They’re far from the crowds, far from the cruise ships, home to empty beaches and full glasses. These islands in the Caribbean are the way it all used to be, places where there is still the charm of discovery and the unadulterated quirk and character of small island living.

On the Caribbean’s tiny islands, you’ll find big personality in a small package, and the kind of authentic Caribbean experience that isn’t always easy to come by anymore.

Here are five tiny islands for your next Caribbean journey (And when we say small, we mean really small — think less than 10 square miles.)

Bequia This funky seven-square-mile island in the Grenadines is a throwback to the Old Caribbean, with largely unpopulated white-sand beaches, spectacular vistas and a nautical vibe that makes it feel like New England meets the West Indies, in part due to its fishing, boatbuilding and history as a onetime whaling hub. Where to stay? The Bequia Beach Resort, above, is a solid option (its beach bar is fantastic), as are the boutique Sugar Reef and Spring House hotels.

The post 5 Tiny Islands for Your Next Caribbean Trip appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Hedonism II, the Negril, Jamaica, the adults-only playground famous for its anything-goes vibe and raunchy weekly toga parties, is upping the amorous ante even further with a new menu of aphrodisiac meals debuting this month.

Designed “with passion and pleasure in mind,” executive chef Anthony Miller’s five new menus feature staple aphrodisiac ingredients such as oysters, chocolate, conch and caviar. They’ll debut as part of a program of new dining experiences, offered either in a private dining room or on the beach, where the romance-ready set-up includes floor pillows, soft music and low lighting.

The three-course menus are available for an additional $155 per couple, and include unlimited alcoholic beverages, dedicated waiter service, and presentation and explanation of the menu by chef Miller himself.

The post Hedonism II Debuts New “Aphrodisiac” Menus appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The world of great rummaking has long had its epicenter in the islands of the Caribbean – but the love and passion for making great rum is something that extends across the wider Caribbean Basin.

Nowhere is that more true than in Nicaragua, a country with a strong tradition of rum led by the world-famous Flor de Caña brand, a marque that dates back to 1890.

The company offers a broad range of rums, from four-year-old white rums to ultra-premium rums with age statements like 12, 18 and 25 years.

Flor de Cana takes its single-estate rums, using molasses from sugar cane grown in the area’s volcanic soil, and ages them in white oak former bourbon barrels sealed with plantain leaves, aged in the shadow of the still-active San Cristobal volcano.

It makes for a great story —  but how is the rum?

Rum Journal recently tasted the 18-year variety, an expression with an aroma of apricot, brown sugar and citron, with an earthy, robust flavor profile marked by notes of coffee bean, cacao, charcoal and coconut husk, among others.

What truly stands out is the balance — the flavor profile remains almost totally consistent from start to finish, an exceptionally well-rounded expression that is not easily found in other rums.

It’s outstanding.

Rum Journal Rating: 92 points

— Alexander Britell, who founded Rum Journal in 2012, is one of the world’s leading rum experts.

The post Rum Journal: Flor de Caña 18 Years appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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A major new resort project is coming to Grand Cayman from one of the Caribbean’s most innovative developers.

Fast-expanding developer Howard Hospitality Group has announced the development of a new $285 million project on the former Pageant Beach site in Grand Cayman, according to a press release.

The 456-room resort will feature seven food and beverage outlets, including a rooftop bar and grill, a rooftop spa and a rooftop infinity pool, along with a movie screening room, a kids’ club and 35,000 square feet of flexible function space.

It will also include six waterfront villas and condominiums available for purchase.

“Our team is thrilled to be a part of such an extraordinary project, especially at a time when tourism and construction in Grand Cayman is so strong, with so much opportunity,” said Howard Sitzer, chairman of HHG. “Pageant Beach has long been an iconic area of Grand Cayman and we are thrilled to submit plans for a resort that will help locals and travelers connect with the natural beauty that exists there.”

The planned five-star resort has not yet been named, but HHG has suggested that the property will feature a “major global hotel flag.”

The Pageant Beach site is set closer to downtown George Town, south of Seven Mile Beach.

HHG is also behind the recently-opened Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman, a 285-room resort on Seven Mile Beach.

HHG also debuted the new “Locale” millennial-focused hotel brand plan earlier this year.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

STAR Island Bahamas announced that it is now accepting overnight reservations beginning this November.

The private destination, which uses off-grid technology to power the entire island, is welcoming guests to its first one-bedroom suite, The Nest.

Guests will fly into North Eleuthera Airport and will then be greeted at the dock and taken directly to the island.

STAR Island’s in-house concierge company, Blue Sky Luxury Concierge, will help guests plan a fantastic and memorable vacation, honeymoon or destination wedding.

Possible activities include paddleboarding or kayaking out to explore the island, go snorkeling, fishing, diving or a day trip to Harbour Island.

The price point ranges between $1,200-$1,700 per night depending on the time of year.

The post STAR Island Bahamas Is Now Taking Reservations appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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