… fund for Puerto Rico.
Hurricane San Ciriaco hit Puerto Rico Aug. 8 … financial situation of Puerto Rico made it difficult … the Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico issued General Order No. … to determine whether Puerto Rico would be granted independence …
Powered by WPeMatico
By the Caribbean Journal staff
A highly-anticipated new Club Med resort is set to open in the Dominican Republic in November.
The new Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda, the first of Club Med’s “Exclusive Collection” in the Americas, will officially open Nov. 23, the company said this week.
A rendering of the main pool area.
The property is set on 93 acres of beachfront land in Miches, a small town in the Dominican Republic’s El Seibo on the northeastern shores of the country, opposite the far end of the bay of Samana.
Club Med, the all-inclusive global brand, is billing the resort as “eco chic,” with a no single-use-plastic policy and green initiatives ranging from a tree replanting program to what the company says are “strict industry certifications.”
The beach in Miches.
The aim is to “keep as much of the land’s ecological essence so guests who visit the resort understand the natural beauty that first attracted many locals to the destination,” the company said in a statement.
The resort will be set across four “villages”: Archipelago, Emerald Jungle, Explorer Cove and Caribbean Paradise.
What a room will look like.
That will include separate enclaves for families and for adults.
Amenities at the beach resort will range from a Club Med Spa by Cinq Mondes to a large “splashpark” aquatic park to a “secret chocolate room” where kids have to figure out the password to enter.
The company says the focus is to highlight the natural beauty and environment in this corner of the Dominican Republic.
The resort’s culinary program will be led by executive chef Thierry Van Rillaer, who has trained at several two- and three-Michelin-star eateries in Brussels, among other stops.
Overall, the property will include four restaurants, four bars, three “wine cellars” and a coffee house,
It’s a rapid debut for a project that was first announced in the fall of 2018.
It represents the largest project for Club Med in the Caribbean in nearly four decades, joining existing Club Med resorts in The Bahamas, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Turks and Caicos and another Dominican Republic resort in Punta Cana.
For more, visit Club Med Miches.
— CJ
The post Club Med to Debut New Dominican Republic Resort in November appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
Powered by WPeMatico
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Holland America is planning 160 cruises to the wider Caribbean region for the upcoming winter cruise season, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The Seattle-based cruise line will sail a range of itineraries from seven to 21 days, using seven of its ships, including two of its newest cruise ships: Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam.
All of those ships will sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
“Summer will be over before we know it and there’s nothing like having a Caribbean cruise to look forward to for a winter escape, especially when a day on a private-island paradise is included,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “The Caribbean offers that perfect combination of laid-back relaxation, fun and colorful culture.”
Most of the company’s 2019-2020 itineraries will stop at Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private destination in The Bahamas.
And the cruises will include chances to see ports further south, including Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, Saint Lucia, Basseterre, St Kitts, Fort-de-France, Martinique and Bonaire, among others.
For more, visit Holland America Line.
— CJ
The post Holland America’s Newest Caribbean Cruises appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
Powered by WPeMatico
… Athletic will host the Puerto Rico national team for a friendly … national soccer team of Puerto Rico and the Hartford club … in the Puerto Rican national team and celebrate Puerto Rican pride and … I know so well,” Puerto Rico national team member Jacob Conde …
Powered by WPeMatico
By Bob Curley
CJ Contributor
Grenada is one of the most deliciously diverse destinations in the Caribbean, with the aroma of its native spices wafting through the air and redolent in the fresh local cuisine served everywhere from local roadside stands to the finest hotels. Beaches, waterfalls, rushing rivers and colorful reefs provide a sublime backdrop for active outdoor adventures as well as relaxation (and make sure you experience the chocolate).
Grenada and its sister island of Carriacou also have a diverse selection of resorts, with most of the luxury hotels found along Grand Anse Beach but a few interesting properties found in more secluded locations, including villas and a growing list of bed-and-breakfasts and even decidedly affordable rentals.
Here are five ways to experience Grenada.
Silversands.
For Personal Attention and Pampering
A combination of fine, mostly independently operated resorts and the beauty of Grand Anse make Grenada one of the best destinations in the Caribbean for a luxury beach getaway, especially if you prefer a unique and authentic vacation to a cookie-cutter chain resort. You’ll find the longest pool in the Caribbean at the Silversands Grenada, a 43-room boutique hotel in a modern yet warm property that opened in November 2018. The resort has all the amenities you look for in a full-service resort — villas, a spa, fine dining, cigar lounge, beach club — wrapped up in a compact and attractive package.
The Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel is a Relais & Chateaux property with a smattering of 30 suites suites and villas, most with views of Prickly Bay and all with private balconies or patios. Relais hotels are known for their cuisine and Calabash is no exception with two of Grenada’s finest restaurants, Rhodes and the Beach Club, on site. The intimate scale of the resort ensures personalized attention and service for guests.
The Spice Island Beach Resort.
For an All-Inclusive Getaway
Along with the nearby Radisson, Sandals Grenada is among the few “brand name” hotels on Grenada. The 225-room Sandals boasts the brand’s “luxury included” suite of included amenities, including dining at 10 restaurants, water sports and diving, a daily schedule of events and entertainment, and of course all the Carib beer and tropical drinks you want. Lodging choices range from more affordable hotel rooms with outdoor soaking tubs to Love Nest Suites with private infinity pools, elevated beach views, and butler service.
The Spice Island Beach Resort is a legendary Grenada hotel owned by Caribbean hospitality pioneer Sir Royston Hopkin, who can sometimes be found in the lobby greeting guests. The focus here is on local culture as well as luxury, with a popular Friday night Caribbean buffet served as part of the resort’s all-inclusive program, which also covers non-motorized water sports, tennis, golf, bicycles, use of the fitness club, and the Nutmeg Pod children’s program. With 64 rooms on 12 beachfront acres, the resort never seems crowded, but you can meet fellow guests over the daily afternoon tea that’s symbolic of the resort’s relaxed sophistication.
For an Affordable Beach Vacation
The Radisson Grenada Beach Resort has 229 rooms and sits directly on Grand Anse Beach. It won’t wow you with its overall looks, although rooms have been recently renovated, but the hotel has a nicely designed, multi-level Oasis Pool and attractive rates. The hotel’s size, location, and meeting facilities make it Grenada’s go-to resort for larger weddings, groups, and meetings, too.
The Radisson Grenada is one of the destination’s great values.
This family owned and operated Petite Anse Boutique Hotel has 11 private cottages and a pair of hotel rooms in red-roofed buildings edged by lush tropical foliage and steps from a secluded beach. Nearby gardens supply the hotel restaurant, which serves West Indian food like roti and fresh local fish. The local waters can be rough so there are times when swimming isn’t safe, but the beach is always open for lounging and the hotel has a pool as well.
For an Eco Friendly Getaway
Grenada’s reputation for environmental friendliness and sustainability extends to its hotels, from budget-friendly hideaways to ritzy beach resorts. The Blue Horizons Garden Resort was the first property on the island to achieve Green Globe Gold certification and has studios and one-bedroom rooms amid 6.5 acres of landscaped gardens, all within a short walk to Grand Anse Beach. The hotel’s La Belle Creole restaurant is one of the finest Caribbean eateries on the island.
The True Blue Bay resort in Grenada.
The “eco-chic True Blue Bay Resort has stylish guest rooms and an extensive recycling and waste-reduction program. Located in a marina in the capital city of St. George, the hotel offers easy access to dive charters, has a spa and a beach bar modeled after traditional rum shops, and serves a mix of Caribbean and Mexican food at its Dodgy Dock restaurant. Posh Mount Cinnamon, another Green Globe resort, has a variety of hillside villas and suites peering down on Grand Anse Beach, each brilliant whitewashed unit accented with bright colors to complement the cobalt blue of the Caribbean Sea below.
Where to Get Away from (Almost) Everything
If even a boutique hotel doesn’t offer the type of privacy you’re looking for, Grenada has several luxury villas that deliver all the comforts of home in exclusive settings that showcase the island’s copious natural beauty. The Beach Cliff villa has five suites and 5,000 feet of private living area on the quiet Lance Aux Epines peninsula, with water views from nearly every indoor and outdoor space and a private, 100-foot beach. The 473 Grenada Beach Resort has nine private villas and shared amenities like an infinity pool, beach, sun deck, and water sports gear. You can also stay on a working cocoa plantation, Mount Edgecombe or set sail for the extremely chill neighbor island of Carriacou, which has a small collection of three-star, Old Caribbean flavor hotels like the beachfront Mermaid Hotel and the Hotel Carriacou.
The post Five Ways to Experience Grenada appeared first on Caribbean Journal.
Powered by WPeMatico
