Is there anything more enticing than that new hotel room smell? I think not! Somehow the thrill of being the first to slip between crisp new sheets or to dip into a private plunge pool never fades. In 2025 I’ll have plenty of opportunities to do both as I review a slew of new resorts popping up all across the Caribbean. From Aruba to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, here are a few hotels I’m eager to check into (and check out).
ARUBA Consistently voted one of the best in the world, Eagle Beach is one of Aruba’s most popular places to unfurl your towel—and to snap a photo of that iconic fofoti tree you’ve seen leaning over the sand in all those Aruba ads. In 2025 the strand will also become home to JOIA Aruba by Iberostar, a playground that, when it opens in January, promises 240 suites; seven restaurants and bars; access to the island’s only 18-hole championship golf course; and three pools—you know, just in case Eagle Beach isn’t enough!
BAHAMAS If, like me, you or your clients are constantly looking for a reason to visit the Out Islands, The Potlatch Club on Eleuthera is a good one. Open since last June, the former private home (a socialite’s favorite back in the ‘60s and ‘70s) has been restored and transformed into an elegant yet unpretentious retreat. Set on a seven-mile-long pink-sand sweep (be still my heart!), the Club offers a clutch of historic and new suites and garden- and ocean-facing cottages plus a butler-serviced 1-bedroom and 4-bedroom oceanview villa.
MEXICO One of the travel trends I’m seeing in 2025 is of traditionally EP/room-only hotel companies entering the all-inclusive resort space. Among them is boutique brand Kimpton, which will launch its first all-inclusive, Kimpton Tres Rios, on the Riviera Maya next spring. With jungle, mangrove forest and coastal ecosystems; secluded cenotes; and more than 90 species of animals and 120 varieties of plants, it’s sure to be a hit with nature lovers. Its inventory of accommodations (including swim-out suites); 24-hour room service; and complimentary mini-bars will also make a it a hit with guests who don’t intend to leave the room.
Also hopping on the Caribbean all-inclusive train is SLS Hotels, which opened the 498-room SLS Playa Mujeres (30 minutes’ drive from Cancun) in November. I’ve just returned from a stay here and—although not all of its 18 restaurants and bars are open yet—can confidently say that the see-and-be-seen, party-hearty vibe for which the brand is known has been preserved. And that’s no small feat since the resort welcomes families and has impressive kids’ and teens’ facilities. High points of my stay: The refreshing hydrotherapy circuit at Ciel Spa (SLS’ largest); and my duplex suite, complete with a rooftop hot tub and butler service.
ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES Back in 2022, I had my first Caribbean glamping experience with Wild Lotus Glamping on Antigua’s Valley Church Beach. I’m a huge fan of air-conditioning and butler service, so no one was more surprised than I that I actually enjoyed a rustic retreat in a tent—perhaps because my Lotus Belle came complete with a “proper” bed, outdoor showers and fairy lights. I’m looking forward to a similar experience at Wild Lotus’ newest location, a 10-tent set-up that debuts this month (through June 2025) in a rainforest bird sanctuary on the banks of St. Vincent’s Grand Sable River.
What does Sarah recommend you and your clients pack when headed to the Caribbean? The 411 is right HERE.
