Meet Matachica Belize

Located only a "stones throw" from Belize's Great Barrier Reef and 5 miles north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is Matachica. An award winning, small luxury hotel offering everything one needs for a successful tropical vacation in Belize.

A delightful pool:

A pristine, secluded beach:

Open aired traditional dining...

Cuisine & cocktails as colorful as the natural surroundings...

Matachica has many great accommodation options, most with a chic, off-the-beaten feel...

Sea Breeze Bungalows:

Beachfront Casitas:

Luxury Caribbean Villas:

A Beach Mansion:

Just to name a few! 

To get to Matachica, you will need to book a flight to Belize City, the country's only international airport. American Airlines, and all major airlines service this airport. Then, arrange a small plane transfer with a domestic carrier or arrange a ferry. We assist our clients in every step of the booking process. Drop us a line if you are interested in hearing more about Matachica.

Cheers,

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,

Cap Juluca, Anguilla - A Timeless Beach Classic

 

I fell for Cap Juluca on my recent Anguilla vacation. The hotel is best described as a classic beach club with a relaxed comfortable style. I could go on and on because there are so many noteworthy facets to Cap Juluca. The obvious highlight is the pristine white sand beach with gentle turquoise waves. While you enjoy the views from this amazing beach, you'll be treated to complimentary chilled towels and ice cold sorbet, pre-programmed iPods with over 300 songs, and 5 cabana bars dotted along the treeline. 

Cap Juluca has recently undergone a $28 million renovation. The guestrooms all now feature comfortable new Stearns and Foster beds and Frette linens, 40” Sony Bravia HDTVs and DVD players, Bose Wave stereos with iPod docking stations, free wireless internet as well as enhanced patio furniture, new towels and new robes.

Anguilla is an arid & relatively flat island so Cap Juluca provides a needed respite from the heat & sun in all of its lush gardens.

Cap Juluca now managers the Greg Norman designed Temenos Golf Course and there are many golf packages available. Contact me if you'd like a quote on a vacation to Cap Juluca! laura@caribbeanjourney.com or 866-236-1924. 

Please enjoy the rest of my photos from Cap Juluca on our flickr page. 

Soggy Dollar Bar - Jost Van Dyke

If I could I would BE HERE NOW! I'd pack a bag consisting only of flip flops, bikini, a tunic or two, cut-off jean shorts circa 1989, sunscreen, big sunglasses & hat, and trashy celeb magazines. I'd plant myself on Jost van Dyke for the weekend. I'd sleep here & spend my days soaking up rays and sipping painkillers at the Soggy Dollar Bar.

.

Sometimes, I just want to get away to place where I don't have to "dress" for dinner or schedule appointments of any kind. Where tank tops and shorts are just fine. Jost van Dyke, and especially the Soggy Dollar, is that kind of place... where rank and title are left on the boat and only the unpretentious true lovers of the Caribbean make it ashore. Next time you visit the BVIs, join the Painkiller Club.

Why YOU Should Visit the USVI This Winter!!

The US Virgin Islands of St. Thomas, St. John, & St. Croix are offering a sweet deal for travel this winter to participating hotels. Book your trip (with CaribbeanJourney.com of course) by December 31, 2008 for travel now until March 31, 2009 and receive:

• $300 in American Express Traveller's Checks
  
• 5th Night Free
  
• A Coupon Book with Savings on Activities & Attractions

No passport? No problem! Passports are not required to visit the USVI! Here are some of the hotels I'm lovin'...

Hibiscus Beach Resort in St. Croix - I love the white sandy beach, super clear water, and the food that onsite restaurant Elizabeth's H2O. Currently, they are offering a great 3 course meal for only $20!

Palms at Pelican Cove - The name gives it away... if palm trees seal the deal for you, this small 40 room hotel is perfect as they have over 100 palm trees on property:The Buccaneer has long been a personal favorite as it falls into the wonderful category of old-world Caribbean charm with graceful hospitality, plenty of leisure, and fine cuisine. A must during this great sale for any discerning traveler:

If you would like to book any of these Caribbean Vacation options, please contact me for a custom quote! No time to email? Call me 866-236-1924 as this great deal won't last!

Top Secluded Beaches of Puerto Rico

What many will consider the most striking beaches of Puerto Rico—with the exception of Coco Beach—are not actually part of its mainland. Instead, they can be found on islands off the coast. What is often the case with these beaches is that instead of overcrowding and gimmicky tourism ploy, what you get, instead, is a scarcely populated beach that paints a traditional, tropical paradise.

Topping the list is a beach unlike any other in Puerto Rico. It's ecosystem is seemingly unrivaled, and there are no hotels to spoil your line of sight. Mona Island is often referred to as the Galapagos Island of the Caribbean, and like the Galapagos, some of the more bizarre species of animals call it home, roaming its land and waters, openly. As a result, the island is closed to tourists during hunting season (January – April).

To add to exclusivity, tours to the island are only offered from May through November and to visit the island, you'll need permits from the Natural Resources and Environmental Department.

Coco Beach is not quite as elusive as Mona Island, but it does share some similar qualities. It offers lingering stretches of virginal beach and colorful contrast between greenery, sand, and vibrant blue ocean. On the beach, however, are as casual scatter of chic resorts; Gran Melia Puerto Rico and Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, just to name a few.

Shacks Beach, also known as Bajuras, of Isabela Island is known for spectacular waters that facilitate the best snorkeling, surfing, and windsurfing in Puerto Rico. What many notice are the sleepy coconut palms that line the beach and offer ideal conditions for napping or relaxing.

Another deserted beach still absent of hotels (we think), is the Northeast Corridor of Luquillo. The island is not as exclusive as Mona and still offers an impressive amount of exotic wildlife and lush vegetation.

What is particularly appealing about the beaches of Puerto Rico is that, save a few of the overdeveloped areas, most of them are incredibly secluded. They project a sensation of unaware onto their visitors. It is a feeling of isolation that is strangely comforting and familiar.