The year’s most anticipated luxury hotel opening in the Caribbean has a new opening date.

The long-awaited Park Hyatt St. Kitts, the brand’s first foray into the Caribbean, has announced plans to open on Nov. 1.

That comes after the hotel announced it would begin taking bookings for festive season, or the latter half of December.

The hotel’s Web site showed that the opening dates had already been sold out.

Either way, the Range Developments resort will be a boon for St. Kitts, which has been waiting for a major “halo” hotel for some time.

The Park Hyatt will include 78 rooms and 48 suites, all of which will overlook Banana Bay in the Christophe Harbour development on the island’s southeastern peninsula.

“We are honoured to be so warmly welcomed into the St. Kitts & Nevis community and are strongly committed to being a key partner in the growth of this exciting destination,” says Julian Moore, General Manager of Park Hyatt St. Kitts. “We are delighted to introduce our guests to the unique Park Hyattexperience that embraces the vibrant culture, history and people that define the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis.”

It will include three signature restaurants, a spa and wellness center, indoor and outdoor event spaces and a series of “journeys” aimed at exposing guests to the island’s culture and history.

Also on hand will be “The Island Fort by Camp Hyatt,” aimed at offering educational activities for younger guests.

The property had been slated to open its doors earlier this year, but a delayed opening is not exactly an unforeseen occurrence in the Caribbean.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Harris made a visit to the project over the weekend.

“I feel satisfied that the target date of November 2017 for the official opening of this facility is realizable with hard work,” he said. “I want to commend the over 800 workers who have been engaged on this property at various periods of activity on this site. Construction, plus all the sub-contractors who had become involved, and I gather that at one point it reached a high of about 60 sub-contractors.”

The post Park Hyatt St. Kitts to Open November 1 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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While Jewish history in Jamaica dates back more than half a millennium, the island has never had a true kosher restaurant. Until now.

Jamaica’s first-ever kosher eatery, the Kosher Hot Spot, has officially opened its doors in Montego Bay.

The restaurant, which is the brainchild of the Chabad of Jamaica and Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, is located on the “Hip Strip” in the heart of Montego Bay, featuring a menu of falafel, french fries, tehina and, you guessed it, “Jerk Falafel.”

In other words, it’s a completely vegetarian restaurant, another major addition to the city.

The Kosher Hot Spot also offers take out service for travelers and others in the area. For more information, visit Chabad of Jamaica.

— CJ Staff

The post Jamaica’s First-Ever Kosher Restaurant Opens in Montego Bay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Dunmore Town is the first thing you see on the water taxi to Harbour Island, the colorful roofs and the old cottages, the greenery and the golf carts.

It just might be the prettiest little town in the whole Caribbean, a remarkable mix of lovingly restored and charmingly forgotten old homes, dotted with little shops and bars.

It’s the heart and soul of what has made this island one of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean, reserved for knowing travelers who prize its exclusivity, safety and beauty.

And if you take a short walk up the edge of Bay Street, you’ll find the island’s most complete resort: Valentines, the boutique resort and marina that’s the best way to experience the island.

The 41-suite property is a perfect mix of traditional Bahamian architecture and modern design, with wonderful, large units, a terrific pool and the island’s largest marina, taking ships up to 160 feet.

But the most thoughtful thing about the design of this place is that it’s turned a resort to a different level: a village within a town.

The marina opens into Valentines’ multi-purpose complex, including a restaurant, bar and boutique, golf cart rental outpost, a meeting point for everyone on the island, whether you’re enjoying an espresso at Cocoa, taking a goombay smash at the Rooster Tail or enjoying one of the regularly-scheduled farmers markets.

And then there’s the truly excellent food by executive chef Josef Swoboda, onetime executive chef at Sandals Royal Bahamian, whose continental-meets-Bahamian menu features, among other things, some of the best cracked conch in the whole Bahamas.

Of course, the resort also boasts a reserved section of beach at the legendary Pink Sand Beach, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

It all adds up to a balanced, full-service property that gives you the best of Harbour Island: a spot in the heart of Dunmore Town, a seat on Pink Sand Beach and a gateway to an authentic Bahamian vacation.

See more in the latest CJ video at the top of the page.

For more information, visit Valentines Resort.

The post Why You Need to Visit Valentines Resort on Harbour Island appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Crystal Cruises is launching a new kind of itinerary, aiming to give travelers the same experience with shorter time commitments and extra savings.

They’re called “Crystal Getaways,” and they tend toward itineraries lasting closer to a week.

That will include Caribbean journeys, from an eight-day Fort Lauderdale-Barbados trip to a six-day voyage from Barbados to Charleston, both on Crystal Serenity.

“Luxury travelers continue to seek unparalleled service, amenities and experiences when they explore the world, even with limited time,” says Crystal CEO and president, Edie Rodriguez. “Crystal Getaways allow travelers to enjoy a standard of luxury, excellence and unforgettable adventures, without stressing their calendars – while also realizing tremendous savings on the all-inclusive Crystal Experience.”

All inclusive cruises for Crystal Cruises Getaways begin at $940 per person, the company said.

— CJ Staff

The post Crystal Launching Shorter “Getaway” Cruises appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

There’s more to Jamaica than just rum and reggae (although we’re proud fans of both). But because the island is so big (at more than 4,000 square-miles it’s the largest English-speaking Caribbean country), it’ll likely take you much more than a weekend to discover its beyond-the-beach assets.

Cue the savvy marketers at Strawberry Hill, a 12-cottage resort nestled in the island’s famous Blue Mountains, who’ve introduced new promotion that offers an uncommon take on the famously irie isle.

Book the three-night Jamaica On A Platter package and you’ll enjoy a selection of tours that highlight the island’s artistic and culinary assets. Visit Kingston Coffee Traders, one of the leading manufacturers of prized Blue Mountain coffee; discover tropical fruit and vegetables at Coronation Market, Jamaica’s largest; and see the vibrant murals on Fleet Street in downtown Kingston, where the painted warehouse facades now form the island’s largest public art installation.

The package is valid for the last weekend of every month from now through the summer.

The post A New Way to Experience Kingston appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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