Five new properties that are raising the bar on hospitality and luxury
A Caribbean getaway looks better than ever, thanks to a new crop of premium properties that will open their doors to guests in 2018. From intimate, upscale retreats to hip and sophisticated boutique hotels in the heart of the action, these beachfront resorts will set new standards, and provide exciting and enticing vacation options.
Quintessence Hotel, Long Bay, Anguilla
The New Year kicked off with the long-anticipated opening of the mansion-like Quintessence Hotel on Anguilla’s Long Bay. The project has been 10 years in the making and is the vision of Geoffrey and Keenie Fieger, who are 30-year residents. This lavish boutique getaway was created for the discerning guests who desire unrivaled luxury, privacy and personalized pampering. The property includes just nine suites and villas overlooking the white sand beaches of the bay. The vision of “The Q” was to create a guest experience that leaves them feeling as if they are being hosted in a grand tropical home.
A bedroom at the Quintessence Hotel rewards guests with generous living spaces, and incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that blend indoor and outdoor spaces. Photo: Quintessence Hotel
Rooms and public areas feature handcrafted fixtures and custom artwork throughout, including a priceless collection of Haitian paintings and sculpture collected over decades by the owners. The grounds include a tennis court, life-size chessboard, yoga pavilion and outdoor massage pagoda set into the lush foliage. The Aidan Spa offers a full menu of treatments with a focus on health and wellness. In keeping with this ethos, a strict non-smoking policy is adhered to throughout the property. Five-star dining is offered at Julians, a tropical French bistro, where Executive Chef Dominique Thevenet offers a menu that blends locally sourced tropical dishes with traditional French cuisine. Meals are complemented by a fine wine cellar and hand-selected liquors and cocktails. Around-the-clock butler and concierge service caters to the needs of every guest. For more info see www.qhotelanguilla.com
Silversands, Grenada
Set to open in March of 2018, Silversands Grenada is the first major project added to the shores of Grand Anse Beach in 25 years. The resort stretches across two main buildings and offers 43 suites, including three one-bedroom suites and a 1,647 square-foot penthouse with two private terraces and grand views of the sea. In addition, nine residential villas will be scattered on the surrounding landscape. Sleek and modern in design, the resort will feature a 100-meter infinity pool, which stretches from the center of the resort to the shores of Grand Anse Bay, and will claim the title of longest pool in the Caribbean.
At the Silversands, whites and muted earth tones work with a sleek, minimalist design to create a sense of casual elegance. Rooms overlook Grenada’s Grand Anse Beach. Photo: Silversands
Within the resort itself, a rotating art exhibit will showcase Grenadian art alongside pieces from the resort owner’s personal collection. Guests will also be able to enjoy a relaxing sanctuary at the Silversands Spa, which incorporates a sauna, hammam, temperature-controlled pool and a fitness center. Two restaurants will showcase the island’s fresh produce and line-caught fish. The Beach Club offers globally inspired bites, freshly caught seafood and craft beers, rums and wines from around the world. The Thai restaurant brings in the vibrant flavors of the east, while also incorporating the spices the island is known for. More about the resort at www.silversandsgrenada.com
Serafina Beach Hotel, Condado, Puerto Rico
Another premier resort set to open in March of 2018 is the Serafina Beach Resort, which is located in San Juan’s popular and happening Condado district. This is the first lifestyle hotel concept created by the owner of the global restaurant brand, Serafina Restaurant Group. The atrium-style lobby is designed to serve as a communal gathering space, with dramatic ceilings, hanging chairs, full-size art murals by local artists, striking effervescent light fixtures and a cascading sleek staircase.
The white sands and turquoise waters of San Juan’s Condado Beach are reflected in the room décor of the Serafina Beach Hotel, which is Puerto Rico’s newest contemporary resort. Photo: Serafina Beach Hotel
The resort has a minimalist décor enhanced with a bohemian and youthful attitude. A palette of sea foam green, turquoise blue, grey and white evoke a sense of causal tropical appeal, and complement the seaside setting. This mid-sized resort offers 96 contemporary guestrooms with oversized floor to ceiling windows that allow for grand views of the Atlantic Ocean or the adjacent Laguna del Condado. Three food and beverage venues include the signature eMare, serving Italian cuisine with a touch of Puerto Rico, the energetic PiñaCo Bar and the By the Pool, where poolside cabanas frame the seductive infinity pool. For additional information visit www.serafinabeachhotel.com
Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua
One of the most impressive new developments in the Caribbean is the $100 million Hodges Bay project, which is set to open in mid 2018 along the secluded north shore of Antigua. The ultra-luxe property consists of 79 guest accommodations, which include four-bedroom villas and oceanfront junior suites, some of which will have outdoor Jacuzzis and fully equipped designer kitchens. All villa guests will enjoy a dedicated concierge service, with options that include a pre- stocked pantry, daily grocery shopping and washed and folded laundry. Beach and pool ambassadors are on hand to provide services such as another application of sunscreen to preparing a private gourmet meal in your villa.
An ocean view junior suite at Antigua’s Hodges Bay Resort & Spa provides views of the Caribbean from a private terrace. Guests enjoy on-call ambassador services. Photo: Hodges Bay
Hodges Bay will offer three restaurants and six bars, including a swim-up bar at the infinity pool and a rooftop bar offering stunning views of the lush island surroundings. Active guests can enjoy unlimited water sports, fitness classes and local tours. After a day of outings and activities, guests can relax and refresh with some downtime at the resort’s new spa. This oasis of calm and rejuvenation includes five treatment rooms, a hydro-pool and a relaxation area for settling in before treatments. Pilates and yoga classes are offered daily, and families can find age-appropriate amenities for youngsters at the Flying Fish Club and the Connect Teen Lounge. Adults may prefer to secure a spot under a poolside cabana. For additional information visit www.eleganthotels.com/hodges-bay
Rosewood Baha Mar, Cable Beach, Nassau
Rosewood will be the third resort to open in the long awaited multi-property oasis of Baha Mar. Look for it in the early summer of 2018. Set on the white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach, this property will provide a sanctuary of exclusivity with restaurants, spa, private pools and villas. Rosewood Baha Mar will offer 190 beach-view accommodations, including deluxe guestrooms and one, two and three-bedroom suites along with five luxurious four-bedroom beachfront villas. Bahamian refinement and sophistication are evoked with elegant British colonial architecture and design, and each room will be appointed with Bahamian art and decor.
The décor at the Rosewood Baha Mar draws design inspirations from Bahamian Colonial traditions and a color pallet that reflects the sands and waters of island landscapes. Photo: Rosewood
All guestrooms will have private balconies and outdoor living spaces. Four on-site signature dining venues include Commonwealth, a farm-to-table restaurant with a Rum Room for ceremonial Bahamian dinners; an al fresco Pool Grille serving cocktails and fresh seafood; the nautical-themed Bar Riva featuring craft cocktails and small plates; and the Library offering Bahamian-style tea and unique gin and tonic varieties. Guests can also visit the Tea & Gardenia Boutique, which offers a curated selection of global teas, hand-cut flowers and specialty resort wear from Island Company Clothing. The Sense® Spa embraces the Rosewood philosophy by providing a menu of specialized treatments that reflect on the local culture and environment, combining unparalleled personalized treatments with Bahamian wellness traditions and indigenous island ingredients. For more information visit www.rosewoodhotels.com
