Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2016 från Caribbean Living

Dominican Republic Eden Roc at Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic is the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in the country. The recently renovated resort is extravagant elegance elevated. With only 34 ultra-luxurious, free-standing guest suites, privacy is your prerogative. Whether staying in one of the Deluxe Suites or the four-bedroom specialty duplex suite with cascading waterfall and 24-hour butler service and personal chef, serenity in a well-appointed living space accommodates all getaway needs. After a plunge in your private pool, the day’s agenda should include the newly renovated Eden Roc Beach Club. Accessible only to resort guests, mind, body and soul are nourished here, whether on the sands and surf of Caletón Beach, while indulging in beach butler service, or rejuvenating in the new Solaya Fitness & Wellness Spa.…

Baila! Baila! It’s a fête or session: Whatever the name, the end result is the same – when you are in the islands, dance ‘til you drop. What is dance? If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then dance paints the image, the picture of the soul. The floor is the canvas and the body the brush. Each movement is a stroke, a work of art that captures the imagination. There’s a reason for the popularity of the term “Latin lovers.” Take a look at their dances: They sizzle with sexuality and physicality. Dances of the Caribbean are a delightful mélange of rhythms and movements from around the world. The African and European influences that have been molded and blended to a style distinctively their own form the…

“Give in to the fact that you are on the ISLAND PARADISE OF ANGUILLA and here the only blues you should feel are the warm waters of the Caribbean.” Every island stirs up different feelings and can awaken various senses in those who visit. The question often gets asked, “Which island should I go to?” which often leads to an inquisitive response. Although we all know we shouldn’t answer a question with a question, it really does depend on what you’re looking for or want to get out of the trip. That’s why the diversity of the Caribbean makes it so rich and exciting. This trip to Anguilla we set out to chase the blues. Not your humdrum sort of blues but a more vibrant set of those hues. It’s…

In another era, the stunning beaches of Antigua welcomed Jacqueline Kennedy, providing her and her loved ones with an escape from the world in what was then a virtually undiscovered oasis. In that same spirit, Jacqui O’s on Love Beach has followed in the former First Lady’s glamorous footsteps, creating an exquisite hideaway that beckons not only the rich and famous, but anyone with a Champagne taste whatever the budget. One sunny Saturday afternoon I visited this beach bar where a well-known English actress lounges by the water, perhaps waiting for her close-up… but I dare not intrude. Instead I’m met by Jacqui O’s owner, Lance Leonhardt, whose enthusiasm and passion shines through. He and his staff make me feel at home, and insist that I come right back into…

The super exclusive, five-star Relais & Châteaux resort in Punta Cana suddenly became more affordable via Eden Roc at Cap Cana’s Endless Summer Four-Night Package. This summer, experience private airport transfers, a minimum of four-nights in a free-standing suite complete with private pool, outdoor shower and personal electric golf cart, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner AND a $200 credit to the Solaya Spa. Can we say upgrade? Bonus: Children 4 to 12 years-old stay and eat for free. Rates from $949.edenroccapcana.com Genius Pack 25’’ Hardside Spinner Upright —Pack it all in and escape to the tropics! When you leave the city behind, grab this crush-proof luggage. It’s infused with “genius” features and weighs only 8.2 pounds. The beauty spins 360 degrees with eight silent-gliding wheels. Interior panels are engineered with…

Iarrive at English Harbour and the new South Point Resort, steps from the cafés and nightlife encircling the bay, yet serenely nestled into its own hillside hideaway. Resting on the edge of the harbor, the property’s first and most striking aspect is, of course, the view. Upon entering the open-air lobby, I gaze straight through the chic lounge area out to the water where mega-yachts and sailboats dot the skyline like white caps on the ocean. I’ve never seen so many boats all at once, yet learn that this isn’t even half of what’s expected at the regatta… when the number of boats might outnumber the fish! A boutique hotel comprising several independent buildings, South Point provides the utmost privacy for each unique unit ranging from apartment-sized accommodations to penthouse…

While she’s talking wedding, I’m thinking intersection, of Old World luxury and seaside relaxation. Little did I know as we waited our turn to march off the plane, I found myself wondering…. Were I to get married, what kind of ceremony and environment would I want? Not that it matters since it’s common knowledge that only one of the spouses-to-be generally does all the driving when it comes to wedding planning. As a purely theoretical exercise, however, let’s entertain the chance that I’d be making any of the ceremonial decisions. I begin my Internet-based research on San Juan hotels and find the Condado Vanderbilt is the top pulldown on Trip Advisor, with its next door neighbor and sister property, La Concha Resort in the tiny waterfront neighborhood of Condado in…

Let me clarify, before things get out of hand. You’ll not really be sleeping with Helen or Brice Marden but rather among their art and curated designs of their charming hotels. It’s about as close as one can decently get without receiving a slap. Brice Marden, known mainly as a minimalist, has works on display in such esteemed places as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He received his Bachelor of Fine Art from Boston University and a Master of Fine Art from Yale’s School of Art and Architecture. Although those names and titles being dropped may lead one to believe that his hotels are for those who turn their noses up at things and raise a pinky as they…

JULY Antigua and Barbuda start their turtle watching season and it’s a perfect time of year to sink your teeth into a variety of flavorful fruit at Antigua and Barbuda Mango Festival facebook.com/ AnnualMangoFest. Jamaica kicks the month off with a bit of spice, as its trademark dish has taste buds wanting more. The heritage site location at Folly Estate in Portland is the ideal setting for the Portland Jerk Festival on July 1 Three days of casting, reeling and teaming up has expert fishermen strapped in for the exhilarating challenge to catch the most fish during the first leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown series, at the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship, July 3-7 bermudatriplecrown.com/bermudabillfish-blast As the name suggests, forget all worries and cares and get lost in a…

When I enter The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa, civilized chaos reigns. Grinning bellmen dash to and fro, conventioneers mingle over welcome cocktails, families navigate the crowd trailing beach towels and toys. But down the corridor, the Hibiscus Spa is tranquil on the happy verge of tranquilizing. The sleek yet not slick decor conveys serenity: Muted tones predominate while splashes of Caribbean colors such as aqua and amber add focus to the space. Artwork, some sourced regionally, helps create an authentic sense of place. Water walls further reinforce the soothing sea ambience. Above me, an enormous blue circular slab – something retro-futuristic and Googie-inspired out of The Jetsons – hangs from the ceiling like a gigantic fascinator. Variegated quartzite and ceramic accents contrast with rattan and…

Past the Cocobay Resort’s infinity pool atop the cliffs, I venture into this hidden paradise, descending down a wooden stairway peppered with purple flowers giving way to endless blue in every direction. From the sparkling spillover plunge pool high above the turquoise sea to the darker blues of the ocean and out to the lighter blues of the horizon, the view is impossible to beat… and I haven’t even entered the restaurant yet! Deeper inside this secret garden of bougainvillea-blanketed trellises and Tahitian-style thatch roofs I pass another plunge pool hanging on the edge and the patio bar garlanded with strings of lights: Everything needed for a festive seaside party. A unique design, the narrow restaurant wraps around the cliffs in a hugging embrace – a splendid way to create…

Seaside shacks serve drinks and conch at lounge chairs scattered like seashells. We park at the modest pier that points to my destination on the horizon: Nevis. From here I can see Mount Nevis; there always seems to be a halo of clouds resting atop the mountain like a crown. The sun on my face is a welcome break from the day of travel, and as I await my boat, I enjoy watching someone attempt to take flight with a water-propelled jet pack. My water taxi soon arrives and the captain helps me aboard. I ask how long the ride is and he hands me a Carib beer, saying, “About that long.” Sounds just fine to me! The engines kick in and I take a seat to watch the show…