Monthly Archives: December 2019

Marriott Is Bringing Its Moxy Brand to Mexico

 

Marriott International is bringing its newest hotel brand to Mexico. 

The world’s biggest hotel company has signed a contract to open a new Moxy hotel in Mexico City, with work set to begin late next year. 

The 120-room hotel will be set in Mexico City’s hip Paseo de la Reforma; it’s pegged to open in 2022, according to the company. 

“Moxy is a great fit for Mexico City, a destination known for its vibrancy, youthful energy, and dynamic arts culture and we see significant potential for this brand throughout Mexico and Latin America,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America. “We are pleased to collaborate with Grupo Elipse and look forward to working with them on this milestone project.”

Amenities at the hotel will range from a rooftop bar to “buzzing public spaces,” part of an energetic, millennial-focused design profile for the hotel brand. 

“We are thrilled to bring the Moxy brand to Mexico and provide a new go-to location for next-Gen travelers,” said Ricardo Czukerberg, of Grupo Elipse. “It’s exciting working with Marriott International, and drawing on the expertise of this global travel powerhouse gives us high confidence in the project’s success.”

Marriott has already opened 50 Moxy-branded hotels around the world; this will be its first in the wider Caribbean-Mexico region. 

— CJ

The post Marriott Is Bringing Its Moxy Brand to Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Trump slashes Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico

… the federal contribution. Puerto Rico receives significantly less from … Puerto Rican government has to pay billions to cover needed medical care.
Puerto RicoPuerto Rican workers, students, and small business owners against the governor of Puerto Rico

Powered by WPeMatico

From The Bahamas to Barbados, Our Favorite Travel Videos of 2019

 

Caribbean Journal scours the Caribbean for the best places to stay, the best beaches, the best food and the must-try experiences of the region, focusing on properties big and small and destinations both heavily visited and far under the radar. 

In the process, we also regularly produce travel films, featuring our favorite destinations and adventures across the Caribbean, produced by the CJ Video Lab led by EVP and managing editor Guy Britton. 

To close off 2019, we thought we’d share our favorite CJ travel videos from the calendar year. 

“Caribbean Journal’s videos always put the traveler first — we want to give you the experience of looking at a hotel, journeying across a destination, and show you what all of these places in the Caribbean really look like,” Britton said. “We’re excited to share our favorites from 2019, and even more excited about what’s in store for 2020.”

Little Cayman It’s still one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean, and the tiny gem of Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands remains one of the true bucket-list experiences for Caribbean aficionados, from its world-class diving to its hard-to-match castaway feel. 

A Journey Across Eleuthera, The Bahamas The island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas is a long, thin, ever-changing island, filled with warm people, diverse landscapes and jaw-dropping beauty. This was a look at what makes Eleuthera such a special place. 

An Essential Villa in St Barth The ultimate St Barth vacation almost always involves a villa. It’s the best way to experience the immense charm, culture, food and, well, livability of the island — and this WIMCO villa is a rather special escape in St Barth’s Anse des Cayes neighborhood near Gustavia. 

Belle Mont Farm, St Kitts Some hotels are hard to explain in words — and St Kitts’ Belle Mont Farm is precisely that. This film looked at the gorgeous, raw, lush scenes of this eco-luxe hotel in the hills of northern St Kitts — and conveys just how unique an experience a stay here can be. 

The Bahamas’ Blue Hole Capital Nowhere on earth boasts more blue holes than Andros in The Bahamas, and this film took a look at the mysterious world of blue holes on Andros. 

A Heavenly Villa in Anguilla Some villas are more than homes. They’re true destinations. And at Nevaeh in Anguilla, the destination is heaven. It’s a spectacular villa on an almost always empty stretch of Long Bay Beach, with incredible amenities (yes, there’s a golf simulator) to one of our favorite pools of all time. 

Red Rock Villa, Virgin Gorda There’s something mystical about a stay in Virgin Gorda. It’s almost as if the iconic Baths emit some kind of supernatural energy. And you feel it at Red Rock Villa, a striking estate set above The Baths with some rather uncanny views of Virgin Gorda and the surrounding BVI. 

A West Coast Adventure in Andros, The Bahamas Andros is a rugged, exciting island that remains largely undiscovered by most travelers — but that’s what makes coming here such an exhilarating adventure. This journey across the middle of the island was thrilling and gorgeous. 

The Caribbean’s Sexiest Hotel The Condado district of Puerto Rico is arguably the island’s hottest destination — with a range of top-level hotels. But none is sexier than the new OLV: Fifty Five, the second hotel from the husband-and-wife team of Loisse Herger and Fernando Davila, the design-forward hoteliers who have created a brilliant new hotel on the edge of the lagoon in Condado. 

Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia Saint Lucia has one of the more beautiful collections of hotels in the Caribbean, but it’s the Marigot Bay Resort that achieves the rare quality of being a destination in its own right. From its private ferry to the cay-style Marigot Bay beach to the bustling marina village to a terrific rum cave, it’s a must-visit resort for sure. 

A New Kind of Luxury in Grand Cayman Residential resorts are one of the biggest trends in travel, and this is the leading residential resort in Grand Cayman: a boutique-style collection of beautiful units with all of the amenities of the adjacent Kimpton Seafire — but the privacy and intimacy of your own home — whether you’re staying for a week or forever. 

Bonaire’s Premier Place to Stay Bonaire is quietly becoming a Caribbean hotspot, as a destination once known for its unmatched diving comes into its own as a complete destination, from a bustling food scene to a very cool little downtown. But if you’re heading to Bonaire, one hotel leads them all – the Harbour Village, Bonaire’s classic, iconic beach resort. 

Barbados’ Hottest Luxury Resort There hasn’t been as exciting a new resort in Barbados in years as Port Ferdinand, a luxury residential resort that has added a great deal of new energy to the lovable beach town of Speightstown in northwestern Barbados. There’s a bit of everything: a marina, a pair of eateries, a terrific spa and, oh yes — the only Nikki Beach in the English-speaking Caribbean. 

In St Barth’s Anse des Cayes, a Destination Villa Whether it’s the views or the pool or the location high on a hillside in St Barth, this villa simply took our breath away. 

The post From The Bahamas to Barbados, Our Favorite Travel Videos of 2019 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Dominica’s Historic Fort Young Hotel Is Expanding

 

Dominica’s historic Fort Young Hotel is getting bigger.

The premier place to stay in Roseau is unveiling 60 new rooms called the Fort Collection.

This development comes as part of the seaside resort’s 30th-anniversary celebration, which includes an expansion and enhancement plan.

dominica fort young hotel
What a Queen Room will look like.

“We are absolutely thrilled to finally give guests an opportunity to experience these new accommodations,” said José Abreu, the hotel’s general manager. “A significant part of our 30th anniversary is about honoring Fort Young’s dynamic history and what has been achieved through the decades, and celebrating our forthcoming enhancements — all the exciting elements that will continue to make Fort Young Dominica’s premier hotel and dive resort.”

In addition to the new Fort Rooms, in 2020 the hotel will unveil a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring eco-friendly equipment; business center; new bar and lounge; 200-seat conference room; 250-seat sun deck for weddings and other events; and, three new meeting rooms. 

dominica fort young hotel
The new Marquis Bar.

“This includes new rooms with modern amenities and spectacular views that distinguish Fort Young Hotel and highlight its privileged waterfront location in the capital; the island’s largest conference room with the latest technology; terraces for weddings, meetings and other private events, and much more,” Abreu said.

dominica fort young hotel

The hotel will also refresh its 40 existing Oceanfront Rooms with upgraded furnishings, bathrooms and amenities, according to the property.

Upon completion, the Fort Young said it would officially become a 4-star property. 

It’s a major step for the hotel, which was instrumental in kicking off Dominica’s tourism comeback in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017.

For more, visit the Fort Young

— CJ

The post Dominica’s Historic Fort Young Hotel Is Expanding appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Encore: For Those Missing Puerto Rico, A Song About Dreaming Of Home

“En Mi Viejo San Juan” is an unofficial anthem of Puerto Rico and the official anthem of San Juan. It evokes memories of the island for those who have left and a yearning on the island for those who are gone.

Powered by WPeMatico