You can start in the turquoise water of Great Bay, walk barefoot onto the Boardwalk for a cold beer, disappear into the shops on Front Street and somehow find yourself back on the sand an hour later. Along the way, there might be a rum punch at Blue Bitch Bar, a stop at Juggie’s Place, a little jewelry shopping and absolutely no reason to look at the clock.

That is Philipsburg, St. Maarten, a town we have been visiting for years and one that we still think is misunderstood. People know the cruise ships and the duty-free shopping, but spend a real day here and you discover something else: one of the most enjoyable beach towns in the Caribbean.

And at the center of it is Great Bay, a genuinely beautiful beach that somehow remains underrated despite sitting directly in front of one of the region’s best-known capitals.

Start With Great Bay

Great Bay traces a broad curve along Philipsburg, with blue-green Caribbean water in front of you and the town immediately behind you. We have spent plenty of time in this water over the years, and it is still surprising how rarely Great Bay enters the conversation when people talk about St. Maarten’s best beaches.

Maho has the airplanes. Orient Bay has the beach clubs and French Caribbean personality, while Mullet Bay has long been one of the island’s great local favorites.

Great Bay offers something none of them can quite duplicate: an entire Caribbean town behind the sand.

We have long ranked Philipsburg among the Caribbean’s great beach towns, and that proximity is the reason. There is virtually no separation between beach and downtown, allowing you to use the sand almost as a base for exploring the rest of Philipsburg.

Have a swim, walk into town, browse for a while and come back. The whole day can follow that pattern without ever feeling repetitive.

Blue Bitch, Taloula Mango’s and the Boardwalk

The Boardwalk is where the pieces start coming together.

It follows Great Bay past restaurants and bars, with the beach on one side and Philipsburg behind you. Boats cross the harbor throughout the day, cruise ships sit farther out and Front Street is never more than a short walk inland.

Taloula Mango’s and Blue Bitch Bar have long been part of that experience, a beachfront combination where the tables look out toward Great Bay and cold drinks are very much the point. This is where you stop for a rum punch or beer and watch whatever is happening along the Boardwalk.

The food ranges from fish tacos and ribs to Creole grouper and chicken, but we come to places like this as much for the setting as anything else. You are sitting in the middle of Philipsburg with the Caribbean Sea right in front of you, and there is always something to watch.

Farther along, Lazy Lizard Restaurant & Craft Bar is another casual Boardwalk stop, with outdoor tables close to the water and the kind of setting that can turn a planned drink into lunch.

Then there is Big Bastaard’s Beach Bar, right beside Great Bay, another reminder that the Boardwalk is essentially one long invitation to stop somewhere.

That is how we like to approach Philipsburg. Do not choose one place and declare the afternoon finished; walk, look around and see where you end up.

You Have to Find Juggie

Then there is Juggie’s Place.

It is tiny, tucked away just off Front Street, and precisely the kind of place that gets lost if you reduce Philipsburg to shopping and cruise tourism. Juggie bills it as the smallest bar in the world, and whether you are measuring or not, there is no arguing that it is very, very small.

That is part of the fun.

There are a handful of seats, rum, cigars, conversation and one of Philipsburg’s more unusual drinks: Juggie’s famous chocolate “milkshake” without the milk, a rum-laced concoction that has developed its own following.

This is not a sleek cocktail lounge. It is quirky, personal and wonderfully specific to Philipsburg, a place where you can intend to stop for 10 minutes and discover considerably more time has passed.

Places like Juggie’s are why wandering here pays off. The best parts of Philipsburg are not always the biggest or most obvious ones.

Front Street Is Still Serious Shopping

Eventually, you end up on Front Street, and shopping here remains part of the pleasure.

This is not a generic collection of souvenir stores. Philipsburg has been a Caribbean shopping destination for generations, particularly for jewelry, watches, perfume, liquor and electronics.

Caribbean Gems has been on Front Street since the 1980s, specializing in diamonds, gemstones, gold and watches. It is one of the established names in a shopping district where repeat visitors often return to the same jewelers year after year.

That repeat business is a significant part of Philipsburg’s shopping culture. People develop relationships with stores here, come back on subsequent St. Maarten vacations and sometimes arrive knowing exactly which shop and salesperson they want to see.

You can browse watches, look at jewelry, pick up a bottle of rum and then turn down one of the narrow lanes toward the sea. Within minutes, you are back on the Boardwalk.

That is what keeps the shopping from feeling like an activity separated from the destination. Front Street is woven directly into the rest of the town.

A More Leisurely Lunch on Great Bay

Not every meal in Philipsburg needs to be a beach-bar lunch.

The setting is the real luxury. After a few hours of walking Front Street, you can sit down facing the Caribbean, have lunch and decide whether the next move is another round of shopping or another swim.

There is also Chesterfields, over by Great Bay Marina, a longtime Philipsburg institution where the marina and harbor become part of the view. It gives you yet another version of the town, away from the center of the Boardwalk but still connected to the water.

Philipsburg has enough places like these that lunch does not need to be decided before you arrive.

The Little Streets Are Part of It

The more time you spend here, the more you start using Front Street and the Boardwalk as reference points rather than destinations.

The interesting part is often between them.

Walk the narrow lanes connecting the two, spend some time around Cyrus Wathey Square and the historic Courthouse and look at the older buildings mixed among the stores. Philipsburg was founded by the Dutch in 1763 on a narrow strip between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond, and that geography still defines the town.

Everything is compressed.

That can make Philipsburg crowded when several cruise ships are in port, but it is also what makes the town so easy to explore. You can cover a remarkable amount of ground without a car, and if the afternoon gets hot, Great Bay is waiting at the end of almost every route back toward the water.

There are always little discoveries along the way: a rum shop you had not noticed before, a side street, a bar, another jewelry store or somewhere that suddenly seems like a good place to sit down.

We have been here so many times and still find ourselves wandering.

Great Bay Is More Than a Cruise Beach

Years ago, we called Great Bay the Caribbean’s best cruise-port beach. After all the time we have spent here since, the description feels almost too narrow.

Great Bay is simply a very good Caribbean beach.

The sand is broad, the water can be spectacular and the hills frame the bay beautifully. What makes it different is that when you turn around, you are looking at Philipsburg instead of a row of resorts.

That gives Great Bay a personality that cannot be manufactured.

On many Caribbean islands, a great beach day and an afternoon exploring town are two separate outings. Here they are the same outing, which is why we would never come to Philipsburg simply to shop.

We would come to swim.

Stay After the Rush

The cruise ships are impossible to ignore, nor should they be. On a busy morning, they give the harbor tremendous scale, with water taxis running back and forth as Front Street and the Boardwalk fill with passengers.

But if you are staying on St. Maarten, you have an advantage: you do not have to leave when they do.

As the afternoon moves along and passengers begin returning to the port, Philipsburg gradually gets easier to navigate. Great Bay has more room, the Boardwalk settles down and suddenly you have a different town in front of you.

That is a particularly good time for another drink.

You might head back toward Blue Bitch, find a seat at Ocean Lounge or simply pick another Boardwalk bar you passed earlier in the day. Lay Back Beach Bar & Grill at Walter Plantz Square is another easy waterfront option, while Marley’s Sports Bar & Grill gives you the beach, drinks and whatever game happens to be on.

The point is choice.

Philipsburg has enough places packed along Great Bay that you can change the afternoon simply by walking another few minutes.

Give Philipsburg the Whole Day

The mistake is treating Philipsburg as an errand.

People come into town to buy jewelry or duty-free liquor, spend an hour on Front Street and then drive somewhere else. We would do almost the opposite.

Get to Great Bay in the morning and swim first. Walk the Boardwalk afterward and stop at Taloula Mango’s or wherever catches your attention, then head onto Front Street and browse without worrying about how quickly you are moving.

Find Juggie’s. Have lunch at Ocean Lounge or keep things casual at Lazy Lizard. Walk around the Courthouse, buy something you probably had no intention of buying and eventually work your way back toward the sea.

Then swim again.

That is our Philipsburg.

It is not one attraction, and it is certainly not only a shopping street. It is the combination of Great Bay, the Boardwalk, Front Street, tiny bars, jewelry stores, rum drinks, restaurants and a harbor that always gives you something to look at.

After all our visits, Great Bay remains the surprise. It is a beautiful Caribbean beach sitting directly in front of a town everyone thinks they already know.

And that is why we keep coming back to Philipsburg.

The post Philipsburg, St. Maarten Has Waterfront Bars, Great Shopping and One of the Caribbean’s Most Underrated Beaches appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The carrier’s current Caribbean map includes Aruba, Grand Cayman, Havana, Montego Bay, Nassau, Punta Cana, Providenciales, San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

It is a particularly varied lineup. You can use Southwest for a quick passport-free trip to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, an all-inclusive vacation in Punta Cana, a diving getaway in Grand Cayman or a beach week in Aruba.

Schedules can change with the season, but these are the Caribbean destinations Southwest is serving right now — and the mainland cities with nonstop flights.

Aruba

Southwest flies nonstop to Aruba from Baltimore, Orlando and Atlanta, putting Palm Beach, Eagle Beach and the island’s growing collection of restaurants and resorts within reach of three important gateways.

Aruba is particularly appealing for travelers who want dependable beach weather, a developed dining scene and plenty to explore beyond the hotel zone. You can spend the morning inside Arikok National Park, have lunch near Baby Beach and return to Palm Beach for sunset.

Grand Cayman

Southwest currently flies nonstop to Grand Cayman from Orlando and Baltimore.

Most vacations center on Seven Mile Beach, although Grand Cayman rewards travelers who venture farther. Rum Point, the East End and the restaurants around George Town can make the island feel much larger and more varied than its compact geography suggests.

Havana

Southwest’s nonstop service to Havana operates from Tampa, making the Florida city the airline’s principal gateway to Cuba.

Travel to Cuba is subject to United States government restrictions, and American travelers must qualify under an authorized category rather than traveling solely for tourism. The route is particularly important for family visits and other authorized travel between Florida and Cuba.

Montego Bay

Southwest flies nonstop to Montego Bay from Baltimore, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago Midway, Atlanta, Houston Hobby and Kansas City, although some frequencies vary by season and day of the week.

Montego Bay is the airline’s destination in Jamaica, providing access to one of the Caribbean’s largest resort corridors. Southwest has been particularly active in the Chicago market, including recent nonstop fares from Chicago Midway to Montego Bay.

The city is also a starting point for trips to Negril, the South Coast and Jamaica’s north coast. Travelers can choose among large all-inclusive resorts, smaller hotels and villa experiences, with many properties located within a relatively short drive of the airport.

Nassau

Southwest currently flies nonstop to Nassau from Orlando and Baltimore.

The short Orlando flight makes Nassau particularly convenient for a quick Caribbean escape. The island combines major resorts, historic neighborhoods, restaurants, beach clubs and direct access to the water, all within a compact area.

Nassau can also serve as the beginning of a longer trip through The Bahamas, with onward flights and ferries connecting travelers to other islands.

Punta Cana

Southwest’s nonstop Punta Cana network includes flights from Baltimore, Orlando, Chicago Midway, Houston Hobby, Nashville, St. Louis and Kansas City. Service from some gateways is limited to particular days or seasons.

The routes give Southwest passengers access to the Caribbean’s largest concentration of all-inclusive resorts. The destination encompasses Bávaro, Cap Cana, Macao and Uvero Alto, with a growing collection of Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts ranging from adults-only retreats to family properties, golf resorts and large luxury hotels.

Providenciales

Southwest flies nonstop to Providenciales from Orlando and Baltimore, connecting two of its largest East Coast gateways with the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Providenciales is home to Grace Bay Beach and the territory’s largest collection of hotels and resorts. The island also offers smaller resorts, residential-style hotels and accommodations beyond Grace Bay. Chalk Sound, Sapodilla Bay and the restaurants around Blue Hills add a different dimension to the trip.

San Juan

Southwest has its largest Caribbean network in San Juan, with nonstop flights from cities including Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Tampa, Nashville, Austin, Chicago Midway, Houston Hobby, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Orlando is a particularly important part of that network. Southwest operates one of its largest Caribbean schedules between Central Florida and Puerto Rico and added more Orlando–San Juan flights for the summer travel season.

That connectivity makes Puerto Rico one of the airline’s most versatile Caribbean destinations. You can use San Juan for a weekend centered on Old San Juan, restaurants and beaches, or turn the trip into a longer vacation incorporating El Yunque, the west coast, Vieques or Culebra.

Puerto Rico is also a passport-free destination for United States citizens, simplifying a Caribbean trip for families and last-minute travelers.

St. Thomas

Southwest flies nonstop to St. Thomas from Orlando and Baltimore, with both routes having launched in Feb. 2026.

Southwest’s arrival in St. Thomas opened another way to reach an island filled with famous beaches, boating, shopping and a strong bar and restaurant scene.

St. Thomas is also one of the region’s best island-hopping gateways, with regular ferries to St. John and connections to the British Virgin Islands. United States citizens do not need a passport to visit.

St. Maarten

Southwest flies nonstop to St. Maarten from Orlando and Baltimore. The airline launched its daily Orlando–St. Maarten service in Apr. 2026, followed by a new Saturday flight from Baltimore.

St. Maarten is the newest international Caribbean destination in Southwest’s network. The island combines beaches, restaurants, nightlife and easy access to neighboring destinations.

It can also begin a multi-island vacation, with ferries and short regional flights connecting travelers to Anguilla, St. Barth, Saba and Statia.

Southwest’s frequencies and nonstop gateways change throughout the year, particularly on Saturday-oriented vacation routes. But its current Caribbean map is substantial: 10 destinations reachable nonstop from a growing collection of mainland cities.

The New Southwest Caribbean Routes Coming Next

Southwest is not finished expanding its Caribbean map. The airline has four additional nonstop routes scheduled to begin in March 2027, all within the next six months.

The biggest expansion is coming from Nashville. Southwest is launching Saturday flights from Nashville to Aruba, Montego Bay and St. Thomas beginning March 13, 2027.

The new Nashville–Aruba flight will give Middle Tennessee its first Southwest nonstop to the Dutch Caribbean island. It is designed around a Saturday-to-Saturday vacation, a natural fit for Aruba’s hotels, timeshares and villa stays.

Southwest is also bringing back its Nashville–Montego Bay service on the same date. The seasonal Saturday flight will restore a nonstop connection between Tennessee and Jamaica’s largest resort gateway.

A third Saturday route will connect Nashville with St. Thomas, expanding the airline’s U.S. Virgin Islands network beyond Orlando and Baltimore.

Southwest is adding another new Caribbean gateway in Ohio. The carrier will launch Saturday service between Columbus and Punta Cana, giving Central Ohio a nonstop connection to the Dominican Republic’s largest resort destination.

Together, the new flights to Aruba, Jamaica, St. Thomas and Punta Cana represent the next stage of Southwest’s Caribbean expansion. They will not add new islands to the airline’s map, but they will make four existing destinations accessible from new mainland markets.

Southwest’s frequencies and nonstop gateways change throughout the year, particularly on Saturday-oriented vacation routes. But its Caribbean map is already substantial — and by March 2027, travelers in Nashville and Columbus will have even more ways to reach it.

The post Southwest Airlines Is Flying to Aruba, Jamaica, the US Virgin Islands and 7 More Caribbean Destinations Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Lopesan Splash Cove Resort, Spa & Casino is now open in Punta Cana, giving families a new all-inclusive centered on water attractions, recreation and a remarkably broad collection of places to eat and drink.

The 242-room resort has a water park, a wave pool, aquatic play areas and eight pools, creating a hotel where the family experience shapes the entire stay.

Splash Cove is one of three new Lopesan all-inclusive resorts that recently debuted in Punta Cana, joining the lagoon-centered Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort, Spa & Casino and the adults-only Lopesan Serenity Bay Resort, Spa & Casino.

Together, the three hotels represent a more than $350 million expansion for Lopesan in the Dominican Republic, adding 1,035 rooms to the company’s Punta Cana portfolio.

Splash Cove has the clearest mission of the three: make the family vacation as easy, energetic and water-filled as possible.

A Resort Designed Around the Water

The wave pool and water park are the headline attractions, but the aquatic experience extends across the property.

There are eight pools in all, along with a beach club and pool club. Families can move from slides and aquatic play areas to quieter stretches of the pool complex without leaving the resort.

The room collection includes accommodations overlooking the water park, along with swim-up options that place the pool directly outside the terrace. Rooms are bright and contemporary, with balconies or terraces and layouts suited to parents traveling with children.

Sports programming and daily entertainment add options away from the pools, particularly for families staying several nights.

Eight Restaurants and 10 Bars

Splash Cove has eight restaurants and 10 bars, an unusually large food-and-beverage collection for a 242-room hotel.

The lineup includes the Pavilion Buffet and a group of themed restaurants serving Caribbean and international cooking. Brasa Nova brings the Brazilian rodizio experience, with grilled meats served throughout the meal, while other venues cover pasta, sushi, tacos, seafood and resort classics.

That variety is particularly useful for multigenerational trips, where grandparents, parents and children may all want something different at dinner.

The restaurants and bars at Splash Cove are also part of a broader Lopesan destination. The resort connects with the company’s neighboring hotels and The Boulevard, an open-air dining and entertainment district with restaurants, cocktail bars, shops, nightlife, a casino and an 820-seat theater.

It gives families somewhere to go after dinner without arranging transportation or leaving the Lopesan complex.

A Different Kind of Punta Cana Family Resort

Splash Cove arrives in a Punta Cana all-inclusive market filled with enormous hotels. What truly sets it apart is the kind of quality we’ve come to expect from Lopesan — and a unique, boutique-style family all-inclusive option — with the amenities of a far larger resort.

Families have a dedicated 242-room hotel with its own pools, restaurants and water attractions. At the same time, they can venture into the wider Lopesan complex when they want more dining, entertainment or nightlife.

That approach also makes Splash Cove an intriguing choice for extended families. Parents and children can stay beside the water park, while adult relatives who prefer a quieter environment can choose the neighboring adults-only Serenity Bay and remain close to the rest of the group.

Splash Cove follows the successful formula established by Lopesan Costa Bávaro, the company’s original Punta Cana flagship. CJ has spent significant time at Costa Bávaro, a resort that stood out for its open-air Boulevard, swim-up rooms, extensive dining collection and unusually lively evening experience.

The opening of Splash Cove takes that formula and gives it a dedicated family address.

For travelers comparing the best new all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, this is one of the most significant family openings of the year: a new Punta Cana resort with a full water park, a wave pool, eight pools and an entire entertainment district just beyond the lobby.

The post The Caribbean’s Newest Family-Focused All-Inclusive Just Opened, With a Water Park and Eight Pools appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The 400-room resort sits between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon, giving guests a waterfront setting on both sides of the property. It is the latest major addition to Cancun, where an unusually busy year of openings is reshaping the destination’s hotel landscape.

It is also another major all-inclusive move for Accor and Ennismore in the Mexican Caribbean. SLS, another of the company’s prominent lifestyle brands, recently entered the regional all-inclusive market with SLS Playa Mujeres, a 498-room resort north of Cancun.

The arrival of Mondrian Cancun suggests a wider strategy: bringing brands traditionally associated with urban hotels, nightlife and design into the Caribbean’s rapidly expanding luxury all-inclusive sector.

Mondrian Cancun has 10 restaurants and bars, three swimming pools, a beach club and a collection of cultural and creative experiences. The location is on Kukulcan Boulevard, about 15 minutes from the airport.

The resort’s accommodations start at 559 square feet, an unusually generous entry-level room size for Cancun. Categories range from Signature Bay rooms overlooking the lagoon to coastal rooms facing the sea.

The larger options include a 764-square-foot Loft Suite, a 1,065-square-foot Corner Suite and an expansive 1,625-square-foot XL Corner Suite.

Guests can also upgrade to Mondrian+, a higher accommodation tier that includes access to a rooftop pool with panoramic views. The rooftop component gives the resort a more elevated, social feel than the traditional Cancun all-inclusive, complementing its cabanas, curated music and day-to-night gathering spaces.

The opening arrives during one of Cancun’s biggest hotel years in recent memory. We recently looked at seven major new resorts opening in Cancun in 2026, a group ranging from the new St. Regis Costa Mujeres to a forthcoming Grand Hyatt and several high-profile all-inclusive debuts.

Mondrian gives travelers something different: the energy and visual personality of an urban lifestyle hotel, translated into a full-scale Caribbean resort.

So what does it cost?

A rate check on the hotel’s booking site found entry-level Signature Bay King rooms starting at $322 per night for two guests, before taxes. Signature Coastal King rooms were starting at $357, while Mondrian+ rooms began at $392.

The panoramic Loft Suite was available from $511 per night, with the 1,625-square-foot XL Corner Suite starting at $637.

Those rates include the resort’s all-inclusive program, giving Mondrian Cancun a compelling position in a destination increasingly filled with upscale all-inclusive resorts.

The doors are open, reservations are live and Cancun now has one of its most distinctive new lifestyle resorts.

The post The New Mondrian Cancun Is Now Open, With 400 Rooms, 10 Dining Concepts and a Rooftop Pool appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Royalton Negril, Royalton Hideaway Negril and Grand Lido Negril are now open on Jamaica’s west coast. Royalton Blue Waters and Royalton Hideaway Blue Waters have also resumed operations in the Montego Bay area.

The reopenings follow extensive improvements across accommodations, public spaces and resort facilities. The company redesigned guestrooms and suites throughout the collection, combining contemporary interiors with Jamaican design elements.

The return completes the reopening schedule we first reported this summer, following a longer closure prompted by damage from Hurricane Melissa.

The five resorts are all part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resorts portfolio, giving Marriott Bonvoy members additional options for earning and redeeming points on all-inclusive stays in Jamaica.

The updated rooms include interactive televisions, high-speed Wi-Fi that extends onto the beach and access to each resort’s mobile app. Guests can use the app to contact resort teams, speak with a concierge, order room service, check daily activities and review hotel information.

Royalton says it will add a fully interactive AI concierge in the coming months, giving guests another way to receive immediate information and assistance during their stays.

Travelers can also use Royalton’s Online Room Selection service to choose a preferred room before arrival. An online pre-check-in option is designed to shorten the arrival process at the resort.

What the Reopened Resorts Cost

Our Sept. 16 rate check found rooms at Royalton Negril starting at $302 per night, including taxes and fees, for a one-night stay for two adults on Sept. 27.

At the adults-only Royalton Hideaway Negril, rates for the same night started at $392, including taxes and fees. Royalton Blue Waters was available for $333, including taxes and fees, for a one-night stay for two adults on Oct. 7.

Rates will vary by room category and date, but the early pricing gives travelers a sense of the cost of returning to the newly refreshed resorts during the first weeks after reopening.

Three Different Resorts in Negril

Royalton’s Negril collection covers three distinct kinds of all-inclusive vacations.

Royalton Negril is the family-friendly centerpiece, with 407 suites, nine restaurants, seven bars, multiple pools, a children’s splash park, pickleball courts, fitness facilities and an outdoor theater.

Royalton Hideaway Negril is the adults-only option, with dedicated beach areas, oceanfront pools and swim-out suites. Its Book 1, Enjoy 2 program includes access to the restaurants, bars and entertainment at neighboring Royalton Negril.

Grand Lido Negril offers a smaller adults-only, au naturel experience in a private beachfront setting.

Two All-Inclusive Options Near Montego Bay

Royalton Blue Waters has reopened with nine restaurants, seven bars, multiple pools, a lazy river, a pirate-themed water park, children’s programming, teen disco nights and an outdoor theater. The resort first opened in Jamaica in 2016.

The adjacent Royalton Hideaway Blue Waters has 352 suites, adults-only areas and a private islet just offshore. Guests also receive access to Royalton Blue Waters, creating a combined offering of 12 restaurants and 11 bars.

Royalton has also reinstalled solar panels at Royalton Negril and Royalton Blue Waters. The company expects the systems to generate more than 634,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy annually.

The five reopenings come after Royalton extended its Jamaica closures following Hurricane Melissa, allowing additional time for repairs, inspections and infrastructure improvements.

Royalton’s Jamaica expansion will continue with Royalton CHIC Jamaica Paradise Cove, an adults-only lifestyle resort scheduled to debut in summer 2027. It will be the first Royalton CHIC property in Jamaica.

Reservations are now available across all five reopened resorts, along with the forthcoming Royalton CHIC Jamaica Paradise Cove.

The post Royalton Just Reopened 5 Jamaica All-Inclusive Resorts, With Redesigned Rooms, New Technology and Rates From $302 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Now the capital is entering a new chapter, from the renewed waterfront to Main Street and the colorful hillside retreat of The Pink Palm.

This is not simply a cruise stop anymore. Charlotte Amalie is becoming somewhere you want to stay, explore and experience after the ships have departed.

Main Street Is Back

The change is immediately visible along Main Street, where the historic storefronts, jewelry shops and centuries-old buildings feel newly animated.

Walk beneath the covered arcades and you find a fascinating mix of old St. Thomas and its emerging creative side: duty-free institutions, independent boutiques, galleries, cafés and local businesses tucked into Danish-era spaces.

Then there are the alleys, the brick passages and the stairways climbing into the hills. Charlotte Amalie rewards anyone willing to wander beyond the obvious route.

The city’s architecture remains one of its greatest draws. Thick stone walls, red-tiled roofs, arched doorways and brightly painted facades give downtown a character unlike any other Caribbean capital.

A Waterfront Reimagined

The waterfront has become a central part of Charlotte Amalie’s resurgence.

The huge works project that transformed the harbor promenade creates a more inviting connection between the water and the historic center, with room for walking, lingering and watching the constant stream of ferries, sailboats, yachts and seaplanes.

It has also changed the way the city feels. The harbor is no longer merely the backdrop. It is once again an essential part of the Charlotte Amalie experience, linking downtown with Frenchtown, Havensight and the wider island.

There is activity throughout the day, from early ferries crossing the harbor to the afternoon bustle around Main Street and the evening crowds heading to restaurants and bars.

The Hotel That Changed the Conversation

The arrival of The Pink Palm helped crystallize the city’s new identity.

Set above downtown in a collection of historic hillside homes, the 28-room hotel introduced an entirely different kind of stay to St. Thomas: colorful, intimate and unmistakably urban Caribbean.

Its emerald-tiled pool, tropical gardens, stylish rooms and sweeping harbor views have turned the property into a destination of its own. The hotel’s hillside setting also places you close enough to walk into town while giving you a private perch above it.

The Pink Palm showed travelers that Charlotte Amalie could be more than an afternoon excursion. It could be the center of a complete St. Thomas vacation.

That idea is spreading. The island’s evolving hotel landscape now includes the new waterfront Hampton by Hilton, while The Pink Palm continues to anchor the boutique side of the destination.

A Caribbean Capital After Dark

The true test of a Caribbean city is what happens after the cruise crowds disappear. That is when Charlotte Amalie becomes even more compelling.

The streets settle down. Harbor lights appear across the water. Restaurants fill with residents, hotel guests and boaters. The experience shifts from shopping destination to genuine Caribbean capital.

You can begin with a late-afternoon walk along the waterfront, head uphill for a cocktail at The Pink Palm and return downtown for dinner. Frenchtown, with its restaurants and fishing heritage, is just minutes away.

Because Charlotte Amalie is compact, its different pieces remain closely connected. The waterfront, Main Street, the hillside hotels and the historic lanes all form part of the same experience.

Charlotte Amalie is still one of the Caribbean’s great shopping cities. It is still a major cruise port. But something more interesting is happening now.

The capital is becoming a destination again.

The post Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas Is Having a Renaissance, From Main Street to The Pink Palm appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve gives you three essential experiences in one inland adventure: the ancient Maya city of Caracol, the dramatic drop at Big Rock Falls and the granite swimming holes of Rio On Pools. Blancaneaux Lodge and Gaia Riverlodge put you close to this vast protected landscape in the Cayo District, where the road passes through pine forest, river country and some of Belize’s richest archaeological terrain.

We recently drove across the reserve, explored Caracol, stopped at the waterfalls and followed the river through a side of Belize that feels far removed from the country’s islands and beach towns. The experience is a deeper look at the Caribbean you may not have known existed, with Maya history, wild swimming and long stretches of open road.

The timing is especially compelling heading into the winter season, when Belize is gaining 5 new nonstop routes from the United States, including service from Boston, Raleigh-Durham and 3 Florida gateways. That expanding access makes it easier to pair Belize’s better-known coast with several days in the western interior.

A Different Side of Belize

Most images of Belize begin with the sea: clear water, small islands, overwater bungalows and the long line of the barrier reef. Mountain Pine Ridge turns that image inland.

The landscape is dominated by Caribbean pine, exposed granite, steep ravines and water cutting through the forest. You drive beneath high trees, cross narrow bridges and descend toward places where streams gather into broad pools or fall sharply through the rock.

The reserve covers more than 100,000 acres in western Belize, but its appeal is not simply its size. It is the variety packed into a single region, with swimming holes, caves, waterfalls, forest roads and one of the country’s great Maya sites all within the same wider adventure zone.

That combination gives Mountain Pine Ridge its identity. It is not one attraction reached by one direct road; it is a full day, or several days, of choosing turns, making stops and watching the terrain change around you.

The Road Through Mountain Pine Ridge

Driving through Mountain Pine Ridge is a central part of the experience. The road carries you past pine stands, red earth, boulders and sudden openings that reveal the hills of western Belize.

Some stretches feel broad and open, while others lead into denser forest near rivers and tributaries. The distances are significant enough that the reserve rewards an early departure and a carefully planned route.

A capable vehicle is important, especially after rain or when leaving the primary roads for individual attractions. Conditions can change, so guests should confirm the latest road information with their hotel, guide or rental company before setting out.

A guide adds another layer, especially when the itinerary includes Caracol. Local knowledge helps with navigation, road conditions and the history of a region that can appear empty until someone begins explaining the forest, the water and the Maya settlements hidden beyond the road.

Caracol

The deepest journey is the road to Caracol, the ancient Maya city near Belize’s western border. The route itself conveys the site’s remoteness, carrying you through miles of forest before the temples finally appear.

Caracol was once one of the most powerful cities in the Maya world. Its archaeological core includes plazas, residences, ceremonial structures and Caana, the enormous temple complex whose name is generally translated as “Sky Palace.”

Walking into the site after the long drive changes your sense of distance and history. The surrounding forest makes the city feel separate from modern Belize, yet the plazas and monumental structures show that this was once an urban center of tremendous political and cultural importance.

Caracol deserves time beyond a quick photograph. The best visits allow room to walk the plazas, examine the carved stone and climb where access is permitted, then pause above the tree line before returning to the forest below.

The site also helps explain why Mountain Pine Ridge is more than a nature excursion. The waterfalls and swimming holes are immediate pleasures, but Caracol connects the reserve to a much larger story of Maya settlement, power and exchange across the region.

The coolest thing about Caracol? Not the sights, but the sounds: the spectacular, terrifying, otherwordly shrieks of howler monkeys will be something you never forget.

Big Rock Falls

The next essential stop is Big Rock Falls, where water plunges into a pool surrounded by rock and forest. Reaching the falls requires a descent, which makes the first full view from below even more dramatic.

This is not a roadside overlook. You hear the water getting louder as you approach, then see the falls framed by boulders and thick vegetation.

The pool below the waterfall is one of Mountain Pine Ridge’s signature swimming spots, although water levels and currents can vary. Visitors should follow local guidance and remain cautious around wet stone, deeper water and the force near the cascade.

Big Rock Falls is the place for a longer pause. Caracol is about history and distance; this stop is about cooling off, sitting beside the river and seeing how much of the reserve’s character comes from water.

The contrast is striking after the drive through the pines. One moment you are on a dry forest road, and the next you are beside a powerful waterfall in a deep green ravine.

Rio On Pools

Rio On Pools brings a different water experience. Here, the Rio On travels across broad granite formations, creating a series of natural pools, small cascades and smooth rock terraces.

The attraction is easy to understand as soon as you reach the river. Instead of one towering drop, the water spreads across multiple levels, giving the area a collection of places to sit, swim and watch the current pass over the stone.

Families and groups often gravitate toward Rio On Pools because everyone can find a different section of the river. Some pools feel broad and calm, while other channels move more quickly between the rocks.

Footing can be slippery, and conditions depend on recent rainfall. A dry-season visit may look very different from a visit after heavy rain, so local advice remains important before entering the water.

Rio On Pools also captures the visual character of Mountain Pine Ridge in one place. Pine forest rises beyond the granite, while the river cuts through the center and creates a natural stopping point along the road.

Rio Frio Cave

A complete Mountain Pine Ridge itinerary can also include Rio Frio Cave, one of the reserve’s most accessible geological attractions. Its huge arched entrance opens into a cavern crossed by the Rio Frio, with daylight visible again at the other end.

The cave delivers another dramatic change of setting. After driving through bright pine forest, you enter a vast chamber of stone, water and cool air.

It is a relatively direct way to experience Belize’s cave country without committing to a more demanding underground expedition. The cavern’s size and open ends also make it visually impressive from the moment you arrive.

Rio Frio Cave fits naturally between Caracol and the reserve’s river stops, depending on road conditions and departure time. Trying to include every attraction in a rushed schedule, however, can reduce the experience to a series of quick arrivals and departures.

Where to Stay

Blancaneaux Lodge is the best-known luxury base within Mountain Pine Ridge. Created by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, the lodge sits beside the Privassion Creek and combines cabanas and villas with immediate access to the region’s rivers, forest and archaeological excursions.

Coppola has called it a “secluded discovery on a mountain wonderland.” The description fits a property where the surrounding reserve is not a side excursion but the central reason to stay.

Blancaneaux is especially well suited to visitors who want guided access to Caracol and the reserve without spending each day driving in from outside the area. Returning from the road to the sound of the creek gives the lodge a powerful sense of place.

Gaia Riverlodge offers another immersive option, set near the Five Sisters Waterfalls. The lodge places water at the center of the stay, with the river and falls forming part of the everyday experience rather than a separate outing.

Gaia is a strong choice when swimming, waterfalls and forest scenery sit at the top of the itinerary. Its location also creates a natural base for exploring the reserve’s primary sights with time left to enjoy the property.

Visitors who prefer to stay closer to restaurants and the energy of San Ignacio can use the town as a gateway. Our guide to San Ignacio explores its combination of food, culture and adventure, including the pupusas that remain part of the town’s appeal.

Ka’ana Resort is a boutique option just outside San Ignacio, with 17 accommodations spread across tropical grounds. In a recent rate check, we found rooms from $183 per night for select late-May dates, about 27 percent below the hotel’s typical pricing at the time.

That rate is no longer a live offer, but it demonstrates how sharply inland Belize pricing can change by season. Current prices should always be checked for the exact dates of a stay.

Which Mountain Pine Ridge Experience Is Right for You?

Visitors primarily interested in Maya history should make Caracol the anchor and organize the day around its long approach. An early start leaves more room for an afternoon stop at Rio Frio Cave, Rio On Pools or one of the waterfalls.

Anyone drawn to swimming and scenery can concentrate on Big Rock Falls, Rio On Pools and the Five Sisters Waterfalls. Staying at Gaia Riverlodge or Blancaneaux Lodge reduces time on the road and makes it easier to explore at a slower pace.

Families may find Rio On Pools the most flexible stop, provided water conditions are suitable and children are closely supervised. Couples may prefer combining a waterfall visit with a lodge lunch, a private guide and a longer stay in the reserve.

Serious adventure seekers can use Mountain Pine Ridge as one part of a wider Cayo itinerary. San Ignacio, Xunantunich, cave excursions and river experiences can fill several additional days without repeating the same kind of activity.

How to Plan the Drive

Mountain Pine Ridge demands more preparation than a straightforward beach transfer. Fuel, water, footwear, weather and road conditions should all be considered before leaving San Ignacio or another inland base.

Cell service may be limited in parts of the reserve, making offline directions and a confirmed route valuable. A guided excursion remains the easiest option for first-time visitors, especially when Caracol is included.

Road improvements have made parts of western Belize more accessible, but drive times still depend on conditions and the day’s route. Hotels in the reserve and around San Ignacio can arrange transportation, guides and combined itineraries.

The smartest approach is to choose one major anchor and add 2 nearby stops. Caracol can fill much of a day, while Big Rock Falls and Rio On Pools can be paired more easily on a water-focused outing.

Belize’s growing airlift also opens more ways to combine the interior with the coast. New service from Canada to Belize and added United States routes give visitors more gateways for a vacation divided between Cayo and the sea.

Mountain Pine Ridge is the Belize that appears when you keep driving beyond the familiar Caribbean image. It is Caracol rising beyond the forest, Big Rock Falls crashing into its pool and Rio On Pools slipping across granite beneath the pines.

The post Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge Has Caracol, Big Rock Falls and Rio On Pools appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

This is where you find Rom Rincon.

The locally made spiced rum comes from The Cadushy Distillery, tucked into the center of Rincon in a leafy open-air setting that should be a required stop on any Bonaire vacation.

Rom Rincon is a very cool thing indeed: a pot-distilled rum made with molasses from Suriname and flavored with local botanicals, including yerba di holé and Bonaire’s ubiquitous kadushi cactus. It is sweet, smooth and unmistakably connected to the rugged island around it.

The rum was created by master distiller Eric Gietman, whose family founded the distillery in 2009. It is not chill filtered, preserving more of the richness and spice that make it such a distinctive expression of Bonaire.

You can drink it neat. You can have it over ice. But our favorite way to experience it is in one of the most delicious Cuba Libres you will ever have.

The combination is simple: Rom Rincon, cola and fresh lime. But the rum’s local spices add depth and character, transforming a familiar Caribbean cocktail into something entirely its own. It is sweet, bright, gently spiced and particularly satisfying after the drive into Bonaire’s northern interior.

Rincon was established in 1527, making it the oldest settlement on the island. It remains an essential counterpoint to the waterfront restaurants, hotels and dive shops of Kralendijk. If you want to understand another side of Bonaire, you need to come here.

The distillery is also home to Cadushy of Bonaire, the island’s famous cactus liqueur, along with several other locally produced spirits. We have long considered them among the best things to bring home from Bonaire.

But Rom Rincon is the bottle that captures the frontier character of this place most completely.

Come for the drive. Explore the old town. Sit beneath the trees at the distillery. Then order a Cuba Libre made with the local rum.

It may become your favorite drink in Bonaire.

The post In Bonaire’s Frontier Town, a Local Spiced Rum Just Might Make the Best Cuba Libre in the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

The luxury cruise line’s 17 suite types will now be grouped into Oceanview, Veranda, Residence and Villa categories. The new structure takes effect for voyages departing on or after Jan. 1, 2027.

The change comes as Silversea expands other parts of its guest program and cruise companies place increasing emphasis on larger accommodations and more personalized service.

Oceanview will include Silversea’s Panorama and Vista suites, both designed around large windows and direct ocean views.

The Veranda category will cover Premium Veranda, Deluxe Veranda, Superior Veranda, Classic Veranda and Veranda suites, all with private balconies.

The Residence category will encompass Junior Grand, Signature, Silver, Premium Medallion and Medallion suites. Each includes separate bedroom and living areas.

Villa will represent the company’s largest accommodations: Otium, Master, Owner’s, Grand and Royal suites. These suites feature expanded living areas and large private terraces.

All four categories will retain Silversea’s existing inclusions, including butler service, 24-hour in-suite dining, Wi-Fi, multiple restaurants, beverages, port fees, taxes and gratuities.

“Guests choose to sail with Silversea time and time again for the intimacy of our ships and the personal attention that comes with it,” said Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea.

Residence guests will receive priority embarkation on Classic voyages, along with earlier access to reservations. Spa treatments can be reserved 210 days before departure, while dining reservations will open 150 days before the voyage.

Villa guests will receive all Residence benefits plus private transfers on Classic voyages when airfare is reserved through Silversea, early suite access and a personal welcome escort.

The Villa package will also include individual consultations with the ship’s chef, head sommelier and spa manager. Guests can arrange experiences such as chef-selected in-suite dinners, afternoon tea, Champagne-and-caviar stargazing evenings, private cocktail gatherings and cigar-and-whiskey pairings.

Every Villa suite will carry an in-room Technogym exercise package with a yoga mat, resistance bands and roller. Guests will also receive priority assistance from Silversea’s destination experts when arranging flights, hotels, shore excursions and land programs.

At select debarkation ports, Villa guests on Classic voyages will be able to remain aboard longer on the final day, retaining access to restaurants, beverages, public spaces and Wi-Fi until the ship’s next departure.

On expedition voyages, Villa guests will have greater flexibility when selecting Zodiac departure groups, priority entry for a kayaking session and access to behind-the-scenes expedition operations.

Silversea operates an intimate, all-suite fleet that includes Silver Dawn, Silver Nova, Silver Ray and several smaller vessels. The company is part of Royal Caribbean Group, whose 2027 reservations have been pacing ahead of historical levels.

The post Silversea Is Reshaping Its Luxury Cruise Suites, With Four New Categories and Private Chef Consultations appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Guyana’s economy expanded by an estimated 33.3 percent during the first half of 2026, propelled by one of the largest new oil-producing regions anywhere in the world.

The country’s oil and gas subsector grew by 41.3 percent during the period, according to figures announced by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The non-oil economy recorded estimated growth of 10.1 percent, marking its sixth consecutive year of expansion following the contraction recorded in 2020.

The post Guyana’s Economy Grew 33.3 Percent in the First Half of 2026 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.