New Hotel Spotlight: The Ku, Anguilla

The best way to describe this new Anguilla hotspot is Minimalist Chic at the Beach! Conveniently located on Shoal Bay East, this glimmering beauty opened on October 15, 2005 and has sent guests home satisfied ever since. The Ku is a great value, compared to others on the island, starting at only $160/night. The all-suite property has a lively beachfront restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “Ku” means “sacred place” in the native Arawak language… and it truly is a sacred gem in the world of affordable travel.

Airline Approved Beauty Products:

Sephora, one of my favorite body product retailers, has jumped on the “good things come in small packages” bandwagon that arose from the FAA’s new restrictions on carry-on liquids. Their retail shops and their website are both featuring many of their top-sellers in tiny packages – all at or under the 3 OZ limit that is currently still in place. Having traveled over the holiday season, I was pleased to see that both airports I visited were kind enough to have stashes of zip-loc bags on hand for anyone that forgot. If this restriction becomes standard policy then we can only assume more companies will adapt their product sizes too.

Starwood Hotels Has a New Baby!

The hotel chain recently announced that the new Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa will open on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten on December 13. This hotel is a welcomed addition to the tiny Dutch island that’s only other hotel of the same caliber is the Sonesta Maho – a property that is often sold out forcing those wanting to visit the Dutch side of the island to seek accommodations on the French side and commute to the gambling tables. Hopefully, the new Westin will share in the spotlight of success that its sister hotel in St. John has enjoyed for many years.

Good news for NE travelers wanting some fun in the sun this holiday season! Beginning Dec. 2, JetBlue will begin a second nonstop flight every Saturday from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Aruba. The second Saturday flight will be a permanent addition to the company's schedule and will complement the existing daily nonstop service to the Caribbean island that began September 15. In addition, JetBlue will add a second daily nonstop flight from New York/JFK to Aruba for the holidays to support high customer demand effective from Dec. 21 through Jan. 7, 2007.

The Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism has announced a new yearlong marketing campaign called the Jubilee Year of Festivals. The plan will promote major festivals and events the twin island nation will host in the next 12 months. Highlights of the Jubilee Year of Festivals campaign include: 25 Reasons to Travel to Antigua and Barbuda, 25 Adventures You Ought to Try in Antigua and Barbuda, and 25 Tips When Traveling to Antigua and Barbuda. The new marketing campaign will showcase many of the properties that have recently undergon millions in renovations.

Zagat Comes to the Caribbean! Zagat, the famed publisher of highly acclaimed restaurants, bars, and attractions, has launched its first Caribbean issue covering Barbados. The 2007 Best of Barbados is the first to cover the Caribbean, extending quite an honor to the island nation. Of course, we’ve all known that Barbados was a fabulous dining destination, and now the world will get to read about 169 of its top tables. Also given many pages in the guide is the island’s offering of fabulous golf courses. Sure, most have heard of Sandy Lane since Tiger Woods chose it as his Destination Wedding location, but Barbados has many other golf courses, some challenging and some just as interesting being stepped in history. Pick up a copy of the guide before your next visit!

Curacao is adding more hotels! Curacao has surprised many of us in the industry as it has experienced a quick rise top spot on many clients dream lists of island vacation destinations. Not only does the island have stunning beaches and the same crystal clear water that has made neighboring Bonaire a dive Mecca for years, but Curacao wraps a history lesson into the vacation experience. The Hotel Kura Hulanda was built by eccentric entrepreneur Jacob Gelt Dekker, and features the Kura Hulanda Museum, an anthropological museum that showcases the predominant cultures of Curacao past and present. Jumping on the tourism boom of this tiny island are the Hyatt Regency slated for completion in Summer 2008 and the Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino looking to open its doors in December 2007. We can't wait!

St. Vincent Planning its First International Airport! Currently, when flying into St. Vincent, you must change planes and go through customs on one of 6 neighboring islands - Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. From these islands, you can make the connection to Union Island, Canouan, Mustique, Bequia, or St. Vincent. The tiny island nation recently announced plans to build an International Airport with completion set for 2011. While it is a long way off, many loyalists to the region are thrilled at the expected ease in travel.

Planning a Group Trip? A new company, Triporama, has launched a website catered towards group travel leaders. Visit our Group Travel page to see direct links. Triporama.com will allow you to post information about your trip and sent e-vites to others to join in the fun and coordinate flight and hotel plans. Created in a similar fashion to the ever popular wedding website industry, Triporama has attempted to make their services unique. Group leaders using Triporama can poll their friends to find out what travel dates work best for the majority. The format is fabulous because it allows all group members to share in the travel research process and work on their own time. Visit CaribbeanJourney.com's group pages to get started!

Who Knew? The US Coral Reef Task Force. I knew the US Government had many areas that I was not familiar with, but I was extremely surprised today to learn that the government sponsors a Coral Reef Task Force. The organization was established in 1998 in an effort to protect the underwater environment surrounding our shores. They made headlines today in an article documenting the recent and rapid decline of larger types of Coral in Coral. The large coral is being replaced by smaller, less protective coral. The US Virgin Islands could see a vanishing act of large Coral within 50 years and Jamaica has already lost most of its large coral. We can all take steps to help preserve the Caribbean, visit our Go Green Pages to learn more.

Changes are coming to St. Thomas! I am glad to see that the recent improvements scheduled for the US Virgin Islands are focused on St. Thomas. Over the past few years, St. John has taken the lead as the most popular US Virgin Island with St. Croix in a close second. But what happened to St. Thomas? It was catering to tourists on a mass-market scale long before its sister islands. I think it was a combination of a shift in the marketplace and lack of attention to the once booming island. Most of my visitors to the USVI want places off the beaten track so St. John and St. Croix fit the bill. The USVI government has decided “if you build it, they will come” – a mega yacht club that is. The Yacht Haven Grande is set to debut in March and will offer accommodations and amenities to mega yachts and their owners. Opening this December is the $28Million Crown Bay Plaza offering all the upscale shopping a gal could wish for! And to show off these changes, the island is increasing its air lift from many cities.

Couples Resorts & the Jamaican Tourist Board are offering a passport promotion. As most of you know, come January 8, 2007, all visitors to the Caribbean & Bahamas must have a passport. The increasing cost of passports is seemingly a deterrent for those wanting to visit the Caribbean. One of my favorite all-inclusive chains, Couples Resorts, has teamed up with The Jamaican Tourist Board and is offering a $200 spa credit per room for travelers who make Jamaica their first stop with their new passport. The passport promotion is valid for travel Jan. 1-April 1, 2007 and travelers need to show their passport at check-in to prove Jamaica is their first international stop. A five-night minimum stay is required and the offer is valid at all four Couples Resorts in Jamaica.

Westin St. John launches a pre-holiday sale. The Westin St. John is often ranked as one of the best family resorts in the Caribbean. The resort offers full kiddie amenities, a splendid sugar sand beach, and proximity to all of the eco-adventures St. John has to offer. The Westin St. John Resort & Villas is offering a pre-holiday special starting at $439 per night, available for stays November 25 through December 22-a savings of more than 60% off regular rates for this time period.

Philadelphia plans first Caribbean Festival. Ok all you Philadelphians! If you don’t have any plans this weekend, then head down to The Philly Travel Show for a “Caribbean Village” and learn all about the changes and seasonal offerings the Caribbean is featuring. Prior to that you can visit Macy’s in the King of Prussia Mall for some lively and entertaining Caribbean cooking demonstrations.