Suite Wars Caribbean : Caribbean hotels

Once again, pure shores and turquoise vistas beckon from a tranquil world of sun-drenched islands. As a plethora of Caribbean hotels competes to attract that ever-important VIP vacationer, we acquaint you with the season’s hottest picks
By Ayesha Khan

Before the heat of summer kicks the temperatures up yet another notch, a quick getaway to pristine white sandy beaches is what everyone needs. ‘Tis the season for the Caribbean. The trade winds are just right, temperatures are in the mid 80’s, the rains have let up to reveal sunny, cloudless skies and azure vistas, and, once again, the Caribbean is open for business. Here are our six picks for luxe lodging in this picturesque region of over 7,000 idyllic islands.

First stop: Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands where, just last year, destination resort guru Adrian Zecha chose to launch his latest installment in the Amanresorts. Amanyara, a hybrid of the Sanskrit word for peace and the indigenous Arawak word for place, shuns everything you’d expect from a Caribbean resort (the water sports signup sheets, the generic beach loungers, branded towels, and over-the-top signage) for the rugged landscape and true character of its Northwest Point site. Designed by master architect Jean Michel Gathy (of Setai, South Beach fame), Amanyara celebrates the beauty in simple design statements- a perfect complement to the subtle, personalized service that is to be expected of an Amanresort. Owing to its prime location (directly above the coral reef walls of Northwest Point Marine National Park), Amanyara is the perfect spot for diving and snorkelling aficionados.

[highlight_text] Outside, guests may relax in their own private hilltop pool with sweeping views and a barbecue/dining pavilion. A personal concierge is at the disposal of each Hilltop Villa guest. [/highlight_text]

For those who prefer to stay in, the forty timber-shingled pavilions at Amanyara offer the perfect respite. Set around the resort’s omnipresent ponds, nestled in its lush vegetation, or elevated 15 to 20 feet above the shoreline, each pavilion occupies a generous 1,250 square feet, and features floor to ceiling windows, large furnished patios, and a spacious open plan layout with sumptuous bathrooms- typical of Amanresorts.

There is a good chance visitors to Amanyara will be so taken by the resort’s indelible, infallible charm that they will never want to leave. Bearing this in mind, the resort group developed a total of 33 three and four bedroom villas which can be bought for those crucial, intermittent getaways from the perils of the real world. Laid out on a 2-acre plot with a built-up area of 8,000 square feet, each villa features an array of pavilion-style rooms arranged around a 1,200 square foot swimming pool. These include oversized en-suite bedroom pavilions, a living/dining pavilion and a kitchen/laundry pavilion. Extra bedroom or office pavilions may also be added upon request. Each villa is serviced by two full-time, live-in members of dedicated Amanyara staff. Villa owners and tenants have access to all Amanyara facilities including the dive center, beach club, restaurant, and bar. What’s more, we’re told that the not-too-distant future of the resort complex sees an expansive golf course and tennis academy.

When Rosewood Hotels and Resorts’ founder and honorary chairman Caroline Rose Hunt needs a break from it all, she heads for Little Dix Bay, a Rosewood Resort on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. “I took my children there back when it was a Rock Resort. We like it so much, that we are building a vacation home there,” Hunt confides to us. And it just so happens that this exclusive boutique resort just underwent an elaborate five-year, $25 million renovation.

Included in this massive overhaul were three exquisite Hilltop Villas which take their elite guests’ need for privacy very seriously. Set amongst verdant gardens, these 2-3 bedroom villas span up to 3,200 square feet with an additional 1,200 square feet of exterior space. Appointed in simple, demure finishes, furnishings, and fabrics from around the Pacific Rim, the villas offer liberal living and dining spaces along with oversized bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom that features an outdoor garden shower. Outside, guests may relax in their own private hilltop pool with sweeping views and a barbecue/dining pavilion. A personal concierge is at the disposal of each Hilltop Villa guest.

Situated in the world’s second largest barrier reef system just off the coast of Belize, Cayo Espanto personifies the idyllic private island paradise. There are five tastefully decorated villas to choose from, but the most elaborate is the double-story, 2,500 square foot Casa Estrella. The villa’s two bedrooms and main entertainment area all share 180° views of the Caribbean and all windows and doors open directly to the sea. All rooms are appointed in rustic finishes with plush details, such as custom Yves De Lorme beddings.

Needless to say, many a celebrity has sought solace on Cayo Espanto’s secluded shores in search of that ever-elusive private getaway. And with the possibility of renting the entire island for up to 14 guests, and the fact that the island is only accessible by helicopter or boat, makes it the perfect escape from the paparazzi and other unrelenting pressures of celebrity life.

Sandy Lane has been the standard for luxury in the Barbados for over 45 years. Throughout its celebrated tenure, the hotel has impressed royalty, movie stars, and the world’s business elite with its unmistakable charm. From its cream coral stone exteriors to its bright, airy interiors, the Palladian style estate perfectly complements its sapphire coastal surrounds.

As is to be expected of one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated resorts, Sandy Lane pulls out all the stops when it comes to the ultimate in luxury pampering. Its private 7,300 square foot villa is nestled in lush gardens and features a full sized courtyard pool and Jacuzzi. Each of its four garden view bedrooms is en-suite, and fully loaded with flat-screen TVs and a unique Neos entertainment system. A restaurant-standard kitchen with private chef, an expansive entertainment space, and a 14-seater outdoor dining pavilion round out the deluxe inventory at the Sandy Lane Villa. What’s more, one of the hotel’s exclusive fleet of Bentleys is at villa guests’ disposal throughout their stay.

Voted the Best Caribbean Resort several times over, St. Regis Temenos Villas combines the otherworldly beauty of its Anguilla locale with the world renowned luxury and service of a name as revered as St. Regis. Surrounded by a Greg Norman-designed golf course, this exclusive cluster of villas sits atop a bluff overlooking the white sands of Long Bay, arguably one of the most breathtaking sites in the Caribbean. True to its name
(Temenos is Greek for “sanctuary”), the resort features sculpted whitewashed beachside villas, offset only by their verdant surrounds and deep blue accents- a throwback to the quaint island homes of the Aegean isles.

The most sought-after among the Temenos villas is the Sea Villa: 7,000 square feet of pure island bliss. Inside this beachside abode, past louvered French doors, cathedral ceilings, and soaring archways, marble and mosaic tiles and luxe furnishings await. But the pièce de résistance in the Sea Villa is not its four sophisticated bedrooms or even its airy living spaces complete with state of the art kitchens; the true indulgence is to be found in the indoor/outdoor spa-style bathrooms (that really have to be seen to be believed) and sprawling infinity pools.

No tour of luxury in the Caribbean would be complete without mention of a Kerzner International owned property. The group has been responsible for an immense boost of tourism in the region and helped to put the Bahamas on every Caribbean tourist’s map. It is here that we find the One&Only Ocean Club, one of Sol Kerzner’s favorite spots in his vast One&Only network that ranges from the Maldives to Mexico.

There are many ways to “Live the Moment” at this tranquil resort, but we highly recommend the One&Only Villa Residences. The four-bedroom variety is replete with two master bedrooms, and two smaller bedrooms, once of which is detached from the main villa- ideal for a nanny or accompanying staff. Several cosy outdoor living and dining spaces are dispersed around the villas, and a sleek infinity edged pool adds to the sheer beauty and appeal of this entirely self-contained accommodation option. A dedicated housekeeper and chef are always close at hand, and a sophisticated entertainment system, two laptops, and iPods are also at the disposal of ardent technophiles.

Whichever of the isles beckons this season, the Caribbean’s near perfect weather, white sand beaches, and unadulterated pampering will ensure this vacation is an idyllic retreat from the ordinary.