By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Turks and Caicos villa owned by late music legend Prince is headed for auction. And yes, it even has a purple driveway.

Premiere Estates is offering the Turtle Tail-area estate in conjunction with Turks & Caicos Property on an auction set for July 12.

The six-bedroom, six-bathroom home is was the Caribbean hideaway for Prince, who won eight Grammy Awards during his lifetime and passed away in April 2016.

“Although Prince famously loved his hometown of Minneapolis, The Purple One could not resist escaping to this tropical paradise, where he put his mark on the estate with a characteristically creative purple driveway,” Premiere Estates said in a statement.

Indeed, Prince’s relationship with the Turks and Caicos Islands was so strong that the British Overseas Territory put out an official statement on his passing.

The 10,000-square-foot home is set on five exclusive acres in Providenciales, with dramatic ocean views, two private beaches and a 200-foot personal dock.

Prince.

The property also features a tennis court and a guard home at the entrance; it is also perched 40 feet above sea level.

“This sprawling island paradise, is perfect for a luxurious retreat with a one-of-a-kind former owner,” Premiere Estates’ Todd Wohl said on the listing site.

For more information on the auction, click here.

— CJ

The post Prince’s Turks and Caicos Villa Headed for Auction appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

American Airlines is adding more service to one of the Caribbean’s hottest travel destinations.

The world’s largest airline has revealed plans to launch a new daily nonstop flight between Miami International Airport and Barbados in December.

The new frequency will be the third daily flight between Miami and Barbados, with operations set to begin Dec. 19 (tickets go on sale May 14).

It’s another big boost for Barbados, which has been one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing destinations in recent years, particularly out of the United States market.

Treasure Beach in Barbados.

“We are ecstatic to see the increase in service from American Airlines, which will add millions in economic impact to Barbados,” said Petra Roach, U.S Director of BTMI, who has been at the forefront of the destination’s strong success in the U.S. in recent years.

Indeed, last year, Barbados welcomed 188,970 U.S. travelers last year, a 30-year high for Barbados.

Bathsheba, Barbados.

“We’re thrilled to continue growing our presence in Barbados this coming December with a new seasonal frequency, further strengthening our more than 40-year commitment to this key destination in the Caribbean,” said Alfredo Gonzalez, Managing Director- Caribbean at American Airlines. “With this new route we will now be operating up to four daily flights to Barbados during the winter season from our hubs in Miami and Charlotte.”

Bottom Bay in Barbados.

Barbados was named luxury destination of the year by Caribbean Journal in the 2017 Caribbean Travel Awards.

“The U.S. is a very important growth market for Barbados and the commitment we’ve seen from our airline partners to increase and enhance flight options is backing this trend,” said Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the Honorable Richard Sealy. “As we know, ease and accessibility are primary drivers for customers’ consideration of a destination, and with this increased service from the Miami gateway, we anticipate even more success with visitor arrivals from the U.S. market.”

The post American Airlines Launching New Daily Flight to Barbados appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has announced plans to install Wi-Fi on all of its planes by next summer.

The company has signed an agreement with technology partner Thales Group to bring high-speed web browsing and streaming on the company’s fleet, which will be the first ultra low-cost fleet to offer Wi-Fi in the Americas.

“We’re thrilled to enhance the inflight Guest experience with the addition of new-generation Wi-Fi,” said Ted Christie, Spirit Airline’s President. “By next summer, every plane in our fleet should be fully equipped to keep our Guests connected in the skies. It’s just one of the many investments we’ve made and will continue to make for our guests.”

The speed should be similar to what travelers find at home, according to the company.

By 2021, Thales will launch a new satellite that will increase speeds further.

“Thales is proud to be partnering with Spirit to mark a new era of Guest experience in connectivity and bring solutions that make tomorrow possible today,” said Dominique Giannoni, CEO of Thales InFlyt Experience. “We are focused on supporting Spirit’s mission and helping to shape new opportunities as we work together to provide an exceptional passenger experience.”

The Wi-Fi options will start at $6.50, with cost depending on the route and demand, according to Spirit, which has been expanding rapidly in the Caribbean region.

The post Spirit Airlines to Install Wi-Fi on Fleet appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Alexander Britell and Guy Britton

How do you not instantly fall in love with an island called Green Turtle Cay?

It’s always those minuscule, tucked-away islands that have a way of enchanting the traveler, wth their empty beaches and their green hills and their beach bars. 

And Green Turtle Cay is certainly one of them, a 1.5-square-mile cay in the Abacos chain of The Bahamas that can only be reached by boat. 

There are less than 450 full-time residents here, an island whose history dates back to the New Plymouth settlement of the late 1700s, when this tiny cay was a refuge for British Loyalists in the wake of the Revolutionary War. (If you’re going to stick with the losing side, make sure you end up on a beach in The Bahamas).

Today, it is a charming little haven for yachters and travelers, with a small village, a marina and, well, a truly special hotel. 

The Tranquil Turtle.

At the highest point of Green Turtle Cay is the Bluff House, the private home that in the 1950s became the first (and now the longest-operating) resort in the Out Islands of The Bahamas. 

An oceanfront room at The Bluff House.

The historic property is perched right above a stretch of white sand beach on the Sea of Abaco, with a total of 15 units across one, two, three and four-bedroom units, including some spectacular one-bedroom rooms with remarkable views. 

And then there’s the Tranquil Turtle, the sort of aforementioned beach bar that is a destination for boaters in the know, with terrific Bahamian food and cocktails. 

The beach at The Bluff House.

The Bluff House is the kind of Caribbean hotel that is worth the extra journey, a special place, an authentic beachfront Bahamian retreat that reminds us of why we travel in the first place. 

It’s a hotel that instantly makes you fall in love with it.

For more info, visit The Bluff House. 

The post VIDEO: The Bluff House, The Place to Stay on Green Turtle Cay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hilton’s timeshare wing, Hilton Grand Vacations, has announced a major investment in Los Cabos.

The company has made a $41 million deposit to buy 87 of the 375 hotel rooms at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort in Mexico.

The investment is part of a joint venture including Trinity Real Estate Investments.

The plans is to convert the 87 rooms into a total of 74 timeshare units, according to the company, with renovation expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019.

The property is located in the Cabo Real community at the tip of Baja California.

— CJ

The post Hilton Plans Timeshare Expansion in Los Cabos appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico