A last-minute five-star room in the Caribbean during the Christmas season was as elusive (and expensive) as a Birkin bag. But this year, opt for luxury ties there—you’re likely to find a room at many resorts, even with weeks to go.
“The party space is spacious, which is unusual,” said Embark Beyond’s Jack Ezon. “Almost every resort in the Caribbean and Mexico has space, even those that are the first to book six months in advance.”
Experts like Ezon say this is thanks to a complex collision of challenges. For one thing, said Cari Gray of Gray & Co., there’s Caribbean fatigue after COVID, as it was the go-to destination for sun when flying felt more dangerous.
“People are looking for a change and it’s expected to be a snow year, so maybe the optimists are hoping for a ski holiday,” the adventure specialist said. Long stay minimums are also discouraged, as many properties have increased their bookings to require up to 14 days. “That’s stupid on an island with limited things to do.”
Price is also a major driver, of course. In the wake of the pandemic, hotels greedily raised rates both to recoup losses from their monthly closures and to capture rising demand. That fancy room that cost $361.29 in March 2019 was $517.95 the same month this year, or 43% more, per the CoStar data tracker. No wonder travelers are struggling. “It’s not a decline in luxury spending, it’s that so many customers are fed up with the exorbitant fees,” Ezon said. “Not much value there.”
Notably, Marriott’s Luxury Group just released its introductory rates to agents including Ezon, which notes that rooms during the festive period are 10% to 12% cheaper than the same time last year. “The hotels are becoming humble. They’re reducing those minimum stays and they’re also offering benefits, which is unheard of for parties.”
The other issue? Flights. There is a large mismatch between schedules or capacity and passenger demand. Jules Maury, of travel company Scott Dunn Private, said she had had several clients pass through St. Barts in Asia, including Thailand or Langkawi, because they couldn’t score premium seats on the dates they needed, no matter how hard they searched. “The jigsaw doesn’t match up for many destinations,” Maury said.
Overall, air traffic to the Caribbean may be higher than before the pandemic: Total scheduled flights from
US in the region in the first quarter of this year grew by 19% since 2019, according to data analyst Cirium Diio.
The problem is the roads, as flight expert Paul Tumpowsky explains. There is a lot of additional capacity in places like San Juan or Jamaica, but it doesn’t match the places where new rooms have been built. “It’s a logistical issue,” he said. “You don’t need tons of year-round availability, [just] in a few days
a year when people go down and back to do festive work.”
Plus, there’s been a surge in new inventory across the region that flights don’t seem to be echoing. The total number of available rooms has increased significantly, with almost 12,000 more luxury beds this year compared to 2019, per CoStar. Hotel overcapacity combined with flights to the wrong places, or at the wrong times, results in a lot of last-minute bookings.
So what’s still available? Maury raves about the Four Seasons Ocean Club in the Bahamas for its “timeless glamour, Bahamian charm and prime beach location” and, of course, the many commercial flights to and from Nassau. Also consider St. Lucia’s Sugar Beach, run by the Viceroy group, which still has 3 or 4-bedroom villas open – ideal for multi-generational vacations.
Likewise, Ezon recommends two properties within easy reach of well-serviced airports. right –
the rebuilt Belmond Maroma is one. “It is the most beautiful beach on the Mexican Riviera, with renovated rooms
from LVMH who walk right in the sand.” The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Dorado Beach just outside of San Juan is also another contender. “It has large rooms, an incredible bathroom and two world-class golf courses.”
If you’re traveling with teenagers or adults, there’s even more capacity, said Gray, who is a fan of Antigua’s.
Hermitage Bay – a new owner there has just completed a major renovation – and Jade Mountain in Saint Lucia. Both have ample space for vacations.
She also said that Le Toiny in St. Barts has rooms, which are rare in peak season, as are its regulations
hold off on booking until the last minute. It’s a prime find if you’re willing to charter or board a ferry from St. Martin. Just bring Dramamine for the changeable passage and be ready to party.
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