By Alexander Britell and Guy Britton

As you walk through the brick walls and the arches, as you watch the bobbing of the water and the gentle marine dance of bows and sterns, time becomes just a suggestion.

There has been a dockyard here for almost three hundred years, most famously for a three-year period in the late 18th century when this was the stomping ground of Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Historic Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.

Today’s Nelson’s Dockyard is one of the most beautifully restored historic sites in the Caribbean, a walkable, charming, active destination that will pull you right into the 1700s.

It’s just a short drive from the nearby Falmouth Harbour, perhaps the leading superyacht marina in the Caribbean.

The Copper and Lumber in Nelson’s Dockyard.

It’s a rather powerful juxtaposition, the modernity and the history, one that makes a trip to the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park that much more meaningful.

The Admiral’s Inn and Gunpowder Suites.

What you’ll find here is a full-fledged destination, the sort of place where you can spend not just an educational afternoon — but a complete vacation.

That’s thanks to two delightful boutique hotels: the Copper and Lumber Historic Inn and the Admiral’s Inn and Gunpowder Suites.

Even in this Georgian town, they offer distinct experiences.

The Admiral’s Inn.

The Copper and Lumber is a quintessential English inn, with a lovely little pub and warm B&B-style service.

The Admiral’s Inn is the closest thing here to a resort, with the Harbour’s best restaurant, a great little bar and its most marvelous amenity: the Boom Restaurant and Pool, with the latter an infinity-edge stunner overlooking the harbour.

If you make the journey around the harbour, you’ll find another great option: the Inn at English Harbour, a beachfront boutique that boasts among its rooms some particularly lovely toes-in-the-sand bungalows.

The Inn at English Harbour.

That’s also home to the stunning Galleon Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand that offers another breathtaking angle from which to view the wonders of this old town.

It all adds up to another kind of Caribbean vacation — perhaps not the one you immediately think of, one that marries living history and boutique charm and old-fashioned elegance.

It’s another side of beach-filled Antigua, a completely different way to experience this gorgeous island.

Of course, it doesn’t mean you won’t explore the rest of the island either — the beach bars, the shopping in St John’s, the day trips to Barbuda.

It means you’re anchoring here, waking up to the sounds of harbor breezes, taking strolls on cobblestone, finding endless leisure in a timeless place.

The Copper and Lumber.

It’s a remarkably broad offering for this historic destination, a corner of Antigua and the Caribbean that remains far under the radar.

But perhaps not for long.

See more in the latest CJ Video.

— CJ

The post VIDEO: Another Kind of Caribbean Vacation in Antigua appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The reopening of the popular Sonesta Maho Beach Resort in St Maarten has been pushed back to the end of next month, according to a statement from the property.

The property said it would reopen Feb. 27, citing “delays in construction with our contracting partners and extraneous bureaucratic policies that are outside of our control.”

The property is putting the final touches on a completely new look after it suffered significant damage during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

“We understand the inconvenience this will cause and we are working with each guest individually affected by this delay to rectify and instate alternative plans or compensation,” the property said in a statement. “Our priority is to provide the safest and best possible vacation experience and we don’t want to sacrifice the amenities and enjoyment that is expected from Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten. We appreciate your time and understanding as we rebuild our beloved resorts and as St. Maarten’s tourism recovers after damages from Hurricane Irma last year.”

The family-friendly all-inclusive is adjacent to the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point, which already reopened its doors at the end of 2018.

When Sonesta Maho reopens, it will come with a host of upgrades and additions, from a new room category called The Loft Suites to an array of eateries and bars.

The 420-room Sonesta Maho is the largest all-inclusive in St Maarten.

— CJ

The post St Maarten’s Sonesta Maho Pushes Back Relaunch to February appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… over 3.2 million Puerto Rican American citizens on this … they heard from top Puerto Rican officials, including Gov. Ricardo … the political issues plaguing Puerto Rico’s financial situation are … discussion touched on the Puerto Rico statehood debate, questions …

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By Alexander Britell and Dana Niland

Belize is one of the hottest destinations in the region right now, according to the latest data from the country’s tourism board.

The country on the Caribbean coast of Central America reported 14.6 percent growth in stayover arrivals last year, one of the fastest growth rates of any destination in the region in 2018 — lifting arrivals to a new record for the country.

That translated to 62,000 more overnight visitors to the country, and a total of 489,261 stayover visitors in the calendar year.

In the last 10 years, Belize’s stayover visitor numbers have doubled, starting at 232, 249 in 2009.

The Naia hotel in Belize.

That included a 19.1 percent increase in cruise passenger arrivals, with the number surpassing the one million mark for the third year in a row – another record.

In a statement, the Belize Tourism Board pointed to new positioning initiatives and, more crucially, a wave of new flights to the country.

The latter included new routes from a range of carriers from WestJet to Southwest Airlines to, most recently, Sun Country Airlines, which launched its first-ever Belize flights from Minnesota.

Such flight growth is essential for growing tourism in any Caribbean destination — and it’s a testament to a concerted push by Belize’s decision-makers.

Now, the challenge will be to sustain that growth.

The Diamond Lodge in Belize.

A big help toward that end will be what has become a surge of hotel development in the country, with new launches from brands like Hilton, which last year officially opened its new Curio Collection-branded Mahogany Bay property and smaller boutiques like the Diamond Lodge on Ambergris Caye.

Cayo Espanto.

That complements what had been a rich portfolio of smaller properties in the country, from a pair of hotels owned by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (Turtle Inn and Blancaneaux) and private-island hotspots like Cayo Espanto.

A rendering of the Four Seasons Caye Chapel in Belize.

Several more projects are in development, including a pair under the Marriott umbrella, and a highly-anticipated hotel and real estate project managed by Four Seasons.

Heading to Belize? Don’t miss the best Belize resorts.

— CJ

The post Travelers Are Flocking to Belize Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

New York-based Dream Hotel Group is planning more hotels in Mexico.

The company known for its boutique properties like The Chatwal has signed another new hotel deal in Mexico, this time in Valle de Guadalupe.

It’s the third hotel deal for the company in Mexico in the last year.

The new 61-room property, which will be designed by noted Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao, is set on 35 acres on the Baja California peninsula.

The property, which will debut in 2021, will be Dream’s first to open in Mexico, the result of a partnership with local company Cosmopolitan Group.

“Cosmopolitan Group’s roots are based in Baja California and the company has intimate knowledge of the culture, as well as extensive knowledge and understanding of the market. They are innovators with a vision of creating something new, fresh and authentic to the region,” said Dream Hotel Group CEO Jay Stein. “The area is Mexico’s food and wine destination, a perfect fit for Dream Hotels and its emphasis on world class food and beverage experiences.”

The hotel is set on the Ruta del Vino wine route, with amenities like an infinity pool and bar and private meeting space.

“We’re proud to bring the Dream Hotels brand to Valle de Guadalupe,” said Isaac Saul of Cosmopolitan Group. “From the moment we started working together, it’s been a synergistic partnership focused on creating an inspiring vision of what Dream Hotels can bring to the region.”

The post Dream Hotel Group Expanding in Mexico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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