomas-based artist Gina Fedderson’s Isola Bella line and Ridgway’s own collection of leather clutches and pochettes.

One thing Adorn won’t sell: the whimsical feel-good jewelry (we’re currently crushing on the Dreamcatcher bangle) on which IB has built its name over 17 years. The good news: Since IB Designs is also on Company Street (you can see it from Adorn’s door), you only have to cross the road to get your fix.

For store updates, go to Facebook.com/AdornStCroix or adorncaribbean.com

The post A New Must-Visit Shopping Destination in St. Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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