They call it the “Pearl of the Caribbean,” this tiny beach town on the eastern edge of St Maarten. 

This is Oyster Pond, a pearl-shaped lagoon framed by green hills, a place long home to one of the island’s signature places to stay: the Oyster Bay Beach Resort. 

Set out on the point, the Oyster Bay Beach Resort has for years been one of the most popular, beloved resorts in St Maarten: a hub of energy, a meeting place, a Mecca for the island’s travel aficionados. 

And now the resort is back, amid St Maarten’s continued tourism reopening. 

It’s another major launch for the hotel, which completed a dramatic transformation project that included a new look for the resort. 

That’s along with a number of other upgrades, from a new poolscape to a new beachfront eatery on the way called Veranda Market and Bistro. 

There’s a bright, crisp new aesthetic to the resort, and a design that further accentuates the spectacular, panoramic views you enjoy from just about anywhere on the property. 

The blue-hued rooms are spacious and comfortable, particularly the suites, all of which come with kitchens and balconies. 

And then there’s the centerpiece: the Mainsail Penthouse, a collection of penthouse units with rooftop living spaces that come with their own private pools. 

The resort has also reopened with a host of industry-leading safety measures that have already earned a SafeSeal recognition. 

Of course, what hasn’t changed is the resort’s primary focus: a well-maintained title as the “friendliest resort on the friendly island,” something the property takes very seriously. 

It’s all part of what makes this resort one of the island’s gems. 

St Maarten has been open for tourism since last summer, with newly updated protocols you can find here. 

For more, visit the Oyster Bay Beach Resort. 

— CJ

The post St Maarten’s Oyster Bay Beach Resort Is Back and Better than Ever appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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For travel writers like me, popping open a laptop to work on a Caribbean beach is a familiar occupational hazard. But amid the pandemic, having to work while you’re in paradise seems like a small price to pay to escape the confines of the living rooms and home offices where we’ve been sequestered for the past year.

Our collective cabin fever hasn’t gone unnoticed. With low virus rates, lots of empty hotel rooms, and safety protocols now firmly in place — plus so many people working remotely, anyway — a number of Caribbean destinations and resorts have launched programs for people who want to spend an extended period of time in the islands.

As the pandemic stretches into its second year, here are  the places in the Caribbean where you can spend at least a year mixing remote work and play, blissfully distant from your own backyard.

Anguilla

Anguilla’s remote work program lets digital nomads, students, and families stay on-island for 90 days to one year, at a cost of $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for families. You’ll need proof of employment, a police background check, a passport and copy of your birth certificate, and proof of your relationship to any dependents tagging along.

Antigua and Barbuda

Set up shop in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda for up to two years with a Nomad Digital Residence (NDR) visa. Applicants must be currently employed or self-employed and able to work away from home with the use of mobile technology. Application fees are 1,500.00 for singles, $2,000 for couples, and $3,000 for families of three or more.

Bahamas

BEATS, or the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay program, allows digital nomads to alight in the islands of the Bahamas for up to a year for work and play. “At the end of a long day of meetings or classes, you will be rewarded with breathtaking sunsets, a relaxing walk on the beach, or fresh conch salad to feed your soul. It doesn’t get any better than that,” says Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation. Island-hopping is encouraged, and while remote workers will need to pay a fee of $1,025 for a BEATS permit, it’s discounted to $525 for college students. If you’re impatient to get going, Bahamas tourism officials promise a decision to approve (or deny) your application within 5 days — so get packing!

Barbados

The post How to Live in the Caribbean for a Year appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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