By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of Aruba’s most popular places to stay is launching a major foodie experience next month.

The Divi Aruba All-Inclusive is launching a special two-night dinner series at its Fusion Restaurant led by Boston-based chefs Chris Coombs and Adrienne Wright.

Each night will feature a four-course dinner (with two amuses), along with a wine pairing dinner, on Oct. 25 and 26.

“While our guests always have the option to dine all inclusive at ten dining venues, hosting this special event allows us to present a sophisticated evening dinner that highlights our top-quality food and additional restaurant options,” said Alex Nieuwmeyer, Managing Director of Divi Resorts Aruba. “It is a means of raising the bar as we strive to exceed expectations for our culinary offerings.”

It’s a boon for the resort, which is hosting two of Boston’s most celebrated chefs: Coombs, best known for the Deuxave and Boston Chops eateries; and Wright, a finalist on season 16 of Bravo’s Top Chef.

The four-course menu will featuring everything from yellowtail and hamachi crudo to spiced Long Island duck breast.

For more, visit the Divi Aruba.

— CJ

The post A New Foodie Getaway in Aruba appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

An historic Caribbean resort is set to make its long-awaited comeback next year, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Marriott’s Renaissance St Croix Carambola Beach Resort and Spa is set to return in the spring of 2020, according to the company.

The property is currently undergoing renovations, and will be managed by fast-expanding management firm Aimbridge Hospitality upon its return next year.

The hotel was originally built on a sprawling 23-acre site by Lawrence Rockefeller in 1986, set on Davis Bay on the northwest corner of St Croix, home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the island.

The resort has long been one of the two top hotels in St Croix, along with the beloved Buccaneer Hotel.

The beach at the Buccaneer.

Of course, St Croix has been in the midst of a mini-hotel boom in recent years, with the debut of the hip The Fred hotel in Frederiksted and the recent dramatic transformation of the Company House hotel in Frederiksted.

Another St Croix hotel, the Caravelle, is in the midst of a major renovation project of its own.

The Renaissance’s return will be a major injection of energy for a destination that has already been undergoing a tourism rebirth in the two years since Hurricane Maria devastated the island.

An aerial view of the lush 23-acre site.

All of the resort’s signature amenities are likely to return, from its spectacular private beach to its on-site Carambola Golf Club, designed by legendary course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

The resort will open a few months after another top USVI hotel, the Ritz-Carlton on the island of St Thomas, makes its planned debut on Dec. 1.

And according to a recent statement from Aimbridge, two more Marriott resorts will return to the USVI in 2020: the iconic Marriott Frenchman’s Reef and the Autograph Collection Morningstar Beach Resort in St Thomas.

The post Marriott Reopening Renaissance St Croix Resort in 2020 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader John Damiano of Harrison, NY, who sent in this lovely shot of the beach at the Avila Beach Hotel in Curacao.

Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean?

Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the subject line, including your first and last name and the location of the photo.

It could be the next Caribbean Photo of the Week!

— CJ

The post Caribbean Photo of the Week: On the Beach in Curacao appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — As Puerto Rico‘s financial crisis has …
The fund provides grants to Puerto Rican arts organizations. After ” … . The tree had a Puerto Rican flag on it and was … Yari Helfeld, co-director of Puerto Rican theater company Y No Habia …

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

There’s a new passport to some of the best values and experiences in Antigua and Barbuda.

And it’s digital.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has launched its new “Cool Card,” a downloadable card that gives visitors access to exclusive offers and benefits at a host of hotspots around Antigua and Barbuda.

Valley Church beach in Antigua.

Travelers can then present their cards at any participating outfit, from walking tours of St John’s to a zip-line at the Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour.

And yes, it includes some of the island’s most beloved dining spots from Beach Limerz to Catherine’s Cafe.

That’s along with a sangria and tapas meal special at Antigua’s signature eatery, Sheer Rocks.

The launch of the new Cool Card is part of a major summer brand campaign for Antigua and Barbuda called “What Cool Looks Like.”

For more, visit Antigua and Barbuda.

— CJ

The post Why You Need Antigua and Barbuda’s “Cool Card” appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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