It’s been five years since we first launched CJ’s annual Cool List of the Caribbean’s coolest hotels, and so much has changed in Caribbean hospitality. In our opinion, the region’s hotel offering has never been better, with a marvelous mix of top-flight luxury hotels, style-centric boutiques and everything in between.

So where do CJ’s experts suggest this year for all things cool?

The coolest hotels always have a personality, offering something more than just a place to stay.

Our 2017 edition largely focuses on hotels off the beaten path, taking you to some cool hotels you’ve likely never heard of, because there’s nothing cooler than discovering a closely-guarded secret. Here are the 20 coolest hotels in the Caribbean for 2017.

Tom Beach Hotel, St. Barth

While it’s set on the most famous beach in St. Barth, St. Jean, this tiny boutique beach hotel remains something of a secret. Home to one of the island’s hottest beach bars, Le Tom Beach is set in a garden and boasts bright, sleek guest rooms and great service. Click to Book Le Tom Beach.

The post The Cool List: The Coolest Caribbean Hotels for 2017 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Jamaica is looking to get a boost in the luxury market, according to Jamaica Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.

The Minister said he had been seeing new interest from luxury hotel investors — following n agreement with the Excellence Group to build two new hotels in Trelawny.

“This is only the beginning of things to come as in dialogue with some of the world’s top luxury brands while in Spain, the interest that they have in Jamaica is very high and to the point where more agreements will be forthcoming very soon,” he said.

Several other hotels are also coming on stream soon, including the new AMResorts property, the Zoëtry Montego Bay.

“There is also Finest, the top luxury brand in the Excellence Group, which is coming. When you look also at the planned renovation of Dragon Bay in Portland and the luxury style bungalows that have been introduced by the Sandals Group, then we can see why so many people are excited about Jamaica’s foray into the high end luxury market,” Bartlett said.

Jamaica has a stated goal of adding 15,000 hotel rooms overall in the next five years.

“The entry of these luxury groups to the Jamaican landscape will certainly broaden the options available to visitors and help to enhance our product offering,” he said.

The post Jamaica Has High Hopes for Luxury Hotel Sector appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

MIAMI, USA — EventsXPO.com, the leading discovery platform for US events and trade shows, has added the March, 2017, Puerto Rico Investment Summit to its listings. The fifth Puerto Rico Investment Summit is scheduled on March 2 and 3 and is expected to draw hundreds of investors…

Powered by WPeMatico

It just got significantly easier to fly from Canada to a number of destinations across the Bahamas.

Florida-based Silver Airways and Air Canada have announced the signing of an interline agreement, meaning travelers can purchase a single ticket to fly from Canada to a host of hard-to-reach islands in the Bahamas.

Silver Airways’ network includes Bimini, Grand Bahama, North Eleuthera, Governor’s Harbour, Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay and George Town, Exuma, many of which lack regular direct flights or are only accessibly via prop planes.

“Air Canada will add long-term strategic value to Silver and our customers, and we look forward to developing a deeper commercial relationship with Air Canada that further enhances travel options for customers traveling between Canada and [the] Caribbean,” said Silver Airways CFO and Executive Vice President Jason Bewley.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

The post Flying From Canada to the Bahamas Just Got Easier appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Looking to learn to dive and take a cruise around the Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean is now the only cruise line in the world with onboard PADI Five Star Dive Centers, allowing guests to become certified scuba divers on their sailings.

“For the past 16 years Royal Caribbean has worked closely with PADI to develop our onboard dive program,” said Roberta Jacoby, managing director, Global Tour Operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. “No other cruise line offers the opportunity for guests to become PADI certified scuba divers as part of the cruise, making it an ultimate dive trip as well. When guests sign up for the PADI Open Water Diver Course, they receive first-rate training and diver certification, performing their own scuba dives amidst the beautiful and serene waters of multiple Caribbean destinations.”

The premiere scuba course beginz at home with an online course; next, divers test waters in the ship’s pool before heading out to complete the four mandatory open-water training dives, split among two different ports of call.

Upon the return home, guests will be certified divers.

That means exploring hundreds of shipwrecks in destinations like St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands and vibrant reefs in places like the Belize Barrier Reef.

Royal Caribbean now offers a range of programs, from a 30-minute introductory “Try Dive” program to a reactivate program for those already certified and looking for a refresher.

For a full certification course, guests can enroll in PADI’s Open Water Diver course to complete a scuba diving certification.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

The post How to Become a Certified Diver on a Caribbean Cruise appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico