The Island of St John Is Back in a Big Way

The combination of no passport requirements, easy-to-understand COVID-19 rules and strong tourism management led to a boom in visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the mainland in 2021, helping to fuel a dramatic turnaround in tourism on St. John, which had struggled in the aftermath of devastating blows from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

The storm wiped out one of St. John’s most iconic resorts, Caneel Bay, which still hasn’t reopened and possibly never will.

But meanwhile, St. John has gained a new private island resort and many other new and revived hotels, restaurants, and attractions are drawing visitors back to the island in record numbers.

Now in its second season, the Lovongo Resort & Beach Club is the hottest thing to happen to St. John in a long time. Set on a private cay offshore of Caneel Bay (the body of water, not the resort), Lovongo is a mix of guest accommodations and residential homes; stays can be as diverse as a luxury villa hideaway, a treehouse perch, or nights spend in a glamping tent.

Guests also have the option of adding three nights on a charter yacht to their stay — a must do in the Virgin Islands, where the easiest way to get around is by boat. The beach club and waterfront dining only sweeten stays for overnight guests, as well as drawing in boaters and other day visitors.

The Lovango Resort and Beach Club near St John.

Virgin Islands National Park, which occupies 60 percent of St. John, is basically back to pre-Irma and pre-pandemic operation levels, with major attractions like the Reef Bay Trail, Trunk Bay beach with its famous snorkeling trail, the campground at Cinnamon Bay, and Annaberg Plantation all open to visitors. The Concordia Eco Resort, located within the park on the east side of St. John, reopened in early 2022, once again offering guests stays in eco-friendly studio rooms and tents with ocean views.

st john caribbean eco resort
The Concordia Eco Resort.

Bookings at St. John’s fine collection of private villas also have been red hot, and the Westin St. John Resort Villas has returned as a vacation ownership resort — fully condos, in other words — that can also accommodate stays by non-owners.

Cruz Bay’s Wharfside Village Hotel,, is back with 15 redesigned rooms within steps of great dining, nightlife, and shopping. The landmark Gallows Point Resort was one of the first on St. John to reopen after the hurricanes; guests will benefit from freshly renovated rooms and the farm-to-table Ocean 362 restaurant.

And then the area the sought-after villas of the Blue Sky Luxury Travels portfolio.

The Marea villa.

Events are back on St. John, too: the island hosted its first Carnival in three years in April, and the St. John Celebration is slated to go forward again in July.

The Lime Out floating bar and restaurant weathered the COVID-19 storm and continues to serve tacos and rum drinks at its swim-up bar in Coral Harbor.

floating taco
The Caribbean’s first floating taco bar.

The 18° 64° The Restaurant is a newcomer on the Cruz Bay dining scene, serving up seafood and sushi in the Mongoose Junction courtyard; neighbors St. John Brewers opens the taps daily for beer lovers after handing out brews for free in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricane.

The Tamarind Inn, long a favorite for breakfast in Cruz Bay, but it closed after Irma and stayed that way even when the affiliated Inn at Tamarind Court reopened. The good news: the restaurant has returned to offering courtyard dining for breakfast and dinner. And for waterfront rum drinks, you can’t beat the recently reopened Rum Hut at Cruz Bay’s Wharfside bar and restaurant. Newcomers to the local dining scene include Dave & Jerry’s Island Steakhouse at the Cruz Bay Hotel, the Windmill Bar at Neptune’s Lookout with its spectacular views, the colorful Shambles VI serving all-day barbecue on Centerline Road, and the Roti King food truck at the Lumberyard in Cruz Bay.

And Caneel is still home to one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations: the Bikinis on the Beach Bar, this year’s Number One Beach Bar in the Caribbean.

The post The Island of St John Is Back in a Big Way appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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What the Fed’s Aggressive Rate Hike Means for Housing

The effects of the increase, a move up of three-quarters of a percentage point, sets an expectation of several more rounds of rate hikes in the coming months.

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Bahamas Waiving Testing for Fully Vaccinated Travelers 

The Bahamas is waiving testing for fully vaccinated travelers, the country announced. 

The move comes as The Bahamas has also eliminated its Bahamas Travel Health Visa for all travelers. 

Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer have to submit to pre-travel testing. 

Unvaccinated travelers ages 2 and up will, however, be required to obtain a negative test, either PCR or antigen, taken no more than three days prior to travel. 

Fully vaccinated means travelers who have completed at two shots of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-shot vaccine. It does not require boosters.

Green Turtle Cay.

The changes officially take effect Sunday, June 19. 

“The Bahamas is adapting to the continued evolution of this pandemic. We want to streamline the entry process for travelers as much as possible, all while ensuring we are protecting public health,” said Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Chester Cooper. “We hope the changes to the pre-travel testing requirements combined with the elimination of the Travel Health Visa will reduce friction for travelers and further the recovery of our tourism sector.”  

bahamas atlantis concierge

The elimination of the Travel Health Visa means travelers simply have to show up with their proof of vaccination or test result. 

“The discontinuation of the Travel Health Visa is yet another signal to the international community that we are open for business,” Cooper said. “Throughout the pandemic, we have remained committed to evaluating protocols and adjusting requirements to reflect the current environment. We acknowledge that the Travel Health Visa was a burden for travelers,

and we are pleased to be able to eliminate.”

For more, visit The Bahamas

The post Bahamas Waiving Testing for Fully Vaccinated Travelers  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Best We Buy Houses Companies in West Palm Beach, FL

Are you in the process of selling your home, and you’re looking for a better way to avoid the stress and headache of the traditional selling process? Did you know that you can quickly sell your home to cash home buyer companies?

These companies have the financial capacity to offer you cash for your house, but not all companies are the same. This brief all-cash offer home buying guide will cover all you need to know about selling your home to these companies and an alternate solution that gives you more control over the home selling process.

Sell My House Fast West Palm Beach

There are several different types of companies that will purchase your home from you in cash; these are cash home buyers. You may have seen signs on the side of the road or have heard about “we buy houses west palm beach” companies popping up all over the place. Most of these companies are legit, whereas others are not, so when working with them, make sure you check them out before you sign anything.

These companies have the necessary financial backing to provide you with an all-cash offer. Some of these companies are real estate investors looking to fix and flip the property or to hold them as investments in their portfolios.

Are Cash Offers Common?

Contrary to popular belief, cash sales are fairly common. Most people assume that you have to sell your home to someone who has a loan from the bank, but that’s not true. Almost 25% of home sales across the United States were cash sales. In certain areas, such as Florida and Georgia, these numbers are much higher, ranging between 33% to 40%.

1. Florida Cash Home Buyers Review

Florida Cash Home Buyers is a company in West Palm Beach that can purchase your home for cash. They have a wide range of good reviews and a few others that claim bad experiences.

In general, the company strives to get you an offer within a few days, and you won’t have to pay any commission fees, nor do you have to conduct any repairs before surrendering the property.

Some issue people had when working with this company was not being able to reach an agreement on their offer. They’ve been in business since 2011 and their place of business resides in Fort Lauderdale but they buy properties all across the state. 

2. WeBuyHouses.com

We buy houses Palm Beach County is another company that you can sell house for cash. This company has several different locations across the United States, and they can provide you with an offer within two days.

The minimum closing time for this company is between one to two weeks. Investors that work under this company must pass their vetting process, and they have exclusive licenses, which can be a con.

Because there is no standard for how these investors value your home, you could receive a different valuation from an investor under the same company.

Lastly, there is no wiggle room for negotiation. Whatever they offer is the offer you get.

3. Florida Cash for Home

Florida Cash for Home is a local Florida investor that buys homes around Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. To sell your property to this company, you will need to call in directly to receive your initial offer.

They will set up an appointment to come physically see the home, and you should receive an updated offer after they complete their walkthrough.

If your home meets their criteria and you agree with their offer, they can close on the sale within seven days. As of 2021, there is no third-party review information for what clients did or did not like about working with the company.

4. We Buy Ugly Houses

You most likely have seen those “We Buy Ugly Houses” signs on the road or plastered on the side of the wall of a building. You may have even seen it on a billboard near your city.

This company has the potential to close on your home sale within three weeks, but it also has the reputation of offering clients less than fair market value for your home.

A significant advantage of working with We Buy Ugly Houses in West Palm Beach is that they are trusted and nationally recognized. Although that can be a big deal for some people, it is crucial to note that the service for this company varies per location. The company has franchises all over the nation, and your experience may differ from one location to the next.

5. Express Homebuyers

If you want to sell your house fast West Palm Beach, you can reach out to Express Homebuyers. Express Homebuyers is a national service that partners with local investors to purchase houses for cash. To sell your house to this company, you can either call in or send your information online on their website.

If your home meets their criteria, Express Homebuyers will send an investor to assess the property. You can ask the investor any questions or concerns about their valuation while they are with you.

If you agree with their final offer, the company will send you paperwork to complete, and you get to choose your closing day. On the day of the sale, you will sign the final paperwork, and Express Homebuyers will send your cash within a few hours.

6. House Heroes

House Heroes is a company run by a local Florida property investor that buys homes in select cities. To sell your house to House Heroes, you must call them directly.

They will discuss their process over the phone, schedule your appointment for the inspection, and schedule your closing date. House Heroes primarily services South Florida and their closing window are between seven to fifteen days.

7. My Property Nation

My property nation is another all-cash offer company that will come physically inspect your home and offers you an offer on the spot. Before accepting their offer, make sure that you review that offer with another company.

Most companies that offer you money on the spot may make you feel pressured to take the offer. There is a review about this company concealing important information about a home before making their offer.

8. PSL Homebuyers

PSL homebuyers is another company that can offer you cash for your home. They boast that they can close on the sale within one week, and there are no commissions or closing costs.

Their reviews online are mixed, some claim they had wonderful experiences, and others were skeptical about the process. The company does not have accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and there is not too much information about the company online.

We Buy Houses Companies Advantages

There are many advantages to working with we buy houses companies, such as quick turnaround times and streamlined processes. Compared to traditional home buying, buying a house with all-cash is much faster because these companies already have the cash on hand. There is no need to go through the lengthy process that comes with buyer financing.

No Need for Repairs

We Buy House businesses often make lower offers to offset how much they pay for repairs. If you wish to sell your home as-is on the market, you will have a much easier time selling your home to a We Buy Houses entity.

Lower Costs

Most people don’t account for the costs that come with selling a home. There are costs such as carrying costs, concessions, and commissions that significantly reduce how much you receive in profits. We Buy Houses companies allow you to avoid paying those fees.

We Buy Houses Disadvantages

Although there are several advantages of selling your home to a We Buy Houses company, there are a few disadvantages you must keep in mind. For example, most offers from these types of companies are “take-it-or-leave-it.”

This means there is technically no room for negotiation. If you disagree with their offer, your only other option is to walk away from the deal.

Predatory Tactics

Many of these We Buy Houses companies cater to those who are at risk of facing foreclosure. They know that you want to get rid of the house as soon as possible, and they have the cash to offer you.

The only problem is that you may receive an offer less than you should receive. Make sure you do your research on the company well before accepting any offers. There are several companies out there in the market that practice predatory tactics

How We Buy Houses Businesses Work

Most We Buy Houses for Cash businesses use the same process to purchase houses as quickly as possible so they can sell them and make a profit. First, a homeowner submits their information about their property to the We Buy Houses company. That company then looks over the information, decides if your home fits their criteria, and if it does, they will send you a rough estimate of what they will pay.

If you agree to go with their estimate, they will send a representative to evaluate the property. The company will provide you with an all-cash offer once they assess the resale value of your home and how much they will need to pay for repairs.

We Buy Houses Closing Process

If you accept their final offer, the company will send you to a title office to close out the sale and collect payment. There is no need for inspections, financing approval, or appraisals. Once the company has your home in its possession, they will complete the necessary repairs and sell it for profit.

Cash Home Buyer Companies Scams?

Most cash home buyer companies are legit, and they’ve been purchasing properties for years in their communities, but there are a few you must look out for. If you feel pressured to accept an offer or you feel uncomfortable at any point, listen to your intuition and look into a different company.

Check their online reviews to see what other clients said about working with the company. It is also important to note that a lot of these companies share similar names. Double-check their website and contact information to ensure that you’re working with the right company.

Alternatives to We Buy Houses Companies

We Buy Houses For Cash companies are not your only available options. If you want to avoid the hassle of working with these types of companies, you can reach out to an iBuyer. An iBuyer, also known as an instant buyer, is a company that uses high-quality technology to provide you with an all-cash offer on your home.

The technology used to create your offer uses up-to-date data to provide you with a fair offer. These companies also have immense financial backings that allow them to make reasonable offers.

Selling to an iBuyer

Once you find an iBuyer that you want to work with, you will first need to submit your information. They will need information about your house, recent updates or renovations, and your personal contact information.

If the iBuying company has questions about your home or any upgrades, they will reach out to you before they make their offer. The iBuyer typically provides you with 24 to 48 hours and their offers are generally higher than those from We Buy Houses companies. 

Get The Process Started

Many different cash home buyer companies can present you with appetizing cash offers, but it is essential to remember that not all companies are the same. Some of these companies are predatory and don’t have your best interest in mind.

Cash Offers on your home?
You’re in the right place!

Instead, they see your home as an opportunity instead of seeing it as a mutually beneficial transaction. 

The post Best We Buy Houses Companies in West Palm Beach, FL appeared first on iBuyer Blog.

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The Caribbean’s Hottest New Rum Festival Kicks Off in Bonaire 

The hottest new rum festival in the Caribbean kicked off on Tuesday night in Bonaire. 

Bonaire Rum Week, the first major event on the island since the onset of the pandemic, launched with an opening party at the island’s signature bar, Rum Runners at Captain Don’s Habitat

Several hundred attendees enjoyed some of the region’s premier rums, including several top new rums from the Dutch Caribbean. 

That included the event’s headlining rum, Rum Papiamento, out of Aruba. 

Roots Vibrations provided the soundtrack for Opening Night.

Reggae band Roots Vibrations provided the soundtrack for the oceanfront rum tasting, which featured rums including Papiamento; Rom Rincon; Papa’s Pilar; Don Q; Clifton Estate Rum; Rum San Pablo; Ron Barcelo; Dutch Head; Shaman’s Rum and Siesta Key.

The tasting bar.

The event was followed by a five-course rum-pairing dinner at Rum Runners. 

It all added up to a sign of Bonaire’s post-pandemic resurgence, shining the spotlight on the island’s impressive, growing culinary culture. 

“We couldn’t be happier with the opening for Bonaire Rum Week,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal, which is organizing the event in collaboration with Tourism Corporation Bonaire. “It was a full-fledged celebration of premium rum in a truly spectacular setting on Bonaire’s pristine waters.”

The event continues all week, with tasting parties at Plaza Resort, the Buddy Dive Resort and the Divi Flamingo, along with a Rum Lunch at the Harbour Village, a rum pairing dinner at the Brass Boer and a rum-and-cigar pairing at Club Tropicana. 

There’s also the Diplomatico Cocktail Challenge at Tiki and Co, one of the island’s top bars. 

“This was the perfect way to begin what should be a fantastic week of rum,” said Guy Britton, managing editor and EVP of Caribbean Journal. 

“Bonaire is one of the region’s buzziest culinary destinations, and that includes a burgeoning spirits and cocktail culture,” he said.

Indeed, bars around the island are celebrating Bonaire Rum Week with special menus and rum lists for the occasion.

Caribbean Journal is also the company behind the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, the celebrated rum festival every November in St Barth (for more, visit the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth).

For more, visit Bonaire Rum Week

The post The Caribbean’s Hottest New Rum Festival Kicks Off in Bonaire  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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