By the Caribbean Journal staff

Anguilla is making a tourism comeback, and one of its beachfront villa resorts has reopened its doors.

Shoal Bay Villas, set on the idyllic Shoal Bay East in Anguilla, is set on the eastern coast of the island, which was the least affected portion of Anguilla in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

The property is within easy access to eateries like Maderiaman, Gwen’s, Elodia’s and Tropical Sunset, all of which have also reopened.

Villas have fully equipped kitchens and barbecue grills, easy to stock up thanks to the island’s reopened supermarkets and shops.

“We are proud to say that our oceanfront and poolside ‘home’ is as beautiful and comfortable as it was ‘pre-Irma’ and the area continues to offer all its usual attractions and facilities,” the property said in a statement.

Shoal Bay Villas’ spa and gym are also open, while three deluxe villas have received upgrades.

The post Anguilla’s Shoal Bay Villas Reopens appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hilton’s ramped-up Caribbean expansion shows no signs of slowing down.

The company opened its second new Caribbean property this month with the debut of The Fives Downtown Hotel and Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton, in the heart of Playa del Carmen.

The newest hotel on the Caribbean coast of Mexico has 93 modern guest rooms, a rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea and a total of four dining concepts, including a tequila bar with 100 different tequilas and mezcals.

“The opening of this distinguished hotel marks the debut of the Curio Collection brand in Mexico and further expands our presence in this important region,” said Mark Nogal, global head, Curio Collection by Hilton. “From its culturally-inspired design to its lavish amenities, the hotel was hand-picked to be part of our global collection of remarkable independent hotels. The Fives Downtown reflects the diverse people and culture of Playa del Carmen – truly embodying the spirit of its destination.”

The property is set at Avenida 10 Norte and Calle 2 in Playa del Carmen, the bustling Mexican town that’s one of the most energetic destinations in the region.

The newest Curio was designed by architects Gabriel Téllez and Erick Alcalá, with interiors by Mario Téllez Gurbina, with everything focusing on translating traditional Mexican decor for the modern age.

“As the first Curio Collection property in Mexico, we are delighted to welcome guests to The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences,” said Julian Smaldoni, general manager, The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton. “With our upscale accommodations and thoughtful amenities, as well as our unbeatable location blocks away from the Playa Del Carmen coast, the hotel offers guests the best of the city and sea and showcases the unparalleled hospitality supported by Hilton.”

Earlier this month, Hilton debuted its new Mahogany Bay hotel in Belize, while last week it announced plans to open a new Hilton and a new Waldorf Astoria in Cancun.

Earlier this fall, Hilton also announced plans to open a pair of new properties in St Lucia, including a Hilton and a Curio.

The post Hilton Continues Caribbean Expansion in Playa del Carmen appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Virgin Atlantic’s Caribbean expansion has continued with a new nonstop route from London Heathrow Airport.

The inaugural service took off this week from Heathrow, bringing 260 passengers to Barbados.

“We are thrilled to have a new direct flight route from London Heathrow to accommodate the increase in tourist arrivals to the island,” said Cheryl Carter, director of the United Kingdom arm of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. “With a full annual calendar of diverse events and activities taking place on the island, it is our hope that this new route will also encourage new visitors to visit and experience first-hand, what Barbados has to offer.”

The flight is operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays through April 2018, according to a statement from BTMI.

“The Caribbean has always been a core market for Virgin Atlantic and we’re excited to be offering more choices to our customers with the option of flying from Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester direct to Barbados,” said Shai Weiss, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic now has a total of 11 flights per week to Barbados from United Kingdom airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

Virgin footprint in Barbados will also soon expand with the launch of “Departure Beach,” a beachfront departure lounge aimed at bridging the gap between hotel check-out and airport check-in.

The post Virgin Atlantic’s New Nonstop Flights to Barbados appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Bougainvillea Beach Resort in Barbados has announced a rebranding.

The resort is now called Bougainvillea Barbados, having also unveiled a “transformative” multimillion-dollar renovation, according to the property.

The renovation project included newly redesigned indoor and outdoor spaces, upgrades suites with new furniture and bathrooms and a transformed lobby.

Bougainvillea has also debuted a new pool deck with a swim-up pool bar featuring luxury day beds and lush gardens.

That’s along with a flagship restaurant, Siam Bar and Restaurant, whose menu was designed by intenational chef Roberto Pereyra.

The redesign was led by Dagny Bain of dB Interiors, in collaboration with Michael Gomes of architectural firm Michael Gomes Associates.

The post Barbados’ Bougainvillea Rebrands appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sandals Resorts International has reopened its family-friendly Beaches Turks and Caicos resort.

The property, which had been closed in the wake of Hurricane Irma, reopened ahead of schedule on Dec. 14.

Accommodations across the resort were improved, while lobbies and public spaces received new finishing touches.

“We know how important vacation time is and so we’re just delighted that Beaches Turks & Caicos is not only reopening its doors ahead of pace, but we’ve introduced some amazing new features making this award-winning resort better than ever,” said Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Founder and Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “The entire resort has been refreshed and our staff is eagerly awaiting the arrival of our guests.”

The changes include Beaches’ first Indian restaurant, Bombay Club, bringing the property’s total number of restaurants to 21.

Beaches has also aded two new food trucks at its waterpark, from Mr. Mac, serving macaroni and cheese, to Curls’ ’n Swirls, an ice cream truck.

The post Beaches Turks and Caicos Reopens appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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