Exciting new upgrades at Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort

Cue the applause... these upgrades at Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios look AHHH-mazing! 

We can't wait to visit! For the best pricing on Sandals Resorts - jump over here! 

Cheers,

The Iberostar Cancun to open after a $100 million renovation!

The Iberostar Resort company bought the former Hilton Cancun and has rebranded it as  the Iberostar Cancun. After spending over $100 million on renovations, the new hotel will open on February 3rd. 

Iberostar closed the now-all-inclusive beachfront property last August in order to renovate public spaces as well as to build a new theater and add new restaurants, including a new buffet and four specialty dining venues -- a gourmet restaurant, a steakhouse, a Japanese restaurant and a Mexican restaurant. Children’s and teens’ clubs were also constructed, as was a new kids’ splash park in the pool area. Outdoor space at the resort’s 12-treatment room spa was also enhanced as was the lobby and lobby bar. Also new palapa-style, or thatched, umbrellas now provide shaded areas for guests on the beach. The resort’s 50,000 square feet of convention space as well as 90,000 square feet of event space remain untouched, making the Iberostar Cancun the only resort in the destination with oceanfront meeting facilities as well as an on-site 18-hole golf course.

Other features of the property include seven swimming pools, a professional football field, and two tennis courts. 

Cancun is a the perfect destination for your meetings & incentive group travel. The airport is one of the busiest in the region and welcomes nonstop international flights from most gateways in the US & Europe. Airline tickets are often lowest than any other beach destination in the region.

HOT New Hotels! Two New Paradisus Resorts coming to Mexico!

That sand... that WATER!!! 

Soon, you can enjoy two new Paradisus Resorts in Mexico. The family friendly Paradisus La Esmeralda and the adults only Paradisus La Perla, located next to each other on one of the prettiest stretches of beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The luxuriously comfortable decor, true to Paradisus style, can be found in the living spaces:

Sleeping rooms...

And bathrooms...

The Paradisus Playa del Carmen features a two-in-one resort concept with La Perla exclusively for adults and La Esmeralda perfectly family friendly and suitable for every traveler. The El Zocalo area between the resorts features restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Guests from both resorts have free access to El Zocalo freely, making this complex perfect for multi-generational travel & Destination Weddings where some guests might prefer the exclusivity of the adults only section and others don't want to leave the kids behind but both want to spend at least a few important hours together every day.

PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN LA PERLA OPENS ON NOV 15, 2011

PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN LA ESMERALDA OPENS ON NOV 30, 2011

Ready to start planning and take advantage of the super low introductory rates? Contact us today!

Being located in the Cancun area, you will be flying to one of the easiest destinations in the tropics. Cancun is serviced by all major airlines, including United Airlines & American Airlines. 

A New Ritz Carlton Coming to Puerto Rico

The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company will open Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in December 2012 in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico. The 114-room property will be located on a secluded, three-mile outcrop along Puerto Rico’s Caribbean coastline and encompass 1,400 acres.


Accommodations will include 100 guestrooms and 14 one-bedroom suites, all located directly on the beach, and Su Casa, an original plantation hacienda renovated to its original 1920s style as a five-bedroom beachfront VIP villa available for weddings and private parties. The resort will be the company’s first Reserve property in the Americas. 


Mark your calendar for a future vacation to Puerto Rico & the new Ritz Carlton Reserve. I'm sure they will be offering amazing introductory rates that can be paired with the already cheap ticket prices to the island. Puerto Rico is a hub for American Airlines Caribbean locations so American is always a good source for some of the best airfare rates.

The NEW Riu Palace Bavaro - Opening in December

Mark your calendars for December 2011 and the opening of Riu's latest Palace Resort:


Right on the beach of Arena Gorda, Riu Palace Bavaro (all inclusive 24) is the new Riu hotel in Punta Cana, you can enjoy this resort and Riu service quality, the comfort of a Palace, beaches and sun of this wonderful Caribbean destination. 

The brand new Riu Palace Bavaro will have all of the standard Riu inclusions + 24 hour room service, gourmet dining, 4 swimming pools - 2 with Jacuzzi's and swim-up bars, and beverage service at the pools.

The rooms are chic & modern, a nice departure from the typical tropical decor Riu has featured in other hotels:

The Riu Palace Bavaro is served by flights into the Punta Cana International Airport. While airfare into Punta Cana can be more complex and higher priced than other Caribbean islands, there are plenty of options on American Airlines. Ready to start planning your trip to the Riu Palace Bavaro? We are here to help - info@caribbeanjourney.com 

Enjoy,

My Visit to Calabash Cove - St. Lucia

Calabash Cove is a new boutique hotel in St. Lucia. I had the opportunity to visit this little gem on my recent babymoon vacation on the island.

This is the view from the lobby, looking over the restaurant... every table has a view of the turquoise sea:

This shot is looking up at the main lobby & restaurant from the pool deck. The bottom floor rooms, cloaked in greenery, are the hotel's "swim-out" category:

Beneath the main pool deck, but still within easy walking distance of the pool bar, is another level for relaxation and sun bathing:

As we strolled the property, the bright florals of the gardens had our full attention....

 

Stunning! 

This is a shot of the small hotel & beach from the pier:

Isn't this painting lovely? More on this next week - stay tuned! 

We finished our tour with a delicious meal at the hotel's signature restaurant. The menu changes frequently to keep the options fresh:

The watermelon & feta salad drizzled with turmeric oil & balsamic vinegar was to die for:

Lastly, we ended up back at the pool bar where my husband enjoyed a libation and I a lime spritzer to cool us off before we jumped back in the hot car...

Ready to start planning your trip to St. Lucia? We can arrange the full vacation package for you, or you may search for cheap flights on your own and ask us to simply assist with booking your hotel only. If you do search for your own airfare, keep in mind that American Air has some of the best rates to the island.

To see more photos of my visit to Calabash Cove, jump over here!

Cheerio,

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico

I love the photo above... all of these photos actually, but the one above resembles a stately Caribbean Villa welcoming guests home after a long day in the sun, on the beach or golf course, and surely there is a cool drink and delicious meal waiting inside.

This is the new St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico - located 30 minutes outside of San Juan.

Dreamy spaces are plentiful...

The dark woods, crisp linens, and lush green surroundings are intoxicating...

The bathrooms speak luxury...

And the pool area offers plenty of seclusion...

And an amazing kaleidoscope of blues and greens...

The Robert Trent Jones Jr. Golf Course is stunning...

I think the St. Regis Bahia is just what Puerto Rico needs... a luxury resort on a great beach with immaculate landscaping and well appointed rooms. 

SPECIAL RATES: Book by March 30th and receive the 5th night free, continental daily breakfast for two, and $150+ resort credit. Travel valid from now until December 16, 2011. As with all promotions, restrictions apply.

{Please inquire for more details.}

Cheers,

The Palmyra Opens in Montego Bay, Jamaica

The new Palmyra Solis Resort & Spa, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, opened recently in Montego Bay, Jamaica. We are super excited about the gorgeous spaces and well appointed rooms and suites and wanted to share a few photos...

The resort features an array of accommodation options to at varying price points.

All guestrooms, suites, and villas include: 24 hour room-service, daily housekeeping, nightly turndown service, and more...

We'll be featuring The Palmyra Wedding Packages on our Destination Wedding Blog so stay tuned!

Enjoy,

Goldeneye Reopening on 10.10.10!

If the snip-it of history and luscious artwork haven't sold you already, drop me a line laura @ caribbeanjourney.com and I'll tell you more about why I love Goldeneye and why you should book your visit as soon as possible...

See you there,

Cap Maison, St. Lucia Vacation Special

This is Cap Maison in St. Lucia:

So is this:

And this is also Cap Maison:

Cap Maison is quickly rising the ranks at TOP property in St. Lucia. The Luxury Villa Resort offers sweeping sea views, private pools, world class cuisine, AND deeply discounted rates from now until December 19, 2010. These promo rates include:

Fully Daily Breakfast

3 Course Dinner Nightly

$75 Beverage Credit Per Day, Per Couple

2-4 Days or Car Rental OR Complimentary Golf

4 night packages start at $2820/per couple

7 night packages start at $4230/per couple

Our Caribbean Specialists are ready to help you book your St. Lucia Vacation to Cap Maison today! Drop us a line!

Best,