By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

There are small hotels and then there are really small hotels; petit boutiques with five rooms or fewer, where you’re welcomed like family but treated like a visiting dignitary. In the Caribbean (as in the rest of the world) such sanctuaries aren’t easy to find. But we’ve zeroed in on four tiny retreats that offer relaxing respite from everyday cares. Here are the best micro-hotels in the Caribbean.

CarriEarl Boutique Hotel It only has four rooms (all air-conditioned and with WI-FI) but this little gem in the Bahamas’ Berry Islands is a big deal, with “the best restaurant in the Berry Islands” and an Instagram-worthy oceanview pool, all just a minute’s walk from the magnificent white-sand stretch at Great Harbour Cay.

The post The Caribbean’s Best Micro-Hotels appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Effective 1 pm on Thursday, the US Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan set Port Condition Four for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The maritime community was strongly urged to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions, as tropical cyclone Irma…

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It’s the end of the fall in Anguilla, which means many properties shut their doors for the season.

One hotel is unique, though: the luxe Zemi Beach House, which is open year round.

It’s something that effectively turns Anguilla into your own private island.

A room at Zemi Beach House.

Zemi Beach is looking to capitalize on that feeling with its latest offer, “Tranquility in Anguilla,” which gives travelers free extra nights, some free meals and a free buffet breakfast every day.

That means if you stay four, you pay for three, or stay seven and pay for just five.

For more information, visit Zemi Beach House.

– CJ Staff

The post When Anguilla Feels Like a Private Island appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Design work has begun on the major new cruise terminal at Florida’s Port Canaveral.

The Canaveral Port Authority has contracted with CH2M Engineering to provide the waterside design, engineering and support services for the Cruise Terminal 3.

The two-year work plan aims to build a state-of-the-art facility capable of serving cruise ships with up to 8,000 passengers.

It will replace one of the port’s oldest terminals, currently being used for single-day cruises.

“Port Canaveral continues to experience growth in all sectors, and particularly in our cruise business,” said Port Canaveral CEO Captain John Murray. “With 80 percent of our revenue from cruise operations, it’s important that we continuously improve our capabilities to meet the current and future needs some of the world’s largest, most sophisticated cruise ships.”

The Port is investing $150 million for the new terminal, which is targeted for completion in 2019.

“The popularity and avid use of the Port’s Jetty Park recreation facilities adjacent to the CT-3 terminal, especially the public boat ramps and fishing areas, are very important to the Port,” said Port CEO Murray. “The Port’s Board of Commissioners has directed that engineering staff make continued public access to these areas a priority, and to ensure before, during, and after construction that boat parking is minimally impacted.”

The post New Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal Begins Design Work appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Charming architecture; beautiful vistas; vibrant communities. There are some picturesque towns scattered across the Caribbean, the sort of places that seem to instagram themselves. These are the Caribbeans postcard-perfect towns, perfect for a very different kind of vacation or a wonderful day trip, from the far reaches of the Bahamas to the some of the region’s still largely undiscovered islands. These are the prettiest towns in the Caribbean.

The post The Caribbean’s Prettiest Towns appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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