We've culled the best of what's happening in all the islands to bring you the latest news to help plan your Caribbean vacation, business trip, honeymoon -- or whatever.
Anguilla
The increasingly chic island of Anguilla, secret retreat of movie stars, has at least opened its first U.S. office. Away from the high rents of Manhattan, it lies in suburban White Plains. Of course, island officials don't expect you to visit in person but call their office at 914/668-2854, or visit their website at www.anguilla-vacation.com. You'll be sent a bundle of information.
Antigua
Antigua's chic haven for the rich and famous, the offshore island of Barbuda (not to be confused with Barbados) has yet another pocket of posh. It's The Beach House at Palmetto Point (tel. 268/725-4042), where rooms begin at $500 per night. On an island of 1,200 people, with two other hotels, The Beach House is definitely an upmarket oasis, with a laid-back elegance its key note. A manmade lagoon stretches in front of the guest rooms. Each guest in the 21-room inn is assigned a personal ambassador, who will do everything from unpack your clothes to draw a bath. Guests are surrounded by pristine white sandy beaches.
Aruba
The Links at Divi Aruba (tel. 800/367-3484) is a new 9-hole golf course that opened in the summer of 2004. The course offers two par 5 holes, two par 3 holes, and five par 4 holes, with a total length of 3,149 yards. The course is found at the renamed Divi Village Golf and Beach Resort, which offers a golf clubhouse, pro shop, and 2 restaurants.
Barbados
With increasing security concerns, Barbados began requiring visitors from the U.S. and Canada to show a valid passport before entering their island country. In the past, North Americans needed only photo ID or an original birth certificate. This requirement applies to visitors arriving by plane or yacht. As before, cruise passengers on day trips need only the ships' magnetic identification card.
Dominica
With a laid-back aura, Sister's Sea Lodge (tel. 767/445-5211) is a new discovery, lying at the edge of the sea 1 mile south of Portsmouth in the north of this lush tropical island. Its German-born owner, Harta Sango, features six large and comfortable bedrooms built of stone and local hardwood. Each pair of units shares a covered veranda. Warning: Units are not air conditioned. At the on-site beachfront bar and seafood restaurant, you can order the catch of the day or organic meals served on banana leaves. Doubles begin at $65 a night.
Dominican Republic
One of the newest resorts to open in the Caribbean is this all-inclusive beachfront resort at the fast-rising north coast town of Cabarete. It's Viva Wyndham Tangerine (tel. 800/WYNDHAM; www.wyndham.com/hotels/POPVT/main.wnt). Lying just 20 minutes from the Puerto Plata International Airport and a three-minute taxi ride from the center of Cabarete, the hotel stands on 361 feet of private beach. It offers 223 superior rooms with a full service spa and many facilities and activities.
Guadeloupe
Generally overlooked by Americans, the French island of Guadeloupe is known for its Antillean inns. A recent discovery generating press attention is the low-key Le Rayon Vert, on a hillside overlooking the village of Deshaies (tel. 590-590-28-43-23). With a pool and a Jacuzzi, it lies in lush tropical foliage. Guests have a choice of air-conditioned rooms in the main building or else in bungalows, each with a private terrace fronting the Caribbean.
The main island of Guadeloupe also has an offshore island, Marie-Galante, lying 18 miles to the south. It's been pretty much off the track since Columbus sailed by in 1493. The debut of the 100-room Cohoba Hotel (tel. 800/322-2223 in the U.S.; 590-590-97-50-50 local) should start generating some business, however. The one and only tourist hotel here, it lies along Folle Anse Beach in a tropical garden, with Creole-style rooms, simple but comfortable. Accommodations are in stucco buildings scattered around the property.
Grand Cayman
This pricey island became more affordable with the 2004 opening of Comfort Suites, Seven Mile Beach (tel. 345/945-7300). Attracting honeymooners, divers, and beachcombers, the inn offers smartly furnished studios and 1- or 2-bedroom suites, with full kitchens plus a pool, fitness center, coin-operated laundry, and a poolside restaurant and bar.
Jamaica
The Jamaica Tourist Board has relaunched its Meet-the-People program. Originally introduced in 1968 and later abandoned, the program is back. It teams up Jamaican hosts or volunteers with visitors who share a common profession, hobby, or interest. Guests might get to meet a family, get to know a fellow musician, business person, photographer, nurse, teacher, artist, whatever. Sometimes visitors are invited to go hiking, shopping at a local craft market, or might even be invited to enjoy a simple Jamaican meal or a visit to a church or the countryside. Outings are uniquely Jamaican. Before going to Jamaica, seek out more details by visiting www.visitjamaica.com.
In another development, Air Jamaica (tel. 800/523-5585; www.airjamaica.com) the island's national airline, has resumed service to and from Canada. In 2004 flights from Jamaica to Toronto were re-inaugurated for the first time in 14 years.
A competitor, Continental Airlines (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com) is also offering nonstop service from its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport, winging its way to Montego Bay before flying on to Port-of-Spain in Trinidad. The new flights from Houston operate four times a week. Continental times its flights on its 124-seat Boeing 737s for convenient Houston connections to dozens of destinations in the U.S. and Canada.
Sandals Resort (tel. 800/SANDALS; www.sandals.com) is merging two major resorts at Ocho Rios, the Grande Sport Villa Resort and Spa and Sandals Ocho Rios, to create a new 522-room hotel. It is scheduled to open in the winter of 2005, and will be named Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort. The resort will embrace Grande Sport's 50 acres (20 h) of lush surroundings, romantic private villas, and 90 private pools. Grande Sport closed in the summer of 2004 to undergo an extensive $10 million refurbishment. Major renovations are occurring in the public areas, including the Great House, restaurants, spas and pools. At the heart of the newly created resort will be a large swimming pool complete with Sandals signature swim-up bar. The new resort will offer the guest a choice of beachfront rooms or secluded villas and suites. Guests can also take advantage of two full-service spas and an array of land and watersports. There is also a new concept introduced called "Stay at One, Play at Three." Guests at the Grande will also be allowed to enjoy the amenities at the Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club and the Sandals Dunn's River Golf Resort and Spa. Sandals continues its rather misleading advertising that it is a "couples only" resort. It actually caters only to male/female couples -- not same sex couples.
Puerto Rico
Jet Blue (tel. 800-JETBLUE; www.jetblue.com) began flying nonstop between New York and the north coast city of Aguadilla in the summer of 2004.
St. Lucia
The lush island of St. Lucia has a new and charming little boutique hotel: Coco Kreole at Rodney Bay (tel. 758/452-0712), offering only 20 rooms. Convenient to Rodney Bay's famous restaurants, bars, art galleries, and beaches, it offers rates from $80 to $170 a night. Decorated in a breezy, West Indian motif, its rooms face a pool or a tropical garden.
Sint Maarten
The five-room Inn at Cupecoy, 130 Lowlands (tel. 599-545-4333) has opened, overlooking the sea. Each well-furnished accommodation offers a kingsize bed with zebra skin rugs. Travel and Leisure recently hailed it as "Inn of the Month" in their July 2004 issue.
Trinidad
At long last Americans are fleeing hot, congested, and overcrowded Port of Spain, the capital, and seeking small little inns in remote parts of the island. Recent discoveries include Second Spring, 191 Paria Main Rd., at the north coast fishing village of Blanchisseuse (tel. 868/669-3909). Only 11 basic rooms are rented but rates begin as low as $50. Blanchissuese is surrounded by beaches and a tropical rainforest. This is a family business, run by Ken and Ginette Holder who want to share their intimate hideaway with you. Tucked away on the island's remote northeast corner is another hideaway, the 13-room, bucolic Mt. Plaisair Estate Hotel, Grande Riviere (tel. 868/670-8381), the island's only beach wilderness resort. The simple accommodations showcase locally made furniture, and home-style meals feature seafood and organic produce. Rooms begin at $75 a night.