Recommend August 2018 - 26

Caribbean

Bird's-eye view of the Grand Bahia
Principe Aquamarine.

New Resorts
Within Resorts
Ed Wetschler

We all want to feel special, whether we're
reserving a private room at a restaurant
or box seats at the stadium, so for years
Recommend magazine has updated you on
the growth of enclaves and even entire resorts
within larger Caribbean resorts. This trend
keeps growing, too, so what follows is a guide
to special resort sections that have opened
and/or will soon open in 2018. All rates are
for one week in January.

Azul Beach Resort
Negril's Adults-Only Section
In May Azul Beach Resort Negril by
Karisma debuted a new adults-only section
at the south end of this Gourmet Inclusive's
beach, one of the finest in Jamaica. The
new area is popular with romantics and with
couples who just want to decompress in an
adults-only setting.
This enclave's Premium Couples Ocean
View Suites and Premium Couples Ocean View
Swim-Up Suites feature 608 sq. ft. of space
(including the terrace) and contemporary
decor with tan-and-white furnishings and a
few splashes of burgundy. Guests also enjoy
a personal concierge, a private section of the
beach, and the adults-only Premium Pool,
with its Tamarind Pool Bar and butler service.
Naturally, they also have access to other
amenities at Azul Beach Resort Negril.
At press time the Premium Couples Ocean
26 august 2018

View Suite was going for $1,102 per night, or
$7,714 per week, and the Premium Couples
Ocean View Swim-Up Suites were going for
about $100 more per night, or $8,456 per
week. There's strong demand for swim-up
suites, so travel advisors should book asap.

Bahia Principe Punta Cana's
Double Relaunch
In November Luxury Bahia Principe Ambar
Green in the seven-resort Bahia Principe
Punta Cana cluster will relaunch as the
Grand Bahia Principe Aquamarine, the
company's first adults-only property in the
Grand category. Because it will be a Grand
rather than a Luxury resort, guests may forfeit
some amenities such as butler service, but the
rates will be more affordable. From $1,916
per week; or $2,050 for the most popular
room, a Junior Suite Superior.
Another first for Bahia Principe: It
closed the 528-suite oceanfront Luxury
Bahia Principe Ambar Blue off-season for
top-to-bottom renovations. In November
Ambar Blue will reopen as the Luxury Bahia
Principe Ambar, which will have new swimup facilities for ground-floor suites and more
modern interiors featuring white and tan
tones. Three of the restaurants are getting
makeovers and there's a new coffee shop with
fresh-baked goods. This relaunch "comes at
an exciting time...as we recently...reclassified

our properties into four categories and
distinct experiences," says Helen Montijano,
v.p. of sales and marketing, U.S. and Canada
for Bahia Principe Resorts. "The renovated
hotel will...provide high-end amenities
and five-star service, entertainment, and
gastronomy specifically for adults." From
$2,617 for a Junior Suite Deluxe; $3,271 for a
Junior Suite Deluxe Swim-up.

The Grand Reserve at Paradisus
Palma Real: A Brand Transformed
In December Melia Hotels International
will debut the 288-unit, $110 million Grand
Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real. Its guests
will have free run of Paradisus Palma Real's
amenities, but Grand Reserve will also have
its own restaurants, bars, spa, fitness center,
cigar bar, beach club, kids club and aquapark.
"With its unique design, superior
amenities, and technological advancements,
The Grand Reserve is set to radically
transform the way travelers experience our
hotels in the Dominican Republic," says
Alvaro Tejeda, senior v.p. for the Americas
for Melia Hotels International.
An 800-sq.-ft. 1-Bedroom Suite for one
couple, with earth-tone hues and a pull-out
couch, starts at $2,521 per week; a swim-up,
at $3,336. For a couple with two children,
ages eight and 10, those suites will cost
$3,779 and $4,999, respectively.
Other news about Melia Hotels
International resorts within resorts: The
company is dividing the Melia Caribe
Tropical into the Melia Punta Cana Beach
Resort for adults-only and Melia Caribe
Beach Resort for families. This will be
completed by November 2018. Each of the
new resorts will have its own VIP section,
aka The Level. At press time, a Level Suite
at Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort for one
couple in January was going for $2,446.
At the Melia Caribe Beach Resort, a Level
Premium Room for a couple and two children,
ages 8 and 10, was priced at $2,822.

Rosewood Baha Mar
How does Rosewood Baha Mar, which
opened June 1, distinguish itself from ➤
recommend.com
http://www.recommend.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2018
