Following the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Irma and now powerful Hurricane Maria, many travelers are concerned about their future holiday plans and what the effect has had at their favorite resorts.
The Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport is now open for limited flights. The Road Bay Port at Sandy Ground has also opened.
Belmond Cap Juluca-Was closed for the season and had no major structural damage. The resort was already in the process of a remodel and will not open until November 2018.
Resort Hotels Carimar Beach Club- Management and staff are fine and Carimar is standing strong. The garden looks the worst and a few doors and windows are damaged. The team has started the clean-up process and will advise of their reopening date, now that Jose has passed.
CeBlue Villas & Beach Resort-CeBlue’s staff is safe and the resort had no guests as it was already closed for the season. The villas and resort buildings held up strongly against the hurricane and they are all structurally sound. The resort has begun the cleanup process as the damages sustained are repairable.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and The Reef by CuisinArt- This property was significantly affected, and their engineers are presently assessing the full extent of the damage. The ownership and management are committed to restoring, rebuilding and reopening, as well as doing everything possible to help and support their employees.
Fountain Anguilla- The Fountain buildings and grounds are structurally intact. A few of the units suffered some damage from debris hitting the windows and they are currently assessing the clean-up and repair. They anticipate being open for the season.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla- Experienced major damage to the resort and the company CEO Barry Sternlicht says “Property was ripped apart and it looks like a nuclear bomb went off. Over $20 million in damage.”
Frangipani Beach Resort– Experienced damage and currently in recovery mode. The resort plans on opening in December. Frangipani offered their hotel as a safe haven for many of their employees who lost their homes. The resort was the first property and business on the island to set up a fundto assist their employees with rebuilding their homes and lives.
Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort- There was no major structural damage to the resort. The team is now assessing the extent of the clean up required in greater detail and once this is completed they will advise on their proposed reopening date.
Quintessence Boutique Resort- The property sustained a fair amount of damage and the proposed November 1 opening will now be delayed indefinitely.
Zemi Beach House- Zemi Beach had closed to guests in advance of the hurricane. The property held strong during the storm so they will be able to welcome guests back before long, although the timing is still uncertain, as they are still assessing the situation.
Restaurants
Blanchards- Received moderate damage and Blanchards Beach Shack is in good shape, it just needs a little clean-up. The owners expect to be able to open both restaurants as soon as the major resorts are open. daVida Restaurant & Bayside- The main restaurant is still intact, however, the canopy on the second floor of the loft was lost. The Bar at the Bayside is still intact, but the dining area will be rebuilt. Garveys, Pumphouse and Mango’s were destroyed, while Dune Preserve, Elvis’ Beach Bar, Dolce Vita and Ripples also suffered severe damage. Jacala, Geraud’s Patisserie, and Grands Vins de France all survived. Johnno’s, Dads, and Picante are still standing but will require repairs.
The V.C. Bird International Airport opened for all flights and electricity was restored to the Capital St. Johns and most parts of the island.
Curtain Bluff: Property emerged with minimal damage. Clean up has begun and communications will soon be restored.
Cocos Hotel: No long-term damage
Galley Bay- No long-term damage
Hermitage Bay- No major damage
Jumby Bay Island- No structural damage reported, just landscaping cleanup. The resort is currently closed as part of its annual maintenance so no guests were on the island during Irma. Opens October 9.
Sad to report: the entire island of around 1,800 people has been evacuated. According to Ambassador Ronald Sanders, “For the first time in 300 years, there’s not a single living person on the island of Barbuda — a civilization that has existed on that island for over 300 years has now been extinguished.”
One of my favorite yachting locations in the BVI suffered major damage including the destruction of popular bars like; Ivan’s Stress Free Bar, Soggy Dollar Bar, One Love, Gertrudes Beach Bar and most buildings along White Bay. Foxy’s Tamarind Bar is still standing with roof intact but major damage. Foxy’s Taboo appears to be destroyed.
Norman Island– Willy T’s Floating Bar was reported as destroyed and is currently beached.
Moskito Island– Destroyed with severe structural damage.
Necker Island– Destroyed with severe structural damage.
Saba Rock– Destroyed with severe structural damage.
Condado Vanderbilt -pending Hurricane Maria reports
W Retreat-Vieques Island-pending Hurricane Maria reports
Ritz-Carlton San Juan– pending Hurricane Maria reports
El Conquistador Resort – pending Hurricane Maria reports
Las Casitas Village -pending Hurricane Maria reports
El San Juan Hotel -pending Hurricane Maria reports
Hotel El Convento -pending Hurricane Maria reports
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort – pending Hurricane Maria reports
Hyatt House San Juan, Hyatt Place Bayamon, Hyatt Place Manati, Hyatt Place San Juan City Center, Hyatt Residence Club Dorado, InterContinental San Juan, Rincon Beach, San Juan Water Beach Club, Wyndham Garden at Palmas del Mar and Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, La Concha pending Hurricane Maria reports
Gustaf III Airport has now opened for limited flights. Gustavia and St. Jean now have electricity restored.
The Eden Rock Hotel- Received heavy structural damage and flooding and are in the process of cleanup and rebuilding.
Le Barthelemy- exterior damage but structurally sound
Christopher St. Barth– extensive exterior damage but structurally sound
Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France- Was closed for renovation and received extensive exterior damage. Not re-opening until 2018.
Le Guanahani –extensive exterior damage but structurally sound. In the process of accessing rebuild
Le Toiny-exterior damage but structurally sound
Le Sereno-exterior damage and flooding but structurally sound
Nikki Beach– Heavily damaged and will need to be rebuilt. Will not open for the 2017 season
Tom Beach Hotel– Reports I am receiving are that it is totally devastated and will need to be rebuilt.
Le Ti– Reports of damage and no opening date yet
Restaurants:Bar L’Oubli, Le Select, 25 Quarter, BistroJosephine are now open. The following restaurants plan to open in November – Mayas, Tamarin, Black Ginger, Isola, and Bonito.
Providenciales International Airport (PLS), is now open for limited flights
Amanyara– Hotel had already closed for maintenance until November ahead of the storm. Experienced minor damage and is structurally intact. Will advise as to new opening date.
Beach Enclave Turks and Caicos– experienced minor damage and plans to open in December.
COMO Parrot Cay- Experienced minor damages, mostly exterior (landscaping). The resort was already closed, until November, for renovations so no guests were on the property during Irma. Property in the process of clean up.
Gansevoort Turks + Caicos- experienced minor damage mostly to exterior vegetation and beachfront. All of the main structures are intact. The hotel tells me they will be opening early October.
Grace Bay Club– fared well in the storm and initial assessments show them to be structurally intact.
Ocean Club Resorts– Experiences no structural damage and will open October 12 with Ocean Club West shortly thereafter. Reservations will remain unaffected.
Palms Turks & Caicos– The resort sustained no major structural damages during the storm, only extensive landscaping and some water damage. Palms and The Shore Club will close to allow time to complete the necessary repairs and cleanup. Both resorts will reopen on September 30th and reservations are open for booking.
Ritz-Carlton Residences- pending reports
The Shore Club- Resort experienced minor damages and opening date is to be determined
RESTAURANTS:
Da Conch Shack – Suffered vegetation damage and flooding but the structure is in tact. Owner John Macdonald tells me: “Blue Hills and da Conch Shack were hard hit by Irma but da Conch Shack remained standing. Had the forecast storm surge materialized we wouldn’t have been so fortunate as we are about 6′ above sea level. We will be undertaking repairs as soon as power is restored and will reopen for the winter season. We will need to replant most of our trees so we might be even a little sunnier than usual but we look forward to once again being the happy friendly place we’ve always been!”
Magnolia Restaurant suffered exterior roof damage and will have a delayed opening while they make repairs and Coco Bistro received minimal damage and will open October 4th.
