Is this the best beach in the Caribbean? We ranked it number one in our landmark 2015 ranking. What do you think?

Either way, this is almost certainly the best beach in Anguilla: Rendezvous Bay.

Here’s what it’s like on the sand:

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There’s another major new initiate aimed at fostering the Caribbean startup sector.

It’s called CaribbeanIdEA, and it’s the newest program aimed at developing the Caribbean’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

The program, a joint initiative between VentureHIVE, the US State Department and USAID, aims to connect entrepreneurs in the US and the Caribbean, with a focus on cultivating and growing innovative Caribbean businesses.

The program is a seven-week virtual accelerator with a five-day bootcamp for 10 Caribbean-based entrepreneurs running high-growth businesses.

The Caribbean IdEA BoomCamp, which starts June 6, will focus on providing support, engaging diaspora mentors and experts and creating “tangible and measurable impact,” according to organizers.

So who’s eligible for the Caribbean IdEA BoomCamp?

Those who have small or medium-sized enterprises seeking to scale, with a focus on a product, service, technology or innovation that will serve as a capacity-building tool; CEOs will need to commit to being an active participant in the virtual program, as well as come to Miami for a full week.

That means entrepreneurs have to answer the question: will the idea grow the local business ecosystem and have an impact on the Caribbean?

For more information, visit here.

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With more than 30 beaches; a location just beyond the hurricane belt; and a fascinating Dutch-influenced heritage, Curaçao is a must for travelers in search Caribbean with a serving of culture on the side. But it’s so much more than that — from dozens of world-class dive sites to a burgeoning foodie culture, Curaçao is increasingly on the radar of travelers, particularly in the United States. And with several non-stop flights from the US, there’s no better time than now to plan a visit than right now. If you’re headed to the Dutch-Caribbean isle, take our tips for some of the best places to stay. CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon has more.

Baoase Luxury Resort With just 23 suites and villas, this south-side boutique is perfect for vacationers in search of high-end tranquility. Elegant Bali-inspired rooms (some with outdoor tubs and showers); a beach complete with it’s own tiny island; and a superb restaurant make Baoase a standout. This is the best hotel in Curaçao, bar none.

Santa Barbara Beach & Luxury Resort Go all-inclusive or room-only at this   350-room resort that has all the bells and whistles you’d expect: three pools; four restaurants; a spa; an 18-hole golf course; and, of course, an inviting swath of white sand.

Avila Beach Hotel Just outside Willemstad, past meets present at Curacao’s oldest continuously operated hotel, combining an 18^th-century mansion with 150 sleek and modern rooms. Excellent meeting facilities make this a good choice for business travelers, while twin beaches and an infinity pool please the tag-alongs.

Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village & Spa Smack in the center of Willemstad, this unique hotel is in a restored colonial village complete with scenic courtyards, sculpture gardens, and even a museum. Its 82 rooms are furnished with antique reproductions; and two pools, a pair of restaurants and a spa complete the package.

Kura Hulanda Lodge and Beach Club The Sonesta’s sister hotel, also a GHL, is a classic resort set on a beautiful white coral beach. About 30 minutes from the airport, this is one of the island’s great hideaways, also boasting a top-level dive shop.

Floris Suite Hotel & Spa Ditch the kids and head for this adults-only 72-room resort about 10 minutes’ drive north of town. You won’t be on the beach (the strand at Parasasa, however, is just a five-minute walk away) but you will enjoy chic contemporary suites (some with kitchens); a luxurious spa; and a large, palm-shaded pool from where you can order chaise-side lunch service.

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

Can you learn to cook a three-course Bahamian meal in three-and-half hours?

One Nassau company thinks so.

Tru Bahamian Food Tours, which has been offering culinary walking tours in the Caribbean capital since 2013, has just launched their latest foodie temptation: a cooking class and “lunch experience.”

Led by Elijah Bowe, executive chef at Nassau’s historic Graycliff hotel and restaurant, the class begins with a cocktail and snack. Then students help chef prepare the meal – a sampler of a typical home-cooked Bahamian Sunday lunch or dinner that features seasonal seafood and guava duff, a popular local dessert – picking up basic cooking skills, local food knowledge and perhaps a little Bahamian dialect along the way. Then the group repairs to a private dining room to enjoy their feast, accompanied by a glass of wine from Graycliff’s 250,000-bottle cellar.

“Our team is thrilled to be able to introduce this unique cooking class experience to Nassau visitors,” said Alanna Rodgers, founder of Tru Bahamian Food Tours. “We’ve been developing this product for over a year now, and think it is a perfect complement to our signature Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour. The cooking class allows our guests to slow down and connect with Bahamian cuisine and culture on deeper level by going behind the scenes and learning how to prepare a traditional Bahamian meal with their own hands.”

Classes, limited to a maximum of a dozen participants, cost $136 per person, and include a take-home Nassau dining guide; a selection of chef’s recipes; and a branded Graycliff apron.

Go to trubahamianfoodtours.com for more details.

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By Simons Chase
CJ Contributor

I have to confess my skepticism when I decided to cruise aboard Carnival’s new cruise line, Fathom, on a “voluntourism” or “social impact” journey to the Dominican Republic.

After all, in an industry that seems to be obsessed with size and endless buffets, I was not quite sure what to make of this new, small cruise line with a big mission.

Fathom promises to be a, “new kind of cruise that combines your love of travel with your desire to make a difference.”

Is it really possible to combine a cruise product with a social mission in one offering?

Launched in May, Fathom’s only ship, the Adonia, plies the waters of the Caribbean in alternating weekly journeys to the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The ship was built in 2001 and has retained the refined English style she acquired in her original sailings in and around Europe.

She offers all the best elements of a cruise including great service, good food and onboard programming that is both relevant to the mission and entertaining.

With a maximum capacity of about 700 passengers, the Fathom is a striking alternative new product to the inflationary thinking that has gripped the passions of the other cruise industry players engaged in a “size gap” warfare mentality – the latest ship in the battle for size dominance is Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, capable of ferrying 6,400 people, and is the largest cruise ship in the world — at least until next year.

According to Tara Russell, Fathom’s President, “Travel is a really incredible form of connection and transformation.”

Rowing against a contrary current is what Fathom does best.

My first pleasant surprise was how little interruption there was from electronic devices among the passengers.

The ship’s activities, along with the commitment and dedication of the crew, created a lot of engagement and sharing among a diverse group of cruisers. One of my favorite activities was an art class (that included wine); there was learning and laughter among strangers that I felt almost nostalgia for.

In the three hours of assisted painting, I forgot all about the world we left behind. I was relieved to be free of the constant offerings of instinctual response to stimulus we face in so many other settings, terrestrial and oceanic.

Other passengers spoke highly of the Spanish lessons and the visual story telling class that teaches the creative and practical use of your phone’s camera – together with the use of social media.

On the ground, Fathom partners with IDDI and Entrena, two Dominican development organizations. These organizations know the people, the culture, and the needs of the island nation. I found the employees of these two organizations to be professional and responsive to travelers as well as the local communities involved in the impact activities. Bottled water, good food and adequate restrooms were always easy to access during the excursions.

My favorite excursion was a project to mix and install concrete floors for a couple living in the El Javillar community in Puerto Plata, about 30 minutes by bus from the cruise port.

First let me dispel any concern you might have about “construction work.” You don’t have to do any heavy lifting if you cannot or choose not to. Some people formed a line that handed off small buckets of concrete; others used shovels to mix concrete and fill the buckets.

There are some technical aspects of concrete mixing and pouring that makes installing concrete floors in simple wooden structures a challenge. This aspect of the construction was handled very capably by the local development staff who are skilled at this sort of work. We volunteers contributed $20 plus 3-4 hours of time. It is the cost and technical challenge that makes it impossible for the people of El Javillar to install concrete floors on top of the dirt floors most live in.

As we transformed Eriberta and Chavez’s home to a safer, cleaner place to live, the neighbors slowly emerged from their homes to see what was happening. The children of the neighborhood led the way.

Eventually, the older children and adults started mixing with the volunteers, aided by translation and interpretation help from our guides.

It didn’t take long for the human side of the residents of this poor, riverside community to color our concrete floor mission with texture.

Amidst the dirt and concrete mixing, I witnessed Eriberta passing a brightly-colored spool of threat to her neighbor. A few minutes later, the purpose of the thread sharing was apparent when Eriberta emerged from her neighbor’s home carrying the infant child of her neighbor.

The neighbor used the tread to sew the child’s headband together. I surmised that the child’s mother gave the child to Eriberta because showing off her new baby in Eriberta’s arms would get more attention than doing it herself. I got the sense that these people all share child rearing responsibilities and therefore a mother’s pride is shared interchangeably.

Later, a child volunteer held the infant child of another of Eriberta’s neighbors. Children eight years and older are permitted on the cruise, and I highly recommend taking children on this journey.

Other activities include tree planting in a rain forest, paper making in women’s cooperative and water filter installation in private homes.

Back aboard the Adonia, the crew helped me clean the mud from my shoes.

All of us on the concrete floor project that day agreed it was an amazing experience, and we all felt satisfied that Fathom delivered on its promise to offer a rewarding impact travel experience – along with a great cruise.

 

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