What's New: An Online Update for Frommer's Caribbean

Frommer's keeps you up-to-date on the latest happenings in the Caribbean.

Anguilla

Overlooking Meads Bay, the aptly named Meads Bay Hideaway, Meads Bay (264/498-5555), is this chic island's latest resort property. A tropical oasis, it offers spacious one- or two-bedroom penthouses. Right off the beach, this is a pocket of posh.

Antigua

The only accommodation on island that would qualify as a little plantation inn, Harmony Hall, Brown's Bay Mill (268/460-4120, www.harmonyhall.com), is also an art gallery and restaurant built around a ruined sugar mill. Secluded and tranquil, the hall rents out six large, high-ceilinged bedrooms. It's not on the beach, however, but some tempting sands are nearby. More and more resort guests are escaping their grounds at night to dine at local eateries, such as Papa Zouk, Hilda Davis Drive, St. Johns (268/464-7576), which serves some of the best and freshest seafood on island. If not that choice, you can sample the zesty cuisine at Sticky Wicket, Pavilion Drive, Coolidge (268/481-7000), which specializes in international cuisine focusing on West Indian dishes. It's also the island's most frequented sports bar.

Aruba

Those visitors wishing to escape the megaresorts and go "the inn way" are seeking out The Boardwalk Vacation Retreat, Bakval 20 (297/86-66654, www.theboardwalk-aruba.com), a short walk from the high rises and casinos, but a world apart. Accommodations consist of well-furnished one- or two-bedroom casitas only 135m (450 ft.) from Palm Beach, a strip of white sand with the best swimming. The island's hot new dining choice is Hostaria da' Vittorio, L. G. Smith Blvd. 380, Palm Beach (297/58-63838), across from the Hyatt Regency. Vittorio Muscariello dazzles palates with Mediterranean specialties cooked in his open-to-view kitchen.

Barbados

Talk about recycling. Lone Star Hotel, Hwy. 1, Mount Stanfast, St. James (246/419-0599), is a chic new restaurant and hotel that was converted from a dreary 1940s garage. Four sumptuous suites -- two opening right on the beach -- are available for rent, and they're named after such vehicles as the Studebaker, Lincoln, or Buick. A real discovery, Little Arches, Enterprise Coast Road, Christ Church (800/860-8013), is a little charmer, a standout among boutique hotels on the island, with its individually styled bedrooms opening onto the ocean and containing four-poster beds. A hot dining ticket during the winter of 2004 was Daphne's, Paynes Bay, St. James (246/432-2731), which serves a sublime Mediterranean and Caribbean cuisine in an intimate beach-bordering setting. In a former beachfront villa, The Tides, Holetown, St. James (246/432-8356), is introducing its take on a Caribbean and international cuisine -- and doing so with charm and grace. The chef studied with England's fabled duet, the Roux brothers, who arguably are the best chefs in the British Isles.

Bonaire

A new airline, BonairExel (599/717-3471), has begun flying 14 times a day between Bonaire and Curaçao and six times a day between Bonaire and Aruba. A popular new eatery on island is the oddly named It Rains Fish, Kaya Jan N. E. Craane 24 in Kralendijk (599/717-8780). With a name like that, you know it specializes in seafood, and it does so exceedingly well.

Dominica

If you're already in the Caribbean and would like to extend your vacation by adding the lush island of Dominica to your itinerary, you can fly an emerging airline, Caribbean Star (268/480-2561, www.flycaribbeanstar.com), from such islands as St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts, Sint Maarten, St. Vincent, Tortola (B.V.I.), and Trinidad. For a close-up look at the exotic interior of Dominica, you can take the Rain Forest Aerial Tram (767/448-8775), which takes you "over" the rainforest and through Morne Trois National Park. You're treated to exotic bird life, roaring waterfalls, and much tropical flora.

Dominican Republic

In the capital city of Santo Domingo, Sofitel Nicolas de Ovando, Calle Las Damas (809/685-9955), a 16th-century mansion, has been restored and opened to the public in the heart of the colonial city. It is now one of the most atmospheric choices in town, with such features as a good restaurant with a terrace facing a courtyard and two bars with a view of the pool. All the modern amenities have been added, but the classic architecture retained.

Grenada

In this spice island, a new and secluded hideaway, Bel Air Plantation, St. David's Point (473/444-6305, www.belairplantation.com), has opened. In a jungle like setting, it stands on 7.2 hectares (18 acres) of land at the southwestern end of the island. Guests stay in vibrantly colored gingerbread cottages overlooking St. David's Harbour. One of the greatest chefs of London, Gary Rhodes, has invaded Grenada, with the opening of Rhodes in the Calabash Hotel, L'Anse Aux Epines (473/444-4334). The chic restaurant, which was inaugurated in the winter of 2004, immediately became the choice dining table on island. The chef brings "a taste of Grenada with a touch of Rhodes" to this fine dining enclave.

Jamaica

In August Jamaica comes alive with the pulsating sounds of reggae presented at weeklong music extravaganzas. The biggest and best of these has been relaunched as Reggae Summerfest,(www.reggaesumfest.com) taking place in August (dates vary) at Montego Bay, the leading resort on island. During the same month an equally compelling festival, the Reggae Sunfest, also takes place at Mo Bay. Featured performers include some of the biggest names in reggae, especially Ziggy Marley, son of the late reggae king, Bob Marley. In the northern resort of Ocho Rios, the famous old all-inclusive, Ciboney, has renewed itself as the Grand Sport Villa Golf Resort & Spa, Main Street, St. Ann (876/974-1027). Much improved, this lush resort stands on 18 hectares (44 acres) of tropical gardens, with its own white-sandy beach.

Puerto Rico

The colonial sector of San Juan continues to blossom out with some of the leading restaurants of the Caribbean. Chief among these is Aquaviva, Calle Fortaleza 364 (787/722-0665), which serves the capital's finest Latino take on fresh seafood. A new competitor, although not quite as good, is the innovative Barú, (Calle Sebastián 150 (787/977-7107). One of Puerto Rico's most fashionable restaurants, this establishment serves some of the finest Caribbean and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in the city.

Saba

On this remote volcanic island, the dining picture has improved considerably with the opening of YIIK, Windwardside (533/416-2539), a rooftop restaurant that presents a savory international cuisine nightly. Just wait until you try the chicken strips grilled in a mandarin orange and ginger sauce and served with honey mustard. The views match the food.

St. Barts

On the chic and pricey French-held island of St. Barts, Baie des Anges, Flamands (590/27-63-61), has emerged as a secluded little hideaway of luxury and charm. Built right on the ocean and surrounded by gardens, the 10-room unit also shelters one of the island's finest dining rooms, La Langouste, serving a savory array of French specialties, including Caribbean lobsters selected from a tank.

St, Eustatius

In this sleepy Dutch-held island, change comes slowly. But visitors in the winter of 2004 were delighted with the opening of a new restaurant, the aptly named Ocean View Terrace in Fort Oranje (599/318-2934), serving a savory West Indian cuisine with the focus on fresh seafood. It's set within the courtyard of the government's guesthouse, part of the island's most historic fort. The chef makes the best curried goat on island.

St. Kitts & Nevis

On the island of St. Kitts, the newest attraction is the St. Kitts Scenic Railway (869/465-7263,www.stkittsscenicrailway.com), which takes visitors in a double-decker railcar through some of the island's most spectacular scenery. The narrow gauge railway follows old sugar-cane train tracks. On the sister island of Nevis, the Nevisian Heritage Village (869/469-5521) has opened at Fothergill's Estate. Historic structures such as a blacksmith's workshop were moved to the site. The attraction affords a chance to wander into Nevis of yesterday.

St. Lucia

In this island of megaresorts, Ti Kaye Village Resort, Anse Cochon (758/456-8101), has opened as the most special, fun, and quirky place to stay. An elite retreat, it is spread across a cliff overlooking the Caribbean and evokes a small village standing in a lush setting of 6.4 hectares (16 acres). Accommodations are in individual gingerbread-trimmed cottages, and bedrooms contain four-posters and an open-air garden shower.

St. Vincent

The launch pad for the Grenadines, St. Vincent is a stopover for yachties who dine at its new waterfront enclave of fine cuisine -- L'Aubergine des Grenadines, Belmont Walkway, Belmont (784/458-3201), an expat operation with wood tables and a lobster tank. The couple who run the place make the best conch salad on island and flame their lobster with old dark rum.

Trinidad & Tobago

The capital of this two-island nation, Port-of-Spain, is known for its varied population and exotic cuisine. Creating the biggest buzz in the winter of 2004 was Battimamzelle, in the Coblentz Inn, 44 Coblentz Ave., Cascade (868/621-0591). Against a so-called Mexicanish decor, this "Dragonfly" (its English name) serves a savory cuisine inspired mainly by the West Indies but with international overtones. The barbecued kingfish brushed with fresh guava and served with pumpkin is an even better version than your mama made. In the adjoining island of Tobago, a once-famous inn, Blue Haven Hotel, Bacolet Bay, Scarborough (868/660-7400, www.bluehavenhotel.com), has made a comeback. In the 1950s it was one of the most famous inns in the southern Caribbean, attracting such movie stars as Rita Hayworth and Robert Mitchum when they were on island making the forgettable Fire Down Below. The newly restored property opens onto a beach of white sands.

Turks & Caicos

The island of Providenciales (nicknamed Provo) continues to attract the glitterati, and now features some of the most expensive beach resorts in the Caribbean. To combat that, Comfort Suites, Grace Bay (649/946-8888), has opened to bring a moderately priced alternative. It's hardly bare-boned living, though, as each of its accommodations is a well-furnished suite. The location is across the street from the fabled Grace Bay Beach.

U.S. Virgin Islands

On the most popular of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, new restaurants continue to create a sensation in and around the port city of Charlotte Amalie. The most recent attention focuses on the opening of the Blue Moon Cafe, 6280 Estate Nazareth Bay (340/779-2262), which has become known locally for its creative American cuisine. In a romantic open-air setting under the Caribbean stars, this beachfront restaurant appeals to a wide range of palates. In Frenchtown, right outside Charlotte Amalie, Oceana, in the Villa Olga, 8 Honduras (340/774-4262), is an upscale, hip, and stylish enclave that opened to rave reviews for its international cuisine that highlights fresh seafood. On the street level is a chic little wine bar and singles enclave; upstairs is the more formal dining room with flickering oil lamps and tantalizing dishes, including several preparations of Caribbean lobster.