Resort Watch
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Resort Watch
December 18th, 2012
Big news is happening with two of the top all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Both LaSource in Grenada and The Veranda on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos have long been favorite resorts of both CT+L editors and readers, LaSource for its luxury spa vibe that permeates throughout the resort and The Veranda for a charming boutique atmosphere on Grace Bay. Now Sandals has acquired both of these great all-inclusives, with big plans to ......
December 12th, 2012
I just got back from Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, and have finally finished sifting through my notes and photos to come up with the ultimate Top 20 ranking for this mega resort off Nassau. Yes, for you, gentle reader, my son and I spent three grueling days in Aquaventure and two nights at The Cove -- plus sights beyond -- to accomplish the hardest work assignment ever. But we did it to ensure that your next (or first) visit to Atlantis with your family is as high on the awesome scale as possible. I think you'll be surprised by what's No. 1 on the list after you see ......
November 20th, 2012
We all know all-inclusive resorts throw in food, drink and activities – after all, that’s the whole point. But some all-incs go the extra mile. At Buccament Bay in St. Vincent, you can take tennis lessons with Pat Cash – for free! And all-inclusive Bahamas’ private island Fowl Cay gives guests in each of the island’s six villas their own 17-foot boat to explore the surrounding Exuma islets. The award for most unusual inclusion, however, must go to the Hard Rock Punta Cana. Here's why ......
November 19th, 2012
The moniker “Boutique Hotel” is bandied about so often these days that it has gotten somewhat difficult to know what to anticipate. My personal expectations are for a smaller and more intimate hotel, but even more, the place must embody a distinctive character unique to the establishment and embrace a reasonable level of elegance while eschewing any sense of pretense. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, it should be designed to appeal to the few who make the effort to seek it out. A good boutique hotel will rarely be the easiest place to find, but oh the rewards to be had for a little extra effort. Welcome to Hotel Secreto, an award-winning Mexican island apparition that meets all my ideals. See the photo gallery of ......
November 7th, 2012
Year-round sunshine, vibrant Caribbean diving and a touch of luxury –– ready to start packing yet? Located on the island of Bonaire, Harbour Village Beach Club has a little bit of everything, whether you’re looking for a family friendly getaway or a private couple’s retreat. The resort’s Kids Great Adventures program packs in the fun with watersports, diving programs and visits to the cultural park, Mangazina de Rei, and a tropical butterfly farm. While the kids get their own ......
November 2nd, 2012
Minimal. Eco. Luxury. Boutique. Innovative. There's a new resort on Belize's Ambergris Caye. El Secreto is the name. And all the other acts in town better watch out. Go to the gallery now....
October 29th, 2012
As Hurricane Sandy bears down on the U.S. East Coast, we're monitoring reports of the effect the storm had as it whipped through the Caribbean. A reported 10,000 flight cancellations have happened across North America since Saturday, according to Flightstats.com, which offers a real-time map of canceled flights. In Jamaica, Sandals Ocho Rios is reporting a delay in welcoming new guests in an article from Travel Weekly. And in a one-in-a-million chance, apparently the eye of Hurricane Sandy passed over Disney's Castaway Cay, the private island that the Disney Cruise Line visits on its ......
October 5th, 2012
As sun lovers, we know about the cooling wonders of aloe vera (a vacation life saver!), but Aruba really knows how to make the most of the green plant. To help celebrate Aruba’s indigenous resource, The Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba invites guests to indulge in their Farm-to-Treament Table experience. Start your day with a trip to the Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory and bring home your own freshly extracted aloe to use later at the spa. Learning all there is to know about aloe vera can be tough work, so you can really start to appreciate it with one of two treatments ......
September 19th, 2012
We gave you the scoop on Cancun's new all-inclusive, the Hard Rock Hotel, in an earlier resort blog post. Now CT+L photo editor Lori Barbely is planning her trip there in October for the grand-opening celebration to give all of you a full all-inclusive report, plus exclusive photos, of course. We're making Lori check out every restaurant, every bar, every pool, every rockin' party so she can see if this new resort deserves the CT+L seal of approval. In the meantime, here at CT+L headquarters today, we've been watching this Hard Rock video of ......
July 25th, 2012
There are nearly 3,000 reasons to visit The Bahamas, but when the Grand Lucayan Bahamas presents us with airfare credits and a "Summer Safari" rate, they moved right to the top of the list. ...
