on the water

 

Caribbean Cuties

 

Mr. Caribbean Contest

 

CDC Lifts Restriction

 

This is great news for most American travelers and for the industry in general. Find out more HERE!

Carnaval Finale

 

Birthday Surprise

It's been more than 15 years since I first began this blog. I had been to the DR several times and wanted to start blogging about my experiences and hopefully provide helpful information to readers who were considering a trip of their own. Life has taken us in different directions, presented various challenges and the scene in the DR has changed significantly since I first blogged about it.

The blogging experience has also changed, I don't have the same blog supporters/contributor's I once had and reader's seem to be more interested in skin than other content. And whereas I know you're out there, comments and other interaction has been scant as of late.

15 years is a long time to sustain a blog. I hope you have been enlightened, have laughed, have been made to feel sentimental and above all, have visited my beloved Dominican Republic as a result of something you saw here on the blog.

As I celebrate a milestone I realize it is time for another season to begin. The blog will be winding down as I post the final pictures I have stored. Who knows, I may pop in every blue moon to post my travel experiences. Thank you all for your support. May you always have sunshine, turquoise waters, palm trees and beaches-you know, tropical desires!

New Kind of All-Inclusive

 A new kind of all-inclusive vacation option is coming to Dominica (not to be confused with Dominican Republic) and it is likely the first of its kind in all the Caribbean.

“Fort Young Hotel has always been a gateway to Dominica’s incredible sights and landmarks so it was a natural evolution for us to introduce this All-Inclusive, Island-Included offering,” said Dinesh Kissoon, Fort Young’s general manager. “We wanted to offer travelers to Dominica a truly seamless, effortless and authentic way to experience the local culture, land and sea unlike ever before. Doing an all-inclusive with island included is a way of engaging our community and gives guests a more robust and immersive experience, creating a more sustainable and symbiotic ecosystem.” 

While the 40-room hotel (that number will soon expand to 100 rooms) is not going completely all-inclusive, the program is available to guests who stay for a minimum of five nights, according to the property. 

courtesy of CaribJournal

Expanding Horizons

 In a significant boost to its tourism, the Dutch Caribbean island of Statia has opened its first full-fledged resort hotel. 

The new Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort officially opened its doors at the beginning of this month. 

The resort has a mix of rooms and suites, with amenities including a pool with a sun terrace, a spa, a restaurant, in-room dining and a fitness center. Click HERE for more information, courtesy of CaribJournal.

Plundering Paradise?

 

While reading up on various Caribbean islands I came across this article that is quite insightful and somewhat painful, considering I have been guilty. Read the article HERE.

Great Time For Grenada

 

Grenada is open for tourists and it is bountiful in culture and cuisine. The beaches, resorts, community, food and rum all offer something unique and provides you that authentic Caribbean experience! Read HERE and make your plans now to visit this beautiful island!

Martinique Magnifique!

 

This French Caribbean destination is prepared to offer you a splendid experience. See more HERE.

Ultimate Luxury Caribbean Vacations

 

In the age of social distancing, travelers are placing a premium on privacy — both in their transportation and their accommodations. 

And that’s the reasoning behind the launch of leading luxury villa rental company WIMCO’s new WIMCO Prive’ concierge travel service. 

WIMCO Prive’ works with WIMCO’s longtime partner, Tradewind Aviation, to plan each aspect of the ultimate Caribbean luxury vacation. 

It gives travelers the ability to arrange a “private, luxury and crowd-free travel experience” from their home airports right to the Caribbean, with private aviation on each leg of the trip and a private villa for the vacation itself. 

Source: CaribJournal

Vacation Planning 101

 Be sure to visit the Travel Info Page for helpful tips when planning your vacation to the Dominican Republic. Support the links for great deals and great experiences!

Shutting Down Again

 

The US Virgin Islands is “putting the brakes” on tourism, closing its doors to leisure visitors beginning Aug. 19 for a period of at least one month. 

US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr announced the move, reverting the territory to a “Stay-at-Home” phase of its COVID-19 response for the next two weeks. 

“The recent infiltration of the virus into our residential institutions that house vulnerable members of our population creates an alarming level of risk,” the Governor said. “This adds to the stress of the ongoing pandemic response that seemingly has no end in sight and is wearing out our health care and public safety infrastructure.”

Effective immediately, all hotels, villas, Airbnb accommodations and guest houses, charter vessels and similar businesses have been ordered not to accept or book any new reservations for a month. 

Reservations are only being accepted for business travelers, flight crews, emergency personnel and government workers with written authorization from the government agency they are visiting. 

Beginning Aug. 17 through Aug. 31, all restaurants can only offer takeout, delivery or drive-through, with all bars, nightclubs and cabarets closed. 

St. Maarten Now Open to Americans

Caribbean Journal-

On Aug. 1 St Maarten officially reopened its borders to travelers from the United States, following a July relaunch to Canadian and European tourists and private aviation. 

It should be noted that only St Maarten, the Dutch side of the island, is open to Americans and all other travelers; 

Saint Martin, the French side, has closed its borders to the Dutch side — meaning U.S. visitors are not able to visit the French side of the island right now. 

Most crucially, all travelers to St Maarten must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of their travel date to St Maarten. (All visitors also need to fill out a St Maarten entry form that can be found here). 

The results must be uploaded as part of that form no later than 12 hours prior to departure. 

Visitors who do not provide such a result will be tested and then quarantined for 14 days at their own expense. 

St Maarten has launched six “core measures” to help prevent the spread of COVID.

That includes physical distancing with proper floor markings, mandatory face mask usage, social distancing of 2 meters, proper self-sanitization procedure, the appropriate procedure for cleaning surfaces, a stay-at-home when sick policy, and digital menus and messages, the Ministry of Tourism said. 

St Maarten is requiring all visitors to travel with their masks, hand sanitizers and to wear their mask on their flights and at the airport. 

The destination is also “strongly advising” travelers to purchase all-risk travel insurance “ensuring that they are covered in the event they fall ill while on vacation.”

Barbados Makes Work Easy!

Are you one of millions that are working remotely, whether due to the recent pandemic or not? Are you looking for a change of scenery? Why not consider the island nation of Barbados? They have a new type of Visa that will allow you to work in their country for up to one year. Imagine, all the comforts of a tropical vacation while you work from your island villa or condo!

12 Caribbean Islands That are Open

This LINK presents the Caribbean destinations that are open for tourists at this time. The first, Anguilla, has only had under a hand full of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. The final four are restricting American tourists from entering their borders at this time.

If you are looking to get away before the real probability of most countries shutting down again then this information will be helpful to you as you prepare to vacation in the new normal. There is also a mention of additional documentation or requirements you may need.

Among the list are Anguilla, St. Barts, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, Aruba, Turks & Caicos, Bermuda, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Bonaire and Curacao.

Dive Into Jamaica

One of the major attractions in Jamaica, aside from Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, is the cliff-diving experience at Rick's Café in Negril. You should also consider a bungalow at Rock House Hotel Cottages.

DR Ready to Re-open!

CaribJournal:

The entire country of the Dominican Republic will open up for international tourism beginning July 1, according to Lucien Echavarria, director at the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic.

In an exclusive interview with Caribbean Journal, Echavarria said about 40-50 percent of the country’s hotel inventory would open its doors in July, with the remaining hotels expected to open in November.

Although she couldn’t provide further details about the carrier names at press time, she noted that the destination will receive “several” flights on July 1.

Indeed, Punta Cana International Airport confirmed that it was restarting commercial operations on July 1.

Getting There

With more and more Caribbean destinations re-opening one might ask, but how will I get there?

Antigua & Barbuda joined Jamaica this week as the latest islands to announce they are open for tourists. As others plan to join the growing number of countries loosening restrictions, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines announced they are now providing service to the Caribbean.

Many hotels, airports and sea ports have instituted strict new policies in order to provide travelers a safe and pleasant experience in the new Covid-19 era.

Visit caribjournal for more details.