Tag Archives: Nevis

St Lucia Sugar Beach Viceroy
Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Grenada, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia

Best Caribbean Beach Resorts to Restore Your Mind, Body and Soul

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Who isn’t ready for a beach vacation? After more than a year of lockdowns, new safety protocols and travel restrictions it’s time for a change of pace and scenery. An escape to the Caribbean is a safe bet when you maneuver your way back into the world and a view of the sea is just what you’ll need to rejuvenate mind and body.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

You’ll find every luxury imaginable at this seaside splendor. The setting is pristine, sexy and classy, retaining Old World Caribbean charm while delivering New World amenities. Immersed in nature and surrounded by forest and ocean, the hillside venue provides views of the twin mountain peaks of the Pitons. One-of-a-kind villas are scattered throughout the grounds, most with private pools overlooking the sea. Villas come dressed in white furnishings and beds are draped in white mosquito netting. The Rainforest Spa is a collection of wooden suites suspended over the tropical forest floor offering healing treatments with coconut and detox powers of red clay. Down at the bottom of the hill lies an arc of sand and the turquoise waters home to the Marine Reserve where a snorkeling trip will promise sightings of angelfish, butterflyfish, moral eels and more. https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/sugar- beach

Viceroy St Lucia Sugar Beach Room

Set on the grounds of an 18th-century sugar plantation, the Sugar Beach Resort lies between the twin mountains of Gros Piton and Petit Piton. Photo: Sugar Beach

Carlisle Bay, Antigua

When you stay here you’ll feel like you’re in a world away from everything, the resort is immersed in quiet and calmness nestled along a pristine crescent beach and backed by rainforest. The sounds and sights of nature abound at this private enclave with koi ponds that greet arrivals and gardens with vibrant tropical blooms alluring hummingbirds. Guests come to chill, relax and unwind. While the resort caters to families as well as couples, each has designated beach areas and accommodations. Families stay in the beachside suites while couples will lavish in their garden villas with balcony or terrace facing the sea. Yoga on the pier, Pilates in the pavilion and a spa with immune-boosting treatments will revive any tired soul. https://www.carlisle-bay.com/

Carlisle Bay Beach

Carlisle Bay Resort is the only resort on the calm bay where guest villas have water and garden views from private outdoor spaces furnished with day beds and café seating. Photo: Carlisle Bay

Park Hyatt, St. Kitts

Your heart rate and blood pressure automatically drop upon entering the open-air lobby of this resort. Fragrances of lemongrass, mint and basil infuse the sea air beckoning you to visit the spa where you’ll effortlessly let go of the built-up stress in yoga and meditation classes. Nature is foremost showcased in the palm-lined courtyard with mesmerizing koi pond and a living wall of greenery and tropical blooms. Combining a beach and spa vacation is the perfect solution to escaping a stressed-out world and restoring body and spirit. Stretch out along the golden sands that fringe Banana Bay where the soft outline of Nevis provides the backdrop and your world will be transformed. https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/saint-kitts-and- nevis/park-hyatt-st-kitts/skbph

St Kitts Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt’s 125 rooms face the sea and have spa- inspired baths with soaking tubs and rainfall showers. Premier suites offer private pools and decks facing out to the ocean. Photo: Park Hyatt

Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI

If you enjoy the journey then Scrub Island is for you. Getting to Scrub, a private island in the BVI takes a bit of time with the final leg of travel via boat. The seclusion of staying on a private island brings extraordinary bonuses and an elevated level of privacy. There are no cars allowed, just resort vehicles that shuttle guests around the 230 acres of volcanic land cloaked in nature trails with stunning scenery. Panoramic views of the blue and green mosaic of the Caribbean are seen from the highest peak of 438 feet. The island is ideal for hiking and exploring. Guests stay at hotel suites overlooking the marina or in private villas draped over the coastline with views of neighboring islands. Two beaches offer up alternatives; the marina beach is equipped with water sports and for those wanting to get away from it all the 1,000 feet of sand on the north shore is the absolute escape. https://www.scrubisland.com/

Scrub Island Resort BVI

Scrub Island Resort’s north beach provides the ultimate venue for a day at the beach. Spend time walking the beach, snorkeling the reef and floating in the pool. Photo: Scrub Island

Four Seasons, Nevis

Island hospitality and warmth radiate at this often busy and exceptionally popular resort. Although, Four Seasons Nevis is the largest on this tiny island it often feels like a small inn where everyone knows your name. Nestled between the foothills of Nevis Peak and Pinney’s Beach, there is always a view of nature among the 350 acres. Rolling hills etched in winding roads throughout the grounds of the one- time sugar plantation are dotted with huge mango trees and flowering gardens. Activities include an 18- hole golf course, tennis courts, sailing and other water sports. Botanical tours, sunset monkey tours, kite making and the summer turtle program keep families engaged. Long walks on the three miles of golden sands of Pinney’s Beach where stops might include some of the island’s best beach bars are part of the program. Head back to the resort and the staff will set you up with chaises right at the water’s edge and the resort’s own, Kastawey Beach Bar serves up tropical fare. https://www.fourseasons.com/nevis/

Nevis Four Seasons

The Four Seasons experience begins in St. Kitts where guests board a private launch headed for the Nevis arrival at the private pier in front of the resort. Photo: Four Seasons

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, Aruba

If your body is craving a long-awaited healthy retreat then Manchebo in Aruba will satisfy the yearning. Complimentary daily Pilates and yoga classes are offered beachside. Spa del Sol, the Balinese-focused spa, offers bamboo treatments, shiatsu and stone therapies as well as sea salt scrubs in thatched- roofed casitas overlooking the sea. The soft white sand of Eagle Beach, the island’s widest stretch, attracts the beach comer as well as turtles during nesting season, and the turquoise water is idyllic for floating and swimming. Culinary diversions range from Mediterranean and Caribbean inspired by fresh local seafood and vegans have a full menu of choices. Start the day with fresh fruit smoothies and a vegetable omelet. The daily catch and homegrown produce from the greenhouse change up the menu day-to-day. https://www.manchebo.com/

Aruba Manchebo

Primed for relaxation, the grounds of Manchebo Resort & Spa offer an assortment of places to chill, soak up the sun or relax in the shade of a thatched palapa. Photo: Manchebo

Silversands, Grenada

While the Spice Isle isn’t known, as much for its beaches, its green hillsides, tropical forests and waterfalls lure most to its interior. The island is fringed in white, black and golden sands with 45 beaches to explore. By far the best stretch is the white sand of Grande Anse with views of St. George’s. Two miles of creamy sand attract locals and visitors for walks, swims, a bit of socializing and even a stop at a local bar or the craft market. Silversands is the newest property along Grande Anse Beach with sprawling suites and nine private villas cascading the hillside with sea views. The sleek minimalistic design is fresh for the island; sand colored walls and warm beige furnishings complement the natural colors found beachside. Center stage is the double sized Olympic pool with catwalk waiting for the next photo opportunity. Guests stay active on and off the water with watersports and a fitness center and unwind with an expansive menu of local treatments at the spa. https://www.silversandsgrenada.com/

Grenada Silversands

A contemporary version of a tropical resort Silversands brings a fresh look to Grand Anse Beach. On-site spa facilities include a sauna, Hamman steam and an ice cave. Photo: Silversands Grenada

Mango Cocktails St. Lucia
Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean, Eat, Nevis, St. Lucia, Trip Ideas

Mango Cocktails

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They may be sugary sweet, sticky, and messy but mangoes make the best tropical cocktail. And, mangoes are plentiful in the Caribbean, there are over 100 varieties growing in the region. Cocktail lovers might want a drink with only a hint of mango blended with other tropical fruit while others gravitate to the full-on lush flavor of mango puree riddled with alcohol and a garnish. Here are three spots you’ll want to relax beachside with a tasty mango drink in hand.

Mango Madness Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

You could certainly have mango cocktails delivered to your open-walled sanctuary and sip them from your private pool with unobstructed views of the Pitons at this one-of-a-kind resort. To change things up head down to Anse Mamin Beach to take in the sea and sand with a mango drink in hand. The Jungle Grill and Bar serves a variety of tropical burgers and drinks at picnic benches where you can wiggle your toes in the sand. Have a cocktail or two under the shade of the treed canopy and walk the plantation where fruit trees and tropical flowers grow among the old sugar mill. To round out the day, make your way to the sea for a swim followed by a long afternoon nap along the shoreline.

St. Lucia Jade Mountain Mango Madness

This signature cocktail is the star of the Mango Madness festival each summer where guests participate in interactive mango cooking classes, mixology lessons and farm tours. Photo: Jade Mountain

Created for the annual Mango Madness Festival each June, this mango drink is made with 1.5 ounces of locally distilled Bounty Rum, 3 ounces of fresh mango puree, 1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon of simple syrup and a dash of bitters. The rum, mango puree, lime juice, syrup and bitters are added to a shaker. After vigorous agitation, it’s served in a large tumbler over ice with a fresh slice of mango.

Spicy Island Punch Carlisle Bay, Antigua

It’s hard to pass up the opportunity to have this drink in a lounge chair on the crescent of café au lait colored sand of Carlisle Bay Beach. The beachside service is top-notch here and a big part of the ambiance as chaises are scattered in the sand beneath the palms just steps from the sea. You can stake out your spot and order breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea and have mango cocktails whenever the notion arises. In the evening head to Indigo on the Beach, the seaside restaurant and bar overlooking the water and try another version of a mango cocktail, they have several.

Antigua Spicy Island Punch

Carlisle Bay delivers impeccable luxury with an opportunity to immerse in a laid-back Caribbean moment. Mango cocktails are served throughout the resort, from the lobby to your suite. Photo: Carlisle Bay

This drink is made with 3 ounces of English Harbor Rum that is aged on Antigua, 2.5 ounces of mango puree, 2 ounces of pineapple juice, 1 ounce of ginger syrup and the juice of one lime. All of the ingredients are poured in a cocktail shaker with ice, shaken and served in a hurricane glass with a pineapple wedge garnish.

Nevisian Margarita Four Seasons, Nevis

The choices are endless of where you might settle in for a cocktail at the Four Seasons. When the day heats up you’ll want to order this cocktail just steps from the sea. After a long stroll along the four miles of golden sand of Pinneys Beach a lounge chair awaits. Or better yet reserve a private cabana, poolside or beachside and raise the flag for service. In the evening follow the path down the beach to Mango and 101 Rums Bar for sunset and a rum tasting session. 101 Rums Bar now has more than 120 fine-aged rums as well as a long list of cocktail options.

Four Seasons Nevis Spicy Margarita

With an herb garden on property the Four Season’s mixologist can handpick herbs and spices for her cocktails like cilantro for this Nevisian Margarita. Photo: Kendie Williams

Award-winning mixologist Kendie Williams created this tasty signature fusion. She uses locally sourced fruits and spices and whips up a blend of homemade mango puree for her concoctions. This specialty uses 2 ounces of Patron Añejo, 1 ounce of mango puree, 1 ounce of lime juice, 2 slices of jalapeño and 3 sprigs of cilantro. The cocktail begins with two slices of jalapeño along with cilantro added to a shaker and muddled to extract the flavors. The lime juice, Patron Añejo, mango puree are added along with ice. After shaking, the mixture is strained and poured over ice in a glass rimmed with lemon and salt. Another slice of jalapeño is used for garnish.

Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean, Nevis, Turks & Caicos

Luxury Yoga Retreats in the Caribbean

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A yoga retreat provides a chance to escape the everyday world and focus on your physical health and spiritual well being. Sometimes, this could mean living and eating simple. But not always. A select number of Caribbean luxury resorts are staging yoga weeks that allow you to work toward inner peace while also enjoying all the physical comforts, services and culinary delights of a world-class property.

Carlisle Bay, Antigua

Carlisle Bay sits on the shores of a secluded cove on Antigua’s scenic southern coast, surrounded by lush rainforest, and facing white sand beaches and the Caribbean Sea. The property blends urban chic and a touch of Caribbean charm, with 82 contemporary designed luxury suites, each with a private balcony or terrace leading directly to the shore. Active guests have access to water sports, world-class sailing, guided rainforest treks, tennis and a state-of-the-art gym. This family-friendly property also offers specialized activity programs for youngsters and teens. As a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, Carlisle Bay offers fine dining in four upscale restaurants and relaxing treatments at the 17, 000-square-foot Blue Spa.

Carlisle Bay Antigua

The living area of an ocean-view suite at Antigua’s Carlisle Bay resort delivers direct views of the beach and the Caribbean Sea through floor-to-ceiling windows. Photo: Carlisle Bay

From August 11 to 18, 2018, Carlisle Bay will host “A Journey through the Elements,” a weeklong yoga and wellness retreat led by international yoga instructor Tanja Mickwitz. With a focus on the yogic practice of Panchamahabhutas (the five great elements – earth, wind, fire, air and space), the program will take guests on an immersive, soul searching experience through nature’s powerful and healing elements in a breathtaking Caribbean setting. Each day will focus on one of the five elements, with yoga, breathing and meditation techniques to match. Morning sessions will feature dynamic practices to invigorate for the day, while afternoons are reserved for slower restorative yoga such as Pranayama, Yoga Nidra and Shakti meditation, etc. The retreat’s all-inclusive pricing also includes off-site activities to connect guests to the island’s natural beauty, from horseback riding to helicopter tours and sunset cruises. Learn more at www.carlisle- bay.com/offers/carlisle-bay-yoga-retreat/51-13/

Yoga Carlisle Bay Antigua

A hilltop perch high above the Carlisle Bay resort provides a quiet setting to sit Sukhasana and take in the natural beauty of Antigua and the expansive blue of the Caribbean Sea. Photo: Carlisle Bay

Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

At COMO Parrot Cay, guests find relaxation and wellness through the resort’s signature holistic therapies, yoga programs, and savory, healthful cuisines. Set on a private 1,000-acre island in the heart of the Turks and Caicos, and overlooking a mile-long beach, Parrot Cay underwent a recent refreshing to create brighter rooms and fresh spaces, including a new COMO Shambhala gym, a Play by COMO Space for children’s activities and an improved COMO Beach Club and Lotus restaurant. Guests can also benefit from COMO Shambhala Cuisine, designed to maximize energy and wellbeing with the use of raw foods rich in living enzymes, vitamins and sea minerals. The Shambhala Retreat offers yoga, Pilates and related treatments. The holistic centre also includes an outdoor Jacuzzi garden, two double massage rooms, Japanese baths and large fitness center overlooking the ocean and surrounding wetland. An Ayurvedic doctor is also permanently in residence. Those who enjoy outdoor pursuits can schedule diving and snorkeling trips, beach drop-offs and fishing trips, and visits to a championship 18-hole course at Provo Golf and Country Club.

Parrot Cay Turks Terrace

The terrace of an ocean-view villa at COMO Parrot Cay sits just a few steps away from a mile-long beach on a private island where there are no other resorts or development. Photo: Parrot Cay

From November 4th to 10th 2018, Parrot Cay will host the “Well of Grace Workshop,” taught by renowned yoga teacher Elena Brower. This workshop will focus on self-awareness and self- discovery, with five days of guided yoga sequences and meditation – the ultimate goal to inspire change that can be adopted in your daily life. Elena, who has been practicing yoga since 1998, is respected across the globe for her distinct blend of alignment and attention in her teaching of yoga and meditation. Each day will include morning yoga and meditation practice, and a nourishing afternoon practice that includes Yin Yoga, restoratives, meditation and journaling. Packages for the workshop include six nights accommodation at COMO Parrot Cay, five days of yoga instruction, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner from the nutritious COMO Shambhala Cuisine menu, and one 60-minute COMO Shambhala Massage. To book the Well of Grace retreat, email [email protected]

Parrot Cay Turks and Caicos

The screened, open-air yoga pavilion at the COMO Shambhala Retreat is surrounded by pristine wetlands that enhance practices with the sounds of nature. Photo: Parrot Cay

Montpelier Plantation & Beach, Nevis

Nestled into 60 acres of lush tropical gardens on a hillside overlooking Nevis’s Caribbean coast, Montpelier Plantation & Beach is a traditional West Indies homestead that has been transformed into a world-class boutique resort. Each of the property’s 19 rooms and suites include ocean views and private terraces that invite guests to unwind and disconnect from everyday life. Originally constructed as a sugar mill in the 18th century, the property evokes the island’s rich colonial heritage, which is combined with a chic minimalist décor accented by local artworks. Guests can relax on the private beach or tranquil pool and sample innovative cuisines in three casual-elegant restaurants that feature locally sourced ingredients. It is an ideal setting for quiet relaxation, along with select activities such as chef-led cooking classes, Caribbean Nights with live music, sunset BBQs, beach bonfires and limbo dance competitions to celebrate the full moon.

Montpelier Pool Nevis

The Montpelier Plantation & Beach resort is built on the grounds of a former Colonial-era sugar plantation. Reminders of the island’s past blend with elements of clean, modern design. Photo: Montpelier Plantation

In keeping with Montpelier’s mantra of “Live Fully,” the resort has created its first Yoga Week. Between December 2 and 8, 2018, international yoga coach Patti Coan will lead daily programs that will encourage participants to enhance their wellness experience by discovering benefits of Samapatti Yoga. Practices focus on creating a state of equilibrium or stillness of the mind rooted in the science and philosophy of Raja Yoga, the royal path. Following the Himalayan tradition, the practice explores the union of body and mind through breathing. Patti teaches about the eight separate limbs incorporated into the practice, including ways of living, postures, breathing, relaxation, concentration and meditation. Yoga week is a complimentary addition for guests; with room rates start at $235 including daily continental breakfast. For reservations, visit www.MontpelierNevis.com.

Montpelier Nevis

A pool at Montpelier Plantation & Beach provides the setting for a personal session designed to connect with the water element, and promote creativity, passion and fluidity. Photo: Montpelier Plantation

Zemi Beach Anguilla
Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Eat, Nevis, St. Lucia, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Caribbean’s Best Rum Bars

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Move over fruity rum drinks. The Caribbean’s favorite spirit has caught the attention of connoisseurs. These enlightened imbibers shun blenders and fruit garnishes in favor of snifters, and sample small-batch rums and artisanal blends that need no enhancements beyond a comfortable atmosphere. Hoteliers have taken note, and a new breed of rum bars is cropping up across the Caribbean. Here are five of the best places to savor the spirits with island style.

The Cane Bar at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

Much more than a beach bar, The Cane Bar offers a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere where there are no distractions to take away from the pleasures of sampling premium rums. Located inside the resort’s Great House, the room features a subdued white and pale charcoal design palette. Oversized chairs sit around tables and living room style arrangements provide group settings and the sleek white bar offers alternative seating. Prized artworks hangs on the walls, and the shelves behind the bar are lined with an extensive selection of expertly chosen local and international rums. With many choices on hand there is a professional rummelier to help with your selection. When hunger strikes, a Japanese-inspired menu includes a selection of fresh- catch sashimi and a variety of rolls. Signature dishes include the Caribe Roll, which is wrapped in mango, and the Cane Bar Roll with spicy stone crab and avocado. The bar is open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., and you’ll want to leave your beach togs back in the room and dress “smart casual” for the evening.

St Lucia Rum Bar

Subdued colors lend a sophisticated ambiance to The Cane Bar at St. Lucia’s Sugar Beach resort, where vintage and small-batch rums are featured. Photo: Sugar Beach

Rhum Room at Zemi Beach House, Anguilla

One of the newest and now most popular boutique resorts in the Caribbean boasts Anguilla’s first rum bar. The design of the Rhum Room at Zemi blends modern accents with classic Caribbean architectural details to create a sophisticated yet beach-ready vibe. This setting is enhanced by the natural backdrop of Shoal Bay East, which has been called one of the world’s best beaches. The bar features over 100 small-batch, single-estate rums selected to showcase the breadth and diversity of the Caribbean’s distilling traditions. Guests can delve into the world of rum by sampling the curated Rhum Flight, which includes a selection of rums assembled by the house rummelier. The inventory includes bottles of Appleton Estate 50 Year Old, of which only 800 bottles are available to the public worldwide. Also in the collection is Clément Cuvée Homère, the highest rated vintage rum in the past 15 years, and the recently released premium Brugal Papá Andrés, which is a handcrafted blend created by master blender Maestros Roneros.

Anguilla Rum

The Rhum Room at Anguilla’s Zemi Beach House puts a sophisticated spin on the classic Caribbean club motif. The bar is stocked with a collection of super-premium rums. Photo: Dylan Cross/Zemi Beach

Rum Bar at Cooper Island Beach Club, BVI

You wouldn’t expect to find a well stocked rum bar to be on a tiny island in the British Virgin Islands. With just nine rooms set around a remote bay, the Cooper Island Beach Club caters to those wanting to get away from it all. Day sailors will sometimes stop in for lunch or dinner at the club’s restaurant as part of an island- hopping itinerary. In 2015, mariners found another reason to stop when Cooper Island added the Rum Bar and then a microbrewery. Patrons can sit beachside on wooden benches made from recycled teak and the reclaimed wood of boats, or hang at the bar for some serious tastings. The bar boasts the largest collection of rums in the Virgin Islands, with more than 150 labels from distilleries around the world. A sampler board introduces patrons to the world of premium rums, and the bar staff is on hand to offer suggestions and share tidbits on the origins and history of the labels, and on the general craft of rum making. Signature rum cocktails are accented with fruits and herbs grown at the onsite organic garden, and the bar creates proprietary rum infusions with flavors such as such as honey and lemon, hazelnut praline and jalapeño.

Rum Bar BVI

Cooper Island Beach Club is a family-run boutique resort that features the Rum Bar offering over 100 different rums from all around the Caribbean. Photo: Cooper Island Beach Club

101 Rums Bar, Four Seasons Nevis

Take a seat at the pastel painted bar, where large open windows frame views of the colorful fishing boats lined up on Pinney’s Beach, with the green slopes of St. Kitts as the backdrop. The 101 Rums Bar is housed inside Mango, the Four Seasons open-air beach restaurant. Set on water’s edge, the restaurant and bar offer the best sunsets on the island. Guests can sample signature cocktails like Nevisian Spirit or the 100 Mile Cocktail, which is made exclusively from ingredients harvested within 100 miles of the resort. Serious rum drinkers can bypass the mixed fare and focus on tastings and sippings of some of the world’s premier rums such as Appleton Estate 50 Year Old, El Dorado 25 Year Old and Pyrat Cask. With over 101 aged rums and a selection of artisanal rhum agricoles to choose from, there’s a flavor to please every palate. Weekly rum tastings are on the itinerary, and guests should plan on arriving for sunset, as the bar is open only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Four Seasons Nevis

Sand and sea breezes set the scene at the 101 Rums Bar. The bar is located on Pinney’s Beach at the Four Seasons Nevis resort. Photo: Four Seasons Nevis

The Reef’s Rum Bar at Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, St. Thomas

One of the first rum bars to grace the Caribbean combined premium labels with a memorable setting. Located just off the main lobby, the Reef’s Rum Bar offers a sophisticated indoor seating area that opens to an expansive outdoor terrace that delivers harbor views and a panoramic sweep of the mountains of St. Thomas. The indoor bar features small, intimate tables that become gathering points for smaller groups, as well as high-tops and flat screen TVs where guests can mingle and catch their favorite sports game as they sip and relax. There are a number of premium rums available for tasting, as well as a creative roster of handcrafted cocktails. Many of the drinks are made with Cruzan rum, locally distilled and bottled on sister island St. Croix. Try the signature cocktails like the Reef Rum Punch or Mango Tango.

St Thomas Frenchmans Reef

One of the Caribbean’s first rum bars opened at the Frenchman’s Reef resort in St. Thomas. The Reef’s Rum Bar provides an informal setting to enjoy premium spirits. Photo: Frenchman’s Reef

Jamaica Strawberry Hill
Anguilla, Bermuda, Caribbean, Central America, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Nevis, Play, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, Stay, Trip Ideas

10 Unexpected Caribbean Activities

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Once you’ve had your fill of sun, beach and water, it’s time to try something different. And at resorts all across the Caribbean, you can do just that. Young and old alike will find activities that entertain, educate or encourage engagement. Here are ten experiences that go beyond the ordinary resort experience.

1  Visit a Mountain Village:  Strawberry Hill, Jamaica

Lace up your walking shoes and ask the concierge for directions and a map. From the Strawberry Hill resort, the path to Redlight village winds through the wooded hillsides of the Blue Mountains, passing streams and a waterfall along the way. It’s an easy 20-minute walk, and once there, you can tour the historic St. Mark’s Chapel, which was built by the British in the early 1800s. To make a day of it, have the resort’s kitchen staff prepare a picnic lunch to bring along.

2  Swim with a Mermaid: Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, St. Bart

She might join you in the pool, or make a surprise visit during a snorkel trip. Amarylis is St. Bart’s resident mermaid, delighting imaginations of all ages at the Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France resort. This upscale boutique property overlooks the stunning beach at Baie des Flamands, where crystal- clear waters are ideal for young snorkelers. In keeping with its family- friendly atmosphere, the Isle de France often hosts Amaryllis, who poses for photos, and shares stories of her home in the sea.

St Barth Mermaid

Amarylis the mermaid photographed while diving beneath a breaking wave. She makes regular beach and pool appearances at Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France. Photo: Amarylis

3  Spot a Monkey: Four Seasons Nevis

End your day with a private sunset tour of the Four Seasons’ Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course. As you wander the hillside fairways, you’ll learn about the native flora and enjoy sweeping views of the resort, the Caribbean Sea and the nearby island of St. Kitts. And be sure to scan the trees and hillsides for a glimpse of the island’s famous green vervet monkeys. First brought to Nevis in the 1800s as pets, they now roam free across the island.

Nevis Monkey

The green vervet monkeys of Nevis are often sighted on the grounds of the Four Seasons Resort. These monkeys communicate using an elaborate series of calls. Photo: David Danzig/Flickr

4  Blend Your Own: Nayara Springs, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for its fine coffees, and you can sample some of the best blends at Mi Cafecito, which is Nayara Springs’ in-house expresso bar. The flavors are created by resident coffee connoisseur Ken Palmer, who learned his craft training with Alfred Peet of Peet’s Coffee. Palmer will also guide guests through the steps of creating their own personal blends. The results are delicious, as novice blenders work with high-quality beans from the country’s premier Tarrazu region.

5  Mix a Dirty Banana: Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios

Rum is the Caribbean’s signature spirit. Guests of the Jamaica Inn can get into this spirit of the islands during a Rumology class held each Thursday morning at Teddy’s Beach Bar. In addition to mingling with other rum enthusiasts, participants learn to create a number of signature drinks such as Teddy’s signature planter’s punch, the dark and stormy, dirty banana and the piña colada. The session is hosted by the knowledgeable bar team, who also recounts the history of popular rum mixes, share stories of the rich Jamaican heritage of rum, and describe mixing techniques.

Jamaica Inn Drinks

Sun and Rum. All the elements come together at Teddy’s Beach Bar, where guests of the Jamaica Inn can learn to mix some of the Caribbean’s most iconic rum drinks. Photo: David Massey/Jamaica Inn

6  Art Walk:  Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda

The recent hundred-million-dollar upgrading of the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club included the addition of an extensive collection of contemporary art. Today as your walk through the lobby and public spaces these art works are juxtaposed against the hotel’s historic architectural details such as crown molding and oriental rugs. The collection includes works from Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Nelson Mandela, Banksy, and Philippe Decrauzat among others. You can walk through the collection on your own or join a guided tour, which is offered every Saturday morning.

7  Pick Tomatoes Off the Vine: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, Anguilla

To provide the kitchen with the freshest and finest possible ingredients, this upscale beach resort maintains an 18,000-square foot greenhouse, which supplies much of the produce used in the restaurants. Crops include vine- ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces and micro-greens and herbs. The chefs delight in being able to pick fresh dill, basil and parsley on a daily basis, and in creating dishes featuring guava and pumpkin grown on the property. Guests can tour the greenhouse, help with the harvest and even take a seat at a hands-on cooking class.

Anguilla Greenhouse

Food doesn’t get more local that this. The on-site greenhouse at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa supplies the kitchen with an abundance of fresh produce. Photo: Joe Rahim/CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

8  Immerse in the Culture of Curacao: Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village & Spa, Curacao

Spread over an eight-block compound in the center of Willemstad, Kura Hulanda village is a collection of meticulously restored historic buildings that now house boutique lodgings and the anthropological museum of Kura Hulanda. The museum focuses on the predominant cultures of Curacao, taking visitors on a journey that ranges from the origin of man to West African empires, a chronicle of the African slave trade, pre-Columbian gold, Mesopotamian relics and Antillean art. Visitors can conduct self-guided visits or join an interpretive tour.

9  Explore an Ecological Park: Tortuga Bay Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana, DR

Guests of Tortuga Bay are invited to take a complimentary self-guided tour of the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve. This 1,500-acre nature reserve provides a habitat for indigenous birds, reptiles, insects and native plants. A series of interpretive trails cover the natural and cultural history of the island, and include a sugar cane exhibit, a fruit tree garden and an iguana habitat. Pack a swimsuit, because trails also lead to 12 freshwater lagoons where you can take a dip.

Punta Cana Lagoon

Visitors can cool off in one of the numerous freshwater lagoons that are scattered through the grounds of the Dominican Republic’s Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve. Photo: Ecological Park

10  Salute the Sun: W Retreat & Spa, Vieques, Puerto Rico

It’s a great way to begin or end your day. Join other guests in the W Retreat’s Living Room, an eclectic, neo-Bohemian relaxation space, where you can hang out and mingle before heading out to the deck for a mind, body and breath workout. Sunrise and sunset yoga sessions meet daily. Private yoga sessions available through the AWAY Spa, featuring Detox Yoga, Art of Meditation, and Introduction to Breath. If you are feeling more energetic and awake a bit earlier, join the kayak tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Mango St. Lucia
Antigua & Barbuda, Eat, Nevis, St. Lucia, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Uncategorized

Mango Festivals in the Caribbean

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The mango is one of the world’s most popular fruits, and more than 100 varieties grow in the Caribbean. Each island lays claim to producing the juiciest and most flavorful fruits. But some take it beyond bragging rights by staging festivals and parties dedicated to all things mango. Here are the best places to celebrate the summer harvest and take in all the rich flavors of this king of fruits.

Mango Madness, St. Lucia June to July 2, 2017

June is known as “Month of the Mango” on St. Lucia, and the resorts of Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet go all out to honor the fruit. Throughout the month, resort guests can enjoy a variety of fruit-focused events. There are cooking demonstrations and chutney making classes, special five-course mango-themed dinners and plenty of mango-based treatments at Jade Mountain’s Kai en Ciel spa and Anse Chastenet’s Kai Belte spa. Guests can even learn how to craft mango cocktails and visit the organic farm where much of the produce used in the resorts is grown. The month ends with a six-day Mango Madness Festival that runs from June 27 to July 2 and includes numerous culinary events. http://www.jademountain.com/cuisine/culinary_events.html

Mango Madness Chef Allen Susser

Mango Madness at St. Lucia’s Anse Chastanet resort will be hosted by chef Allen Susser, who is the author of The Great Mango Book, an authoritative mango cookbook. Photo: Bernd Rac/Jade Mountain

Mango Melee, St. Croix July 9, 2017

At the peak of mango season, the George Village Botanical Gardens stages a day of educational workshops, children’s activities and a food competition. Known as “Mango Dis, Mango Dat,” this fruit-themed cook-off brings in chefs from around the Virgin Islands to showcase their inventive talents. There are four categories in which mangoes are used: Sips, Sweets, Salsas and Stuff. The day’s demonstrations and tastings include a tropical fruit identifying seminar and mango eating contests. Local food and drink vendors will be on site with an array of mango products for sale. This year’s 21st Annual Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival takes place on Sunday July 9, 2017. www.sgvbg.org

Ripe Mango

Mangos have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years, and were first brought from the Far East to the Caribbean by Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. Photo: Flickr

Nevis Mango & Food Festival:  July 6 to 9, 2017

The small island of Nevis goes all out for a four-day celebration of the mango that includes dining experiences, cooking demonstrations and cook-along classes. Celebrity chefs come to the island for demonstrations, and to prepare some of the culinary dinners. This year’s event welcomes Iron Chef Judy Joo and Celebrity Chef Seamus Mullen. Local chefs from the island’s top restaurants and hotels are also invited to showcase their creative culinary skills by incorporating mangos in recipes presented at the festival finale: the Nevisian Chefs Mango Feast. Attendees will gather to celebrate on Oualie Beach with mango tastings, sample dishes and rum tastings. A highlight of the weekend is the Friday night Mango Beach Lime Festival Party, staged at the various beach bars lining Pinney’s Beach. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday, July 6-9, 2017. www.nevisisland.com/nevismangofest

Nevis Mango Festival

A highlight of the 2017 Nevis Mango & Food Festival will be a special dinner staged at the Four Seasons Mango restaurant with Judy Joo of Iron Chef fame.

Antigua and Barbuda Mango Festival : July 30-31, 2017

This event engages both guests and professional chefs in a range of special activities and workshops. The festival takes place at the Christian Valley Agricultural Station, where some 25 elite mango varieties are grown. These include Trinidad’s “Julie”, Haiti’s “Madame Francisque”, Cuba’s “Piniero”, Asian “Num Mai Doc” and a number of varieties from Florida. During the two-day event, participants can learn budding and grafting techniques, tour groves, visit food booths and enjoy live entertainment. There will be plenty of mango products to taste and buy, a story telling session, and a screening of the film “Sweetest Mango.” The main event is the Magic Mango Menu Culinary competition for profession hotel chefs and bartenders. The festival takes place July 30 and 31, 2017. www.antiguanice.com

Mango On Tree

Color is not always a good indicator of a ripe mango. As they reach peak ripeness, mangos become slightly soft to the touch, and will give off a fruity aroma at their stem ends. Photo: Ard Hesselink/Flickr

 

Trinidad Hyatt
Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Nevis, St. Lucia, Stay, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Caribbean Resorts for Holiday Celebrations

 

You won’t have to choose between a white Christmas and a Caribbean holiday getaway at these resorts, which honor holiday traditions, but with a tropical spin. And for the white stuff? Look no farther than the beach.

The Buccaneer, St. Croix, USVI

Santa comes to the tropics to visit this beachfront classic resort on Christmas morning, with presents for the children staying there. Midday is devoted to lounging on the beach and listening to live local bands, then guests gather at the historic Great House to enjoy a holiday buffet created by Executive Chef Dave Kendrick. A week later, when it’s time to ring in the New Year, the party moves to The Terrace restaurant, which sits high on the hill overlooking the grounds and beach. Guests enjoy a New Year’s Eve buffet complete with carving stations, followed by a champagne toast at midnight. There are fireworks, which can be enjoyed from The Terrace bar or from private room patios or balconies. www.thebuccaneer.com

St Croix Buccaneer Beachfront

After a morning visit from Santa, Christmas Day is spent enjoying live bands and sunshine on the beach at St. Croix’s Buccaneer resort. Photo: The Buccaneer Resort

Windjammer Landing, St. Lucia

The Windjammer Landing goes all out for Christmas, with a tree lighting ceremony, special Christmas menus and a visit from Santa, who makes a visit to the sun and sand at Labrelotte Bay. Guests wanting a taste of sweet holiday spirit will find eggnog stocked at the bar and restaurant during the season. The resort is popular for family and group holiday getaways, with villas of two to five bedroom boasting private pools where everyone can gather before heading out to the resort’s festivities. www.windjammer-landing.com

St Lucia Windjammer Landing Villa

Families and groups can gather for private celebrations at the villas of St. Lucia’s Windjammer Landing, and then join a range of resort-wide activities. Photo: Windjammer Landing

Montpelier Plantation & Beach Resort, Nevis

This elegant enclave brings in a holiday choir to kick off the festivities on Christmas Eve. In keeping with the resort’s tradition, guests are invited to join in to sing The 12 Days of Christmas. The evening continues with refreshments in the stone walled Restaurant 750 before moving to the terrace for an elegant meal paired with fine wine to celebrate Christmas Eve. As the holiday spirit progresses, guests can join the “Save Water, and Drink Champagne” event at the poolside restaurant Indigo. Here, the bubbles flow all afternoon, accompanied by light canapés. On New Year’s Eve, there is a white party held on Montpelier’s private beach. The night unfolds with a big beachside bonfire as guests dine and dance to live music before ringing in the New Year. www.montpeliernevis.com

Nevis Montpelier Resort Champagne

One of the signature traditions at the Montpelier Plantation & Beach Resort on Nevis is the poolside known as “Save Water, and Drink Champagne.” Photo: Montpelier Plantation

Mango Bay Hotel, Barbados

Located in historic Holetown, this small all-inclusive resort offers guests of all ages a range of holiday activities. During afternoon tea, a primary school choir visits the hotel to serenade guests. Santa Claus arrives on Christmas morning, and during the day guests indulge in Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are candy hunts and a piñata party for the youngsters, and Boxing Day brings races, sand building workshops and an evening movie on the beach. Entertainment and fireworks follow the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve Grand Buffet. mangobayresort.com

Mango Bay Barbados

Special Christmas activities at Barbados’s Mango Bay Hotel include choir concerts, a visit from Santa beach parties and holiday foods. Photo: Mango Bay

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada

Music fills the resort during the weeks leading up to Christmas, with a mix of Grenada top brass bands, steel bands and choirs, all rotating nightly to put guest in the holiday spirit. Christmas Eve is a time for caroling and the following morning begins with a champagne brunch. Guests head beachside to round out the day with a buffet lunch to the background sounds of the Jolly Boys—a local group playing Caribbean tunes. Dinner is a traditional Christmas meal served at Oliver’s restaurant. On New Year’s Eve, a culinary journey begins at 7pm and guests dance until midnight when the firework welcome in the New Year. www.SpiceIslandBeachResort.com

Grenada Spice Island Resort

Music enlivens the holiday season at the Spice Island Beach Resort, where the sounds of Grenada’s favorite brass bands, steel bands and choirs put guest in the holiday spirit. Photo: Dehoog/Spice Island Resort

Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is home to the Christmas Elf Village, an edible community of 12 elves, which are brilliantly colored showpieces made of pure chocolate and fondant. In addition, there are two holiday dessert-making classes hosted by pastry chef, Melissa Logan. The Gingerbread House workshop brings families together to decorate a pre-made house with edible decorations. The second class is devoted to making the chocolate roulade and butter crème Yule Log. In this class guests learn how to roll the log with different filling and add decoration. The New Year’s Eve ball includes a festive dinner with music of Spinphony, a string group. After dinner the DJ takes over and couples hit the beach for dancing and fireworks at midnight. www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/caribbean/grand-cayman

Grand Cayman Ritz Carlton Christmas

The Christmas Elf Village is a tasty tradition at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. These chocolate confections are just for show, but guests can create their own gingerbread houses. Photo: Irene Corty/Ritz-Carlton

Peter Island Resort & Spa, Peter Island, BVI

Christmas Eve kicks off with a visit from the Peter Island Choir, followed by dinner and guitar music. Christmas Day takes guests to the beach for a sandcastle building competition while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. At the resort, a steel band plays holiday music and moko jumbies entertain guests. New Year’s Eve begins with a pre-gala cocktail hour featuring flowing champagne and oyster stations. Dinner is a grand gala buffet while the Elvis White band plays. After the meal a DJ spins and fireworks bring in the midnight hour. Guests are free to find their own private holiday moments on the 1,800 acres that make up the island resort. peterisland.com

Peter Island BVI

Guests at Peter Island Resort can start with caroling and a visit from Santa, then go tropical with steel band music and a parade of stilt-walking moko jumbies. Photo: Peter Island Resort

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

Magic, meditation and mind reading ring in the holidays at Sugar Beach as well as traditions of lantern lighting and tree decorating. Holiday activities include appearances from Michal Sindelar, magician and illusionist, who will engage guests in his defying magic tricks with cards, coins and balloons. Gerard Senehi, the master mentalist, will perform mind reading, telekinesis and telepathy in his show. A small session is open for moonlight crystal mediations with Latham Thomas. And, for the little ones, Santa arrives on Sugar Beach by boat to hand out presents. New Year’s Eve begins with a young DJ, Fulano Librizzi, and as the evening progresses DJ Marc JB takes over to usher in the New Year. A highlight of the night is the fireworks show against the backdrop of the pitons. www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/sugarbeach

Sugar Beach St Lucia

At the Sugar Beach resort, the holidays are enlivened by visits from magicians and mind readers, and a New Year’s Eve fireworks show with a backdrop of the Pitons. Photo: Sugar Beach

Hyatt Regency, Trinidad

Everyone in the culturally rich islands of Trinidad & Tobago celebrate the holidays. Children go from house to house for festive food and drink, with holiday favorites that include pastelles, spicy meat filled corn patties, and black fruitcake. At the resort guests can enjoy holiday specialties like sorrel, which is a crimson-colored drink obtained from a local flower, ginger beer, and ponche de crème, which is a sweet milk and rum-based drink similar to eggnog. At the end of the day, celebrants can take a dip in the rooftop infinity pool and enjoy the views overlooking the city, with a sorrel mojito in hand. trinidad.regency.hyatt.com

Trinidad Hyatt Regency

One of the favorite seasonal libations offered at Trinidad’s Hyatt Regency is sorrel, which is a crimson-colored drink, here, in the form of a mojito. Photo: Hyatt Regency

Hermitage Plantation, Nevis

The Hermitage holiday experience is reminiscent of a home party. The halls are decked, the sorrel and black cake is served and carolers come to visit. Because the planation is a family home, guests are made to feel like family members. When the children make Christmas cookies, guest can join in. On Christmas Eve, the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes is served. Christmas Day is typically spent at the beach after a Christmas buffet brunch. Afterward, guests come home to a visit from carolers from nearby church choirs. Christmas dinner its roast goose and all of the trimmings followed by Victorian figgy pudding. New Year’s Eve is a more subdued dinner of beef and salmon followed by drinks and relaxing music. www.hermitagenevis.com

Hermitage Nevis

At the family-owned Hermitage Plantation on Nevis, guests enjoy an intimate setting and holiday traditions such as caroling, and a Christmas dinner with roast goose. Photo: Hermitage Plantation

Laluna, Grenada

The white sand beach at Laluna replaces snow to create a tropical white Christmas, where villas are decked out with holiday decorations. Every year, carolers visit the Laluna Sunset Lounge, and guests gather around to enjoy the music and sip Ponche Crème, a local version of eggnog that infused with rum. Christmas lunch is celebrated as a barbecue on the beach. For holiday tastes from the tropics there is sorrel and black cake. www.laluna.com/

La Luna Grenada

Each December, the beachside villas of Grenada’s Laluna resort are decorated and lit for the holiday season. Guests gather at the beach on Christmas day for a mid-day barbecue. Photo: Laluna Resort

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Palace, Dominican Republic

These sister properties offer a wealth of special activities for the two weeks around Christmas and New Years. Both resorts are decorated with lights, trees and wreaths by early December, and Santa makes his first appearance for the lighting of the main Christmas tree a few days before Christmas. On the night of December 24, a live nativity scene is set on the beach and Santa comes for his visit in the late afternoon on December 25, landing by parachute to deliver presents to each of the kids at the resort. On New Year’s Eve, there is a huge party with Olympics games, live music and a gala dinner and show. The holiday activities continue until January 6. www.vivaresorts.com

DR Wyndham

In the Dominican Republic, the adjacent resorts of Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Palace liven up the Christmas season with a live nativity scene and a visit from Santa. Photo: Viva Wyndham

Nevis Hamilton
Caribbean, Nevis, Stay, Trip Ideas

Celebrate the Broadway hit “Hamilton” on Nevis

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The Broadway smash-hit Hamilton wowed audiences and critics alike, earning 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy and a Pulitzer Prize. The musical tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton in the language and music of hip-hop and R&B, breaking boundaries in what we have known as the typical American musical. The show is the creation of Lin-Manuel Miranda, a young composer who drew inspiration from the biography “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow. The show has already sparked newfound interest on the man pictured on the 10-dollar bill, and “Hamilton Fever” will likely continue as the show goes national in 2017.

One of many interesting biographic details the musical brings to light is Hamilton’s Caribbean origin. Born on the island of Nevis, young Alexander spent his early years in the island’s capital city of Charleston. His childhood home site is one of the favorite attractions for visitors to this quiet island. Now, in celebration of the island’s native son, a number of the island’s historic inns and hotels have created special packages and incentives to encourage Hamilton fans to come for a visit that blends American history and Caribbean relaxation.

The Hermitage Plantation Inn

The Hermitage Plantation Inn has introduced the Full Hamilton History Package, a fitting program for a property that is itself a historic landmark. The resort includes a group of meticulously restored chattel houses clustered around the 350-year-old great house that is said to be the Caribbean’s oldest surviving wooden building. Highlights of the package include a specially curated island history tour, a copy of the newly published book of the musical, and an afternoon sail to view Hamilton’s homeland from the sea. A portion of package proceeds will be donated to the Graham Wyndham Foundation, the orphanage founded by Hamilton’s widow, Eliza. www.hermitagenevis.com

Hermitage Plantation Nevis

A collection of restored chattel houses sits among orchid gardens and groves of cocoa, mango and breadfruit trees at Nevis’ Hermitage Plantation Inn. Photo: Debbie Snow

Montpelier Plantation & Beach

History and luxury come together with the Hamilton Package at the Montpelier Plantation & Beach. A member of the elite Relais & Chateau hospitality group, the Montpelier occupies the restored grounds of 300-year old sugar plantation, and has been named one of the Caribbean’s top boutique hotels. Guests are provided with a half-day excursion to Charlestown to visit Hamilton House at the Museum of Nevis History and enjoy a tour of the historic sights of the capital city. Upon returning, participants can then relax with a “Hamiltonian Green” couples massage in a relaxing outdoor tropical setting, and end their evening with signature nightcap cocktail, the “Brandy Alexander Hamilton”. www.montpeliernevis.com

Montpelier Plantation Inn Nevis

On the restored grounds of a 17th century sugar plantation, the Montpelier Plantation combines five-star service with a quiet hillside setting overlooking the Caribbean. Photo: Debbie Snow

Nisbet Plantation Beach Club

In honor of our first Secretary of the Treasury’s legendary financial acumen, the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club has created the Alexander Hamilton “Take-It-To-The-Bank” Package, which provides substantial discounts or a resort add-on package. Constructed around an 18th-Century great house, this intimate resort overlooks a golden sand beach framed in majestic palms. Package perks include an island tour with a visit to Hamilton House Museum, a professional photo in front of the house, a candlelight dinner on the beach, and a treatment at the Palms Spa. This package can be combined with other specials to create additional savings and value. nisbetplantation.com

Nisbet Plantation Nevis

Stately palms and green lawns are signature elements of the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club. The resort’s tradition of afternoon tea adds a touch of British charm. Photo: Debbie Snow

Four Seasons Resort Nevis

The Four Seasons Resort has caught Hamilton Fever with the Perfect Union Package. At the island’s premier beach resort couples can rediscover their own “more perfect” union with variety of included experiences designed to reaffirm life, liberty and happiness. Highlights include a private candle-lit beach dinner featuring a colonial era-style or customized menu served to the accompaniment of a historic storyteller. Also in the mix are a private guided hike of Hamilton Estate, visits to the History of Nevis Museum and Hamilton House a spa under the stars experience and VIP treatment on arrival and departure. www.fourseasons.com/nevis

Four Seasons Nevis

Guests at the Four Seasons Nevis enjoy sweeping views of Nevis Peak and direct access to the island’s finest golden-sand beach, premier golf course and a spa. Photo: Debbie Snow

Paradise Beach Nevis

Travelers who book a luxurious four-bedroom ocean or garden villa at Paradise Beach Nevis can shave 17 percent off their housing budget with the Hamilton 1755 Package. This upscale enclave brings a touch of Bali to the Caribbean with thatch-roofed villas that feature open floor plans and rich wood accents that complement sweeping ocean and island landscapes. In addition to the savings, the 1775 package includes a private island tour of historic sites, including Alexander Hamilton House / Museum of Nevis History. Guests will also be gifted with a copy of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow’s bestselling book that inspired the play. www.paradisebeachnevis.com

Paradise Beach Nevis Resort

The thatch-roofed villas of Paradise Beach Nevis are nestled in lush landscaping, and have private pools and exclusive beach access. Photo: Ken Hayden/Paradise Beach

 

Frangipani Anguilla Pool
Anguilla, Caribbean, Nevis, St. Barts, Stay, Trip Ideas

Best Caribbean Family-Run Boutique Hotels

 

It’s great to be treated like family. And though many resorts will make that claim, the places that are best suited to deliver that special brand of warm, familiar service and welcome are those small hotels that are, in fact, family owned and operated. These are the places where the owners not only know your name, but also may stop by your table at dinner to share conversation and a drink. Here are three of our favorite family-owned Caribbean resorts.

Hotel Le Village, St. Barth

The red-roofed cottages of Le Village perch on a terraced hillside overlooking Petite Baie de St. Jean. A short walk from this scenic enclave brings you to St. Jean Beach. This lively strand is lined with trendy restaurants, casually elegant beach bars, and the fashionably chic shops that St. Barth is all about. It’s a great place to people watch as you soak up the sun. When its time to reconvene to your hideaway, Le Village offers peace and solitude, something the hotel has been known for since it first opened in 1969.

St Bart LeVillage Cottage

Rooms at Hotel Le Village open to hillside terraces that welcome sea breezes and provide a private retreat for guests who value both privacy and the intimacy. Photo: Le Village

The property is a 25-unit enclave of one- and two-story rooms and suites, each individually decorated in island colors. Each offers a kitchen and a large covered terrace that doubles as living and dining spaces, all opening to outdoor sundecks. Guests relax in the gardens that surround their cottage, lounge by the pool or head for renewal at the Well Being Cottage. This glass-enclosed space offers massages and yoga classes set against panoramic views of the bay. The Charneau family has been receiving guests—some famous, others not so much—in a relaxing yet elegant manner for decades, and happy guests keep coming back year after year.

St Bart Le Village Pool

Hotel Le Village provides elevated views of St. Barth’s St. Jean Beach and its namesake bay. Just a short walk down the hill, a collection of chic cafes and shops awaits. Photo: Le Village

The Hermitage Plantation Inn, Nevis

Guests of the Hermitage Plantation Inn are treated to cooling afternoon breezes, and monkeys. The inn sits near the base of rainforest-clad Nevis Peak. These forests are home to vervet monkeys, who come down from the slopes in search of sweet mangos, and their whimsical presence is a guest favorite. The scene is bucolic, with horses in the pasture and an English-style garden filled with fruit, flowers and herbs. This is what Maureen and Richard Lupinacci visioned when they arrived in Nevis in 1967 and discovered the property. This husband and wife team fell in love with the location and nurtured it into the splendid village it is today.

Hermitage Nevis Great House Living Room

Nevis’ Hermitage Plantation features furnishings and artwork from around the island. This meticulously restored structure is the oldest wooden building on the island. Photo: Hermitage

While the keys have since been handed to son Richie Lupinacci, the inn maintains a loving family essence with a bit of Italian heritage. Wednesday night’s West Indian pig roast spread is still hands-down the best on the island, and Friday nights now ring in the weekend with pizza and cichetti, as guests mingle around the bar and wander the great house filed with antiques and curios. Staying at the Hermitage is recasting the past, as each chattel house features a different motif. Furnishings and artwork collected from around the island are brought together in 15 individually decorated retreats, each of which feels like a private home. And being at home is exactly how you will feel when spending time on this family planation.

Nevis Hermitage Campus

Cottages at the Hermitage began as dwellings known as chattel houses, which were used to house farm workers. Today, they sit in the inn’s lushly landscaped grounds. Photo: Hermitage

Frangipani Beach Resort, Anguilla

On an island known for spectacular beaches, you’ll want to stay in a waterfront property. Frangipani is located in the center of Meads Bay. This mile long stretch of shore has powder-white sand so soft you’d think it could be used to bake a cake. The resort includes just 19 rooms and suites, sets just steps from the sand. The active young couple running the resort, Scott and Shannon Kircher, were married at the resort and now live and love it. When time permits they share their love of watersports with their guests.

Frangipani Breakfast On Balcony Anguilla

Frangipani Beach Resort’s private balconies open to expansive views of Meads Bay. This west-facing beach provides spectacular sunset views. Photo: Thierry Dehove/Frangipani

Water sports are a focal point at the resort, and all equipment is complementary for guests. Spend your days sailing a Hobie, waterskiing, paddle boarding or just float on a raft. Head directly from room to the sand, find your personal palapa and let the day unfold. In addition to the beach, there is an infinity pool backed by the salmon-tinted Spanish Mediterranean enclave from which the sea is always in view. The island’s famed Straw Hat restaurant is now located in the resort. Owned and operated by another husband and wife team, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Another marriage made in heaven.

Anguilla Frangipani Night View

Frangipani Beach Resort is a boutique property of just 19 intimate rooms and suites. On site is one of the island’s favorite restaurants, the Straw Hat. Photo: Thierry Dehove/Frangipani

Anguilla Malliouhana
Anguilla, Aruba, Caribbean, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Stay, Trip Ideas

Five Top Caribbean Luxury Resorts

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Luxury means different things to different people. It could be about the setting, the service, the food or the amenities. Whatever your definition of a luxurious Caribbean vacation, you’ll likely find it at one of these new or recently-refurbished properties, which represent the epitome of island-style indulgence.

Ritz-Carlton Aruba

Luxury rose to new heights when the Ritz-Carlton opened on Aruba’s fabled Palm Beach in November of 2013. The entire top floor of this 320-room property is devoted to an exclusive Club Level. Here, guests enjoy unrivaled views of the powder-white beach and the Caribbean Sea, both from private balconies and from the Club Lounge, where floor-to-ceiling windows provide a stunning backdrop, complementary meals and snacks are available throughout the day, and a dedicated concierge is always on call.

Aruba Ritz Bar

The Ritz-Carlton sits on Aruba’s Palm Beach, where white sands and bright turquoise waters create stunning panoramas. Floor-to- ceiling windows in the lobby bar take in the view. Photo: Don Riddle/Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton is home to the island’s largest spa, offering both traditional and locally influenced treatments that feature aloe, coconut and cactus blended with healing components of herbs and rich earth minerals. Dining options include the signature BLT Steak restaurant, serving a world-class selection of USDA choice meats. Four additional dining experiences add Italian, seafood and an Argentine grill to the mix. The property also includes a 24-hour casino, fitness center, beach club, children’s programs and a full range of waters sports through Red Sail Sports.

Belle Monte Farms at Kittitian Hill, St. Kitts

Luxury meets sustainability at St. Kitts’ $600-million Kittitian Hill project. The visionary team behind this development describes it as a community where guests can immerse themselves in the vibrant beauty of the West Indies, enjoy fresh food foraged from the land and sea, and connect with the island’s rich culture. The first phase of this development, Belle Monte Farms, includes a collection of stand-alone guesthouses and villas, each built by island craftsmen to honor the region’s vernacular styles. Set amid lush natural landscaping, dwellings offer private infinity pools, garden baths surrounded by tropical foliage and private verandahs with mountain, garden and sea views.

St. Kitts Belle Monte Farms

The Kittitian Hill development blends luxurious accommodations into a natural environment where there is an emphasis on sustainability and respect for the island’s traditional culture. Photo: Kittitian Hill

Set on a former sugar plantation, the 400-acre Kittitian Hill project is home to a working organic farm that supplies much of the produce served at onsite restaurants, where cuisines are inspired by executive Chef Cristophe Letard’s farm-to-table philosophy. In the works is the 18-hole Irie Fields golf course, which provides challenging play in a setting that encompasses gardens and fruit trees—it’s being called the world’s most edible golf course. Additional elements of the community include a spa with indigenous treatments and a village with more eateries; shops, galleries and artisan’s studios will open as the development unfolds.

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel San Juan, Puerto Rico

Luxury meets tradition at San Juan’s Condado Vanderbilt and takes guests back to the days of the Roaring 20’s. This historic hotel opened in 1919, and over the years attracted visiting dignitaries, royalty and celebrities like Bob Hope and Errol Flynn to the shores of the vibrant Condado district, where iconic nightclubs and lounges heated up the tropical nightlife. Nearly a century later today’s guests will find nostalgic elements mixed with modern amenities and ongoing updates. The hotel’s culinary scene rose to new heights when Michelin-starred Chef Juan Jose Cuevas took the helm at the acclaimed 1919 restaurant. Most recently, a second internationally acclaimed dining spot opened in the form of Ola, where local ingredients are the focus.

San Juan Condado Vanderbilt

Dark leather furnishings, iconic artwork and spiral staircases set the tone at San Juan’s historic Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. A roaming champagne cart delivers tempting libations. Photo: Magda Biernat/Condado Vanderbilt

A sweeping $200 million revitalization of the hotel was completed in December 2014, with more than 400 elegant guestrooms and suites re-imagined with inspirations from the hotel’s oceanfront setting and eclectic history. A sleek décor features dreamy neutral hues and textures representing ocean tides, dark wood furniture and plenty of brass accents. The on-site spa includes an aromatherapy bar and the island’s first Hammam. In addition to the beach, guests can take in the trade winds from a palm-lined roof top pool with butler service.

Malliouhana, An Auberge Resort, Anguilla

Luxury kicks off its shoes as one of the Caribbean’s favorite getaway resorts returns after a major renovation and a three-year closure. Anguilla’s Malliouhana, known for its intimacy, open-air setting and stellar service, is now under the Auberge Resort umbrella. The location can’t be beat, with 360-degree views of the sea and a gorgeous stretch of sand at Meads Bay, one the island’s best beaches. The renovation transformed the property’s 44 ocean view rooms and suites with a fresh island palette of mango, mint, saffron and white to blend the spaces with the environment.

Anguilla Malliouhana Beach

Anguilla’s Malliouhana resort overlooks Meads Bay, which is one of the island’s finest beaches. Water and beach views abound, both from guest rooms and the top-rated restaurant. Photo: Malliouhana

Guest rooms also showcase some of Malliouhana’s original treasures, which include a collection of animated jungle scenes depicting the Garden of Eden, and painted by distinguished Haitian artist Jasmin Joseph. Also new are a pair of infinity-edged swimming pools and a signature Auberge Spa, which is cloistered in a setting of ponds, tropical vines and flowering plants. On an island known for its culinary expertise, the signature restaurant sets new standards in an open-air space situated on the bluff overlooking the sea. Under the direction of Executive Chef Jeremy Bearman, the menu embraces Caribbean flavors and traditions such as jerk spices, passion fruit, tamarind and guava.

Paradise Beach, Nevis

Luxury becomes personal at Paradise Beach. This new arrival to Nevis takes in a small, all-villa property that delivers the ultimate in private settings for extended families or groups of friends. The resort’s seven Balinese-style thatch-roofed villas include dramatic details such as 20-foot vaulted ceilings, outdoor dining areas and ocean views. Each three or four bedroom home also includes spacious common living area, full kitchens and private patios with pools.

Nevis Paradise Beach

Designed for families, friends and small corporate retreats, the garden and beach villas of the Paradise Beach Resort combine privacy with a wealth of on-call personal services. Photo: Ken Haydent/Paradise Beach Resort

Kitchens are outfitted with everything needed to prepare memorable meals, but if cooking isn’t on your agenda, the on-site concierge can arrange a visit from one of the island’s accomplished chefs, who can prepare a multi-course dinner or whip up appetizers and cocktails for the entourage around your pool. Your personal butler can summon a masseuse, or a certified personal trainer for those who want to maintain their fitness program. If not, a private beach bar awaits, and it’s just a short walk down Pinney’s Beach to Sunshine’s, where one of their famous Killer Bee cocktails is guaranteed to put you in that relaxed island state of mind.