The simultaneous debut of Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino, Lopesan Serenity Bay Spa & Casino, and Lopesan Splash Cove Spa & Casino introduces a new kind of all-inclusive campus for the Caribbean, with three distinct hotels connected by shared dining, nightlife, entertainment, wellness, and recreation.

The development includes a 417-foot lagoon pool, an adults-only resort, a family water resort with a wave pool and water park, a convention center for more than 2,000 attendees, and The Boulevard, an open-air district with restaurants, cocktail bars, shopping, an 820-seat theater, and a casino.

Each hotel serves a different kind of trip. Families can stay near the water park and wave pool. Adults can choose a quieter resort with its own restaurants and pools. Groups can use a convention center designed for large meetings, weddings, and events. All three hotels connect to the broader Lopesan campus, where the evening can continue through dinner, cocktails, live entertainment, and gaming.

The opening gives the Caribbean all-inclusive category a new model: several separate resorts, each with a defined audience, joined by a central social district with far more than a standard collection of hotel restaurants and bars.

Three Resorts Open at the Same Time

The three openings mark the largest Caribbean expansion in Lopesan’s history and bring the company’s Punta Cana portfolio to four resort experiences, including the existing Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort Spa & Casino.

Lopesan Caoba Lagoon is the largest of the new hotels, with 554 rooms and a water-focused design centered on its 417-foot lagoon pool. The resort includes 10 waterfalls, cenote-inspired details, planted areas, and a series of pools and channels throughout the grounds.

The hotel also includes the new Lopesan Convention Center, with room for more than 2,000 attendees. The venue gives Lopesan a major meetings and events component alongside the leisure hotels, with enough capacity for conferences, incentive groups, weddings, and large celebrations.

The adults-only Lopesan Serenity Bay has 239 rooms, private dining venues, quieter pool areas, and wellness facilities. You can spend the day inside the adults-only hotel, then walk into the larger complex for additional restaurants, cocktails, shows, and nightlife.

The family-focused Lopesan Splash Cove has 242 rooms, a wave pool, water park attractions, sports activities, and entertainment aimed at multigenerational trips. Children get a resort created specifically for them rather than a small club or splash area added to a conventional hotel.

Together, the three properties let Lopesan separate families, adults, groups, and event travelers while keeping them close enough to share meals and entertainment across the wider campus.

A 417-Foot Lagoon Defines Caoba

The long lagoon pool at Lopesan Caoba Lagoon gives the new development its signature image.

The pool stretches for 417 feet, passing waterfalls, landscaped areas, and cenote-inspired architectural details. Its length allows different sections of the resort to open toward the water, giving more rooms and public areas a direct visual connection to the central pool.

A conventional all-inclusive often places one main pool between the hotel and the beach. Caoba uses water across a much larger portion of the property, with the lagoon serving as a visual guide through the resort.

The 10 waterfalls add sound and activity along the pool, while bridges and pathways connect different parts of the hotel. You can spend part of the day near a more active pool area and find quieter corners elsewhere along the lagoon.

The hotel’s 554 rooms also make Caoba the central lodging component of the new campus. Its room count, convention center, and location near the shared restaurants and entertainment venues give it a broad role within the overall development.

An Adults-Only Resort Inside a Larger Caribbean Campus

Lopesan Serenity Bay brings a separate adults-only experience to the complex.

Its 239 rooms are paired with exclusive dining venues, quieter pools, and wellness areas created for couples and adults seeking a calmer stay. The hotel has its own identity, but it remains connected to the dining and entertainment choices elsewhere in the Lopesan complex.

You can have dinner inside Serenity Bay one night, then head to The Boulevard for cocktails or a show the next. The arrangement gives adults a private resort base while keeping a larger collection of venues nearby.

Many all-inclusive hotels place adults-only rooms in a separate wing or reserve one pool for older guests. Serenity Bay operates as a complete hotel, with its own rooms, restaurants, pools, and services.

The distinction gives Lopesan a clear adults-only option inside the same Caribbean destination as its family resort and lagoon-centered hotel. Couples traveling with extended family can choose Serenity Bay while relatives with children stay at Splash Cove. The group can meet later at a restaurant or show.

A Full Water Resort for Families

Lopesan Splash Cove brings the family side of the project into equally clear focus.

The 242-room resort includes a wave pool, water park attractions, sports programming, and entertainment created for children and multigenerational groups.

A family staying here does not have to cross an entire hotel complex each time the children want to return to the water park. The central attractions are part of the resort experience, close to the rooms and other family facilities.

Parents also gain more choices across the larger Lopesan campus. Dinner can take place at Splash Cove or at one of the restaurants along The Boulevard. Older children can attend entertainment in the theater. Extended families can divide among several hotels according to age and preference.

The resort gives Lopesan a direct answer to one of the biggest demands in Caribbean all-inclusive travel: families want more than a children’s club and a shallow pool. They want water attractions, flexible dining, evening entertainment, and enough variety for several generations traveling together.

Splash Cove places those needs at the center of the hotel.

The Boulevard Changes the All-Inclusive Evening

The most distinctive part of the Lopesan campus may be The Boulevard, an open-air promenade with restaurants, cocktail bars, shops, nightlife venues, an 820-seat theater, and a casino.

The district operates more like a town center than a conventional hotel lobby. Individual venues line the promenade, giving you several places to visit during one evening.

Dinner can lead to drinks at another bar, followed by a live performance or a visit to the casino. Families can meet after spending the day at separate pools. Couples from Serenity Bay can join friends staying at Caoba. Conference attendees can continue an event at a restaurant or cocktail venue.

The experience creates a stronger sense of choice than the standard all-inclusive pattern of one buffet, several reservation restaurants, and a nightly show near the lobby.

The Boulevard also gives the three resorts a common center. Each hotel retains its own pools, rooms, restaurants, and daily atmosphere, while the promenade provides a shared destination after sunset.

This kind of central district has appeared in some large resorts, but Lopesan has made it one of the main components of the overall project. The theater, casino, restaurants, bars, and shops form a complete evening circuit rather than a small retail corridor.

A Different Answer to the Caribbean All-Inclusive

The Caribbean all-inclusive has grown more specialized in recent years. Adults-only resorts serve couples. Family hotels add water parks. Luxury properties introduce private clubs and upgraded room categories. Large convention resorts create separate group facilities.

Lopesan has placed all of those ideas inside one connected campus.

Caoba Lagoon provides the long lagoon pool and meeting facilities. Serenity Bay gives adults a separate hotel. Splash Cove gives families a full water resort. The Boulevard connects all three through dining, entertainment, nightlife, and shopping.

The result lets travelers select a hotel according to the vacation they want while keeping the wider campus within walking distance.

A couple can choose the adults-only resort and still dine across the complex. A family can remain near the water park while grandparents choose a quieter hotel. A corporate group can use the convention center while attendees stay in different properties according to preference.

The arrangement also gives Lopesan more freedom to design each hotel for a specific audience. Splash Cove does not need to reserve part of its pool area for adults seeking quiet. Serenity Bay does not need to balance couples with water slides and children’s entertainment. Caoba can serve leisure travelers, groups, and events around the lagoon and convention center.

Each hotel has a clear role.

More Than 1,000 New Rooms in One Opening

The simultaneous debut adds 1,035 rooms across the three resorts: 554 at Caoba Lagoon, 239 at Serenity Bay, and 242 at Splash Cove.

The project follows an investment of more than $350 million and adds a major new inventory of all-inclusive rooms to the Dominican Republic.

Lopesan says the initial opening phase has created about 700 jobs, with more than 1,100 positions expected once the complex reaches full operating capacity.

The company is also pursuing AAA Four Diamond recognition for the new resorts, matching the designation already held by The Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort Spa & Casino.

The opening expands Lopesan’s Caribbean presence well beyond a single large resort. The company now has four distinct hotels in the destination, including adult, family, group, and broad leisure options.

The López family, founders of the Spain-based hotel company, has continued to invest in the Dominican Republic as one of Lopesan’s primary Caribbean destinations.

What the New Model Means for Caribbean Travel

The Lopesan opening arrives with the Caribbean all-inclusive category continuing to expand beyond the traditional single-hotel formula.

Travelers increasingly expect specialized experiences inside large resorts. Couples want quiet pools and adult dining. Families want water attractions and flexible restaurants. Groups need meeting facilities and social venues. Multigenerational parties want to stay close while choosing different room and resort experiences.

The Lopesan campus addresses each of those demands through separate hotels rather than trying to place every guest inside the same property.

Its physical features make the concept easy to understand: a 417-foot lagoon pool, a wave pool and water park, an adults-only resort, a convention center for more than 2,000 people, and a promenade with an 820-seat theater and casino.

Those elements give the new complex a profile far beyond another large Caribbean all-inclusive opening.

You choose among three hotels, then decide how much of the wider campus you want to use. Some days may remain centered on the lagoon, the water park, or the adults-only pool. Other days can end along The Boulevard with dinner, cocktails, live entertainment, and the casino.

The three resorts now open a new chapter for Lopesan in the Caribbean and introduce a model other all-inclusive developers will study: distinct hotels for distinct trips, joined by one large dining and entertainment district.

Prices for rooms at the Lopesan around $304 per night, based on what I found on Google Hotels. 

The post A New Kind of Caribbean All-Inclusive Just Opened With Three Resorts, Swim-Up Rooms, and an Adults-Only Hotel appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Starting this fall, reaching all of it will get considerably easier from several major U.S. markets.

BermudAir is launching 5 new nonstop routes to Belize, connecting the country with Boston, Raleigh-Durham, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando Sanford, and St. Petersburg-Clearwater near Tampa Bay. The flights will operate to Philip Goldson International Airport outside Belize City, with the first new service beginning in October and the remaining routes starting during the December holiday period.

The expansion gives Belize a significant collection of new nonstop links ahead of the winter travel season, including new options from New England, North Carolina, and 3 different Florida gateways.

Fort Lauderdale Gets the First New Belize Flight

The first route begins Oct. 26, when BermudAir starts flying between Fort Lauderdale and Belize.

Initial service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The southbound flight is scheduled to leave Fort Lauderdale at 11 a.m., arriving in Belize at 11:30 a.m. local time during the initial schedule period.

BermudAir’s current published schedule shows adjustments later in the season, including service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays beginning in December.

Fort Lauderdale already serves as one of South Florida’s major Caribbean gateways, and the addition gives travelers another nonstop choice for reaching Belize during the heart of the winter season.

The route also arrives early enough in the day to continue deeper into the country. From Philip Goldson International Airport, domestic flights connect with places including San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and Dangriga.

Boston Will Have a New Nonstop to Belize

The Boston route begins Dec. 19, bringing a new winter option to New England travelers looking south.

BermudAir plans to fly Boston to Belize on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the flight leaving Boston at 11:15 a.m. The airline’s current schedule lists an afternoon arrival in Belize.

The return is an overnight operation, departing Belize at 11:50 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays and arriving in Boston the following morning.

The route creates a particularly useful option for winter trips. A Wednesday departure can turn Belize into a midweek-to-weekend getaway, while Saturday service fits a traditional weeklong Caribbean vacation.

Once you arrive, you have several very different versions of Belize available within the same trip.

Ambergris Caye gives you San Pedro’s restaurants, beach resorts, dive shops, golf carts, and quick boat trips toward the Belize Barrier Reef. Caye Caulker offers a much smaller island experience with sandy lanes, bicycles, casual seafood restaurants, and boats heading out for snorkeling trips.

Head west instead and you reach the forests, rivers, caves, and Maya archaeological sites of the Cayo District, including Xunantunich near San Ignacio.

Raleigh-Durham Is Joining the Belize Map

BermudAir is also adding Raleigh-Durham to Belize, with the first southbound flight scheduled for Dec. 21.

Flights from Raleigh-Durham to Belize are scheduled for Mondays and Fridays. Return service from Belize operates on Thursdays and Sundays, creating several possible trip lengths for North Carolina travelers.

The route is scheduled to operate seasonally into spring 2027.

The new flight is part of a wider BermudAir Caribbean expansion at Raleigh-Durham, where the airline is also introducing service to Turks and Caicos.

Belize gives the North Carolina market a very different trip proposition. You could pair San Ignacio and Ambergris Caye, spend a full vacation in Placencia, or use Belize City as the starting point for a combination of inland exploration and a few days on a caye.

A seven-night trip, for example, could put you in western Belize for Maya sites, caves, and jungle lodges before a domestic flight carries you to San Pedro.

Tampa Bay Is Getting a Nonstop Belize Flight, Too

Another major addition comes from Florida’s Gulf Coast.

BermudAir will connect St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport with Belize, giving the greater Tampa Bay region a new nonstop option beginning in December.

Belize-to-St. Petersburg-Clearwater service starts Dec. 18, while the first southbound flight from Florida is scheduled for Dec. 20.

The airline currently lists southbound service on Sundays and additional Thursday flights during part of the winter schedule. Northbound frequencies vary by date as well.

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport gives the route a different catchment area from BermudAir’s Fort Lauderdale service, drawing travelers from Tampa Bay and communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

A Sunday flight to Belize also creates an easy starting point for a full-week trip, particularly if your plans include Placencia, San Pedro, or the Cayo District.

Orlando Sanford Adds Another Florida Gateway

Central Florida is part of the expansion as well.

BermudAir will launch service connecting Orlando Sanford International Airport and Belize beginning in December.

The initial Belize-to-Orlando Sanford flight is scheduled for Dec. 20, followed by the first Orlando Sanford-to-Belize departure on Dec. 21.

The southbound flight is initially scheduled for Mondays, departing Orlando Sanford at 11:45 a.m. and arriving in Belize at 1:25 p.m. Return flights begin with Sunday service, with additional frequencies appearing later in the season under BermudAir’s published schedule.

The use of Orlando Sanford adds another airport choice for Central Florida travelers, particularly those north and east of Orlando.

With Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Orlando Sanford all joining the network, Florida will account for 3 of BermudAir’s 5 new U.S.-Belize gateways.

BermudAir Will Fly Embraer E190 Aircraft

BermudAir plans to operate the routes with its Embraer E190 aircraft, the regional jet type the carrier uses across much of its expanding network.

The airline began in Bermuda and has increasingly grown beyond its home market into leisure routes connecting North America and the Caribbean.

Belize represents another step in the carrier’s broader regional network.

BermudAir Founder and CEO Adam Scott described Belize as part of the airline’s growing portfolio of leisure destinations, with the carrier positioning itself toward travelers headed from North America into the Caribbean region.

The Belize Tourism Board is partnering with BermudAir on the new service.

Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler said the 5 routes would open Belize to millions of potential travelers in the newly connected U.S. markets, pointing to the country’s reef, Maya heritage, and resort options among the major draws.

There’s Also a New Belize-Guatemala Connection

The expansion includes another intriguing route beyond the United States.

Beginning Dec. 19, BermudAir will operate a nonstop flight between Belize and Guatemala City on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The current schedule has the Belize-to-Guatemala City flight leaving at 4:10 p.m. during the opening portion of the season, with the return departing Guatemala City at 9:55 p.m.

The flight creates a new way to pair 2 neighboring Central American countries on one vacation.

You could spend several days in Belize and continue to Guatemala City, or use the route as part of a longer trip incorporating Guatemala’s historic and archaeological destinations.

It also expands BermudAir’s Belize operation beyond simple U.S. point-to-point flying, with Philip Goldson International Airport becoming part of a wider network involving Central America and the Caribbean.

What Can You Do Once You Land in Belize?

The new flights become especially useful because Belize offers several very different trips within a relatively compact country.

If you want diving and island restaurants, San Pedro on Ambergris Caye remains the country’s best-known resort center. Boats leave regularly for snorkeling and diving trips on the Belize Barrier Reef, while San Pedro itself gives you beach hotels, restaurants, bars, and golf-cart transportation across the island.

Caye Caulker delivers a smaller alternative. You’ll find sandy streets, bicycles, waterfront restaurants, guesthouses, and boats heading toward nearby reef sites.

The inland experience changes completely around San Ignacio, where trips can include Xunantunich, caves, rivers, and forest reserves. Hotels and lodges throughout the Cayo District also make it easy to spend several nights inland before continuing toward the coast or islands.

Farther south, Placencia has become one of Belize’s leading resort destinations, with a growing collection of boutique hotels, beachfront resorts, restaurants, dive operators, and excursions into southern Belize.

You can also head toward Hopkins, explore Garifuna culture, visit wildlife reserves, or use the coast as a base for snorkeling and diving.

A Much Bigger Winter Flight Map for Belize

Most of BermudAir’s new Belize flying arrives just as winter travel demand begins accelerating.

Boston starts Dec. 19. St. Petersburg-Clearwater southbound service begins Dec. 20. Raleigh-Durham and Orlando Sanford follow on Dec. 21. Fort Lauderdale arrives nearly 2 months earlier, beginning Oct. 26.

The airline’s published schedules extend many of the routes through spring 2027, although individual days and departure times change during the season.

If you live near one of the 5 new gateways, the practical result is a much shorter trip to Belize: board in your home market and land at Philip Goldson International Airport, with domestic flights, boats, shuttles, and rental cars ready for the next leg.

A Saturday flight from Boston can lead to dinner in San Pedro later in the trip. A Monday departure from Raleigh-Durham can put you close to the Maya sites of western Belize by the following day. A Sunday departure from the Tampa Bay area can start a week split between Placencia and the cayes.

By late December, BermudAir will have created one of Belize’s most notable bursts of new U.S. nonstop service in a single season, adding 5 gateways across Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Florida just as travelers begin planning winter escapes.

The post Belize Is Getting 5 New Nonstop U.S. Routes, Including Boston, Raleigh-Durham, and 3 Florida Gateways appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the subject line, including your first and last name and the location of the photo.

It could be the next Caribbean Photo of the Week!

The post Caribbean Photo of the Week: Sunrise at the Buccaneer in St Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The 31-room hotel near Paunch Beach in Bocas del Toro brings Balinese-inspired villas, three restaurants, a yoga shala, a spa, and a broad program of wellness experiences to the SLH portfolio. Its addition gives the hotel group a new boutique address in one of the Caribbean’s most distinctive island regions.

The property occupies a tropical parcel along the route toward Bluff Beach on Isla Colón, the main island in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. Wooden walkways cross gardens filled with palms and dense vegetation, while rooms and villas look toward the Caribbean or the trees surrounding the hotel.

SLH’s arrival adds an international reservations platform and member benefits to a hotel already known for adults-only stays, private villas, yoga retreats, and a close connection to the reefs, beaches, and surf breaks of Bocas del Toro.

A New SLH Address in Bocas del Toro

Small Luxury Hotels of the World represents more than 700 independent hotels across more than 100 countries. La Coralina joins the group as a fully operating hotel, with 31 rooms across two floors, three restaurants, a bar, a pool, a spa, and complimentary transfers from Bocas del Toro International Airport.

The affiliation places the hotel within SLH’s global reservations network while preserving its independent identity. Travelers using SLH Club can reserve eligible rates and receive applicable benefits during stays at the property.

La Coralina’s addition also expands the hotel group’s presence in the Caribbean basin. Bocas del Toro offers a different type of island trip from the region’s larger resort destinations, with water taxis connecting beaches, towns, restaurants, reefs, and hotels spread across separate islands.

The hotel’s location on Isla Colón gives you a base near Bocas Town while keeping the main guest areas surrounded by palms, tropical gardens, and Caribbean views.

What Is La Coralina Island House Like?

The property takes many of its design cues from Bali. Hand-carved teak, woven fabrics, smooth stone, pitched roofs, and natural wood appear throughout the rooms, villas, restaurants, and public areas.

Wooden paths pass beneath tropical vegetation, linking the accommodations with the pool, yoga shala, spa, and dining areas. Open-air sections bring in the sea breeze, and balconies face the gardens or Caribbean.

The hotel’s adults-only policy shapes the experience across the property. Couples, honeymooners, solo wellness travelers, and groups attending organized retreats make up much of the guest mix.

There are no large accommodation blocks or crowded entertainment areas. Rooms and villas appear among the trees, with different categories offering terraces, ocean views, private Jacuzzis, or pools.

The location near Paunch Beach also attracts surfers who want to stay close to one of Isla Colón’s principal breaks while retaining the services of a boutique hotel.

Inside the 31 Rooms and Villas

The accommodation collection begins with Standard Rooms and progresses through Superior Rooms, Deluxe Ocean View Rooms, and several villa categories.

Standard Rooms sleep two and include queen beds, balconies, air conditioning, white linens, and wood furnishings. Tropical vegetation surrounds many of these rooms, giving balconies a view into the gardens.

Superior Rooms add king beds and more generous interiors. Stone bathrooms, carved wood, neutral fabrics, and terraces appear throughout the category.

The Deluxe Room Ocean View places the Caribbean beyond the bedroom and balcony. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light, while the white and neutral interior keeps attention on the sea.

Villa categories offer additional privacy and larger outdoor areas. The One-Bedroom Villas include separate bedroom and lounge areas, while Superior Villas and Deluxe Villas provide larger terraces and select private pools.

Some villas rise above the lower gardens, placing their balconies near the palm canopy. Others occupy positions closer to the restaurants, pool, and spa.

Private Jacuzzis appear in select accommodations, allowing you to watch the changing Caribbean light from your terrace. Room placement and views vary, so travelers seeking a specific outlook should confirm the category before reserving.

A Hotel Centered on Wellness

Wellness extends across much of the experience at La Coralina.

The hotel offers yoga, meditation, breathwork, sound healing, cacao ceremonies, massage, and holistic therapies. Sessions take place in the yoga shala, treatment rooms, gardens, and open-air areas around the property.

The yoga shala provides a dedicated venue for scheduled classes, private instruction, and multi-day retreats. Programs may focus on yoga, meditation, nutrition, personal wellbeing, or a blend of practices led by visiting instructors.

Sound healing sessions and cacao ceremonies give the hotel a more extensive wellness calendar than many small Caribbean properties. You can participate in individual sessions during a regular vacation or reserve a retreat with daily programming.

Spa treatments include massages, body therapies, and rituals using oils, plants, and other natural ingredients. The hotel’s small room count helps preserve a quieter atmosphere around the treatment areas and yoga pavilion.

You can also create a lighter wellness itinerary by combining a yoga class with breakfast, a boat trip, and an afternoon treatment. The program allows guests to choose how deeply they want to participate.

Dining at The Coralina Restaurant

The main dining experience comes at The Coralina Restaurant, where local seafood, Panamanian flavors, tropical fruit, vegetables, herbs, and regional ingredients shape the menu.

Fresh fish and shellfish appear across lunch and dinner offerings, joined by ceviches, grilled dishes, rice preparations, salads, and plates influenced by Caribbean and Latin American cooking.

Breakfast includes fruit, juices, coffee, eggs, and lighter dishes suited to a day of snorkeling, diving, surfing, or yoga.

SLH lists three restaurants at the hotel, giving travelers several dining options during longer stays. The property also has a bar serving cocktails, wine, and other drinks near the primary guest areas.

Open-air tables place you beside the gardens and Caribbean air. The emphasis remains on regional ingredients and seafood sourced from local suppliers whenever available.

Dining at the hotel is particularly useful after a full-day boat trip, when returning to Bocas Town for dinner may have less appeal. You can finish the day at the property, then walk back through the gardens to your room or villa.

What Can You Do Around the Hotel?

Bocas del Toro spreads across a network of islands, cays, reefs, mangroves, and Caribbean beaches near Panama’s border with Costa Rica.

Isla Colón contains Bocas Town, Bocas del Toro International Airport, Paunch Beach, Bluff Beach, Starfish Beach, restaurants, hotels, and many of the archipelago’s tour operators.

La Coralina lies near Paunch Beach, a well-known surf area with reef breaks that draw experienced surfers during favorable swells. Surf schools and board rentals operate across Isla Colón, though conditions near Paunch require an honest assessment of ability.

Farther along the same side of the island, Bluff Beach offers a long stretch of sand backed by palms and tropical vegetation. The surf can be powerful, making swimming conditions highly dependent on the day.

Water taxis and tour boats open up the rest of the archipelago. Popular excursions include snorkeling trips, reef tours, dolphin watching, mangrove channels, beach visits, and stops on neighboring islands.

Bastimentos National Marine Park protects reefs, mangroves, beaches, and marine habitats around Isla Bastimentos and nearby cays. Guided boat trips often include snorkeling areas selected according to visibility and sea conditions.

Red Frog Beach remains one of the region’s best-known destinations. Boats reach the island from Bocas Town, followed by a walk through tropical forest to the beach.

Starfish Beach, on Isla Colón’s calmer side, has shallow water and casual restaurants along the sand. The beach can become busy during peak periods, so an earlier arrival often provides a quieter visit.

Private charters allow you to spend more time at individual snorkeling locations or choose a route focused on quieter beaches and waterfront restaurants.

Bocas Town by Water Taxi

Bocas Town serves as the archipelago’s main hub, with colorful wooden buildings, overwater restaurants, small bars, cafés, dive shops, and docks used by water taxis.

The town gives La Coralina guests additional dining and nightlife choices during longer stays. Water taxis travel frequently between Bocas Town, Carenero, Bastimentos, Solarte, and other nearby islands.

Restaurants across town serve Caribbean seafood, Panamanian dishes, pizza, sushi, tacos, and international menus. Casual waterfront bars provide views of boats crossing between islands.

You can spend part of the day in town, continue by boat to Carenero or Bastimentos, then return to La Coralina for dinner or a spa treatment.

The hotel’s position outside the town center provides separation from the busier docks and nightlife while keeping shops, tour operators, and restaurants within reach by taxi.

How Do You Get to La Coralina?

Most international travelers arrive in Panama through Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.

Domestic flights to Bocas del Toro depart from Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport in the Albrook district. Travelers connecting between the two airports should allow enough time for the cross-city transfer.

The flight from Panama City to Bocas del Toro International Airport takes roughly one hour. La Coralina is approximately 6 kilometers from the airport, and the hotel’s SLH listing includes complimentary airport transfers.

An overland option connects Panama City or Costa Rica with Almirante on the mainland. Water taxis then travel from Almirante to Bocas Town. The journey takes considerably longer and best suits travelers combining Bocas del Toro with other parts of western Panama or southern Costa Rica.

Once you reach Isla Colón, taxis connect the airport and Bocas Town with Paunch Beach, Bluff Beach, and hotels along the island.

Who Should Stay Here?

La Coralina is best suited to adults seeking a small Caribbean hotel with villas, wellness programming, and direct proximity to Bocas del Toro’s outdoor experiences.

Couples can reserve an ocean-view room or private villa, spend a day snorkeling around Bastimentos, and return for dinner at The Coralina Restaurant.

Honeymooners may prefer the villa categories with private Jacuzzis or pools. Solo travelers can join scheduled yoga sessions, meditation programs, or organized retreats.

Surfers gain a location near Paunch and Bluff, while divers and snorkelers can arrange excursions through local operators.

Travelers seeking children’s clubs, large entertainment programs, or a conventional all-inclusive resort will need a different property. La Coralina focuses on adults, quiet common areas, spa treatments, restaurants, yoga, and island excursions.

The property is listed as pet-friendly, though current rules, size restrictions, and eligible room categories should be confirmed before arrival.

Why the SLH Addition Is Significant

The new affiliation brings one of Bocas del Toro’s most distinctive independent hotels into a major boutique collection.

SLH travelers now have a 31-room option in Panama’s Caribbean archipelago, with private villas, three restaurants, a spa, yoga programming, and complimentary airport transfers.

The hotel also gives Bocas del Toro another international distribution channel at a point when travelers are seeking smaller properties and island destinations beyond the Caribbean’s principal resort centers.

La Coralina retains the details that define the stay: teak doors, garden paths, sea-view balconies, cacao ceremonies, locally caught seafood, and boats heading toward the reefs around Bastimentos.

Its new SLH membership places the hotel before a larger international audience. The experience remains rooted in Bocas del Toro, from the surf near Paunch Beach to the water taxis crossing between Isla Colón, Carenero, and Bastimentos.

Prices at La Coralina

I found rates as low as $281 — that seems attractive, and let’s be honest — it reflects that this isn’t the easiest property to get to. But when you arrive, the experience is far above that price point. Of course, you can also get it on Hilton points.

The post This Hotel on a Caribbean Island in Panama Just Joined SLH — And You Can Now Book It With Hilton Honors Points appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Most people know Paradise Island before they ever see it.

They know the pink towers of Atlantis Paradise Island. They know Aquaventure, the casino, the marine habitats and the restaurants. They know The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas, one of the Caribbean’s best-known luxury hotels.

A lot fewer people know the name Cabbage Beach.

That’s surprising, because it runs for nearly two miles along the same island, right beside some of the most famous resort real estate in the Caribbean.

You don’t have to take a boat to a remote cay. You don’t have to fly to an obscure corner of The Bahamas. You can stay at one of the region’s most famous resorts, walk toward the sand and find a beach that deserves to be mentioned with the best anywhere.

Cabbage Beach is hiding in plain sight on Paradise Island.

The sand is soft and white. The beach is broad in many sections. There’s enough length to keep walking past the busiest clusters of chairs and umbrellas, and farther stretches can become considerably quieter.

Then there’s the water.

On calmer days, the shallows take on the bright turquoise and aquamarine colors associated with The Bahamas, with deeper Atlantic blue farther offshore.

It’s the kind of beach people plan entire vacations around.

Here, somehow, it often gets treated as an extra.

How Is a Beach This Good Still Overlooked?

Paradise Island has a visibility problem of the best possible kind.

There are too many famous things competing for attention.

At Atlantis Paradise Island, Aquaventure covers 141 acres, with waterslides, river rides and 14 pools. The resort also has marine habitats, multiple hotels and more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, including Fish by José Andrés, Nobu and Paranza by Michael White.

A lot of vacations are planned around those attractions before travelers ever think about the beach.

Then there’s The Ocean Club, with its 35-acre grounds, Versailles-inspired gardens, Augustinian cloisters, golf course and DUNE by Jean-Georges.

Paradise Island already has enough marquee names to fill an itinerary.

Cabbage Beach can get lost among them.

Walk onto the sand, though, and the hierarchy changes quickly.

You’ve got nearly two miles in front of you. You can find a place near the resort activity, swim, dry off, keep walking and stop again farther down.

The beach is far bigger than the quick glimpse many Paradise Island visitors ever see.

Nearly Two Miles Changes the Beach Day

Length is one of Cabbage Beach’s biggest advantages.

A small Caribbean beach can become crowded quickly. Cabbage Beach gives you far more room.

Sections near hotels can be busy, with loungers, umbrellas, vendors and water activities. Keep walking east and the clusters begin to spread out. There’s more open sand between groups. The resort buildings become less dominant behind you.

You can cover a surprising amount of ground before turning around.

The beach is especially good if you like to spend part of the day walking instead of staying in one chair.

Near the sea, the sand is firmer underfoot. Higher up, it becomes softer and deeper. Parasails pass overhead. Jet skis appear in some sections. Other parts are much quieter.

If you want more open sand, keep going.

That’s where Cabbage Beach starts to separate itself from many resort beaches.

You’re not confined to the section directly in front of your hotel.

Paradise Island Beach Club Is on a Quieter Part of It

One of the most interesting places to stay near Cabbage Beach is The Paradise Island Beach Club.

The smaller property has just 44 two-bedroom villas, each with a kitchen, living area and private balcony or patio.

That makes it very different from the giant resort experience farther west.

There are two heated outdoor pools, including a main pool with a swim-up bar, and the beach is steps from the villas. Beach service includes lounge chairs, umbrellas, food and drinks.

The resort also has The Reef Restaurant Bar and Grill and Cabbage Beach Bar & Grill.

If the beach is the main reason you’re coming to Paradise Island, the smaller villa format makes a lot of sense, particularly if you’re traveling with family or friends and want a kitchen and living room.

You’re still close to Atlantis and the rest of Paradise Island, but the immediate area is quieter.

Then There’s the Water

Eventually, every Cabbage Beach story gets here.

The colors can be extraordinary.

Near shore, the water can be nearly transparent. A little farther out, it turns turquoise and aquamarine before becoming deeper blue toward the Atlantic.

The white sand underneath intensifies the color.

Cabbage Beach does face the Atlantic, which means conditions can vary considerably. Some days bring gentle waves and easy swimming. Other days can be much more active.

If you’re traveling with younger children, check the surf before going in.

When conditions are calm, the swimming can be exceptional.

You can walk out over a sandy bottom, float in warm water and look back toward a beach lined with palms, umbrellas and low resort buildings.

It’s one of the classic Bahamas beach scenes, right in the middle of Paradise Island.

The Ocean Club Is the Luxury Classic

If your version of Paradise Island means old-school Caribbean luxury, The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas remains the obvious choice.

The hotel has 107 accommodations across 35 acres, including rooms, suites and villa residences.

Its restored Augustinian cloisters and Versailles-inspired gardens are among the island’s most distinctive sights, while DUNE by Jean-Georges remains one of Paradise Island’s signature dining addresses.

There are also three pools, tennis and the Ocean Club Golf Course.

The hotel occupies a lower-key part of Paradise Island than Atlantis, with Cabbage Beach nearby.

If your trip is centered on golf, long lunches, garden walks and beach time, it’s one of the Caribbean’s strongest luxury options.

Atlantis Is the Full Resort Experience

Then there’s Atlantis Paradise Island.

If you’re traveling with children or want a vacation packed with activities, few Caribbean resorts have as much going on in one place.

Aquaventure alone can fill a day.

There are waterslides, river rides, pools and marine habitats across the resort. Atlantis also has multiple lodging choices, including The Royal, The Coral, The Cove, The Reef and Harborside Resort.

Dining is another major part of the trip.

You can reserve dinner at Nobu, eat seafood at Fish by José Andrés or try Paranza by Michael White.

It’s entirely possible to spend several days at Atlantis and barely leave the property.

Cabbage Beach is a good reason to do exactly that.

Walk east from the resort activity and Paradise Island starts to look very different.

Can You Visit Cabbage Beach From Nassau?

Yes.

Paradise Island is connected to Nassau by bridge, so Cabbage Beach can easily be part of a trip even if you’re staying elsewhere on New Providence.

You can spend part of the day in Nassau, visit the Queen’s Staircase, Fort Fincastle or the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, then head across to Paradise Island.

Arawak Cay is also worth adding if you want conch salad, cracked conch, fried fish and other Bahamian dishes.

The trip between Nassau and Paradise Island is short enough to make both part of the same vacation.

That proximity is another reason Cabbage Beach is so remarkable.

Some of the Caribbean’s great beaches require a small plane, a ferry or a long transfer.

This one is beside one of the busiest tourism districts in The Bahamas.

Does Cabbage Beach Belong With the World’s Best?

Beach rankings are always subjective, of course. We know that. But this one is definitely one of the best on the planet. Period. We’ve seen more beaches in the Caribbean than just about anybody, and this one is right around the top. 

You’ve got nearly two miles of white sand.

You’ve got sections where the crowds thin considerably.

You’ve got superb swimming when the Atlantic is calm.

You’ve got three very different ways to stay nearby: the huge resort experience of Atlantis, the luxury of The Ocean Club, and the smaller 44-villa Paradise Island Beach Club.

And you have Nassau right across the harbor.

The strange part is how little Cabbage Beach dominates the Paradise Island conversation.

People plan trips here for Atlantis. They make restaurant reservations. They schedule Aquaventure days. They reserve tee times.

Then they walk onto Cabbage Beach and find nearly two miles of white sand beside all of it.

One of the best beaches on earth has been here the whole time, hidden in plain sight on Paradise Island.

The post One of the Best Beaches on Earth Is Hidden in Plain Sight on Paradise Island in The Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Every itinerary aboard MSC Opera will include a call at Catalina Island, where a newly enhanced beach destination called Catalina Sugar Beach is preparing to open the same month. The project brings cabanas, new dining, 2 bars, water sports, upgraded visitor facilities, and a new nature trail to an island already known for snorkeling and white-sand beaches.

The weekly departures from La Romana, Dominican Republic, represent MSC Cruises’ first year-round sailing program in the Southern Caribbean. Travelers will be able to take 7-night cruises or connect consecutive itineraries into a 14-night “butterfly” cruise, with Catalina Sugar Beach included each week.

MSC is also giving travelers another reason to spend extra days in La Romana. The cruise line is offering pre- and post-cruise hotel stays in the destination, opening the door to trips pairing an MSC Opera sailing with Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Bayahibe, Altos de Chavón, and the beaches and islands along this part of the Dominican Republic.

Catalina Sugar Beach adds an island day directly into the cruise.

MSC Opera Is Getting a New Dominican Republic Homeport

MSC Opera will begin sailing from La Romana in November, with weekly departures through a Southern Caribbean network MSC says will operate year-round.

It is a significant expansion for a destination long associated with resort vacations, golf trips, villas, and excursions to nearby Catalina Island and Saona Island.

Homeporting changes the role La Romana plays in the itinerary. You begin and end your cruise in the Dominican Republic rather than visiting for a few hours during a port call, creating an easy reason to add a hotel stay before embarkation or after the cruise.

MSC is already promoting La Romana through its Stay & Cruise program, with 2- or 3-night hotel stays available in connection with MSC Opera departures.

A longer trip could include several nights in the Dominican Republic, a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise, and a return to La Romana at the end.

And MSC is giving Catalina Island a recurring role in every itinerary.

Every MSC Opera Sailing Will Call at Catalina Island

Catalina Island lies just offshore from La Romana, reached by boat across the Caribbean. It has been a popular excursion from Casa de Campo and the surrounding resort area for years, particularly among travelers interested in snorkeling and diving.

Beginning in November, MSC Opera will call at Catalina Sugar Beach on every itinerary.

MSC describes the stop as an island experience reached by a short boat transfer from the ship, with beaches, cabanas, bars, lunch, snorkeling, and organized excursions.

The destination will be reserved for MSC passengers while the line’s ships are anchored at Catalina, giving the weekly stop some of the characteristics of a private-island day within a broader Southern Caribbean cruise.

Travelers staying at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas will also be able to visit Catalina Sugar Beach, extending the new facilities beyond the cruise program.

What Is Changing at Catalina Sugar Beach?

The Catalina Island project is being operated in partnership with CTL Maritime and Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, with completion planned for November.

The changes center on making a full beach day easier to customize once you arrive.

A new open-air beach pavilion will serve as the island’s principal dining venue, with a buffet featuring international dishes and Dominican specialties. A shaded outdoor dining area beside it will provide tables facing the sea.

There will also be 2 bars, including a tropical open-air palapa bar where you can stop for drinks between swims or spend part of the day under the shade.

A Water Sports Center will rent equipment for exploring the surrounding water, while new daybeds and cabanas will be available for travelers who want a dedicated place on the beach.

Changing rooms, showers, and restrooms are also being upgraded ahead of the November debut.

The additions leave Catalina’s core attraction intact: you come here for the Caribbean Sea.

Snorkeling Is Still One of Catalina’s Big Draws

Catalina has long attracted snorkelers and divers because of the marine life around the island, and MSC is making water-based excursions an important part of the new stop.

You’ll be able to join snorkeling excursions, take a catamaran trip through the surrounding waters, or rent equipment from the new water sports center and spend more of the visit near the beach.

MSC’s Catalina Island program describes snorkeling encounters with tropical fish and sea turtles among the possibilities offshore.

Casa de Campo already operates regular excursions to Catalina from the La Romana area, reinforcing the island’s role as one of the natural day trips from the resort.

The new facilities give MSC passengers a choice between an organized excursion and a simpler beach day. You can spend several hours swimming and snorkeling, return to your cabana, have lunch at the pavilion, and stay on Catalina until the transfer back to the ship.

You Can Rent a Cabana for the Day

The arrival of rental cabanas and daybeds is one of the most useful changes if your idea of a cruise stop involves staying close to the water.

The cabanas will provide a dedicated base during the visit, particularly for couples and families planning to spend nearly the entire call on Catalina.

You can swim, snorkel, have lunch, visit one of the bars, and return to the same place between activities.

The option also gives Casa de Campo travelers another way to turn Catalina into a full island excursion during a resort stay.

Casa de Campo currently offers Catalina Island beach trips from the resort, and Catalina remains a regular part of its boating and excursion program. The enhanced destination adds dining and day-use facilities for travelers who want to spend several hours there.

There’s More Beyond the Beach

Catalina Sugar Beach will also introduce a walking path through the island’s vegetation, with signs identifying local tree species along the way.

The route will reach elevated clearings overlooking the beach and surrounding island landscape, giving you something to do between time in the water.

Longer shore excursions will extend beyond Catalina itself.

Plans include boat trips to Saona Island, another major offshore destination in the southeastern Dominican Republic, along with visits to the Cave of Wonders and Altos de Chavón.

Altos de Chavón is part of Casa de Campo and remains one of La Romana’s most distinctive attractions, with stone streets, galleries, restaurants, shops, an archaeological museum, and a large open-air amphitheater above the Chavón River.

The variety gives MSC passengers several ways to use a Catalina call. Some travelers will stay on the beach all day. Others can use the stop as the starting point for a wider excursion through this corner of the Dominican Republic.

La Romana Can Become Part of the Vacation Before the Cruise

The homeport is where MSC’s new program gets especially interesting for travelers.

La Romana has a deep resort inventory led by Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, the sprawling resort known for villas, golf, a marina, Minitas Beach, and Altos de Chavón.

Casa de Campo also gi9ves you one of the most natural pairings with the new cruise program because of its existing relationship with Catalina Island.

You could stay at Casa de Campo before an MSC Opera sailing, spend time at Minitas Beach, play golf, have dinner around the Casa de Campo Marina or Altos de Chavón, and then embark in La Romana for a week through the Southern Caribbean.

MSC is actively promoting the idea through its La Romana Stay & Cruise offering, giving passengers the option of adding hotel nights around their sailing.

The Dominican Republic portion of the trip no longer has to end when you board the ship. MSC Opera returns to La Romana at the end of the cruise, giving you another opportunity to stay in the destination afterward.

Why MSC’s Year-Round La Romana Program Is Different

MSC already has a major Caribbean presence, including Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, and its Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas.

La Romana brings the cruise line into a different part of the region.

A Southern Caribbean program can reach islands and ports that fit naturally into itineraries from the Dominican Republic, while the homeport itself brings beaches, resorts, golf, offshore islands, and Santo Domingo within reach of a longer vacation.

MSC Opera is also a smaller ship than the newest vessels in the MSC fleet, giving the line more flexibility in the Caribbean ports it can include across its itineraries.

MSC says travelers will have a choice of 8 different itineraries beginning in November, all departing from La Romana.

Catalina Island will be the recurring Dominican Republic stop connecting them.

Explora Journeys Will Visit Catalina Sugar Beach, Too

MSC Group is extending Catalina Sugar Beach beyond MSC Cruises.

Explora Journeys will call at the destination on select Caribbean journeys, bringing passengers from the group’s luxury cruise brand to the island as well.

Those calls will place Catalina alongside the smaller ports and destination-focused experiences central to Explora Journeys’ Caribbean program.

Still, MSC Opera will generate the regular cadence.

A ship departing La Romana every week and visiting Catalina Sugar Beach on every itinerary creates a continuous link between the cruise homeport and the island immediately offshore.

A New Cruise Vacation Based in the Dominican Republic

The biggest news here reaches well beyond a renovated beach.

Beginning in November, you’ll be able to start an MSC Caribbean cruise in La Romana every week of the year, add several nights in the Dominican Republic before or after sailing, and spend part of the cruise on Catalina Island.

Catalina Sugar Beach gives MSC a beach destination closely tied to its new homeport. La Romana gives MSC passengers a resort destination where extending a cruise vacation makes practical sense.

And MSC Opera gives the entire plan a weekly schedule.

When the ship begins its new Caribbean program this November, Catalina Island will be part of every sailing — a Dominican Republic beach day tied directly to MSC Cruises’ newest year-round Caribbean homeport.

The post MSC Cruises Is Making La Romana a Year-Round Caribbean Homeport, With a New Beach Destination in the Dominican Republic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The offers give you a long reservation window, meaningful instant credits and several extras tied to longer stays. Sandals’ Great Jamaica Comeback Sale applies across the company’s Jamaica portfolio, while the Beaches Endless Summer Sale covers Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril.

Both promotions are available for new reservations made through Sept. 7, with eligible travel extending through Dec. 31, 2028.

For advisors, the unusually long travel window creates opportunities across several client segments, including couples planning Jamaica honeymoons, anniversary trips and all-inclusive vacations as well as families considering school breaks and multigenerational trips to Turks and Caicos or Negril.

What Advisors Should Know About the Sandals Jamaica Offer

The Sandals Great Jamaica Comeback Sale covers Sandals resorts across Jamaica, giving advisors a single promotion applicable to multiple regions of the island and several different resort styles.

Clients can receive up to $1,500 in instant credit, with the final amount determined by the resort, room category and length of stay.

The promotion extends to stays through Dec. 31, 2028, giving advisors more than two years of potential travel dates to sell. It also allows clients planning farther ahead — particularly honeymoon and anniversary clients — to reserve during the current promotional period.

Air incentives add another selling point for selected 2027 trips. Eligible stays of five nights or longer can receive up to $350 in air credit for travel from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2027. Credit amounts vary according to the resort, number of nights and travel dates.

Advisors should check the qualifying amount for the specific property and itinerary before presenting a final vacation price to the client.

An Island Routes Excursion Is Included on Qualifying Stays

Qualifying Sandals clients staying five paid nights or longer can also receive a complimentary Island Routes Jamaican adventure for two.

Eligible excursions include experiences such as bamboo river rafting, YS Falls and a Dunn’s River Falls catamaran cruise, giving advisors an added component to use when discussing the overall value of a Jamaica vacation.

The excursion offer is valid for qualifying stays through Dec. 25, 2027.

This component can be especially useful with clients comparing several all-inclusive resorts. An included off-property excursion gives an advisor something concrete to add to the itinerary before the client arrives and can help introduce first-time Jamaica visitors to experiences beyond their resort.

A Dunn’s River Falls excursion can pair naturally with clients staying near Ocho Rios, while bamboo rafting can appeal to couples looking for a quieter experience away from the resort. YS Falls gives advisors another option when selling stays with convenient connections to Jamaica’s south and west.

Seven-Night Sandals Stays Can Carry Additional Value

Select Sandals resorts and room categories offer another incentive: a complimentary night on qualifying stays of seven paid nights or longer.

Eligibility varies, making property and room selection important when advisors price a trip. A client open to several resorts or accommodation categories may find considerably greater value by comparing qualified options before confirming the reservation.

Eligible clients can also receive a $100 web reservation bonus.

The layered incentives give advisors several figures to review together rather than relying solely on the headline instant credit. Depending on the itinerary, a client may qualify for an instant credit, air credit, Island Routes excursion and additional-night promotion during the same vacation period.

Which Jamaica Clients Are A Strong Fit?

The promotion gives advisors a broad runway for selling Jamaica because the Sandals portfolio covers several distinct vacation styles across the island.

Couples considering Montego Bay can focus on properties near one of Jamaica’s primary tourism hubs, with restaurants, beaches, golf and excursions available throughout the area. Clients who want the resort to occupy most of the itinerary can choose among larger Sandals properties with extensive dining and pool options.

Ocho Rios adds another strong excursion component, particularly for couples interested in Dunn’s River Falls and Jamaica’s north coast attractions.

Clients drawn to Negril can pair an all-inclusive stay with the area’s famous white-sand beach and west-coast sunsets, while Jamaica’s southern areas offer a different resort experience with communities, beaches and excursions farther from the island’s busiest tourism centers.

Because the sale stretches into late 2028, advisors can also introduce Jamaica earlier in the planning process for engagements, destination weddings, honeymoons and milestone anniversaries.

Beaches Adds Up to $1,000 in Instant Credit

The family side of the promotion comes from Beaches Resorts, whose Endless Summer Sale applies to Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril.

New reservations made through Sept. 7 can receive up to $1,000 in instant credit, depending on the resort and length of stay.

Travel can take place through Dec. 31, 2028, opening a lengthy sales period for families planning around school calendars, holiday periods and multigenerational vacations.

The long travel horizon is particularly useful with larger families, which frequently begin planning Caribbean vacations earlier because of room requirements, connecting accommodations and airfare for several passengers.

The Beaches Air Credit Reaches $750

Beaches clients can receive a larger air incentive than the Sandals Jamaica promotion, with an air credit of up to $750 on eligible stays of five nights or longer.

The air-credit offer applies to qualifying travel through Aug. 3, 2027, with final amounts varying by resort, stay length and travel dates.

Advisors selling Beaches Turks & Caicos may find the air component especially useful for families purchasing four or more tickets, where airfare can represent a significant part of the trip budget.

The instant credit and air credit also give advisors several ways to discuss total vacation cost with clients who initially focus only on the published resort rate.

Families Can Get a Catamaran Cruise for Up to Four

A complimentary Island Routes catamaran cruise for up to four guests is included with qualifying Beaches stays of five paid nights or longer.

The excursion component is valid for eligible stays through Dec. 20, 2027.

Including up to four people makes the offer particularly relevant to the core Beaches audience. A family of four can add a Caribbean boat trip to the vacation itinerary as part of the promotion rather than treating the excursion as a separate purchase.

Eligible new reservations made through Beaches or the travel advisor portal can also receive a $100 web reservation bonus.

How Advisors Can Sell Beaches Turks & Caicos

Beaches Turks & Caicos remains one of the Caribbean’s major all-inclusive options for families, with a large collection of accommodations, pools, restaurants and activities on Grace Bay Beach.

The sale gives advisors a direct way to approach families who may already have Turks and Caicos on their shortlist but have been weighing the overall trip price.

The potential $1,000 instant credit, up to $750 in air credit and a catamaran cruise for up to four create three separate client-facing benefits tied to one vacation.

Advisors should calculate the qualifying incentives for the client’s specific travel dates and stay length, particularly when the family has flexibility between five-, six- and seven-night vacations.

Why Beaches Negril Gives Advisors Another Jamaica Option

Beaches Negril gives advisors a family-oriented counterpart to the Sandals Jamaica promotion.

Families considering Jamaica can stay directly along Negril’s famous beach while using an all-inclusive format that simplifies dining and activities for parents traveling with children.

The property can also be presented alongside Beaches Turks & Caicos when clients are still choosing an island. Air schedules, available room categories, total trip cost and the applicable promotion can help narrow the final choice.

Advisors with both family and couples business can also use the two concurrent promotions to sell Jamaica across multiple client profiles through the same Sept. 7 reservation deadline.

What Advisors Should Check Before Confirming

The largest advertised credits represent maximum values, so advisors should verify the incentive attached to the exact resort, room category, travel period and length of stay.

The air-credit windows also differ between the two promotions. The Sandals Jamaica air offer applies to eligible travel from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2027, while the Beaches air promotion extends through Aug. 3, 2027.

Excursion qualification dates are different as well, with Sandals’ Jamaica adventure available on qualifying stays through Dec. 25, 2027 and the Beaches catamaran offer running through Dec. 20, 2027.

With reservations available through Sept. 7 and travel extending through the end of 2028, advisors have a broad period to use the offers across near-term vacations, 2027 travel and clients already planning major Caribbean trips for 2028.

The post Sandals and Beaches Expand Vacation Offers Across Jamaica and Turks and Caicos appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The adults-only resort will become the second property under the Hyatt Vivid brand, bringing four pools, swim-out rooms, five specialty restaurants, a speakeasy-style jazz club, pickleball and tennis courts, and a major wellness component to Punta Cana.

And travelers can already get a sense of the pricing. Rates currently start at $409 per night for stays beginning Sept. 1, according to current availability.

The opening adds another major all-inclusive resort to Hyatt’s rapidly growing Dominican Republic portfolio, following a string of new hotels and resort projects across Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Playa Esmeralda, and Santo Domingo.

It will be the only Hyatt Vivid in the Caribbean right now, with the former Hyatt Vivid in Cancun being rebranded as a Mondrian.

A New Hyatt Vivid Flagship for Punta Cana

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana is being developed through a management agreement between Hyatt and Anacaona de Inversiones. Hyatt has positioned the property as a flagship for Vivid, its adults-only all-inclusive concept aimed at younger travelers looking for a more contemporary resort experience.

The brand debuted with Hyatt Vivid Grand Island in Cancun, and the Punta Cana resort will extend the concept into one of the Caribbean’s biggest all-inclusive destinations.

Here, the emphasis will be on a flexible resort experience with a large mix of dining, wellness, sports, entertainment, and pool options.

Four Pools and Swim-Out Rooms

The pool program will be one of the resort’s defining features.

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana is slated to have four swimming pools, including a quieter pool area with its own wet bar. The resort will also offer swim-out accommodations, giving you another option if having direct pool entry from your room is high on your vacation list.

The wider recreational lineup includes pickleball courts, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor gyms, along with a juice and healthy snack bar serving the fitness areas.

A full spa is also planned as part of Hyatt’s wellness program at the resort.

Five Specialty Restaurants and a Speakeasy Jazz Club

Dining will extend beyond the standard all-inclusive restaurant lineup.

Plans call for five specialty restaurants, along with more casual options including a sports bar and a barefoot beach grill and bar.

One of the more unusual additions is a speakeasy-style jazz club, giving the resort a dedicated nighttime venue beyond the traditional lobby bar or theater model common at larger all-inclusives.

Hyatt has also said the resort will feature locally influenced activities and destination programming throughout the stay.

A Resort With a 1,000-Person Convention Center

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana will also have a significant meetings component.

The resort’s planned convention center will accommodate as many as 1,000 people, giving Hyatt another large group and event property in the Punta Cana market.

The meetings facilities add another dimension to an adults-only resort otherwise centered on leisure travel, particularly for incentive groups, destination events, and corporate gatherings.

Hyatt Keeps Adding Resorts in the Dominican Republic

The Vivid project forms part of a much larger Hyatt expansion across the country.

Hyatt has been adding properties throughout its Inclusive Collection, including Dreams Cap Cana Resort & Spa, along with planned openings under the Secrets and Dreams brands in Playa Esmeralda.

The company has also expanded its presence through its venture with Grupo Piñero involving more than 20 Bahia Principe resorts, while Secrets Tides Punta Cana opened in 2024.

The result is a much deeper Hyatt presence across several of the Dominican Republic’s main hotel markets, with Punta Cana remaining a major focus.

What Will a Stay Cost?

The early pricing gives travelers a useful first look at where Hyatt plans to position the property.

Current rates begin at about $409 per night for stays starting Sept. 1, although prices can vary considerably by room category and travel dates.

The rate places Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana directly into Punta Cana’s increasingly competitive adults-only all-inclusive category, where major resort companies continue to add new properties and newer concepts.

Why Punta Cana Keeps Getting New All-Inclusives

Punta Cana remains one of the busiest resort destinations in the Caribbean, supported by a deep nonstop air network and one of the region’s largest collections of all-inclusive hotels.

You can choose among resorts ranging from sprawling family properties to adults-only hotels, luxury enclaves, golf resorts, and newer lifestyle-driven concepts.

Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana will enter the latter category, with its emphasis on pools, dining, wellness, sports, nightlife, and contemporary room options.

The Q3 2026 opening will also give Hyatt another new product to sell alongside its existing Secrets, Dreams, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, and other Inclusive Collection resorts across the Dominican Republic.

With rates already appearing from $409 for September stays, Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana is beginning to take shape as one of the more closely watched new all-inclusive openings coming to Punta Cana this year.

The post Hyatt Is Opening a New Adults-Only All-Inclusive in Punta Cana, With Swim-Out Rooms, Four Pools, and a Speakeasy Jazz Club appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The crossing takes about five minutes. On the other side, rows of loungers face shallow turquoise water, fresh lobster cooks over a grill, and two beach clubs serve long lunches a few feet from the Caribbean.

This is Pinel Island, one of the best beach days on the French side of Saint Martin — and one of the easiest island escapes anywhere in the Caribbean.

You can take the public ferry, paddle across the bay, spend the day snorkeling inside the Saint Martin Nature Reserve, or stay at Karibuni Boutique Hotel, where a private boat carries hotel guests directly to the island and reserved beach chairs wait beside the restaurant.

The Island Just Offshore From French Cul-de-Sac

Pinel Island lies across a narrow channel from French Cul-de-Sac on Saint Martin’s northeastern side. The island is small enough to explore on foot, with a protected beach along the southern edge and a rockier Atlantic side reached by a short trail.

Most visitors arrive for the clear, shallow water. The bay remains sheltered from much of the wind and surf, creating an easy place to swim, float, snorkel, or spend several hours beside a beach restaurant.

Two restaurants operate along the main beach: Karibuni and Yellow Beach. Both offer loungers, umbrellas, cocktails, seafood, and tables near the sand. Their presence gives Pinel the amenities of a beach club day while the surrounding reserve retains its undeveloped character.

There are no hotels on Pinel, no large roads, and no conventional town. Boats arrive from Cul-de-Sac, unload passengers near the restaurants, and return across the bay throughout the afternoon.

How Do You Get to Pinel Island?

The public ferry departs from the Cul-de-Sac pier on the French side. Current service generally runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the crossing taking approximately five minutes.

A round-trip ticket costs about €10 or $12 per person, although fares and hours can change. Confirm the final return before heading away from the dock, particularly later in the afternoon.

The pier is roughly 20 minutes by car from Grand Case and a short drive from Orient Bay. Travel from Philipsburg on the Dutch side takes longer, depending on traffic around the border and the main island roads.

Parking is available near the dock, and the departure area has a casual, local feel. Small boats pull up to the pier, passengers climb aboard, and Pinel remains visible across the water during the entire ride.

Kayaks and paddleboards provide another option. The sheltered bay often has calm conditions, and the crossing typically takes about 15 minutes at a relaxed pace. Wind can rise during the day, so check conditions before paddling and keep personal items secured in a dry bag.

The most convenient route belongs to guests at Karibuni Boutique Hotel. The hotel operates a private boat for the short trip to its restaurant on Pinel, turning the beach day into a direct extension of the stay.

Where Should You Spend the Day?

Pinel’s two beach clubs occupy neighboring sections of the main beach, each with its own personality.

Karibuni Restaurant offers a polished French-Caribbean lunch experience with fresh lobster, ceviche, tartares, sushi, tapas, grilled fish, salads, and cocktails. Tables stand beneath a large open-air roof near the sand, while loungers and umbrellas line the water in front.

The lobster is one of the restaurant’s signatures. You select it from the restaurant’s live lobster enclosure, and the kitchen grills it for lunch. Other strong orders include tuna tartare, ceviche, grilled seafood, and the truffle tuna.

Lunch tends to stretch across several courses. A cocktail arrives first, followed by cold seafood, a bottle of rosé, and something from the grill. You can return to your lounger between courses or swim while the kitchen prepares lunch.

Karibuni rents two beach chairs and an umbrella for €35 per day. Reservations are strongly recommended during high season and on weekends, especially when you also want a restaurant table.

Hotel guests receive a more valuable arrangement: the boat ride, beach chairs, umbrella, snorkeling gear, and towels are included with eligible hotel stays.

A short walk along the sand brings you to Yellow Beach, the more casual of the two. Hammocks, brightly painted signs, rum drinks, grilled lobster, and Caribbean plates give it a relaxed beach-bar character.

You can spend the day at either restaurant, although Karibuni’s hotel connection creates the most complete version of the trip.

Why Karibuni Changes the Pinel Island Day

Most Pinel visitors need to drive to Cul-de-Sac, find parking, purchase ferry tickets, reserve chairs, and watch the clock for the return boat.

A stay at Karibuni Boutique Hotel handles the principal details before you leave your suite.

The six-suite hotel occupies a hillside overlooking Cul-de-Sac Bay and Pinel Island. Each suite measures about 50 square meters, and every category faces the Caribbean.

Two Deluxe Suites share a swimming pool. Three Exclusive Suites have private plunge pools with bubble systems. The Premium Suite includes a larger private pool measuring approximately four by five meters.

The hotel welcomes adults and children over 12 in its suites. Connecting terraces can link select accommodations for families or groups of up to six people.

Breakfast is included for suite guests, along with a welcome drink, parking, kayaks, snorkeling gear, beach towels, the private boat to Pinel, and reserved chairs and an umbrella at the Karibuni restaurant.

The private boat is the defining amenity. Staff coordinate the crossing from the mainland to Pinel, where the hotel’s restaurant team has your beach place ready.

You step aboard near Cul-de-Sac, cross the bay, and arrive directly at the restaurant. Lunch, swimming, and snorkeling fill the day, followed by the boat ride back to the hotel and a private pool overlooking the same water.

A Six-Suite Hotel Facing Pinel

Karibuni feels closer to a private villa collection than a conventional resort.

The suites include king beds, kitchen areas, air conditioning, terraces, Nespresso machines, and broad views across the bay. Tropical gardens surround the accommodations, and each terrace gives you a private outdoor area for breakfast or an afternoon swim.

The Premium Suite has the largest pool, while the Exclusive Suites provide smaller plunge pools suited to couples. Deluxe Suites share a pool and usually carry the lowest rates.

Karibuni also operates Villa Kijani and Villa Baltazar, two waterfront homes near the bay. The villas accommodate larger families or groups and include pools, gardens, kitchens, and kayaks.

Villa stays also include chairs and umbrellas at Karibuni’s Pinel restaurant and a private boat trip to the island. You can paddle across when conditions allow or arrange the boat through the hotel team.

The hotel lies close to restaurants, a French bakery, shops, and other northern Saint Martin beaches. Grand Case, Orient Bay, and Anse Marcel are all within driving distance, giving you several dinner and beach options during a longer vacation.

Karibuni does not operate an evening restaurant at the hotel. Staff can assist with restaurant reservations or arrange food delivery to your suite. Grand Case remains the strongest choice for a full dinner, with French, Creole, and seafood restaurants lining Boulevard de Grand Case.

What Is the Water Like at Pinel?

The main beach faces the protected Cul-de-Sac Bay. Water near the sand is shallow, warm, and usually calm, making it popular with families, couples, and swimmers who prefer gentle conditions.

The sandy bottom extends into the lagoon, with reef patches and seagrass farther from shore. Rays, turtles, and small tropical fish appear in the protected waters around the island, though sightings vary by day.

Snorkeling is available close to the main beach and along marked areas within the nature reserve. Bring your own mask or arrange gear through the beach clubs. Karibuni supplies snorkeling equipment to hotel guests.

Swim shoes can be useful near sections with coral fragments or rocks. Stay within marked zones and avoid standing on coral or disturbing marine animals.

The main swimming area becomes busier near midday as ferries arrive. Early boats provide calmer water and a larger choice of loungers, while the final hours bring fewer day visitors as public ferry departures begin.

The Trail Across the Island

A short trail crosses Pinel from the protected beach to the island’s eastern and northern sides.

The route passes cacti, low scrub, exposed rock, and viewpoints across the reserve. Tintamarre Island appears offshore, and clear conditions may reveal Saint Barthélemy farther across the Caribbean.

The far side has rougher water and a more exposed coast. Waves break against rocks and reef, creating a sharp change from the calm lagoon beside the restaurants.

The walk takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes in each direction, depending on stops. Wear shoes rather than attempting the trail barefoot, and carry water. Shade is limited beyond the beach club area.

Small iguanas frequently appear near the paths and restaurant grounds. Observe them from a distance and avoid feeding them, even when they approach tables or loungers.

How to Plan the Best Pinel Day

Reserve your chairs and lunch in advance, especially between December and April. Both beach clubs become busy, and Karibuni accepts advance requests for tables and loungers.

Take an early ferry if you are visiting independently. Arriving near the beginning of service gives you more time in the water, cooler conditions for the trail, and a better choice of chairs.

Bring euros or US dollars for the ferry, tips, and smaller purchases. Cards may be accepted at the restaurants, although cash remains useful for transportation and incidental expenses.

Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a light cover-up are essential. Most natural shade lies beneath the restaurant roofs or rented umbrellas.

Check the final ferry departure as soon as you arrive. Public service generally ends around 5 p.m., with schedules varying by season and weather.

Hotel guests at Karibuni follow a simpler plan. Breakfast arrives at the suite, the private boat handles the crossing, and chairs are held at the restaurant. The hotel team can coordinate lunch and the return trip.

Where to Stay for the Full Pinel Experience

Karibuni Boutique Hotel is the clear choice when Pinel Island is central to your Saint Martin vacation.

The hotel’s six suites keep the experience intimate, and private pools add a strong reason to spend part of each day on the mainland. Views extend across Cul-de-Sac Bay toward Pinel, so the island remains visible from your terrace.

The included boat ride carries more value than a basic transfer. It removes the public ferry schedule from the day, connects directly with Karibuni Restaurant, and secures chairs and an umbrella during periods when the beach becomes busy.

Breakfast, snorkeling gear, towels, and kayaks complete the package. Couples can spend one day on Pinel, another in Grand Case, and another exploring Orient Bay or Anse Marcel.

The villas suit families and groups who want more bedrooms and a waterfront position. Kayaks allow confident paddlers to cross the bay, while the private boat remains available for the restaurant trip.

Few hotels in Saint Martin tie a specific beach day so closely to the guest experience. At Karibuni, Pinel begins outside your suite: the island across the bay, the boat below the hotel, and a reserved pair of chairs waiting beside some of the clearest water on the French side.

The post This Saint Martin Hotel Comes With Its Own Beach Bar, Private Boat, and Reserved Seats on Pinel Island appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Kempinski Grace Bay has raised its tower crane and begun vertical construction on the 11-acre beachfront resort and residential development in Providenciales, according to a new project update from developer JTRE.

Construction crews are now forming second-floor sections across several buildings at the Grace Bay site. The latest update also provides the first detailed look at the project’s residential inventory, with homes ranging from 568-square-foot studios to 3,200-square-foot 3-bedroom residences.

The post Turks and Caicos’ Kempinski Grace Bay Hits Vertical Construction appeared first on Caribbean Journal.