By Alexander Britell

The sound of the sea.

It isn’t just the waves, or the sway of the palms, or youthful shouts or the clank of neighbors’ plates.

It’s all of these things, and the reminder of what is not here: bustle, car horns, conference calls.

Here just above Grand Anse d’Arlet on the southwestern coast of Martinique is Villa Ifrevana, just a short stroll up from the island’s famous Ti Sable beach bar.

This is as authentic a French Caribbean villa as one will find; a place that emphasizes outdoor living, with ample seating and a broad terrace with a remarkable view of the sea, the latter truly the villa’s party piece, a massive, seating-filled deck that has a truly magnificent view of the water (and a dock, too).

This is a classic, four-bedroom, Creole-style villa, at once charming and eclectic, a place where hours go by simply staring at the turquoise in front of you.

All of the amenities are here, from the Nespresso machine to the Wi-Fi, but the secret here is turning what should be a watercolor into real life.

A place where the best sound is the sound of doing nothing at all.

Villa Ifrevana is bookable through Villa Veo, Martinique’s best-known vacation rental company.

See more in the latest Caribbean Journal Video at the top of the page.

The post VIDEO: In Martinique, the Art of the Seaside Villa appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Carnival Corporation has completed a large-scale, multimillion-dollar redesign and upgrade of Cruise Terminal 2 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

The terminal, which is used by Carnival’s Princess Cruises brand, features a “more streamlined departure design” along with a new giant LED screen, a movie theater and “more comfortable” boarding areas.

It also includes Carnival’s new MedallionNet Wi-Fi service featuring ultra-fast speeds.

“When our guests arrive at the terminal excited about their cruise, that’s a great opportunity for us to begin immersing them in a more personalized and hassle-free vacation experience,” said John Padgett, chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corporation. “We have completely transformed the arrival so that our guests can board at a pace that’s more relaxed and convenient for them. Our focus is on the entire guest experience with a special emphasis on making the arrival experience exceptional. From guests’ homes through the cruise terminal and to their stateroom, every guest engagement is intended to maximize their vacation experience.”

The 141,000-ton Regal Princess will be the first ship to depart the newly redesigned terminal.

The post Carnival Completes Port Everglades Terminal Upgrade appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The moment you pull the car over the sandy path, you realize this isn’t like any other beach in Aruba.

And it isn’t like any other beach in the Caribbean, either.

This is Boca Grandi.

It isn’t the beach you’re used to — there are sand dunes; the edge of the sand is pink; kitesurfers abound and there are wind turbines in the distance.

But the sand is blindingly white; the water sparkling turquoise; and, of course, there’s a terrific little beach bar, the recently-opened and already effortlessly hip Tortuga Beach Bar.

Boca Grandi is raw, it’s remote, it’s exotic, it’s active and, most importantly, it’s largely undiscovered, far off the tourist map.

It’s a little harder to get here, but like all wonderful places, those who journey here are rewarded.

This is Boca Grandi, and it just might be the coolest stretch of sand in the Caribbean right now.

See more in the latest Caribbean Journal video at the top of the page.

The post VIDEO: Discovering Boca Grandi Beach in Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Turks and Caicos’ rapid rebound from last month’s storm continues.

Another resort, Providenciales’ Ports of Call resort, is reopening its doors on Nov. 25.

The property had been closed for originally scheduled renovations and repairs following Hurricane Irma.

Ports of Call, which bills itself as the most affordable resort in Turks and Caicos, is located in the Grace Bay area of Providenciales.

The property includes 98 junior suites in a two-building complex; amenities include a pool, a poolside bar and lounge, patio seating and towel service, among others.

Guests at Ports of Call have designated beach access on Grace Bay Beach, with lounges, umbrellas, stand up paddleboard and kayaks. (It’s about a 300-yard walk from the resort to the beach, with a shuttle running each hour).

Ports of Call also includes a shopping plaza with restaurants, bars, gift and clothing shops and a spa.

The post Turks and Caicos’ Ports of Call Resort Reopening This Month appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It’s the most legendary New Year’s Eve party in the Caribbean, and it’s back on for Dec. 31.

The British Virgin Islands’ world-famous Foxy’s Old Year’s Night party is going ahead as planned this year, as the destination continues its rapid recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board announced this week.

Last year’s party.

This year’s event, hosted at Foxy’s Tamarind Bar on the island of Jost Van Dyke, will have the theme “Fall of the Roman Empire.”

Yes, that means a Toga Party in the heart of the BVI, taking what’s already one of the region’s liveliest parties to another level.

The musical guest has not yet been announced, but recent years have seen music superstars like Bunny Wailer take the stage.

The post Why to Spend New Year’s Eve in the British Virgin Islands appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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