Barbados is famous not only for its flavorful local cuisine (fish cutter, anyone?), east-coast surf culture, and as the birthplace of rum; it also boasts some of the finest hotels in the region with an emphasis on elegance, grace and luxury.

So if you’re planning a trip to the easternmost Caribbean isle, consider our expert rankings of the best Barbados hotels. From luxury beachfront hideaways to modern, chic retreats, there’s at least one with your name on it.

Sandy Lane The grand dame of Barbados resorts, this palatial (and famously pink) 112-room beachfront is as famous for its wealthy and well-known clientele as it is for its perks (a Rolls Royce, superb spa, and golf on the Green Monkey golf course, among them).

Colony Club

In many ways, it’s the quintessential Barbados resort. With a privileged perch on the Platinum Coast, the 96 rooms and suites have a laid-back but luxe feel, with a gorgeous stretch of beach and several terrific bars. The rooms are exquisitely furnished, with amenities like Nespresso machines and spacious bathrooms (we rather like the swim-up suites). The food is superb, too, with a wonderful weekly lobster and jazz night.

The House Even though there’s no sign to identify it, somehow the sophisticated set finds it way to this luxurious retreat near Holetown, where 34 chic and spacious suites (some with private plunge pools), a white-sand sweep, and a relaxed, adults-only ambience deservedly win raves. It also doesn’t hurt that the hotel’s house restaurant is Daphne’s, among the Caribbean’s best.

Cobblers Cove

Relais & Chateaux’s 40-suite boutique is an in-the-know spot for both foodies and beach lovers alike. The rooms are bathed in classic Barbados elegance, while the food lives up to the R&C standard. Even if you don’t stay here, it’s worth the trip for one lovely oceanside dinner. Either way, you’re spending time at what is one of the greatest Barbados hotels.

Atlantis Hotel

This charming historic inn is set on the outskirts of raw and gorgeous Bathsheba, with a striking Atlantic coast and proximity to some of the Atlantic’s top surfing. Atlantis has charming rooms, a great pool and right at the top of the list of the island’s best restaurants, too. It’s one of our favorite hotels in the Caribbean, period.

Coral Reef Club

Among the signature Barbados hotels, this classic family-run resort is all about good old-fashioned West Indian luxury. There are 88 rooms at the beachfront Barbados hotel, with a lush, 12-acre tropical garden setting, a terrific spa and a nice beach, too.

Fairmont Royal Pavilion With just 72 rooms on 11 beachfront acres there’s plenty of space to spread out at this esteemed (and expensive!) adults-only resort, where timeless traditions such as afternoon tea meet modern conveniences like complimentary WI-FI.

Tamarind by Elegant Hotels

One of Barbados’ best resorts for families, this Elegant Hotels property has 104 colorful (and artful) modern rooms and a beautiful beach. It’s also got a party piece: water taxi access to all of the company’s six Barbados hotels in its dine-around program.

The Crane Large (252 rooms on 40 acres) and legendary (its been operating since 1887), this southeast coast spread has it all, including antique-filled rooms in the original hotel building; a splendid beach; a stunning pool complex; and even its own “village.” That’s without mentioning the stunning pink-sand beach. It’s no surprise that this isn’t just one of the most legendary Barbados hotels, but one of the most legendary Caribbean hotels, too.

The Sandpiper

Sister hotel to the Coral Reef Club, this boutique Barbados hotel has a range of rooms from garden view to beach house suites (go for the latter if you’re splurging), a great restaurant led by Chef Christophe Poupardin and an even better watering hole called Harold’s Bar. You also get access to the spa at CRC.

The post The Top 10 Barbados Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Taking your boat to a weekend getaway in the Exumas. An afternoon at the fish fry. Or just lounging on the beach.

They’re all great ways for ocean lovers to spend their time in the Bahamas — and they’re even bigger reasons to make the move or buy a second home here.

And they’re reasons why the Palm Cay community has become some of the hottest real estate in the Caribbean.

The development, which boasts one of the most popular marinas in the Caribbean, is set on the western coast of Nassau and about 15 minutes from downtown Nassau.

It’s got a total of 300 townhomes, condos and marina cottages, with 1,200 feet of white sand beach.

And the aforementioned marina is a reason to buy here in itself, with 180 slips, a restaurant, a dockside cafe, concierge service and capacity for vessels up to 110 feet.

And Palm Cay is getting started, with a major new project called One Marina that will add modern luxury units directly on the water’s edge.

They’re highlighted by penthouses with multiple levels sweeping ocean views.

For more information, visit Palm Cay.

See more in the latest CJ video above.

The post VIDEO: Palm Cay Is the Bahamas’ Hottest Real Estate appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Luxury in the Caribbean can mean many things, but the most luxurious resorts in the Caribbean always offer an experience focused on comfort and indulgence. But some reach an even higher level of luxury.

So why not make your next trip to the Caribbean to a five-star, opulent, grand resort?

Yes, it’s time to pamper yourself. Time to find a hotel in the Caribbean where the luxury overflows, where the service overwhelms.

It’s time to find the perfect luxe Caribbean resort for the getaway you deserve. Here are five options to think about right now.

Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

When it debuted in 2013, Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve wasn’t just a new kind of Ritz-Carlton — it took Puerto Rico to another level. The jaw-dropping resort on the north coast has wonderful beachside rooms, a lovely flagship restaurant by celebrity chef Jose Andres and an ambience that lives up to its heritage as a former Laurance Rockefeller estate. Click to book a stay at Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

The post 5 Luxe Resorts in the Caribbean to Visit Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Where’s the coolest bar in the Caribbean?

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

This is definitely the coolest bar in the Caribbean.

In fact, a more accurate description would be frigid. How better to characterize the “weather” inside Norwegian Getaway’s Svedka Vodka and Inniskillin Ice Wine Ice Bar, where the temperature is a bone-chilling 15 degrees Fahrenheit?

It strikes me as ironic that each evening so many of Getaway’s passengers, who’ve boarded in search of sunny Caribbean climes, flock to this wintery watering hole, donning hooded ponchos and gloves and paying a $19.95-per-person premium to experience a temperature worse than the one they’ve fled from at home.

But they do.

It’s gotta be the drinks, I think. The cover charge includes two beverages from the Ice Bar’s list of specialty cocktails (all made with liquor from the namesake sponsors) and served in tumblers containing smoking chunks of dry ice. I’ve been told that they’re concocted with higher amounts of alcohol and stronger flavor profiles than typical cocktails because when it’s this cold, our taste buds just don’t function the way they usually do.

Still, as many as 25 cruisers at a time pack the tiny bar that’s smaller than the cold room at your local Costco, savoring (or, in my case, braving) this unique Miami-themed experience, where ice wall murals depict South Beach street scenes and salsa music blares from the sound system.

Some patrons belly up to the bar (also made of ice) and chat while the bartender, clad in a fur hat, makes their Sitting On The Dock of the Biscayne Bay (Svedka citron vodka, Inniskillin ice wine, lemon-line soda). Others amuse themselves snapping selfies while seated on an ice “throne.” And some, like me, try to stop their teeth from chattering and body from shivering long enough to finish their first cocktail.

Noticing my discomfort, the bartender chuckles and tells me that the record for the longest visit to the bar is 45 minutes. “They were Canadians,” he says. “They even took off their shirts. It was like summer in here to them.”

I look down at my watch and see that I’ve lasted a mere six minutes. Can I make it to 10? I think not. I knock back my drink and make a beeline for the heavy metal door that separates me from the balmy breezes that await on deck.

Because although this is the coolest bar in the Caribbean, some of us like it hot.

The post Ice Bar: The Coolest Bar in the Caribbean Is on a Cruise Ship appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s one of the most fascinating places in the Caribbean, and now Martinique is even easier to explore, from the rum to the rainforest.

Caribbean Open Tour has launched a new open-top bus sightseeing tour on the stunning northern coast of Martinique.

The tour includes free Wi-Fi, multilingual audio commentary and a different itinerary every day, from exploring the Emerald Estate in Morne Rouge to a tour for rum lovers exploring the Depaz and Neisson distilleries near St Pierre.

For more information, visit caribbeanopentour.com.

— CJ

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