Caribbean Post Hurricane Update

Caribbean

Large parts of the Caribbean and U.S. are still rebuilding following Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria. Check this list for the latest updates on the road to recovery.

Following back-to-back-to-back hurricanes in September, portions of the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Florida Keys have been left reeling. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't visit—many islands and parts of Florida say they're open for business. If your trip is already booked, or you're still considering a warm-weather getaway this winter, check our regularly updated roundup of hotels and resorts affected—all of which have recently appeared in our 2017 Readers' Choice Awards, Gold List, or Hot List.

CARIBBEAN

ANGUILLA

Hurricane Irma swept across this tiny island, a British dependency, on September 6. Most resorts will remain closed for repairs until the middle of next year. An island-wide relief effort has been organized by the local tourism board and the Anguilla Stronger alliance is appreciative of any and all donations.

What's Reopening Next Year:
Belmond Cap Juluca - November 15, 2018
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa - end of Summer 2018
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla - 2018
Malliouhana, An Auberge Resort - April 2018
The Reef by CuisinArt - accepting reservations from April 10, 2018
Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa - 2018 

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

The dual-island nation had two stories to tell following Hurricane Irma. Barbuda, the smaller of the two with a population of just 2,000, was almost entirely decimated, with 95 percent of its structures damaged the night of September 5. The entire island was evacuated preceding the arrival of Hurricane Jose four days later. Robert De Niro, billionaire James Packer, and chef Nobu Matsuhisa have pledged to continue their plans for the conversion of one of Princess Diana's favorite hideaways, the K Club, into a luxury resort in the coming years. Antigua, 28 miles south with a population of 80,000, sustained significant damage but its airport, V.C. Bird, is now fully functional and recovery work is well under way across the island.

What's Open or Reopening Soon:
Carlisle Bay - reopened October 15, 2017
Curtain Bluff - October 28, 2017
Galley Bay Resort & Spa - October 31, 2017
Hermitage Bay - reopened October 10, 2017
Jumby Bay Island - reopened October 9, 2017

What's Reopening Next Year:
Barbuda Belle - November 2018

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

The dual-island nation had two stories to tell following Hurricane Irma. Barbuda, the smaller of the two with a population of just 2,000, was almost entirely decimated, with 95 percent of its structures damaged the night of September 5. The entire island was evacuated preceding the arrival of Hurricane Jose four days later. Robert De Niro, billionaire James Packer, and chef Nobu Matsuhisa have pledged to continue their plans for the conversion of one of Princess Diana's favorite hideaways, the K Club, into a 
luxury resort in the coming years. Antigua, 28 miles south with a population of 80,000, 
sustained significant damage but its airport, V.C. Bird, is now fully functional and recovery work is well under way across the island.

What's Open or Reopening Soon:
Carlisle Bay - reopened October 15, 2017
Curtain Bluff - October 28, 2017
Galley Bay Resort & Spa - October 31, 2017
Hermitage Bay - reopened October 10, 2017
Jumby Bay Island - reopened October 9, 2017

What's Reopening Next Year:
Barbuda Belle - November 2018

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria combined to inflict extraordinary damage on the British Virgin Islands. Virgin Gorda was especially hard hit. Flights and ferry service from Tortola and Virgin Gorda to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands have resumed as of mid-October although the tourism board is advising people not to visit any of the islands of this British Overseas Territory until November 1 at the earliest.

What's Reopening Next Year:
Guana Island - 2018
Peter island Resort & Spa - 2018
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda - 2018
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, Autograph Collection - February 2018

DOMINICA

The tiny, jungle-rich island nation of Dominica took a direct hit on the night of September 18 from Hurricane Maria. Schools have reopened and flights have resumed to San Juan, 
Antigua, and Barbados on LIAT and Seaborne, but 51 percent of the island's hotels were 
seriously damaged. Click here to lend you support with the help of IsrAID.

What's Reopening Next Year:
Rosalie Bay Resort - September 2018
Secret Bay - unknown

PUERTO RICO

Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on September 20, punishing the offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra and causing a full island black-out and dropping two feet of rain in two days. As of this week only nine percent of the island's schools had reopened and 70 percent of the island remains in the dark.

What's Open or Reopening Soon:
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve - "will open as soon as possible"

What's Opening Next Year:
The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan - "will open as soon as possible"
St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico- January 2018
W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island - "closed until further notice

ST. BARTS

The tiny French oversees collectivity was hit hard by Hurricane Irma on September 6. As in other places, the hotel scene fared worse than the island's substantial inventory of private villas. Flights from Gustaf III Airport to St. Maarten and San Juan resumed in mid-October with Tradewind Aviation, Winair, and St Barth Commuter, as has ferry service to St. Maarten. The Gofundme campaign #stbarthstrong has been critical in helping the island rebuild at a remarkable speed; dozens of shops and restaurants and a handful of small hotels are already up and running and accepting guests. A major 
operation to clean up St. Barts' beaches involved both government resources and locals.

What's Reopening Next Year:
Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France - Summer 2018
Eden Rock-St. Barths - Summer 2018
Hôtel Le Toiny - Spring 2018
Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa - 2018
Le Guanahani - Summer 2018
Le Sereno - 2018
Villa Marie Saint-Barth - March, 2018

ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN

One of the worst-hit in the region by Hurricane Irma on September 6, this dual-nation island shared by the Netherlands and France was without an airport, Princess Juliana, one of the largest in the Caribbean, for over a month. Between 90 and 95 percent of the buildings in St. Maarten and St. Martin sustained serious damage and the island faces a monumental recovery task. Cruise lines are not expected to call at port until early 2018.

What's Reopening Next Year:
Belmond La Samanna, St. Martin - April 2018
The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten - "closed until further notice"

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Six weeks after Hurricane Irma hit these islands, and one month after Hurricane Maria passed through, electricity is scheduled to finally be restored during the first week of November. Cruise lines are not expected to call on St. Thomas until early 2018. The Virgin Islands National Park, covering nearly 7,000-plus acres of St. John, took a heavy beating in both storms and remains closed, but local reports have already surfaced of green shoots sprouting in the tropical climate.

What's Reopening Next Year:
Caneel Bay, St. John - unknown
Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, St. Thomas - closed through 2018
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas - September 2018

TURKS AND CAICOS

This British Overseas Territory, nearly 600 miles south of Miami, is made up of seven main islands and 40 uninhabited islets and cays. Hurricane Irma passed over almost all on September 7, followed by Hurricane Maria on September 22. Heavy rainfall and storm surges caused considerable flooding in the area where the highest point is only 163 feet above sea level. The good news is that many resorts and businesses have already reopened and are welcoming visitors for the beginning of the winter high season.

What's Open or Reopening Soon:
Amanyara - November 1, 2017
COMO Parrot Cay - December 15, 2017
Gansevoort Turks + Caicos - reopened October 5, 2017
Grace Bay Club - reopened September 30, 2017
The Shore Club Turks and Caicos - reopened September 30, 2017
West Bay Club - reopened September 30, 2017

FLORIDA KEYS

Following a direct hit by Hurricane Irma on September 10, the Florida Keys has seen a remarkably speedy recovery with all 42 bridges leading from the mainland to Key West 
open to visitors as of mid-October. Extensive reconstruction remains ongoing for many of 
properties damaged by the storm, but cruise ships have returned and in a spot of bright news, an endangered herd of 30-inch-tall key deersurvived the 130-mile-per-hour winds 
and ten-foot storm surge.

What's Open or Reopening Soon:
Casa Marina (Waldorf Astoria), Key West - reopened October 13, 2017

What's Opening Next Year:
Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada - early 2018
Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key - 2018
Little Palm Island, Little Torch Key - unknown
The Moorings Village, Islamorada - accepting new reservations from January 1, 2018

ISLANDS THAT REBOUNDED OR WERE LARGELY UNAFFECTED

Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
Bonaire
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Curaçao
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Jamaica
Martinique
Montserrat
Saba
St. Eustatius
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago