United Airlines Is Planning A Big Expansion Of Its Nonstop Cayman Islands Flights

Seven Mile Beach. The buzzing culinary scene. The shopping. The Sister Islands.

There’s a bit of everything in the Cayman Islands, whether you’re looking for a foodie retreat to one of the Caribbean’s culinary capitals or a castaway-fantasy beach stay on Little Cayman.

The destination is as popular as ever, with continued arrival growth and some sparkling new hotels, including the outstanding Hotel Indigo we reviewed last week.

And now it’s about to get even easier to fly here, with a big expansion in service on United Airlines.

United is adding more flights to Grand Cayman from Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC for the peak winter season and beyond, officials revealed to Caribbean Journal.

The new Hotel Indigo in Grand Cayman.

That includes new daily service between Chicago O’Hare and Cayman beginning in mid-December — and continuing as daily service in March 2025.

From Houston, you will soon be able to fly daily to Grand Cayman in November and December — a significant jump from what had been only once-weekly service. That route will also become fully daily beginning next March.

From the nation’s capital, United will be increasing its flights to Grand Cayman to a total of four times every week, with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

United’s big ramp-up is part of a continued increase in air capacity for the destination in 2024, one that included an extra 365 flights in the first half alone.

The Southern Cross Club boutique hotel in Little Cayman.

If you’re going to book on United, seats are now bookable, for about $600 (according to a sample itinerary from Washington), for example.

You can learn more at: https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us

By Alexander Britell, editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal

7 things To See And Do In The Cayman Islands

Stingray City.

CAYMAN ISLANDS -  Just one-hour flight time from Miami and 1.5 hours from the Texas coast, the Cayman Islands offers a treasure trove of activities and places to relax for a true vacation. Consisting of three small islands no more than 100 square miles in total, beaches and banking have driven the islands to the forefront when it comes to business and pleasure.

When planning a trip to the Cayman Islands, one can expect clean white sandy beaches with a mirror calm turquoise tropical ocean, however one should also be prepared for occasional light showers during the summer months. Rain showers don't last long in the tropics and are usually followed by bright sunshine a few minutes later.

Known as a top destination for American and European travelers seeking the ultimate vacation, direct flights to the Cayman Islands can be found on American Airlines, Cayman Airways, West Jet, Southwest, Delta and British Airways. With over seven miles of safe beaches on the northern coast of Grand Cayman, the islands welcome an average two million visitors yearly. Majority of visitors to Grand Cayman are cruise ship visitors arriving 7 am in the morning, and are usually gone by 5 pm in the afternoon.

Portrayed in many articles as the place time has forgotten, the islands have seen an upward trend in commercialization and growth, mostly within the Seven Mile Beach and George Town districts. In recent times, the Cayman Islands have improved on roads and buildings, making the islands some of the most advanced within the Western hemisphere.

Large cooperate offices have increased by 20% over the past two years, along with advanced medical facilities offering a wide range of services. Recently opening its doors is an advanced facility for heart and orthopedics, which came online in 2012 and is now listed as the most technological advanced facility in the Caribbean. Health City in East End is one of a kind and the only JCI certified facility within the region. The facility will soon be opening a 185-bedroom hotel a few steps away from the main hospital, which overlooks the ocean on the southern side of Grand Cayman. 

1. Visiting Stingray City

Visiting Stingray City can be overwhelming especially if you are not a frequent visitor of the ocean. Your first impression can be a little intimidating, but once you are in the water and the feeding begins, your perspective changes at once. Holding some of the largest stingrays in the Caribbean without fear is nothing less than awesome. Referred to as "gentle giants" by most visitors, feeding stingrays on the sandbar is a must when visiting the Cayman Islands. 

One of the best companies to book a tour to Stingray City and surrounding attractions is Stingray City Cayman Islands. Tours to Stingray City and starfish can be booked online, including additional tours to the Turtle Centre and Hell. 

Completeing reservation online is simple and easy, with free cancellation in the event of weather or a ship failing to stop in port.

2. A Day at Rum Point

 

Rum Point is the perfect place to spend a day at the beach with access to restaurants and beach bar. Known as home of mudslides and the best location to try one, Rum Point also offers access to the beach and crystal-clear water in a family setting. Located approximately 1.9 miles from Stingray City, Rum Point is the closest point to the sandbar. Although it is the closest point when it comes to line of sight, it is also the furthest to drive should one select to tour the island. Shuttle service to Rum Point can be arranged from Camana Bay for a small charge aboard a water taxi, which operates every two hours. The service does not include stops at Stingray City or any other attractions.  Ask us about private tours to Rum Point and Stingray City

3. Sandy Beaches and Starfish

The rich culture and heritage of the Cayman Islands can also be explored through Starfish Point and its surrounding waters. Considered a perfect place to have a beach picnic, access can be acquired by walking along a foot path or by water vessel. The quiet beach is a common picnic spot for locals on weekends and public holidays but is mostly visited by tourist during the weekdays. Most locals take advantage of the quiet and peaceful surrounding, which also offers privacy by the natural vegetation blocking vehicular traffic.    

Starfishes can be found in knee-deep water and range in size from a few ounces to several pounds. Bright orange and occasionally camo green starfish are found from the southern tip of the sandbar and into the lagoon a few hundred feet away.

Tours to Starfish Point can be purchased from Stingray City Cayman Islands, and include other destinations such as Stingray City and Coral Garden.

4. Venturing Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman has been listed in the top ten beaches based on a worldwide survey. Consisting of soft white coral sand extending seven miles on the northern side of the capital George Town, it is not hard to find some of the best snorkel locations.

Beaches in the Cayman Islands are open for strolling and sunbathing without any worry of breaching local laws. With little or no restriction, you can find yourself miles away from your resort by the time you realized the beauty of the place has taken you on a long journey.

Majority of the upscale resorts are located on Seven Mile Beach, along with some of the Cayman Islands' top restaurants and bars. A few of the restaurants on Seven Mile Beach provide direct access to the beach with dining next to the water, along with drink service by friendly waiters.

5. Touring Historic East End

East End is one of the oldest districts in the Cayman Islands, and it offers a wide range of historical sites as well as home of the Cayman Islands true culture. In East End you will find wreck of the Ten Sails, where visitors can hike up to a forty-foot bluff overlooking the initial site of the wreck. Other ship wrecks and  artifacts can be found at the gateway to the bluff, including a large brass propeller and the lead keel of an old sail vessel. A few minutes' drive towards the Morritt's, old canons can be found positioned in private yards along the drive. These canons are from the wreck of the ten sails and can be approached by visitors.

East End is also known the perfect place to source local dishes. If you're willing to try local turtle stew or conch stew, Vivien's on the Bluff, just a few hundred feet from the Wreck of the Ten Sails monument is a perfect stop. Cassava cake and various local dishes can be purchased at reasonable prices, along with local tamarin drink. On Sunday afternoons it's lobster and fish next to the water at the only gas station in the district. Located next to the water on sandy white beach with coconut trees as shelter, fried fish and lobster can be purchased and enjoyed under coconut trees while having a cold refreshment. More information can be sourced by visiting: Eastern Star Bar & Fish Fry

6. Pedro St. James

Known by residents as 'Pedro Castle', the current renovated and oldest surviving stone structure in Grand Cayman is home to much cultural and history, including that of the first parliamentarian meeting and oversight of the Cayman Islands. 

The castle was built using slave labor in 1780 by a wealthy Englishman who took up residence within the islands. The castle served a variety of uses, including a cotton plantation, courthouse, jail and Government Assembly Building. It was also the venue for the Cayman Islands parliament and decision making in 1831, and also to announce that slavery had been abolished in the British Empire in 1835. The structure survived several hurricanes, one major fire, vandalism by all walks of life, and infestation of many forms of wildlife. The structure serves as the most historic piece of the Caymanian heritage.

Pedro St. James Theatre

Enjoy a 3D multi-sensory movie that will transport you back in time, to the history and heritage of the Cayman Islands. Understand the Cayman Islands' history of the first explorers, including those of piracy and stashing of treasure on the islands. Movie show daily from: 9am-4pm. Last show is at 4pm.

7. Cayman Islands Turtle Centre

The Cayman Turtle Centre, located within West Bay of Grand Cayman offers a unique relationship with nature through educational and memorable hands-on experiences. The park allows visitors to experience the unique history of the Cayman Islands in a fun and safe environment, while providing opportunities to observe and interact with native gentle giants of the ocean.

Offering a one-of-a-kind saltwater lagoon, the Breaker's saltwater tidal lagoon is unique in the Caribbean. In addition to swimming with sea life in the lagoon, Breaker's restaurant offers a wide range of items on the menu, including jerk chicken and pork, hamburgers, sandwiches, and desserts, amongst other delights. Everyone will enjoy the experience of the finest Caymanian cuisine at a variety of locations throughout the park.

Packages for the Turtle Centre can be purchased at Stingray City Cayman Islandsseparately or as a combo unit. Visitors can select the entire park access or limited access listed as Encounter only. In addition, standalone packages can also be purchased with access to the Lagoon or just the Encounter without joining any of the Stingray City tours. All tours include free transportation from local resorts and the cruise ship terminal in George Town.

Cayman Turtle Centre is the only saltwater lagoon consisting of 1.3 million marine life encounters on the island. With full access to the park, visitors can also get up close to the predator tank and come nose-to-nose with sharks and eels. This is a must for anyone who visits the Cayman Islands year-round, as the Turtle Centre is open daily from 8am to 5pm.

The Cayman Turtle Centre is home to over 11,000 Green Sea Turtles ranging in size from six ounces to six hundred and fifty pounds. Some of the largest turtles can be seen upon entering the facility within the breeding section. Sparky is the oldest turtle currently at the facility and is estimated to be 76 years old. Upon completing the turtle tour, visitors can purchase gifts from the facility's 3,500 square foot retail centre, located on the northern side of the reception building.

Written by: Stingray City Administrator M Jackson

Caribbean Update: Which Islands Are Ready For Travel?

Many travelers love to shake off the winter blues with trips to sun-splashed Caribbean islands. There’s nothing more magical than the pairing of winter festivities with tropical landscapes, but after the ravages of hurricanes Irma and Maria, which islands are equipped for visitors? Follow these guidelines to help decide your Caribbean travel plans:

Islands That Were Not Impacted by Hurricanes and Are Completely Open For Business

•   Jamaica
•   Aruba
•   Curacao
•   St. Lucia
•   Barbados
•   The Cayman Islands
•   Grenada
•   Haiti
•   Trinidad & Tobago

Islands That Were Minimally Impacted and Are Open

Antigua: The island sustained minor damage from the hurricanes and only one hotel, Galley Bay Resort and Spa, remains closed but is expected to open a few days before Christmas.

The Bahamas:  The main tourism centers of Nassau and Grand Bahama weren’t affected and remain open for cruises and travelers. However, the Out Islands of Acklins, Ragged, and Crooked Islands are currently not open to tourists.

The Dominican Republic: The minimal damage to a few hotels and resorts has been repaired and all hotels and airports are open.

Islands That Were Impacted By The Hurricanes and Are Mostly Open

Cuba: The iconic malecon seawall that runs along the coast of Havana received some damage and flooding in half of the city but everything has been cleared and ports, hotels, and attractions are open. Resorts in the Varadero area were slightly damaged but have been repaired.

St. Kitts and Nevis: The hurricanes ripped through the sister islands and damaged a few resorts, but all are now open.

Turks and Caicos: Power outages and considerable damage to some resorts have affected the island, although the airport and majority of hotels are now open. Beaches Turks and Caicos and Amanyara Resort recently reopened on Dec. 15 and Club Med Turkoise is closed until Jan. 31, 2018.

Islands With Major Damage and Only Partial Openings

Anguilla: A major portion of the island’s infrastructure was damaged but re-building has been steady and 30 percent of hotel, apartment, and villa rooms are now available, as are most restaurants. A majority of resorts are scheduled to reopen by spring 2018. The airport is open and most ferry services have been restored.

Barbuda: Irma tore apart 95 percent of this tiny island’s infrastructure, and restoring the island’s airport, water, and the island’s frigate bird population are still in process. Robert De Niro is helping efforts by moving ahead with his plan to build the Paradise Found Resort on the island.

British Virgin Islands: Airports and seaports are open but power has not been completely restored on all the islands. Most resorts are still re-building, but the cruise ports and yacht harbors are open.

Puerto Rico: While power has been restored to 68 percent of the island, 9 percent of the population still doesn’t have water or roofs on their homes. Cruises have returned to the port, some hotels are open, and tourism is returning to Old San Juan. Many travelers are volunteering to help clean up through voluntourism organizations.

St. Barts:  Electricity has been restored and some hotels and villas are open. The St. Barts Music Festival is still scheduled to kick off  in January.

St. Martin/Maarten: The airport is open but minor repairs are still being done in phases. 70 percent of hotels were damaged on the Dutch side of the island and many beaches were also damaged. Cruises returned to the island in early December.

St. Croix and St. Thomas: The power and water infrastructure has been restored to almost half the population on both islands and airports and cruise ports are open. Many of St. Croix’s hotels are open, including The Buccaneer, Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix, Cottages By The Sea, Frederiksted Hotel, and Sand Castle on the Beach. On St. Thomas, Bellavista Bed & Breakfast and At Home in The Tropics Bed & Breakfast Innare open as well as restaurants and shops in the main shopping areas on both islands. Festivities for the Crucian Christmas Festival on St. Croix are scheduled through Jan. 6.

St. John: Cleanup on the island is continuing, although iconic beaches of Trunk Bay, Honeymoon, and Hawksnest are cleared and open for visitors. Hotels including Sea Shore Allure and Gallows Point Resort are also open for guests.

By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

The Secret History Of The Jewish Caribbean

A vacation favorite for year-round sunny skies and sandy beaches, the Caribbean is also an intriguing potpourri of diverse communities.  Loud and proud, the story of Jewish ties to the Caribbean is a fascinating one, dating back to Christopher Columbus and his first trans-Atlantic voyage. Home to some of the oldest Jewish communities in the Americas, the Caribbean also lays claim to synagogues with sandy floors, cemeteries that date back hundreds of years and Jewish families who still call the islands home. Whether you’re planning to marry in a Jewish ceremony, host a Bar Mitzvah, celebrateRosh Hashanah from September 13 – 15, observe Yom Kippur  from September 22 -23 or simply have a hankering for a good pastrami sandwich, check out our sampling of Caribbean Jewish roots.

Jamaica 

In a striking white building on Duke Street in Kingston, the synagogue called the United Congregation of Israelites or Shaare Shalom is a licensed attraction by the Jamaica Tourist Board. (Photo: Jamaica Tourism Board)

With a smile as wide as the sea, Ainsley Henriques is delighted to show-off the synagogue that is near and dear to him. The affable grandfather is not only the Director of Jamaica's only synagogue; he’s also the enthusiastic keeper of Jewish Jamaican history, which dates back to 1494 when Spanish JewLuis de Torres sailed to Jamaica as Christopher Columbus’s interpreter. In a striking white building on Duke Street in Kingston, the synagogue called the United Congregation of Israelites or Shaare Shalom has a sandy floor as a memorial to the Jews who once practiced in secret. A shrine to the past and a beacon for the future, the synagogue is a licensed attraction by the Jamaica Tourist Board. "We now have something in common with the Bob Marley Museum and coffee tours to the Blue Mountains," Henriques smiles. For visitors, the century-old synagogue is open Mondays to Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., for prayers on Friday and Saturday and for holiday celebrations. Next door, the Jamaican Jewish Heritage Centre is also open to the public. In Montego Bay, Chabad Lubavitch — a New York based Jewish outreach organization with over 3,000 centers in 65 countries — is open near Sandals Royal Caribbean for holiday services, kosher meals and advice about weddings and bar mitzvahs. For history buffs, Jewish Jamaica offers tours to the port town ofFalmouth where prosperous Jewish families once lived. You'll be shown around Jewish-owned sugar plantations and Great Houses and cemeteries like the one in Montego Bay next to the synagogue that was wiped out during the 1912 hurricane. For information about Sandals all-inclusive resorts please visit: http://www.sandals.com/all-inclusive/

Cayman Islands

Although there is not a synagogue per se, Chabad House is the go-to-spot for the 300-500 Jews calling the Cayman Islands home and tourists who may want to marry on the island. (Photo: Chabad Cayman)

On Grand Cayman in the Seven Mile Beach strip across the street from the Marriott Resort and the Queen’s Court Plaza, Chabad House is a community center with programs like a Hebrew School, classes for moms and tots, Sabbath prayers open to everyone and holiday celebrations that are particularly lively affairs. Although there is not a synagogue per se, Chabad House is the go-to-spot for the 300-500 Jews calling the Cayman Islands home and tourists who may want to marry on the island. For religious Jews, there is a surprisingly big selection of kosher food at Foster's Food Fair and Kirk Market and for those on the hunt for a pastrami or corned beef sandwich, Foster's at the Strand in the Seven Mile Beach area is the store of choice. For the Jewish New Year, Ritz-Carlton is hosting a holiday dinner with tickets priced at USD $45.00 for adults and USD$30.00 for children. In addition to a grand dinner at the grand resort, Israel’s Soul Key Choir is providing the evening's entertainment.

Barbados

Nidhe Israel, also known as Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue was bought back by the Jewish community in 1983. (Photo: Jewish Treasures of the Caribbean)

The only synagogue in Barbados, Nidhe Israel, also known as Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue, is also one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere and a Barbados National Trust property. Built in 1654, destroyed by a hurricane in 1831, rebuilt years later and eventually sold in 1929, the 350-year-old house of worship was bought back by the Jewish community in 1983 and today is striking with Gothic arches, grand chandelier and a stained-glass window etched with the Star of David. The first Jews in Barbados arrived from Brazil in the 1600’s, bringing with them the windmill technology that made the sugar industry hugely profitable. By 1925, just a few remained although more families emigrated during the Holocaust. Adjacent to the synagogue, the cemetery is interesting to see with graves that date to the 1660’s, including those of Samuel Hart, founder of the Great Synagogue of London and Moses Hart, the first Jew to live in Virginia. Within walking distance of Nelson’s Statue and Queens Park, Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum is open for tours Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Thomas

Jews first settled on St. Thomas in 1655, but a Congregation wasn't officially founded until 1796. Only nine Jewish families belonged to the congregation in 1801, but by 1803 it had increased to 22, with arrivals from Holland, England, France, and the islands of St. Eustatius and Curaçao. (Photo: Steve Rockstein)

Jews first settled on the then Danish-ruled island in 1655, but a Congregation wasn't officially founded until 1796. Only nine Jewish families belonged to the congregation in 1801, but by 1803 it had increased to 22, with arrivals from Holland, England, France, and the islands of St. Eustatius and Curaçao. Finally, in 1833 the synagogue called the Hebrew Congregation of St Thomas was built; the oldest in continuous use under the American flag (St. Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands which is an American territory). Famous Jews born on St. Thomas include David Levy Yulee, Florida’s first senator and French Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro. Similar to many synagogues in the Caribbean, the floor is made of sand, honoring the Spanish Jews who were forced to pray secretly to avoid religious persecution. Visitors are invited to join the Friday and Saturday prayer services and those held on the holidays.  

Dominican Republic

Regardless, if you head to the courtyard in the center of town, you'll find the synagogue and next to it, the Jewish Museum. Built of wood and painted white and turquoise on the outside, the synagogue is the preferred wedding locale for Jewish couples from abroad. (Photo: sosuavillas.com)

Sousa is a typical tropical town with an atypical history as a haven for Jewish refugees. Better known for baseball and palm-lined beaches than as a sanctuary for Jews, Sosua was an isolated community on the north coast when in 1938, hundreds of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution in Germany, Austria and Poland were offered entry by the ruler of the Dominican Republic at that time. One thousand visas were issued, 650 Jews arrived and were given land to cultivate and animals to rise. The community opened a milk processing factory and other businesses that turned a profit. As to how many Jews remain in Sosua today, it depends who you ask. Many have left for New York and more to Miami where thousands of the descendants of Sosua’s original Jews still live. Regardless, if you head to the courtyard in the center of town, you'll find the synagogue and next to it, the Jewish Museum. Built of wood and painted white and turquoise on the outside, the synagogue is the preferred wedding locale for Jewish couples from abroad. There are no organized tours of the museum or of the synagogue but chances are someone will be there if you arrive in the early morning. Sosua is having something of a renaissance, with the opening of the Puerto Plata International Airport four miles from the town. Resorts were built to meet increased demand, like the new Gansevoort Dominican Republic; a five minute stroll from the synagogue. As a nod to the increasing number of Jewish guests interested in learning about the town's history, a kosher market will open in the resort next year.

Curacao 

An architectural jewel in the capital city of Willemstad, the synagogue is visually spectacular with a solid mahogany interior, 18th-century copper chandeliers and a sandy floor as a tribute to those who fled religious persecution. (Photo: Curacao Tourist Board)

Home to the oldest Jewish community in the Caribbean, Curacao's first arrivals came in 1651 when a dozen families from Amsterdam landed on the island's shores. They built the Mikve Israel-Emanuelsynagogue, which is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Americas. An architectural jewel in the capital city of Willemstad, the synagogue is visually spectacular with a solid mahogany interior, 18th-century copper chandeliers and a sandy floor as a tribute to those who fled religious persecution. For nearly three centuries, Sephardic Jews — those of Spanish origin — were the only Jews on the island. In the 1920’s, an influx of Ashkenazi Jews or those with Eastern European roots arrived and although the Jewish community has shrunk in recent years, Sabbath services are still conducted every weekend with Rabbi Hazzan Avery Tracht welcoming visitors from the cruise ships that dock in the picturesque harbor and tourists vacationing on the island. There is no cost to visit the synagogue, however, appropriate dress is encouraged which means no sleeveless clothing for women and button-down jackets for men. Connected to the synagogue, the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum houses artifacts like 300-year-old Torah scrolls that were brought from Spain and a 200-year-old silver tray from Holland that is still used for the smashing of the wineglass during wedding ceremonies. The adjacent gift shop stocks a good selection of souvenirs and cookbooks.

Nevis

Today, the only visible reminder of this once-thriving community is the Jewish Cemetery on Government Road, close to the Pier in the capital city of Charlestown. (Photo: Jews of the Caribbean)

Over 300 years ago, the little island across the channel from St. Kitts was once home to dozens of hard-working Jews whose story makes up a little-known chapter of Caribbean Jewish history. The 1678 census listed eight Jewish families during a time when the bustling sugarcane industry made Nevis a Caribbean powerhouse. Drawn to the prosperity were Sephardic Jews who had been expelled from Brazil after the Portuguese regained control from the Dutch. By the early 1700’s, dozens of Jewish families had arrived in Nevis, building a synagogue and a school.  A century later, the sugar industry went bust and the Jews moved away in search of new jobs, their stores and homes left behind. The synagogue and school were closed.  Details are sketchy but archives indicate the synagogue was built in 1684, was in ruins by 1809 and completely gone in 1846. Today, the only visible reminder of this once-thriving community is the Jewish Cemetery on Government Road, close to the Pier in the capital city of Charlestown. In in the middle of what was the Jewish neighbourhood, grave markers are inscribed in Portuguese, Hebrew and English and date from 1769 with names like Marache, Pinheiro and Cohen. Surrounded by a cement cinderblock wall, the cemetery was re-dedicated in 1971 after a Philadelphia couple organized the cleanup of the gravestones. Today the sacred grounds are manicured by the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society. A typical Caribbean clapboard house that was built on the land where the synagogue once stood. Sadly, no artifacts have been recovered from the site: historians believe the congregants took the valuables with them when they left the island.

St. Maarten

The new synagogue will also house a preschool and learning center for the 300 Jewish residents on the island (that number swells to more than 1,000 during the winter). (Photo: jewishsxm.com)

For the first time since 1781, the Jewish community in St. Maarten will have its own synagogue when construction on the Old Rock building in Simpson Bay is complete next year. The new synagogue will also house a preschool and learning center for the 300 Jewish residents on the island (that number swells to more than 1,000 during the winter). A little-told chapter in St. Maarten history, Jews arrived in 1732 and built a synagogue on the site of the Guavaberry Emporium in Phillipsburg, but the site was abandoned in 1781. When the first wave of tourism hit the island in the 1960’s, American Jews discovered St. Maarten as a winter getaway, and it has only grown in popularity. Since 2009, Rabbi Moishe Chanowitz and his wife Sara have been hosting celebrations and conducting prayer services at Chabad St. Maarten above the Zee Best Bakery also in Simpson Bay. Born in Maryland with time spent in Los Angeles, Paris and New York, the Rabbi is now enjoying life on a tropical island, "We got used to the power shutting down every now and then," he smiles, "but when it happens on a Friday afternoon during cooking preparations, you can imagine what's left of our Shabbat dinner, however, we've learned to go with the flow." In addition to the much anticipated opening of the new synagogue, Le Grand Marche in Cole Bay and Philipsburg carries a big selection of kosher food.

By Melanie Reffes, Special for USA TODAY