It's not just the heat ... The Caribbean is hitting an all-time
high this year, and we're not talking about thermometers. We're talking
about action: Caribbean tourism is hot-hot-hot. The competition is
intense, with the luxury sector setting the pace by continually
outdoing itself and raising the standards of comfort and excellence
while also raising expectations across the spectrum of the Caribbean
hospitality scene. All this means an unprecedented variety of choices
for vacationers, so to help you choose your winter getaway, we've
compiled the most noteworthy openings and renovations throughout the
region. Then, to help take the high price out of high season, we've
added the hottest packages for romantics, families, spa-lovers and
sportos, covering both new resorts and old favorites. Now all you have
to do is pick and pack.
NEW AND IMPROVED RESORTSBy Kathy Mangan
ANGUILLA Arawak
for "sacred place," B is a new resort that lies on a sun and sand
lover's sacred place: Shoal Bay East. The 27 minimalist suites feature
balconies and kitchens, and resort amenities include a free-form
beachfront pool and a beach bar. ($295 to $395 winter, $160 to $200
summer; 800-869-5827; www.kuanguilla.com)
ANTIGUAExpect an artistic vibe to infuse the four new "super suites" opening next March at Harmony Hall,
which currently offers six rooms, a renowned art gallery and an Italian
restaurant that's wildly popular with the yachting set. The new suites
will boast dramatic views of Nonsuch Bay, private plunge pools and
interiors decorated with art, hand-crafted furniture, hand-woven rugs
and local pottery. (Around $500 per night, based on double occupancy;
268-460-4120; www.harmonyhallantigua.com)
This past March, the 193-room beachfront Sandals Antigua Resort & Spa
added private zero-entry plunge pools to 10 of their 19 romantic
Rondoval suites, which are round cottages with cone-shaped roofs in
garden settings. ($775 per person all-inclusive, winter and summer;
800-SANDALS; www.sandals.com)
THE BAHAMASFor a lost civilization, Atlantis just keeps on growing. The Paradise Island 2,300-room mega-resort opened its Marina Village
in July, with retail shops and five restaurants including a recreation
of Café Martinique, made famous in the 1965 James Bond classic Thunderball.
The restaurant presents classic French cuisine designed by renowned
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. In December, Nobu bows onto the island
scene, bringing the innovative Japanese chain to Atlantis' Royal
Towers. (800-ATLANTIS; www.atlantis.com)
The elegant beachfront One & Only Ocean Club,
with 106 butler-serviced accommodations on Paradise Island, enhanced
its family offerings with the June debut of an 1,800-square-foot
KidsOnly center. It features an arts room, book corner, game room,
Culinary Academy and computer center with video games. Programs are
designed for children ages 6 to12. (888-528-7157; www.oneandonlyoceanclub.com)
Family-run, 32-room Orange Hill Beach Inn
on the western end of New Providence recently added two one-bedroom
cottages, each with cypress floors, private balconies and sea views.
($130 in summer, $180 in winter; 888-399-3698; www.orangehill.com)
Golfers and tennis enthusiasts are buzzing about the new sports facilities at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort,
which combines a 749-room Westin and a 511-room family-oriented
Sheraton on Grand Bahama Island's eastern end. The Jim McLean School of
Golf debuted its first international school here in February, and in
April, the resort became the first in the world to offer the Fast Grand
Slam of Tennis experience, where you can play all four of the most
famous court surfaces: red clay, manicured grass, Rebound Ace
(Autralian Open) and DecoTurf (U.S. Open). (Court rentals are $25 to
$100 an hour; 242-373-5294; www.ourlucaya.com)
BARBADOSOpened in June, the all-new $120 million Hilton Barbados
was built on the site of the old hotel, strategically located at the
entrance to Bridgetown's harbor next to historic Charles Fort. The
luxury hotel boasts water views and sandy beaches on both sides of the
peninsula. The 350 ocean-view rooms include 33 suites and 77 Executive
Floor rooms, and the resort features a multi-pool complex with an
infinity-edge pool, whirlpool and pool bar, plus a fitness center and
Kidz Paradise Club. The three restaurants include Careenage Bar &
Grille with a show grill and a bar set in the hull of a boat. ($260 to
$1,050 in winter, $150 to $550 in summer; 877-GO-HILTON; www.hiltoncaribbean.com/barbados)
Over on the west coast, the oceanfront adults-only Almond Beach Club & Spa
has already renovated a third of its 161 rooms, which now have new
mahogany furniture and expanded bathrooms (suites have Roman soaking
tubs and Jacuzzis). The newly renovated spa with six treatment rooms is
due to reopen in October with signature almond-based treatments.
(All-inclusive rates are $366 to $504 per person; 800-4-ALMOND; www.almondresorts.com)
The 346-room all-inclusive Almond Beach Village
plans to complete 50 new guestrooms by this November. Décor will be
British Colonial with mahogany furniture. The new spa, scheduled to
open in December, will have nine treatment rooms. (All-inclusive rates
are $366 to $504 per person; 800-4-ALMOND; www.almondresorts.com)
BELIZEOpened in June on the beach in Placencia, Chabil Mar Villas
has 22 air-conditioned one- and two-bedroom luxury accommodations with
full kitchens in two-story buildings offering wraparound wooden
verandas. The property also features two infinity-edge pools and a
restaurant. ($261 to $550 in winter, $235 to $495 in summer, based on
double occupancy; 501-523-3606; www.chabilmarvillas.com)
Just up the beach, the 52-room Inn at Robert's Grove
opened 20 Grand Villa Suites this past January, with two-bedroom,
three-bedroom and penthouse suites that can be configured to suit
families and groups. The air-conditioned suites overlook a new
free-form infinity-edge pool with two Jacuzzis and a swim-up bar. ($335
for a one-bedroom suite, based on double occupancy, up to $750 for a
three-bedroom suite with six people in winter, $285 to $640 in summer;
800-565-9757; www.robertsgrove.com) In the jungled interior of Western Belize, within a 340-acre private nature reserve on the Macal River, the eco-luxury Lodge at Chaa Creek
has added the family-friendly two-bedroom-plus-kitchen Fiddlewood
Cottage to its collection of 18 cottage rooms, two garden suites, two
treetop suites and the Orchid villa. (Fiddlewood: $165 per night,
winter and summer 2006; 501-824-2037; www.chaacreek.com)
BERMUDAThose mesmerized by the underwater world can get a prime view without leaving their rooms at 9 Beaches.
Formerly Daniel's Head Village, this eco-lodge was reborn in May, with
84 sailcloth-walled cabanas on an 18-acre peninsula surrounded by, of
course, nine beaches. Plexiglas floor panels in the over-water lodgings
provide a peek under the sea, while other accommodations are arrayed on
bluffs and feature ocean vistas from their large windows and wide
verandas. The resort offers a variety of water sports and a beach bar.
($155 to $295 in winter, $275 to $415 in summer, based on double
occupancy; 866-841-9009; www.9beaches.com)
CAYMANDevelopers of the highly anticipated $440 million 365-room Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman
on Seven Mile Beach, scheduled for a November grand opening, have
ensured the wow factor with big-name involvement. Greg Norman created
the nine-hole golf course called Blue Tip; Andre Agassi's trainer, Nick
Bollettieri, designed the tennis facility; Swiss beauty company La
Prairie contributed to the concept for Silver Rain, the resort's
20,000-square-foot spa with 17 treatment rooms; Jean-Michel Cousteau's
Ocean Futures Society developed the children's eco-adventure program;
and Le Bernardin's Eric Ripert is opening two of the five restaurants.
($700 to $1,300 in winter, $400 to $800 in summer; 800-241-3333; www.ritzcarlton.com)
CURACAOThe Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club
is a complete renovation of a former resort on 350 acres fronted by
cliffs and beach on the island's western tip. The first 20 luxury
oceanfront studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites opened in
October, along with a new free-form pool, a dive shop and a restaurant.
Another 20 accommodations, including a three-bedroom villa, are
scheduled for a December opening; the remaining 40 suites are slated to
open by spring. Interiors feature tiled floors with hand-sewn rugs,
rattan furniture, satin duvet covers and Egyptian cotton sheets. Some
suites have kitchenettes and outdoor terrace showers. (Lodge Kura
Hulanda and Beach Club in Curacao: $200 to $550 in winter, $175 to $500
in summer, based on double occupancy; 877-264-3106; www.kurahulanda.com)
Divers seeking cozy, affordable accommodations near excellent dive sites have a new option: Marazul Dive Resort,
perched on the cliffs adjoining Playa Forti in Westpunt. Opened in
January, the white buildings with Spanish tile roofs host 14 rooms and
two bungalows featuring ocean artwork, full kitchens and outdoor
terraces. An additional four rooms and four bungalows are due to open
in December. There is a pool and affiliated dive shop. ($120 to $150 in
winter, $100 to $130 in summer; 599-9-864-0536; www.marazuldiveresort.com)
Another dive resort, the 72-room Lions Dive & Beach Resort,
adjacent to the National Underwater Park, is adding 38 oceanfront
rooms, cabanas and two-bedroom apartments due to open in November.
Hemingway, a new beach bar/restaurant, was scheduled to open its doors
by September. ($169 to $319 in winter, $148 to $297 in summer;
866-546-6734; www.lionsdive.com)
DOMINICAThose seeking a wellness/adventure retreat on an eco-friendly island can check into the new Jungle Bay Resort & Spa,
which opened in March near Dominica's World Heritage Park. The 29
rustically refined cottages, built of volcanic stone and tropical
hardwoods, are perched on posts to raise guests into the forest canopy.
The resort also features the Spa du Soleil, yoga studios, two
restaurants and hiking trails through 55 acres of lush jungle. ($299
winter, $279 summer, based on double occupancy; 767-446-1789; www.junglebaydominica.com)
Historic 73-room Fort Young Hotel,
originally built in 1761 by British forces, debuted 20 new oceanfront
rooms with balconies in February. The resort also added an
infinity-edge pool and bar. ($95 to $220 in winter; 772-419-8041; www.fortyounghotel.com)
DOMINICAN REPUBLICThose who thrive on a city pulse will appreciate the Hilton Santo Domingo,
a brand-new 21-floor tower that opened in July on the city's waterfront
boulevard, El Malecon. The 228 guestrooms and Executive Floor suites
have floor-to-ceiling windows with sparkling city and sea views.
There's a health club, a seventh-floor pool deck and two restaurants;
more entertainment and dining as well as Santo Domingo's largest casino
are in the adjacent Melcon Center. ($180 to $580 in winter, $120 to
$520 in summer; 877-GO HILTON; www.hiltoncaribbean.com/santodomingo)
The 519-suite Club Med Punta Cana
has added The Ramp, an exclusive teen lounge for ages 14 to 17. The
two-story open-air structure features a skateboarding/rollerblading
ramp on the roof, foosball tables, a jukebox and a graffiti wall.
(800-CLUB-MED; www.clubmed.com)
GRENADAMaca Bana Villas
opened in April with seven one- and two-bedroom villas on a hillside
overlooking the sea and St. George's. The co-owner is a fine artist and
has based distinctive décor themes on native fruit trees. Each villa
has glass-block showers and a private deck with six-person hot tub.
($360 to $540 in winter, $240 to $420 in summer; 473-439-5355; www.macabana.com)
Paradise Bay Resort,
perched on an hill between La Tante Beach and St. Pierre Beach on the
southeast coast, is due to open in December with 18 affordable
one-bedroom villa rooms and suites. Each will have hardwood ceilings,
rattan furniture, native art, private veranda and hammock; 10 will have
a kitchenette and a Jacuzzi on the deck. The French restaurant, beach
grill and pool all will have ocean views. ($139 to $288 in winter, $98
to $199 in summer, based on double occupancy; 473-405-8888; www.paradisebayresort.net)
Blue Horizons Garden Resort,
an affordable option near St. George's, underwent a $1.5 million
refurbishment post-Hurricane Ivan and reopened in July with 32
refurbished one-bedroom cottages. Interiors have new floors,
furnishings, bathtubs and oil paintings by Grenada artist Susan Mains.
($180 to $200 in winter, $130 to $140 in summer, based on double
occupancy; 800-44-UTELL; www.grenadabluehorizons.com)
It has taken $10 million to bring Spice Island Beach Resort
on Grand Anse Beach back to its former glory. The all-inclusive luxury
resort is scheduled to reopen in December with 64 rooms and one-bedroom
suites, including 17 with private pools. All rooms will feature Italian
Frette linens and robes, oversized whirlpool tubs, Molton Brown
amenities and flat-screen televisions. There will be six room
categories; the Royal Collection Suites are separate villas with 1,500
square feet of space, a canopy bed, marble bathroom, cedar sauna,
indoor garden and private pool. The new Janissa's Spa will have four
treatment rooms with outdoor showers, an outdoor couples massage area,
reflection pool, Jacuzzi, gym and sauna. A new children's activity
center will be called Nutmeg Pod. ($650 to $1,150in winter, $550 to
$950 in summer, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy; 473-444-4258;
www.spiceislandbeachresort.com)
JAMAICAThe 360-room Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa
opened in February on the quiet south coast. This all-inclusive,
adults-only resort is a collection of three European-style villages
with Dutch, French and Italian architectural styling set on 50 acres,
including two miles of sand beach protected by an offshore reef that's
popular with divers and snorkelers. There are three free-form pools,
two swim-up bars and seven gourmet restaurants. Popular events are the
midnight chocolate buffet on Tuesday and midnight martini-seafood
buffet on Friday. The Red Lane Spa features 10 treatment rooms and
local treatments such as the Blue Mountain Coffee Scrub. ($375 to $750
per person in winter, $360 to $750 in summer, all-inclusive;
800-SANDALS; www.sandals.com)
Ralph Lauren, a villa owner at Round Hill Hotel & Villas
in Montego Bay, has been enlisted to revamp the resort's Pineapple
House Hotel this fall. The 18 ground-floor rooms will get outdoor
verandas accessed via French doors, new baths and Ralph Lauren
furniture and accessories. Cottage 17, which is getting a foundation-up
rebuild and a new pool, will be expanded to five bedrooms. The resort,
with 36 rooms and 74 villa suites, will also install an new pool with
waterfall and rocks. Planned completion for all projects is November.
(Pineapple House Hotel: $550 per room in winter, $340 in summer;
Cottage 17: $3,740 per night in winter, $2,320 in summer; 800-972-2159;
www.roundhilljamaica.com)
Couples Swept Away,
with 676 adults-only rooms on Negril's Seven-Mile Beach, is undertaking
a $7 million expansion. Plans include 48 one-bedroom suites due open in
December; by next February the new Great House will add 28 one-bedroom
suites (including four Jacuzzi suites) along with an open-air main
dining room with show kitchen, Feathers restaurant, a wine bar, piano
lounge, Internet center, disco and shops. There will also be a large
new infinity pool with two Jacuzzis, a grill and a swim-up bar. ($650
to $733 in winter, $582 to $693 in summer, all-inclusive, based on
double occupancy; 800-COUPLES; www.couples.com)
Within view of the famous falls near Ocho Rios, Sandals' Dunn's River Golf Resort & Spa
is renovating 127 of its 250 rooms in time for high season. Butler
service for top suites and a Red Lane Spa also launched this year.
($350 to $425 per person in winter, $335 to $390 in summer,
all-inclusive; 800-SANDALS; www.sandals.com)
The exclusive 419-room Half Moon
in Montego Bay is renovating the Oleander enclave, a collection of
two-story buildings on the beach next to the Dolphin Lagoon. The 64
guest rooms will get new bathrooms, custom-made Chippendale mahogany
furniture and Jamaican artwork. The enclave will also get a new
restaurant and Anancy Children's Village before completion in November.
($410 to $825 in winter, based on double occupancy; 800-626-0592; www.halfmoon.com)
Whimsical Sunset at the Palms,
with 85 stilt houses and suites at the edge of Negril's Royal Palm
Reserve, reopened in February after refurbishment following last fall's
storms. There's also a new beach bar and a fitness center. ($275 to
$475 in winter, $225 to $425 in summer, all-inclusive, based on double
occupancy; 800-234-1707; www.sunsetatthepalms.com)
Two charming cliff-top cottages were rebuilt at the legendary Jamaica Inn,
Ocho Rios, which features 47 suites and four two-bedroom cottages.
Debuting this past February, the new cottages feature cathedral
ceilings, massive mahogany beds, baths with outdoor showers and stone
terraces; one has a new infinity plunge pool on the edge of the cliff.
($1,400 to $1,550 in winter, $665 to $715 in summer, based on double
occupancy; 800-837-4608; www.jamaicainn.com)
One of the largest hotels in Jamaica, 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande
in Ocho Rios, reopened in March. The renovated all-inclusive added
three pools, a meandering water feature, waterfalls, two swim-up bars
and the Aqua Azul Spa with 10 treatment rooms. ($270 to $510 in winter,
$220 to $460 in summer, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy;
800-234-1707; www.sunsetjamaicagrande.com)
Negril's Hedonism II
plopped oversized Jacuzzis onto the outdoor terraces of 10 of its
suites, and all 280 rooms got a makeover in white with gray accents.
($213 to $249 per person in winter, $174 to $214 in summer,
all-inclusive; 877-GO-SUPER; www.superclubs.com)
Family-friendly 420-room Sunset Beach Resort & Spa
in Montego Bay planned an October opening for its new Pirate's Paradise
Water Park, offering 35-foot-high waterslides, a tubing river, a pirate
ship with water canons and gangplanks, the Pirate's Paradise Fort with
two rooftop Jacuzzis, and Pirate's Cove Teen Center with pool tables
and arcade games. (800-234-1707; www.sunsetbeachresortjamaica.com)
MARTINIQUEThe first Club Med in North America, Club Med Buccaneer's Creek,
is in the midst of a $50 million upgrade and expansion; the resort is
expected to reopen in December as part of the company's new luxury
collection. Originally opened in 1971 on the south coast, the property
will set its new-style 249 rooms and 44 suites on 55 acres fronting a
white beach with views of Diamond Rock offshore. It will also feature a
new spa with five treatment rooms, an infinity-edge pool, and a beach
palapa for yoga and fitness classes. ($1,190 to $2,275 for winter 2006,
all-inclusive; 800-CLUB-MED; www.clubmed.com)
MEXICO, CANCUNPalace Resorts launched its new luxury adults-only, all-inclusive brand in August with the opening of Le Blanc Spa Resort
in Cancun's Hotel Zone. An older hotel was rebuilt from the inside out
to include 260 minimalist-style suites, four restaurants, three pools,
two swim-up bars, lit tennis courts, a fitness center and a
29,000-square-foot spa, The Spa at Le Blanc, with 24 treatment rooms
and spa suites with private bamboo gardens. (Starting at $560 in
winter, $482 in summer , all-inclusive, based on double occupancy;
877-753-2526; www.leblancsparesort.com)
MEXICO, COZUMELAncient Maya traditions highlight the 6,500-square-foot Serenity Spa
that opened in January at the 253-room luxury dive resort Presidente
InterContinental Cozumel Resort & Spa, on the west side of the
island. The spa features five treatment rooms under rough thatched
roofs set in the garden, a palapa for seaside massages and an adobe
temazcal for Maya purification rituals. During the Mayan Journey
treatment, guests experience a copal smoke cleansing, steam bath,
waterfall shower and massage with a turquoise body mask and hydrating
milk bath. (888-303-1758; www.intercontinental.com/cozumel)
MEXICO, RIVIERA MAYABoutique, beachfront Esencia
opened in March on Playa Xpu-Ha with 29 suites, half of them offering
private pools. Interiors have handcrafted furniture, kitchens and
California king-size beds; some of the suites are in a Great House,
previously the home of an Italian duchess. The restaurant, Sal y Fuego,
features MesoAmerican cooking and overlooks a cenote illuminated at
night. The new organic spa, Aroma, is due to open in November with six
treatment rooms and a focus on native plant phytotherapy. ($475 for
garden suite to $2,300 for five-bedroom house in winter, $425 to $2,100
in summer; 877-528-3490; www.hotelesencia.com)
A
unique waterway resort with a Greg Norman golf course and a
20,000-square-foot spa is set to open mid-December: the luxury 401-room
Fairmont Mayakoba. Guests will cruise around this car-free
property on covered boats through a network of limestone canals. There
will also be paths for bikes, golf carts and walking. Accommodations
will be in low-rise buildings and two-story casitas with views of the
ocean, lagoon, jungle or golf course. There will be five restaurants,
as well as five pools, including a free-form pool with water slide, an
adults-only infinity-edge pool and a kids' pool. ($439 to $3,000 per
room in winter, $259 to $1,069 in summer, based on double occupancy;
800-441-1414; www.fairmont.com)
All-inclusive Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa,
just five minutes down the beach from the Maya ruins at Tulum, is
expected to open in December, expanding what was an Allure property to
232 rooms, including 192 new suites featuring marble bathrooms,
Jacuzzis and either balconies or terraces with hammocks. There will
also be six new restaurants, free-form pool, spa, kids' club and teen
club with rock-climbing walls. ($235 to $485 per person, per night in
winter, $165 to $420 in summer, all-inclusive; 866-2-DREAMS; www.dreamsresorts.com)
In the Playacar enclave near Playa del Carmen, Palace Resorts is turning an existing hotel into the Playacar Palace,
which will be ready before the end of this year. The hotel's 210 suites
will have terraces, most with ocean views, and double Jacuzzis. Golf at
the resort's 18-hole Robert Von Hagge course and unlimited tours will
be available with all-inclusive packages. (Starting at $412 per room in
winter, $332 in summer, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy;
800-635-1836; www.palaceresorts.com)
Maroma's new Sian Nah Spa,
launched in March, was designed according to Maya sacred geometry. It
has a massage tower with 360-degree views, a rooftop yoga pavilion,
five treatment rooms with private gardens, two beach massage palapas, a
Jantzu pool and a pyramid-shaped temazcal for Mayan purification
rituals. The 64-room resort is also premiering eight new "vitality
suites" in October, with each stone villa featuring a fitness room,
massage room and outdoor plunge pool. ($1,465 per room in winter, based
on double occupancy; 866-454-9351; www.maromahotel.com)
In the new Jungle Spa Suite at Ikal del Mar Villa Resort & Spa, guests can get a massage while swinging in hammocks colored to match emotional desires. (888-230-7330; www.ikaldelmar.com)
NEVISAt Four Seasons Resort Nevis
on Pinney's Beach, history buffs will appreciate the new Alexander
Hamilton and Horatio Nelson Suites, which are filled with antiques and
memorabilia of these two dashing figures. The signature suites are part
of a $10 million renovation program that is scheduled to upgrade half
the resort's 196 suites and add a new free-form pool and beachside
restaurant by December. (Renovated rooms range from $645 to $955 in
winter, $325 to $515 in summer, based on double occupancy; Hamilton and
Nelson suites are $3,500 winter, $2,700 summer; 800-332-3442; www.fourseasons.com/nevis)
PUERTO RICOThose who love the energy of downtown San Juan can stay right in the heart of the city at the Caribe Hilton Condado Lagoon Villas,
which was scheduled for September completion. There are 168 new luxury
villas with over 1,500 square feet of space, including two bedrooms,
kitchens, private balconies, marble baths with Jacuzzis and views of
Condado Lagoon. The villas make Caribe Hilton the largest hotel
property in San Juan, with a total 812 accommodations situated on a
private 17-acre peninsula. ($250 to $490, based on double occupancy;
877-GO-HILTON; www.hiltoncaribbean.com)
ST. BARTSA new rooftop loft suite at the iconic Eden Rock Hotel
opened in February. Named in honor of Howard Hughes, a long-ago guest
of the resort, the 1,500-square-foot suite offers windows and verandas
on three sides with sweeping views of St. Jean Bay. High ceilings,
modern furnishings and two copper-clad bathrooms with plunge baths make
it an attractive spot for any recluse. The 16-room Eden Rock is also
currently absorbing and rebuilding a neighboring beachfront resort,
which by November will give it a total of 29 accommodations. The new
facilities will include eight suites with decks extending onto the
beach, and five beachfront cottages up to three bedrooms. All 13 new
suites have outdoor Jacuzzis; two cottages have private pools. (New
accommodations are 1,095 to 2,500 Euros in winter, 760 to 2,015 Euros
in summer; Howard Hughes Suite is 2,050 Euros in winter, 1,650 Euros in
summer; 877-563-7105; www.edenrockhotel.com)
ST. LUCIAAfter a $15 million renovation that included the addition of a new water park, the oceanfront all-inclusive Coconut Bay Resort & Spa
debuted in April. The park has two four-story-high waterslides, an
activity pool with massage jets and waterfalls, an infinity-edge pool
and a 750-foot-long lazy river. Two bars, three restaurants and the
Kaimer Spa round out the new lineup. All 254 rooms were expanded to add
sitting areas and balconies. ($380 to $410 per room, in winter, $300 to
$330 in summer, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy; 758-459-6000;
www.coconutbayresortandspa.com)
Opened in June, affordable-chic Coco Palm Hotel
in the center of Rodney Bay Village has 71 rooms and 12 suites with
plantation-style furniture, local artwork and glass-walled showers. The
best rooms are the swim-up suites and the top-floor suites with roof
deck overlooking the village vibe with its restaurants, shops and bars.
($145 to $245 in winter, $125 to $215 in summer, based on double
occupancy; 758-456-2800; www.coco-resorts.com)
Scheduled for a November launch, the 250-room all-inclusive Almond Morgan Bay
is a renovation of a former hotel set on 22 acres fronting a black-sand
beach. Rooms and baths will be updated in tropical colors, and two new
restaurants will be added, including one on the end of a pier. ($250 to
$400 per person per night in winter, $200 to $320 in summer,
all-inclusive; 800-4-ALMOND; www.almondresorts.com)
The 124-room Discovery at Marigot Bay,
scheduled to open in February, is a ground-up renovation of the
legendary Hurricane Hole Hotel; a new marina was installed a year ago.
Thirty suites will feature private plunge pools, while all interiors
will have modern styling, with slate bathrooms, stainless-steel kitchen
appliances, local art and louvered walls for outdoor living. There will
be a spa with a Zen garden, two restaurants, a provisioning market and
two notable bars. The Pink Snail bar will have a glowing pink glass bar
and memorabilia from the film Dr. Doolittle, which was filmed there.
The Hurricane Hole Bar recreates the mystique of the original bar,
which was frequented by salty characters. ($210 to $740 in summer,
based on double occupancy; 758-458-5300; www.discoverystlucia.com)
With some of the most stunning views in the Caribbean, the 24 new Infinity Suites of the Jade Mountain Club, which crowns the top of the mountain at adults-only Anse Chastanet Resort,
should be worth waiting for (the new target for opening is next April).
Every suite will include a bedroom and living area open on one side to
allow great views of the Pitons rising above the infinity edge of the
private pool. Suites feature up to 2,500 square feet of space, and the
Jade Mountain Club will be a resort within a resort, offering an
exclusive reception area, concierge services, a restaurant and spa
treatment rooms. ($995 to $1,195 in winter, $795 to $995 in summer,
based on double occupancy; 800-223-1108; www.ansechastanet.com)
ST. MARTIN/ST. MAARTENReopened in February after a $10 million renovation, Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino
in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, offers a beachfront location within
walking distance of the capital's duty-free shopping and nightlife. The
262 rooms and bathrooms were upgraded, a third pool was added and three
new restaurants were introduced. ($240 to $350 in winter, $180 to $290
in summer; 800-223-0757; www.greatbaybeachresort.com)
By October, five deluxe suites at the luxurious La Samanna
are scheduled to receive upgraded interiors and the addition of rooftop
terraces and plunge pools with a view of Baie Longue. A new infinity
pool and honeymoon suite are also planned. (($1,775 in winter, $1,675
in summer; 800-854-2252; www.lasamanna.com)
ST. VINCENTHikers will especially appreciate the new 20-mile trail network and affordable accommodations at the Richmond Beach Eco-Tourism Site,
opening in December on black-sand Richmond Beach. Trained guides will
accompany guests on hikes, including the three-hour trek to the top of
Soufriere Volcano. There are four suites with decks and kitchenettes in
two houses made of local stone, as well as a campground, restaurant,
interpretive center and stable of horses. (784-485-7870; www.crepnet.net)
TOBAGOAt the 108-room beachfront Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort
in Black Rock, they've recently renovated the 5,000-square-foot spa and
added a complimentary daily spa treatment as part of their
all-inclusive package. Two couples' treatment rooms are due to open by
the end of the year. (868-639-9667; www.legrandcourlan-resort.com)
TURKS & CAICOSThe Palms,
an $85 million five-star resort with 72 luxurious two-and three-bedroom
suites on Provo's Grace Bay Beach, opened this past February. Interiors
have 1,800 square feet of space with vaulted ceilings, marble floors,
travertine terraces, carved mahogany four-poster beds, custom-made
Egyptian cotton linens, mosaic Roman baths and chef-ready kitchens.
Penthouses have expansive terraces and indoor/outdoor water suites,
plus butler and chauffeur service. At the center of the resort is a
free-form infinity-edge pool with Jacuzzi, swim-up pool bar and
in-water dining. Parallel 23, the gourmet restaurant with display
kitchen, offers cuisines of the sun, multi-course tasting menus and
views of the formal gardens with sunken terrace and fountain. The
15,000-square-foot Spa at The Palms covers an acre with eight cut-coral
treatment cottages surrounded by reflecting pools with crystal
fountains. ($750 for a luxury room to $7,000 for a three-bedroom
oceanfront penthouse suite; 866-877-PALM; www.thepalmstc.com)
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDSGuests staying in the Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino's
new building, which opened in June with 50 oceanfront rooms with
balconies, can simply go upstairs for a relaxing massage at the spa on
the top floor. ($248 to $273 in winter, $208 in summer; 877-773-9700; www.divicarina.com)
HIGH SEASON'S HOTTEST DEALSBy Emily Kruckemyer and Danielle Kosecki
It's
certainly not called "high season" because of the temperature. When
things chill down and gray up in northern climes, the short days and
frigid slush turns everyone's thoughts toward escaping to the
Caribbean's warm sand and hot sun. It's simply the law of supply and
demand that decrees the "high" in high season means prices, sometimes
at sticker-shock level. But have no fear: We've combed the region to
find you the best deals available this winter, and several resorts have
even come up with specials exclusively for CT&L readers. So whether
you're looking for a romantic, indulgent, active or family vacation,
these packages will get you to the beach this high season while saving
you beaucoups bucks.
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
As Nature IntendedYearning to experience Dominica after reading the feature story that starts on page 48 in the November issue? Take your sweetie to Habitation Chabert on the Nature Island for an exclusive CT&L
readers' package filled with mood-enhancing extras. During a
three-night stay, couples are served breakfast in bed daily, dine at
the hotel each night and have a trio of interesting lunch
opportunities, including a barbecue on the beach, lunch by the pool and
a picnic. A driver is available for sightseeing. Package: CT&L
readers ask for Romance in Dominica. Rate: $999 per couple. Available:
Jan. 1 to April 30, 2006. Contact: 767-445-7218; www.habitationchabert.com.
Honeymoon: Same Time Next Year Take your first trip as a married couple to Nevis, where you'll be picked up at the airport and welcomed with champagne at Mount Nevis Hotel
to begin your seven-night getaway. You'll stay in a superior suite,
which has a kitchen -- even though breakfast is served daily and four
dinners are provided. There is a daily shuttle service to a nearby
beach club, and a three-day car rental is included so you can explore
the rest of the island. Return on your anniversary and receive a free
night. Package: Honeymoon With a View. Rate: $3,815 per couple.
Available: Dec. 15, 2005, to April 14, 2006. Contact: 869-469-9373; www.mountnevishotel.com.
Traditional TinglesPlay Rhett and Scarlett at the Rawlins Plantation
on St. Kitts during a seven-night snuggle in the Honeymoon Suite. The
package includes a champagne breakfast your first morning, three
four-course candlelight dinners, breakfast and afternoon tea daily, a
three-day car rental and a trip to Mt. Liamiuga. Package: Vacation in
Paradise. Rate: $3,250 per couple. Available: Dec. 15, 2005, to April
30, 2006. Contact: 869-465-6221; www.rawlinsplantation.com.
A Thrilla in a Villa in AnguillaOn sandy, celebrity-haunted Anguilla, you can shack up for a week in a beachfront villa at Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas.
You'll be greeted with champagne, enjoy an in-room massage for two and
cruise the island with a two-day car rental and a two-hour tour. Daily
breakfast is included, as are one lunch and dinner. Package: Just the
Two of You. Rate: $3,300 per couple. Available: Dec.15, 2005, to March
31, 2006. Contact: 800-274-4893; www.rendezvousbay.com.
How About a Quickie?Head to the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort
in Puerto Rico for a three-night escape that includes champagne, a
daily breakfast buffet, two 30-minute massages, dinner for two at
Isabella's and round-trip airport transfers. Package: Three-Night
Romance. Rate: $1,557 per couple. Available: Jan. 2 to April 30, 2006.
Contact: 787-863-1000; www.wyndham.com.
FAMILY PLANS
For Aquarium AficionadosMention code "CTL" when booking the Royal Sea Aquarium Resort
on Curacao, and a family of four can stay seven nights in a luxury
suite (Saturday to Saturday travel only) with free daily admission to
the Curacao Sea Aquarium. Purchase airline tickets through Royal Club
Vacations and receive a $50 credit on each. Package: Sea Aquarium
Special. Rate: $544 per person, based on quadruple occupancy.
Available: Jan. 7 to April 22, 2006. Contact: 877-736-4554; www.royalclubvacations.com.
It's Me and You, KidLife is busy for parents, especially single ones. That's why the Arawak Beach Inn
on Anguilla is welcoming single-parent-plus-child pairs for three
nights in oceanfront accommodations. Daily breakfasts and one dinner
are included. You also have the option of a day trip with picnic lunch
on an uninhabited island or a Discovery Swim with dolphins. Package:
Me, Myself & the Kids. Rate: $899 (add $175 for each additional
child). Available: Jan. 5 to April 2, 2006. Contact: 877-427-2925; www.arawakbeach.com.
Group HugFamilies don't always spend enough quality time together, but at Caneel Bay,
a Rosewood Resort on St. John, families with up to five members (two
adults and three kids under age 16) can come together for seven nights
in two adjoining guest rooms. A family bonding session at the Self
Centre and a trip to Coral World on St. Thomas are part of the
experience, along with a Caneel Kids Beach Kit, use of nonmotorized
water-sports equipment and daily children's programs at Turtle Town.
Package: Escape to Family. Rate: $11,075 to $14,825. Available: Jan. 1
to April 30, 2006. Contact: 340-776-6111; www.caneelbay.com.
Bonus NightCT&L readers with kids under 12 can participate in this deal at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
on Palm Beach. Two adults and two kids share a garden-view room with a
balcony and receive daily breakfast. Stay six nights and the seventh is
free. Package: CT&L readers ask for Sand Dollars. Rate: Starts at
$279 per night. Available: Jan. 1 to April 30, 2006. Contact:
800-223-6388; www.marriott.com
Big Kids, TooThe Hilton Curacao
allows children up to the age of 18 to stay free with their parents,
and all meals are free for kids under 5. The hotel is offering a
special rate based on two adults in a guest room; itincludes welcome
drinks, breakfasts and a casino coupon. Package: Very Important
Children. Rate: $185 per room per night. Available: Jan. 1 to April 16,
2006. Contact: 877-GO-HILTON; www.hiltoncaribbean.com/curacao.
The Spa TreatmentYou're in Good HandsCouples looking to relax and reconnect can let their worries slip away at St. John's luxurious Caneel Bay:
Everything's taken care of in this four-night package, which includes
breakfasts and dinners, a private champagne and hors d'oeuvres picnic,
sunset cruise, watercolor lessons (see page 70), couples massage and
Self Centre session (with meditation and yoga). Package: Inspire. Rate:
$3,750 for two. Available Jan. 4 to Dec. 17, 2006. Contact:
340-776-6111; www.caneelbay.com.
Pamper PendingGuests staying at least three nights at Wyndham Bermuda Resort & Spa
are treated to two massages as part of this package. The special also
includes accommodations overlooking Southampton Beach and a daily
breakfast buffet. Package: Spa Sampler. Rate: Begins at $1,412 for two.
Available: Dec. 1, 2005, to March 31, 2006. Contact: 800-WYNDHAM; www.wyndham.com.
Caye to Your HeartLet yourselves completely relax during the "lover's night couples aromatherapy massage" with champagne and dessert at Journey's End Resort
on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The five-night deal includes all food and
beverages, plus a sail and snorkel trip to Caye Caulker, a Reef Runner
glass-bottom boat trip, a private beachfront four-course dinner by
candlelight and round-trip transfers, including water taxi, to the
resort. Package: Sweethearts Getaway. Rate: $3,500 per couple.
Available: Jan. 5 to April 30, 2006. Contact: 800-460-5665; www.journeysendresort.com.
Jamaican IdyllWake up to a delicious breakfast in bed when you stay at Island Outposts' Strawberry Hill or Goldeneye
resorts in Jamaica. Your 10-night stay includes an hour of massage per
person, guided trail tour, bird-watching and, at Strawberry Hill, yoga.
Package: Twin Centre Package. Rate: $8,500, based on double occupancy.
Available: Until April 15, 2006. Contact: 800-OUTPOST; www.islandoutpost.com.
Yogi's DelightSpiritually inclined souls wanting a private retreat need look no further than Grenada's Laluna.
Guests receive seven nights in a deluxe cottage (with a private plunge
pool), an island tour and spiritual awareness rainforest hike, three
massages per person, three private yoga classes and guided meditation
sessions and daily breakfast and dinner for two. Package: Well Being.
Rate: $4,695 until Dec. 19, 2005; $6,080 from Dec. 20, 2005, to April
13, 2006; $4,695 April 14 to May 31, 2006; rates are per couple.
Contact: 866-4-LALUNA; www.laluna.com.
No Beach Potatoes AllowedSchool of FishDivers can choose between two exclusive CT&L specials at Deep Blue View
on Bonaire. The first covers seven nights in the hotel and a PADI fish
identification or nitrox certification course for two. The package
includes six days of unlimited shore diving (with tanks), fees for
Bonaire National Marine Park and Washington-Slagbaai National Park,
daily breakfast, a rental pickup, a barbecue dinner and a rum punch
sunset trip. CT&L readers also have the option of seven nights in
the Villa Kaya Dorada (accommodates up to six). Package: CT&L
readers ask for Deep Blue View Shore Dive. Rate: $1,495 for two ($2,490
villa). Available: Jan. 1 to March 31, 2006. Contact: 011-599-717-8073;
www.deepblueview.com.
Easy Does It, on Dominica The Garraway Hotel
on Dominica has a trio of five-night packages to suit varying fitness
levels, preferences and budgets. Soft Adventure 1 spends three days
touring the Emerald Pool, the Carib Indian Village, Titou Gorge,
Trafalgar Falls, Indian River and Milton Falls. Soft Adventure 2 takes
you on an aerial tram in the rainforest and to Titou Gorge, Trafalgar
Falls and Freshwater Lake. On Soft Adventure 3 you'll experience an
island tour to Indian River, Ti Kwen Glo Cho, the Emerald Pool and
Trafalgar Falls. All include a welcome cocktail, a deluxe room and
daily breakfast. Package: Soft Adventures. Rates: Doubles are $1,200
per couple for #1, $1,320 per couple for #2, and $1,260 per couple for
#3. Available: Jan. 1 to May 31, 2006. Contact: 767-449-8800; www.garrawayhotel.com.
It's a Dive -- In a Good WayAlso on Bonaire, the Harbour Village Beach Club
is offering six days of boat diving and unlimited shore dives. The
special includes seven nights in courtyard accommodations and daily
continental breakfast. Package: Club Dive Special. Rate: Starts at
$1,150 per person. Available: Jan. 8 to April 18, 2006. Contact:
800-424-0004; www.harbourvillage.com.
Bonaire on a BudgetEnjoy
six days of unlimited shore diving for two and a choice of two boat
dives or one day of windsurfing when staying seven nights in a studio
at Lagoen Hill Bonaire. Package: Shore Diver. Rate: $750 for two. Available: Dec. 21, 2005, to April 17, 2006. Contact: 011-31-252-37-34-95; www.lagoenhill.com.
Start Movin'If
marathon walks, jogs on the beach and shore swims are part of your
vacation exercise regimen, it's hard to beat Grace Bay Beach on Provo,
Turks and Caicos -- it's 12 miles of pristine sand and reef-protected
water. Jump on a bike, and call it a triathlon. The Ocean Club Resorts
are offering a seven-night package in a studio suite, including three
breakfasts, lunches and dinners per person, a choice of a two-day car
rental or a snorkel excursion, a rum punch party and tennis. Package:
Tropical Nights. Rate: From $2,565 for two. Available: Jan. 3 to April
16, 2006. Contact: 800-457-8787; www.oceanclubresorts.com.
Winter WonderlandA treasure-trove of activities awaits at The Buccaneer
on St. Croix, where guests staying a minimum of five nights are
entitled to the use of snorkeling equipment and kayaks, a natural
history tour and a choice of two of the following extras: a 25-minute
spa treatment (massage, facial or reflexology), two hours of tennis or
a round of golf. There's also a welcome cocktail and reception, one-day
car rental, a bottle of champagne and daily breakfast buffet. From Jan.
2 to 15 the fourth night is free with a stay of four or more nights in
an oceanfront or ocean-view room or suite. Package: Winter Treasures.
Rate: $295 to $590 per night, based on double occupancy. Available:
Jan. 1 to April 16, 2006. Contact: 800-255-3881; www.thebuccaneer.com.
Summer Rates, and the Livin' Is EasyFast-forward to summer at the Sunset House.
Book at least five nights at this Grand Cayman property and you pay the
low-season rate for dive and non-dive packages, which include breakfast
and air-conditioned accommodations, among other extras. Package:
Endless Summer. Rate: Dive packages start at $483 for three nights,
based on double occupancy; $423 for non-divers. Available: Feb. 1 to
March 31, 2006. Contact: 800-854-4767; www.sunsethouse.com.
