Cayman Airways Super Sale!

Happy Birthday to Cayman Airways! 

They are celebrating their 42nd Birthday with super low fares! 

If you book from July 30 - August 7, Cayman Airways will offer fares as low as

US$142.00 roundtrip for Miami and Tampa, and US$242.00 roundtrip for New York.

Contact us & we will combine these great fares with a hotel stay for a great Cayman Vacation Package!

Where Am I? Mary's Outhouse @ Grand Pineapple Resort, Antigua

It's FRIDAY! Let's have some fun.... where in the world am I?

It didn't take very long for the smart Caribbean lovers out there to figure it out. Anyway, Mary's Outhouse is a very cool little spot with amazing food & views. Certainly enhances any stay Grand Pineapple Antigua.

My Trip to Sandals Grande Antigua

I just returned from four splendid days on the island of Antigua. It was a lovely trip, albeit very last minute and I arrived much like a hurricane. Sandals Grande Antigua was the host hotel for my stay. It was my first time to the property since they completed the Mediterranean Village. Aside from the first two days of rain, I have only good things to say.

This is what you see when you first arrive. The hand painted ceiling of the lobby on your left and the picture perfect Caribbean Sea straight ahead:

I took time to wander the entire property. While I enjoyed my suite accommodations on the Mediterranean Village, I loved the lush look of the original Caribbean Grove section. If you are booked in the Caribbean Grove in a concierge room, this is where you would check-in:

While you walk to your charming West Indian cottage style accommodation, you will pass a few hidden pools... Sandals Grande Antigua has a total of 9 pools, not counting the private ones found in the villa accommodations:

Pure West Indian bliss:

If you do book a unit with a private pool, it will look something like this:

Before we move over to the new Mediterranean Side, I need to tell you that my favorite restaurant Kimonos, is located in the Caribbean Grove - seriously good Japanese fare:

This was the view from my room. Every day, all day beautiful seabirds would fly past my balcony and seemingly float in the air before then gracefully swooped on past and through the gardens below:

This is the main building in the Mediterranean Village. I stayed in a Mediterranean Honeymoon Penthouse 1 Bedroom Suite with Ocean View & Private Butler. It was amazing. I broke my wide angle lens so my photos are not that great - you can check out all the rooms online here.

My second favorite restaurant is Barefoot by the Sea... the amazingly fresh beer battered Mahi Mahi and the Grilled Swordfish Salad were my top choices:

More lush gardens on the Mediterranean side:

And then the beach - perfect white sand & turquoise water:

Facing West, each night ended with an amazing sunset:

A huge THANK YOU to the General Manager, Mr. Gerald Christ, for hosting our amazing stay!

Ready to go? I'd be happy to help you plan & book your trip! Drop me a line: Laura@CaribbeanJourney.com

To see more photos of my trip, go here.

Enjoy,

No Conch Shells Allowed

Recently, while standing in the security line at the Antigua Airport, I witnessed something for the very first time. The sweet honeymoon couple in front of me in the line had their conch shell confiscated. They were sad. The security agent was sympathetic as she explained that conch shells are not allowed on flights, unless in your checked baggage because they could be used as a weapon. The agent demonstrated, and yes, I can see how being smacked on the head with one of those giant shells would certainly do some damage... but along those lines, I could use my laptop for a weapon if need be! Anyway, avoid having to put on the puppy dog eyes and pack your conch shells in your checked luggage.

Side note: On my search for the perfect conch shell photo, I found this... the perfect conch shell house:

Photos from here & here.

Off to Antigua!

I'm off to Antigua this morning.... I'll be back soon with lots of yummy new details about the island. Stay tuned! 

Now is the time to fall for Barbados!

Barbados is offering a value added promotion for this fall! 

Stay at least 5 nights at a participating hotel and receive:

$150-$300 Airfare Credit

Free Daily Breakfast

Free One Day Car Rental to explore the island

Free Gourmet Dining Discount Card

Buy One - Get Second at 25% off activity card

Hurry! You must book by August 15th for travel between September 1 and December 18, 2010.

{AS WITH ALL PROMOS, RESTRICTIONS APPLY. Please ask.}

Please contact us at www.CaribbeanJourney.com to start planning your Barbados Vacation today! Photo above is from The House, one of the participating hotels.

Enjoy,

Tortuga Bay Hotel Honored With AAA 5 Diamond Award

The AAA 5 Diamond award is a rarity and only awarded to the most luxurious and discerning properties. The Caribbean is only home to three awarded hotels: Sandy Lane in Barbados and the Ritz Carltons in Grand Cayman & Jamaica. 

Tortuga Bay, the luxury boutique hotel designed by Oscar de la Renta, is the first in the Dominican Republic and one of only four hotels in the Caribbean to ever receive this distinction.

Tortuga Bay, which opened at the PUNTACANA Resort & Club in 2006, has received much attention for its guest experience, including VIP transport from the airport, access to the exclusive Bamboo Restaurant and Six Senses Spa, and ability to play the resort’s two golf courses, the Tom Fazio-designed Corales and P.B. Dye-designed La Cana. The many amenities available to guests make the PUNTACANA Resort & Club the Caribbean’s premier golf and beach resort destination.

The development of Grupo PUNTACANA dates back to 1969 when Dominican businessman and hotelier Frank R. Rainieri and Theodore W. Kheel, the prominent New York attorney and labor mediator, created a partnership to construct a resort and real estate community that respects the natural habitat of Punta Cana while offering a world-class vacation experience. Maintaining a dedication to sustainable tourism, PUNTACANA Resort & Club has since grown to encompass over 26 square miles and now includes Tortuga Bay; Six Senses Spa; the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation; four residential communities (Corales, Hacienda, Marina and Arrecife); a full-service marina; nine restaurants; a shopping village; two 18-hole golf courses; and Punta Cana International Airport, a modern facility that incorporates innovative and eco-friendly design. In 1997, Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta joined the Group as co-investors and have made PUNTACANA Resort & Club their home.  Currently, Punta Cana is the most highly visited Caribbean destination and is easily accessible from all over the globe.

Those chairs are waiting just for you!

Come and enjoy what AAA Five Diamond service & luxury feel like.  Please contact Caribbean Journey today to start planning your trip.

Enjoy,

Cap Juluca, Anguilla - A Timeless Beach Classic

 

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

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

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

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

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