Our new Destination of the Month feature offers a more in-depth exploration of the Caribbean’s top destinations, with a look at where to stay, play and eat — and how to get there. This month, our destination of the month is the beach-filled island of Antigua. Here’s a quick Antigua guide for what you should do when you get there.

Where to Stay

Antigua is blessed with a diverse collection of great hotels and resorts, with a particularly high number of high-end all-inclusive resorts. These aren’t the all-inclusives you’re used to — they’re sophisticated, elegant and luxurious. The best is Galley Bay (above), home to 98 guest rooms on a lush 40-acre beachfront setting. For a small, intimate experience try Hermitage Bay, with 27 hillside and beachfront bungalows on a spectacular stretch of sand. For a classic stay, head to the tony Curtain Bluff, a great family all-inclusive resort that feels like a private club.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of the Dominican Republic’s less-heralded tourism destinations is primed for growth.

A number of hotel companies and investors have expressed interest in the area of Juan Dolio, a one of the beachfront destinations on the country’s south coast, east of Santo Domingo.

Hodelpa Hotel Group has announced plans to open a new hotel, Emotions by Hodelpa, in November, with plans for another hotel called Sensation by the end of the year.

The Emotions by Hodelpa will include 341 rooms, five restaurants, five bars and three pools.

The Sensation hotel, aimed at a five-star level, will include 329 rooms, five restaurants, six bars and three pools.

Hodelpa says it is planning to grow and promote the Juan Dolio area by making investments in the city and preserving its culture.

The group has already embarked on a series of infrastructure upgrades to houses, streets and sidewalks in Juan Dolio.

Another company, Coral Hospitality Corporation, plans to expand its product in Juan Dolio with a $10 million refurbishment project at the 400-room Coral Costa Caribe Hotel, set to reopen this winter tourist season.

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WASHINGTON, USA — Puerto Rico is facing a major debt crisis, and the US territory announced on Sunday that it would be unable to make $422 million in debt repayments that were due by the close of business on Monday. Meanwhile, New York City…

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By Alexander Britell

It’s hard to find a more beautiful stretch of beach than Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands.

So it was hard for many travelers to hear that the landmark hotel on Virgin Gorda would be closed for almost two years as it embarked on a major renovation.

Well, now the Rosewood hotel has released its first renderings of what the transformed hotel will look like, following its official closure on May 1.

The renovation will mean a “comprehensive redesign” of the resort’s rooms and suites, along with its three restaurants and a number of enhancements to its landscaping.

Here’s what the resort’s renovated Sugar Mill Restaurant will look like:

And this is what a guest bungalow will look like:

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The beautiful thing about rhum agricole is that terroir matters.

Martinique doesn’t use imported ingredients to make its rum, like far too many of its Caribbean neighbors.

That means that every year the same label of rum can taste different, and that different parts of Martinique produce far-different-tasting kinds of rum simply because of their soil.

Depending on what corner of Martinique you’re standing on, you’ll find a different character, whether in the foothills of Mont Pelee or the sands of Tartane.

Rhum Dillon, one of our favorites on the island, often has a lighter, sweeter tone — and it’s often spectacular.

Our latest tasting of this rum made in the outskirts of Fort-de-France is the Tres Vieux Rhum Dillon, with rums aged a minimum of four years in oak barrels.

This has a light amber color, with an aroma of caramel, Sauternes and candied fruit.

The sweet flavor profile is marked by notes of cane, licorice, tropical fruit, pepper and the slightest hint of orange zest.

It’s got a delicate but smooth finish with a hint of white wine.

This is a superb rum, and another great example of why we love the rums of Dillon.

— CJ

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