The Caribbean’s best beach bars, Air Canada adds direct flights to the Canary Islands, new Hyatt Unbound Collection hotels near Niagara Falls and in Santa Monica, Seattle and the Dominican Republic, plus early packages for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Today’s blog post covers tons of ground.
BEST BEACH BARS IN THE CARIBBEAN
I’ve been a big fan of the Caribbean for many years. There’s an amazing variety of islands and things to see and do, as well as great beaches by the bucketful. (Here’s a story I posted in 2024 on top Caribbean beaches).
As someone who loves few things more than a great beach bar, I was happy to see that the Caribbean Journal recently published a list of 26 top beach bars in the region. Even better, I spotted four of my faves on their list; Elodia’s on Anguilla, Sunshine’s on Nevis, Reggae Beach Bar on St. Kitts and The Naked Fisherman on Saint Lucia. I also notice a couple I’d love to try, including Nobu beach bar on Barbuda!
Elodia’s is one of many casual, inexpensive spots I found in Anguilla. – JIM BYERS PHOTO
Elodia’s is a super casual spot on stunning Shoal Bay Beach on the the north shore of Anguilla. I don’t recall the rum punch that the Caribbean Journal story talks about, but I do remember the band and the dancing (see photo). I also love the Killer Bee punch at Sunshine’s on Nevis, where wild monkeys love to swoop in and grab your drink if you’re not careful, and the super laid-back vibe and beautiful views at Reggae Beach Bar on the south tip of St. Kitts. My wife and I had a lovely visit to the Naked Fisherman at Cap Maison resort in Saint Lucia eight or nine years ago.
I have a few other faves, including Coccoloba Bar and Grill at the lovely Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. It’s technically not a beach bar as it’s in the water, but I also love Floyd’s Pelican Bar off the south coast of Jamaica.
AIR CANADA ADDS CANARY ISLANDS, MORE MEXICO AND BARBADOS FLIGHTS
Air Canada has announced several new winter vacation destinations for the winter 2026-27 season, including the only non-stop flights from North America to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The airline has also added Santo Domingo, Mérida, Mazatlán and Roatán as new destinations for winter, as well as several new non-stop flights to Caribbean and Mexico destinations.
Not surprisingly, no new U.S. destinations or routes were announced out of Canada, but there’s a great deal more Mexico on offer, including from Calgary to both Cancun and Puerto Vallarta and to Montego Bay from both Edmonton and Winnipeg. They’re also adding direct flights from Halifax to Barbados.
The Canary Islands. Svetlana Gumerova/Unsplash Photo
“We are further cementing Air Canada’s global network as one of the most far-reaching from the North American continent,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President of Cargo at Air Canada. “The addition of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, reflects our continued ambition to offer our customers and Aeroplan members an exceptional, diversified array of unique Air Canada destinations. “Enabled by the next-generation capabilities of our incoming A321XLR aircraft, travellers on the only non-stop service from North America now have convenient options to reach the island renowned for its stunning volcanic scenery, a rich array of bucket-list activities and year-round warm weather,” Galardo said.
“Air Canada is also expanding flights into Latin America from Vancouver, enabled by growing A220 and Air Canada Rouge bases that unlock sought-after, non-stop service to Costa Rica and Mexico, including to Mazatlán, a new Mexican destination. In addition, we are adding Roatán, Santo Domingo and Mérida to our global network, while introducing exciting new leisure options for our customers in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec and Halifax. Together with our previously announced new services to Sapporo and Quito, and our new leisure options from Calgary to Mexico, Air Canada continues to deepen its industry-leading network, proudly connecting Canada globally,” Galardo said.
Air Canada’s Tenerife flights will be operated with the airline’s brand-new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which feature lie-flat seats in Business Class, bringing a wide-body experience to a narrow-body jet. With capacity for 182 passengers in a configuration of 14 Signature Class seats and 168 Economy Class seats, the A321XLR also marks the beginning of the next era in Air Canada’s cabin interiors with the introduction of a new design standard for onboard experience.
NEW HYATT UNBOUND HOTELS
Four new properties have been added to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, including one just outside Niagara Falls and another in Santa Monica, California.
Established in 2016, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt is home to some of the world’s most remarkable independent hotels and resorts, each united by distinctive character, rich narratives and elevated service. The addition of these four properties, reflect the brand’s continued momentum and commitment to showcasing singular hospitality experiences.
The Georgian: Santa Monica’s Grande Dame Returns
Originally opened in 1933 along the Santa Monica waterfront, The Georgian stands as a beloved landmark from the golden age of Hollywood. The art deco hotel welcomed legendary figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable, while its basement speakeasy famously drew notable guests during the final days of Prohibition. Santa Monica is one of the best, and most attractive, small cities in the U.S.
The Sunset Bar at the restored Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, California. It’s part of the Hyatt Unbound Collection.
The Clayfield: A Wine-Country Retreat in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Opening in mid-summer 2026 and currently accepting reservations, The Clayfield will introduce a refined new retreat in the heart of Canada’s Niagara wine region. Designed as a contemporary expression of wine-country living, The Clayfield draws deeply from the textures and rhythms of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s landscape.
Hotel 1000: A Design-Led Urban Retreat in Seattle
Located near Seattle’s revitalized new waterfront, and walking distance to both Pike Place Market and the stadium district, Hotel 1000 offers a refined, design-forward retreat that reflects the spirit of the Pacific Northwest.
Cayo Levantado Resort: A Private-Island Escape off the coast of the Dominican Republic
Set on a secluded island off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cayo Levantado Resort offers a serene retreat surrounded by lush tropical landscapes and pristine white-sand beaches. Expected to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt this summer, the resort features 218 suites set among swaying palms and framed by sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea.
LOS ANGELES 2028 OLYMPICS PACKAGES
Premium seating takes center stage at the LA28 Olympic Games with the launch of new hospitality packages from On Location, the Official Hospitality Provider of LA28. Fans can now purchase ticket-inclusive packages featuring premium seats at Olympic Games venues with some of the best vantage points of the action, along with priority entry (where applicable) and access to private or shared lounges for an elevated hospitality experience.
The Los Angeles Coliseum. BP Miller/Unsplash Photo
Packages also include opportunities such as entertainment, athlete meet-and-greets, and private events designed to bring fans closer than ever to historic Olympic moments. Fans can go to hospitality.la28.org beginning today to purchase ticket-inclusive packages. Following a successful pre-sale window, select sessions and hospitality tiers are already experiencing strong demand. Fans are encouraged to secure packages early to guarantee access to the most sought-after events and hospitality experiences.
Hospitality packages for most sports and events including Athletics (Track & Field), Baseball, Basketball, Flag Football, Football (Soccer) Finals at Rose Bowl, Swimming, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and more, are on sale today. Hospitality packages for additional sports including Badminton, Cricket, Diving, Equestrian, Football (Soccer) in other metropolitan areas, and Rhythmic Gymnastics will become available on the website later this year.
