The Caribbean is making itself over, and here are some of the most popular new and refurbished hotels in the Caribbean this 2007-08 season.

 In the Bahamas you will find the Atlantis Paradise Island, which will have finished its multimillion-dollar expansion by December 19 of this year by adding the new 497-unit Reef Atlantis.  This is a section of family-friendly units that feature kitchens, laundry facilities and large terraces, also with upscale options such as butler service. Rates start at $340 a night for a 519-square-foot studio terrace.  Another in Bahama is the 694-room Sheraton Cable Beach Resort in Nassau, which just went through a $2.3 billion refurbishment on their seven-acre beachfront property.  The rates start at $199 a night.  And on the out-island of Bimini you will find the new Bimini Bay Resort, which features 300 condos and villas, and ranges from $250 a night for a studio to $2,400 for a four-bedroom villa.

 In Puerto Rico you can visit the Caribbean’s first oceanfront water park, Coqui Water Park.  This 2.4 acre water park opens in January 2008 at the El Conquisitor Resort.  This park features a 8,000-square-foot “lazy river”, a 9,000-square-foot infinity pool that overlooks the Caribbean, Flumes and free-fall slides.

 In St. Thomas you can stay at the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, which through its $40 million transformation will offer 55-new club-level guest rooms in addition to the previous, and now re-done, rooms.  They also expanded the spa with Prada-branded treatments.  Rooms start at $359.

 In Jamaica you can visit the living-history park, Outameni Experience, which traces 500 years of Jamaican history with interactive exhibits set in a historic Great House.  This park was opened in September in Trelawny between Montego Bay and Ochos Rios.  You can also go over to Negril and go to the Kool Runnings Water Park, which offers a Jamaican bobsled ride.  And when looking to stay in Jamaica, you need not look farther than the Iberostar Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay.  This 950-room resort is going through two phases of a $850 million development, one of which is finished with rates starting at $208 and the second of which will open next year.

 In Mexico you can stay at one of the newest hotels, Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, which opens in January 2008.  On 36 acres is features 128 villas and a 25,000 square-foot spa.  Doubles start at $700.

 In the Dominican Republic you will find the Cap Cana Resort on 33,000 acres in Punta Cana.  This is Punta Cana’s first resort hotel once is opens the 176-suite Sanctuary Cap Cana Golf & Spa, with rates starting at $468.

 And in Antigua you can relax at the eco-friendly Verandah Resort & Spa, located on 30 acres along Dian Bay.  This resort offers hiking trails, two sheltered beaches and the islands largest free-form pool.  Rates start at $243.

            Since 1994, Atlantis, the Bahamian resort has occupied much of Paradise Island .  The Atlantis took the run-down 1,100 room Paradise Island Resort, refurbished it (a $1 billion revamp), added a casino (the biggest in the Caribbean) and the Royal Tower (which contains another 1,200 rooms) and changed in into the Atlantis, which accounts for more that 12 percent of the Bahamas ’ gross national product.

            Now, they are adding, to their collection of hotels, The Cove.  They call this 21-story hotel “a resort within a resort.”  They feature a 35-foot-high open-air lobby, and rooms with modern Asian styling.  There are two pools at The Cove; one is a standard pool, and the second, the Cain, hosts adults-only pool parties with music, blackjack, craps tables and tropical drinks.  Topless sunbathing is also permitted.  And for $450 a day you can rent a private cabana that features flat-screen TVs, outdoor showers, minibars and butler service. 

            The main attraction of The Cove is Aquaventure, a water park that features many water amusements, including the Mayan pyramid with a water slide tunneling through the shark-infested lagoon, and the new 71-foot-high Power Tower, where four water slides take off.  This 63-acre facility has grown to solve crowding and offer more amenities.  They doubled the number of poolside restaurants, towel huts and restrooms, and has added deck chairs to make a total of 8,200 from 4,000.  They also added a new dolphin swim lagoon and an outdoor rock-climbing wall.

            The dining is also there to accommodate all.  At The Cove, you will find many restaurants such as the Mesa Grill, which showcases Bobby Flay’s approach to new Mexican food, The Cove’s buffet restaurant, and Nobu, a branch of chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Japanese cuisine. Next door you can go to Atlantis-owned Marina Village and go to Chef Jean-Georges Bongerichten’s French gourmet venue Café Martinique, or the lower priced areas such as Johnny Rockets and take-out Marina Pizzeria.

            For more information visit www.atlantis.com/accomodations/thecoveatlantis.aspx.