8 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean For Families, Couples, and Friend Groups
Zip in seven minutes by boat from the mainland and you've tumbled into a quiet world of warm trade winds and water so clear you can see starfish nudging around at the bottom. Undoubtedly one of the most luxurious all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, Jumby Bay is a 300-acre private island that lures the well-heeled who want their paradise washed down with slick service and sand so powdery it's sieved daily. The new ocean view suites with pools and more rooms are fab for families—crisp and fresh, the pinnacle of seaside living in a Nantucket-meets-Provence style. Sweet staff appear with fruit kebabs and a scoop of mango sorbet when you least expect but most need it, and not only remember your name but also how many ice cubes you take in your vodka tonic. Everyone is on the all-inclusive plan here, so there's a relaxed feeling to the place. You can do whatever you want (waterskiing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, and snorkeling excursions) wherever you fancy, eat in all the restaurants, and drink as much Champagne as you desire. Once bitten, you just can't keep away.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canadian Tourist Found Dead After ‘Drowning Accident' on Dominican Republic Beach
The body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore in the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of June 20 Dorian Christian MacDonald was last seen at around 2 a.m. local time on a beach walk, and his body was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. MacDonald's loved ones called his death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe pageThe body of a Canadian tourist was recently found washed ashore on a beach in the Dominican Republic. Dorian Christian MacDonald was discovered at about 4:15 a.m. local time on the morning of June 20, per Canadian national news outlet CTV News. MacDonald was on a solo vacation at a hotel in Puerto Plata on the island's north coast, and authorities said he had been walking alone on the beach at about 2 a.m., per the outlet. CTV News reached out to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department that oversees diplomatic relations, and a GAC spokesperson reportedly confirmed that they are 'aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in the Dominican Republic,' but could not disclose any further information due to privacy considerations. The representative also reportedly said the department is currently providing consular services to the victim's family, per the outlet. Jenssen Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republic's Civil Defense Agency, which manages emergency response efforts, told Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail that first responders were called to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time. Sanchez confirmed that the body was located more than an hour later. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE reached out to the Civil Defense Agency and Global Affairs Canada for comment on Saturday, June 28, but did not receive an immediate response. Tara McKenzie, a friend of MacDonald and his family, called MacDonald's death a 'drowning accident' in a GoFundMe established to help cover his funeral expenses, as well as the various costs associated with returning his body to Canada. 'Between flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination, preparation of his body and all the red tape, we're looking at a cost of $10,000–$20,000 just to get him back. And honestly? We just want him out of that cold system and back where he belongs — with us,' McKenzie wrote on the fundraising page. She also described MacDonald as a force of nature, leaving an imprint on almost everyone he met. 'There are some people who don't just pass through your life. They crash in, kick their shoes off, make you laugh until your ribs hurt, become your chosen family and just stay there, woven into the fabric of your heart forever,' McKenzie wrote, adding, 'Dorian Christian MacDonald, who most of us also know affectionately as D-Mac, was one of those people.' 'Dorian handed out hugs, compliments and I love you's as freely as oxygen,' she continued. 'He was that person. His presence felt like it would just always be there. And now, somehow, just like that, he's gone." As of Saturday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000 toward a goal of $29,000. Read the original article on People
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Nature's Calling: JW Marriott Opens On The Island Of Crete
The Greek island of Crete is no stranger to outside influences. It was, perhaps most famously, home to the ancient Minoans (2600-1150 BC), considered one of the most important civilisations of the world, and has been occupied and ruled by many, including the Ottomans and the Venetians, with the island only formally joining Greece in 1913. The latest arrival to set down roots is the American hospitality brand JW Marriott, which, this month, has opened the doors at its first address in the Mediterranean. Located close to the pretty town of Chania, on Crete's north west coast, JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa brings a sense of grandeur to this picturesque corner. The entrance to the resort gives a striking hello. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | Stretching across 100 acres of prime shoreline, with 160 rooms, suites and villas, the resort's architecture was conceived by Block722, an acclaimed Athens-based architectural studio. The design echoes the complex criss-crossing of cultures that is intrinsic to the heritage of the island. The main public space (housing the lobby, the urban-style Eēxis bar and Fayi restaurant) is the most striking. Its minimalist design, consisting of chocolate-brown steel pillars, shallow water installations and bamboo-like screens on the façade, are dramatic and a contemporary riff on the pavilion-style buildings of ancient Greece. Set on the Aegean, all rooms boast glorious sea views. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | The large openings in and out of the buildings, combined with large-scale glazing, means everywhere is airy and drenched in light. Across the resort, all buildings have flat roofs, which would otherwise look austere except they are softened with an abundance of planting of herbs and flowers on top of them. It's a novel extension of the hotel brand's signature JW Marriott Garden concept (a green space, usually filled with herbs and vegetables, which is found across all 30 hotels). At JW Marriott Crete, it means as you walk, the air is filled with whispers of thyme and lavender cascading on the breeze from above. The landscaping throughout the property also immerses you in nature, with boulders, rocks, and plenty of plants and flowers, all of which are currently fledging but they will soon grow to fill the walkways with pops of colour. Meanwhile, craggy olive and carob trees root you in Crete, helping the buildings to blend seamlessly into the surroundings. There is also a separate kitchen garden where produce is harvested by the chefs. The resort immerses guests in nature. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | The resort not only looks good but it also boasts solid sustainable credentials—from geothermal and solar energy systems to heat recovery from air conditioning for hot water, and the use of treated grey water for irrigation. General manager, Iosif Christakis, comments: 'This commitment to environmental responsibility has guided every aspect of the resort's development, resulting in a hotel that not only seamlessly blends with its surroundings, but is also deeply shaped by them.' The interior design is pared-back with natural textures and colours. (Credit: NIK) JW Marriott is the luxury arm of Marriott Bonvoy yet the new hotel, with its bold design and sustainable ethos, has an independent spirit, rather than feeling like a cookie-cutter chain hotel. This plays out further in the interior design, also spearheaded by Block722. Suites feel sumptuous with their cream-on-cream décor: from the soft linens to stone floors; natural wood furniture to textural, sisal mats. Colour is added only from the glorious scenes outside: fling open the terrace doors to find the inky-azure Aegean beyond, as if someone has painted it across a sky-canvas—no matter how many times you look, the luminous turquoise is always pleasantly shocking to the eye. You'll also find a private plunge pool, an outdoor dining area and sunbeds with plump olive-green cushions for mindful moments. Bathrooms, meanwhile, are a treat with their egg-shaped tubs, walk-in showers, stocked with Aromatherapy Associates products, and swirly taupe marble vanities. The contemporary design language also stretches to include soft boucle headboards, Japanese-style linen lantern lights and low-slung, curvy bench-sofas for a top-tier level of comfort to the space. Planting, natural rocks and water features gie a timeless aesthetic. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | Costing a reported £70 million to build, the resort will soon also open a collection of luxury villas with indoor-outdoor living, aimed at families and groups of friends (launching in July). While all rooms and suites at the hotel have stunning sea views across to the tiny islet of Palaiosouda; the villas, which are perched high above the property, have wilder, uninterrupted panoramas and are set slightly apart from the main hub of the hotel, for an elevated feel. This is a place where it is easy to stay put in the day, lounging on one of the squidgy beach beds—they are mounted somewhat precariously (although aesthetically pleasing) on rocks and connected by boardwalks—or at one of the three pools (including a kids' and adults-only). If you can muster the energy to rise from the thick cushions, you can pad down to the tiny beach to try your hand at watersports, such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. Perhaps you'll take a boat trip to visit local islands (Santorini is but a mere three-hour boat ride away). The hotel can also organize tours to visit the historic town of Chania, with its unique Venetian harbor; take you in the hills to local farms, as well as organise hikes in the nearby mountains. At JW Marriott Crete, you can delve into local experiences. (Credit: © Christos Drazos Photography | GM, Iosif Christakis, reveals that he has big plans for the resort to elevate guest experiences further. 'There's so much potential here,' he says. 'Located just off our beach, for instance, is a secret cave, dating back some 4,000 years. It will soon be ready as a special place where we will be able to offer private dining and one-off spa treatments. It's very unique, so we are also hoping to offer mindfulness experiences, such as sun-set healing rituals, for an experience you can only find here.' As it happens, 'mindful moments' is JW Marriott's tagline and the box is ticked here with guests able to take a slow hike over nearby hills, to find a hidden yoga deck for sunrise classes. At the Anoseas Spa, this also comes to the fore, especially with the traditional Cretan healing rituals, which use local thyme or lavender-laced oils to execute timeless massage practices. The decor in the spa feels especially cocooning, with curvy, rough-hewn concrete walls and pebble tiles underfoot to lead you to a sun-lit, vitality salt-pool. Inside the nearby sauna, the heat is infused with mint and eucalyptus; while the steam room has mint-infused vapour—a thoughtful way to immerse you in the destination. The Onalos seafood restaurant. (Credit: JW Marriott Crete) Also tapping into locality is the dining offering. There's a dedication to local produce across the six dining venues. Head to Suncti by the Pool for lunch, which offers light bites, such as a Dakos Bread salad, with Messinia feta cheese and plump capers from the garden; make sure you leave room for the Cretan caramalised milk tart. Anoee is one of the signature restaurants, overlooking the sea with Cretan open-fire cuisine by chef Manolis Papoutsakis. The meat-heavy menu is inspired by the mountains of the island, with standouts including Antikristo—slow-roasted lamb cooked on the traditional antikristiera (fire pit) and Keftedes (Cretan meatballs) pan-fried over open fire and served with crispy fries cooked in olive oil. Onalos, on the other hand, is a local fish restaurant with dishes such as octopus served with yellow split beans and taramosalata; there's langoustine tartare and 'Spanakorizo' with Grouper—a Greek rice with spinach emulsion, herbs and lemon. As well as an Italian eaterie, the Fayi restaurant for breakfast and all-day dining and light bites in the Eēxis bar, there is also a JW Market—a café concept, selling locally-sourced produce from small artisans. It's a delight to return home with local wine, olives and nutty olive oil, but that's not all you'll bring. There's a real sense of peace that comes from this Cretan corner of authenticity.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Airplane headaches: Inside the puzzling condition that makes people afraid to fly
Simply jetting off for a summer escape can take a major toll on your mental health — never mind the long lines and cramped conditions. Research suggests that as many as one in 12 people suffer from severe airplane headaches while flying, with some developing a full-blown fear of air travel as a result. A 28-year-old's struggle with recurrent airplane headaches was detailed just last month in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, with the woman reporting severe headaches lasting 30 minutes after landing. Things got so bad that she tried to take trains instead of planes for her twice-monthly work trips. Here's everything you need to know about the baffling condition — including steps you can take to keep it from ruining your vacation before it even starts. It's a sharp, stabbing pain — typically on one side of the forehead — that comes on suddenly and only happens during air travel, according to Neurology Live. The pain can strike at any point during a flight, though it most often occurs during descent. Unlike migraines, which can linger for hours or even days, airplane headaches are usually short-lived and tend ease up within 30 minutes of their onset. The syndrome was first described in 2004, and the International Headache Society officially recognized 'headaches attributed to airplane travel' as a diagnosis in 2013. Airplane headaches don't just cause pain — they can impact emotional well-being and overall travel experience. One survey found that 28% of sufferers often consider canceling trips to avoid another attack. Another 18% sometimes think about bailing, and 3% say they always do. The pain wrecks in-flight downtime too. Nearly half said airplane headaches always interrupt activities like listening to music, reading or watching movies while traveling. Another 22% said the disruptions happen sometimes, and 30% said they happen often. Other studies suggest these headaches fuel stress, trigger flight anxiety and push people toward avoidance behaviors. Up to 12% of sufferers say they steer clear of flying altogether because of the intense pain. The science is still up in the air. There are two main theories, both focused on the effects of rapid pressure changes in the cabin of a plane during takeoff and landing. One theory suggests this shift causes cerebral arteries to dilate, lowering blood pressure in the brain and triggering a brief, sharp headache. Another theory proposes the pressure change causes tissue injury and inflammation in the sinuses, leading to intense pain. No guaranteed cure exists, but some tricks might keep the pain at bay. Some people have found that taking medications like triptans or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before a flight can help prevent or reduce the severity of airplane headaches. The woman from the case report found success by taking the prescription medicine rimegepant, sold under the brand name Nurtec ODT, half an hour before plane departure. Others find relief with nasal decongestants or steroid sprays that can ease sinus pressure. During the flight, chewing gum or using earplugs on takeoff and landing can help block out the pain. And don't forget — the basics matter, too. When you're traveling, make sure you're staying hydrated, keeping your stress levels in check and getting plenty of rest to prevent headaches from grounding your trip.
