Caribbean reopening in time for summer beach vacations
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(CNN) — North American travelers may not be able to head to the Mediterranean, Greek Isles or other iconic European destinations this summer for that idyllic beach vacation, but a dreamy seaside escape isn’t out of reach.
Some Caribbean islands, world-renowned for their miles of unspoiled beaches and crystal-blue waters, are cautiously and carefully reopening their borders to international visitors.
The Caribbean is an idyllic tropical paradise, and an easy distance from the East Coast of the United States. The region usually offers fantastic value during the summer low season, which coincides with the beginning of hurricane season.
Assuming one is willing to accept the complications and risks associated with traveling during Covid-19 (and this is still a pandemic), as well as the weather, these reopenings offer something of a holiday lifeline for the lockdown-weary souls.
But wait, there’s more!
Other possibilities for a more immediate beach holiday in the Caribbean include the Dominican Republic, which opens to international visitors on July 1; Jamaica, which opened on June 15; and the Bahamas, with a July 1 reopening date.
According to a July 29 press release from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. the island is reopening its borders July 12 — but with restrictions, “On arrival in Barbados, travelers will be required to present evidence of a negative result of a PCR Covid-19 test and bar code to clear immigration.” the press release stated.
Attractive packages and reduced rates are widely available on all three islands, even at luxury hotels.
Eden Roc Cap Cana, a resort in the Dominican Republic with a renowned golf course, four restaurants and a beach club, has the Endless Summer deal for July: guests get all meals, discounts on golf and the spa and accommodations in one-bedroom oceanfront suite with an upgrade to a two-bedroom upon availability. Prices start at $1,980 for two nights.
A bargain? No. But it is less than half the price of what the same offer would cost come high season in December.
Article from cnn.com
About Eden Roc at Cap Cana
Setting the standard in Caribbean luxury, Eden Roc Cap Cana is the Dominican Republic’s only Relais & Châteaux property, nestled within a 30,000-acre gated community on the island’s eastern tip alongside an award-winning, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a bustling marina and a state-of-the-art equestrian center. Home to powder-soft beaches, towering cliffs and tropical forests, the five-star resort also boasts brand-new, world-class Solaya Spa and fitness facilities, offering 30,000 square foot of indulgent space and 12 treatment rooms for the ultimate wellness experience. Boasting 60 sumptuous suites ranging from lavish boutique villas with their own private pools and verandas to elegantly designed beach-front suites with their own kitchen overlooking the impossibly blue Caribbean Sea, Eden Roc Cap Cana also launched four brand new Ocean Villas in Fall 2018 that offer complete privacy and charm, with their own exclusive pools overlooking the resort’s Blue Flag-certified beach, ocean-front terraces and personal butler service. Alongside its pristine private beach, the Eden Roc Beach Club features an infinity pool and Nikkei-themed BLUE Grill + Bar, one of three premium culinary experiences overseen by an Executive Chef with Michelin starred experience, as well as fine-dining restaurant Mediterraneo and the oceanfront La Palapa. Alongside the resort’s outstanding cuisine across its three flagship restaurants, Eden Roc Cap Cana also plays host to a visiting Guest Chef series, providing one of the most diverse gastronomic destinations in the Caribbean. Ideal for families as well as couples, Eden Roc Cap Cana’s also features the world-class Koko Kid’s Club, located on a stunning lagoon and designed like a tree house. Equipped with a mini spa for manicures, pedicures, and hairstyling, the kids club also houses a video gaming area, bathrooms, and a central area for play and story-telling, and mini guests can even kayak from the club’s man-made ‘beach’ on the lagoon. The AAA Four-Diamond property is a proud member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection, as well as Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts, Ensemble Travel Group, Altour Hotel Collection, Fine Hotels & Resorts, Signature Travel Network, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators and Forbes Travel Guide.
About Relais & Châteaux
Established in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of more than 560 landmark hotels and restaurants operated by independent innkeepers, chefs, and owners who share a passion for their businesses and a desire for authenticity in their relationships with their clientele. Relais & Châteaux is established around the globe, from the Napa Valley vineyards and French Provence to the beaches of the Indian Ocean. Relais & Châteaux members have a desire to protect and promote the diversity of the world’s cuisine and traditions of hospitality. They are committed to preserving local heritage and the environment, as encompassed in the Charter presented to UNESCO in November 2014. For more information visit: www.relaischateaux.com
