{"id":204,"date":"2008-11-19T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-11-19T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/11\/caribbean-vacation-new-renovated-resorts-boast-fabulous-amenities\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T14:44:12","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T20:44:12","slug":"caribbean-vacation-new-renovated-resorts-boast-fabulous-amenities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/11\/caribbean-vacation-new-renovated-resorts-boast-fabulous-amenities\/","title":{"rendered":"Caribbean vacation: New, renovated resorts boast fabulous amenities"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

Thinking about planning a Caribbean vacation<\/strong><\/a> for the holidays? With hotels<\/strong><\/a> opening all over the islands, increased flights<\/strong><\/a> to popular destinations, and a slew of promos and specials designed for tighter budgets, the Caribbean is as tempting as ever … and possibly not as out-of-range as you think.<\/p>\n

\"Caribbean<\/a> Right in time for Christmas crowds, St. Lucia<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s Calabash Cove<\/strong> opens with a Far East-inspired flourish. Eschewing typical Caribbean d\u00e9cor for an exotic Indonesian aesthetic, this property shoots right to the top of our list because of its \u201cSwim Up\u201d suites <\/strong>\u2014 not over-ocean as you\u2019d see in the Maldives, but instead poolside, which is more prosaic but a whole lot safer in the hurricane-prone Caribbean. Big spenders can separate themselves from the splish-splash of the common pool area by booking a cottage suite with its own private pool.<\/p>\n

As always, much to report on new developments in all-inclusive resorts<\/strong><\/a>: This fall couples-only Sandals Resorts<\/strong><\/a> debutedSandals Resorts PGA Golf School in Jamaica<\/strong><\/a>, plus over-the-top Millionaire Suites at Sandals Regency La Toc<\/strong><\/a> in St. Lucia<\/strong><\/a>. At Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort<\/strong><\/a>, classic Mediterranean glamour meets Caribbean chic \u2014 guests can photo-op it up at the Italian Village, a newly unveiled $125 million addition, and then splash down at the expanded Pirate\u2019s Island Waterpark.<\/p>\n

Grenada<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s lovely LaSource<\/strong> has all sorts of sophisticated soirees and festivities on the holiday calendar for its grownup (age 16+)  clientele. Practically every day from December 21 onward brings a special program. Christmas morning kicks off with an eggnog party on the beach (only in the Caribbean!), and December 31 sees out the old year with a cocktail party, a poolside gala, fireworks and live music.<\/p>\n

The Riu Palace Tropical Bay<\/strong><\/a>, an impressive reinvention of a classic all-inclusive Negril resort<\/strong><\/a>, opens in early December after a $25 million renovation that took four months to complete. Also in Jamaica, Couples Tower Isle<\/strong><\/a> (formerly Couples Ocho Rios) has deferred its original December 2008 reopening date to March 2009\u2026but, to keep the anticipation level high, has revealed that property enhancements include a spa with 10 treatment rooms, a floating dock, two new swimming pools<\/strong> (one with a swim-up bar), and a new juice bar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Dominican Republic<\/strong><\/a> will attain true \u201cGolfers\u2019 Paradise\u201d status when the Golden Bear Lodge & Spa<\/strong> opens in early December. Inspired and helmed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, this property overlooks the Las Iguanas and Punta Espada golf courses. And to entice its greens-minded guests, it\u2019s offering 2-for-1 greens fees at Punta Espada<\/strong> with a five-night stay. Book by December 15.<\/p>\n

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The Westin R\u00f4co Ki Beach & Golf Resort<\/strong> is slated to open in early 2009. This luxe Starwood development sits on its own 4-mile strip of beach in Punta Macao<\/strong>. Stay in a jungle bungalow or classic condo-style guest units,  play at the Nick Faldo-designed Campo Alto Verde golf course, and rejuve island-style at the 18,000 square foot destination spa<\/strong>. Half a dozen dining and drinking options include Italian trattoria Amarti and poshie Anacaona Steakhouse. <\/p>\n

\"Aruba<\/a> Practically the whole of Barbados<\/strong><\/a> seems to be revamped for the 2008-2009 season. Legendary Sandy Lane<\/strong> debuts a major makeover including guest room revamps, a new menu for and aesthetic tweaks to signature Bajan Blue restaurant, expanded spa facilities, and a brand-new cocktail lounge. The Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa<\/strong> unveils an overhaul that took two years to complete… and clearly, someone\u2019s been busy all that time. Two pool areas, an art gallery, a squash court and a spa are only some of the property additions. The Coral Reef Club<\/strong> proudly announced the opening of a destination spa set on 12 acres of lush resort gardens. Indoor-outdoor architecture and locally inspired natural treatments imbue this newcomer with distinctive Bajan flair. Rounding out the island-wide renovation roll call: luxe boutique properties Treasure Beach Hotel<\/strong><\/a> and Cobblers Cove<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Up in the skies, Cayman Airways<\/strong> traces more direct routes from big-city stress to beachside bliss. In mid-December the national carrier of the Cayman Islands<\/strong><\/a> will begin twice-weekly nonstop flights<\/strong><\/a> from Washington, DC<\/strong> to Grand Cayman\u2026and also will bring back its twice-a-week Chicago-Grand Cayman<\/strong> service. This is a beautiful and timely thing: Between the Presidential inauguration and the ongoing stock market drama, Chicago and DC\u2019s overworked white-collar contingent will be in serious need of an inexpensive, easy-access island to maroon themselves on over the next few months.<\/p>\n

The Aruba Marriott Resort<\/strong><\/a> is the latest big property to experiment with the hotel-within-a-hotel concept. Its Tradewinds Club<\/strong> combines the boutique hotel experience with the energy and variety of a big, busy, self-contained resort. Technically Tradewinds is not at the center of it all, but at the top: it\u2019s located on the uppermost floor of the just-renovated highrise hotel. Guests get all kinds of little luxe perks, from personalized check-in service to a private lounge serving complimentary food and drink<\/strong> \u2026but the Stellaris Casino, Mandara Spa<\/strong>, Ruth\u2019s Chris Steakhouse<\/strong> and waterfall-adorned pool complex are just an elevator ride away.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n