HAUTE Caribbean by HAUTE HOTELS

haute

WINTER 2013

Photo: The Monkey Bar, Sandy Lane, Barbados

Caribbean

Sandy Lane A hotel with an intriguing past Horsing around at Biras Creek

The Caribbeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best private pools

Spas brimming over with personality

HAUTE COUTURE for the beach Wondering what to wear at your HAUTE HOTEL? Click ViX Swimwear and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll wonder no more ...

www.vixpaulahermanny.com

HOTEL CHRISTOPHER Surely the best swimming pool in St. Barths? See page 62

Hotel Le Toiny

contents 5

A warm welcome to HAUTE Caribbean

What’s going on?

The latest Caribbean happenings

Shopping in Antigua

Pick up some rather nice stuff!

Little Arches, Barbados

Perfect for overnights and longer stays

Hôtel Le Toiny, St. Barths

New look for its gourmet restaurant

Cobblers Cove, Barbados

Elegant Enhancements

Sandy Lane, Barbados

A hotel with an intriguing past

Le Sereno, St. Barths

A new culinary star

Carlisle Bay, Antigua

Oh, oh, Ottimo!

Hôtel Le Toiny, St. Barths

Private Pools in the French West Indies

Hermitage Bay, Antigua

Private pools with pulse-quickening views

Sugar Beach, St. Lucia

Private pools in a World Heritage Site

The Sandpiper, Barbados

Private pools with timeless elegance

Coral Reef Club, Barbados

Private pools with plantation chic

Spice Island Resort, Grenada

The original private pool suites

Canouan Resort, Grenadines

Best Private Villas

Le Sereno, St. Barths

Best Private Villas

Peter Island, Virgin Islands

A luxurious national park

Ottley’s Plantation, St. Kitts

The Rainforest Spa

Hôtel Le Toiny, St. Barths

The Hillside Spa

Hermitage Bay, Antigua

The Zen Spa

Hotel Christopher, St. Barths

The Seaside Spa

Curtain Bluff, Antigua

The Bluff Spa

Galley Bay, Antigua

Stan Baxter, the affable chef

Sandy Lane

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Best Private Pools

Villa you ... or von’t you?

All the text written for this e-magainze is the copyright of HAUTE HOTELS. Nothing may be reproduced without the company’s written consent. All the information is given in good faith and HAUTE HOTELS accept no responsibility for any change in standards, personnel or facilities at the hotels. Details correct January 2013.

Spa-vellous

Carlisle Bay ANTIGUA

OTTLEY’S PLANTATION INN, ST KITTS The perfect place for a planter’s punch ... See page 56

CARIBBEAN

haute It’s with the greatest of pleasure that we welcome you to HAUTE, the companion magazine to haute-hotels.com Just like our website, it’s a celebration of all that’s great about Caribbean hotels, but from a refreshingly down-to-earth perspective ... As this is our Winter Edition (and the chances are those grey skies outside match your mood) - we thought we’d highlight some of the best things our Caribbean hotels have to offer. The best private pools, for example, where you can slowly transform yourselves from pasty-skinned tourists to golden-skinned ‘locals’ without anyone else witnessing those tricky few days in between. And the best private villas where you can relax with your kiddywinks without anyone else tutting loudly when they drop their chicken nuggets on the floor. We’re also showcasing some of our favourite island spas, not necessarily the biggest ones, but those with bags of personality. You can even get a massage with warm clam shells in one of them! And we draw your attention to a celebrated hotel in Barbados with a past that might surprise you - who could have possibly made any kind of link between Sandy Lane and Sir Winston Churchill?

Hotels have become more

Finally we’re also taking this opportunity to shine the spotlight on anything new that’s going on in the Caribbean. This issue we highlight some chefs who’ve recently taken charge of some famously ‘foodie’ hotels in St. Barths and Barbados. And a new poolside restaurant in Antigua that’s making quite a splash. But just in case you need a little more persuasion, we’ve also packed in as many inspirational photos as possible.

are as what we wear or

Enjoy!

behind the style ...

than just places to stay. They are as much a statement about who we drive. HAUTE HOTELS prefers to focus upon those that have still got plenty of substance

Jackie Loxham Editor

What’s going on? Name change for St. Lucia’s Jalousie Plantation ... Wondering whatever happened to St. Lucia’s Jalousie Plantation in recent months? Don’t worry, this spectacular beach resort nestled between the Pitons didn’t close its doors, it’s simply been re-christened. It now goes by the sweet-sounding name of Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, the re-branding celebrating not just the ‘new’ standard-setting management company, but also the $100 million renovation project that has lasted 3-years and is finally nearing completion.

Everything here is now a match for the property’s worldclass setting between those iconic twin peaks. The villas and guest rooms all display a white-on-white plantationstyle elegance. The rustic rainforest spa is as jaw-dropping as it is soul-restoring. The service and cuisine in the Great Room restaurant will knock your Manolo Blahniks off. Other major talking points include a glowing white bar specialising in aged rums, as well public areas featuring cool photos and dramatic artwork commissioned by the hotel owner, Roger Myers. His eye for detail (combined with his apparently unlimited budget!) is sure to establish Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort as one of the finest resorts in the Americas. Winter rates from $640 per night plus tax & service. For further details see www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/sugarbeach.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

ST. BARTHS GETS CLOSER

Thanks to Tradewind Aviation Now it’s a breeze to get to St. Barths. Book yourselves on the first flight to Antigua and Tradewind Aviation will whisk you straight to the Caribbean’s most fashionable island ... There’s no longer any need to mess about in St. Maarten, either at the busy international airport or the bustling ferry terminal. The non-stop scheduled service began operating between the two islands this autumn and it’s not just any old scheduled service but a Premium Scheduled Service. Think air-conditioning, free wine and even nibbles. Not quite Beyonce’s private jet perhaps, but as close as it gets for $395 to $595 one way!

•Premium scheduled service •Antigua/St. Barths non-stop •From $395 one way •50lb luggage allowance •Convenient connections •Air-conditioned cabin •Complimentary drinks www.tradewindaviation.com

Tradewind Aviation are trusted US charter carrier with many years experience. Their modern fleet includes 8-passenger single-engine Cessna Grand Caravans and Pilatus PC12s, modern and comfortable turbo-props flown by two pilots. There are size restrictions when it comes to luggage, of course, but the weight limit is a very generous 50lbs so you should be able to travel with your suitably extensive St. Barths wardrobe. Flights take less than an hour and are scheduled to connect with the international arrivals. And although you still need to allow for a 90-minute connection in Antigua, chances are you’ll be sipping that cheeky little French beaujolais in that fancy St. Barths hotel the very same day you leave home ...

Eden Rock, St. Barths

WHAT’S GOING ON?

A word about

Canouan

Word is that work on the new boutique hotel Dermot Desmond (owner of Sandy Lane in Barbados) has commissioned on Canouan Island is continuing apace. So much so that a particularly posh guest suite has already been set up for early viewing and rumours are it’s got splendid views of the Caribbean Sea. No surprise there then! This glossy Grenadines getaway is perched above the white sands of Godahl Beach, close enough to the island’s tranquil overwater spa palapas to inspire daily massages. And as the Jim Fazio-designed 18-hole championship golf course is almost within putting distance too, what say those styleconscious Sandy Laners will be the first to check in when this exciting new hotel opens its doors next summer. Watch this space!

New Barefoot Grill for Galley Bay, Antigua

Galley Bay beach babes can now grab a bite to eat whilst still covered in suntan lotion. A ‘Barefoot Grill’ has recently opened offering casual basket-style meals right on the sands. Expect substantial snacks like nachos, tortillas, grilled fish, salami and swiss melts, as well as a different Cuban press (panini) every day. Thatched wooden huts provide the shade. Open from noon to 5pm. www.galleybayresort.com

More accolades for Café Luna in Barbados

We love Café Luna at the Little Arches hotel in Barbados - and it seems that we’re not alone. This romantic rooftop eatery just outside Oistins is the winner of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association President’s Award ‘Restaurant of the Year’ 2012. The most recent Zagat Survey also ranks Café Luna amongst the top three in several prestigious categories including ‘Best Food’, ‘Best Decor’, ‘Best Mediterranean Food’, ‘Best Hotel Dining’ and ‘Best Eclectic Food’. So why not venture over to the south coast to discover what’s getting everyone so excited. Probably something to do with the pan-tropical cuisine, the sexy world music and those fast-moving waiters dressed from head to toe in black. See www.littlearches.com

Beachfront dining at Carlisle Bay, Antigua

Carlisle Bay

knows how to party! Carlisle Bay isn’t all dazzling dinners at East or elegant evenings at Indigo’s on the Beach, you know. Sundays see one of the serenest hotels in Antigua really let its hair down. A delicious Caribbean-style barbecue is served on the hotel’s curving white sands, the easy-going island vibe accentuated by live music from a local steel pan band. This suits the festive mood of most Carlisle Bay guests perfectly. Sunday afternoons will have seen them (as well as pretty much the rest of Antigua) up at Shirley Heights Lookout enjoying the party that’s been held there for the past 25 years. The views over English Harbour are superb, as are the sunsets if you’re lucky. Chances are though that most guests will have had enough of the thronging crowds and steel band music by 7pm and are more than ready to return to their stylish sanctuary tucked away on Antigua’s south-west coast. Carlisle Bay has just installed an outdoor fire pit, as well as some chic and comfy sofas on its beach. This must surely be one of the most romantic spots in Antigua to watch the sun go down. www.carlisle-bay.com Dancing to a Shirley Heights steel band

Sir Garry Sobers Festival of Golf at Sandy Lane Didn’t quite make the cut for The Open this year? Don’t worry, you are warmly invited to the next best thing! The Sir Garry Sobers Festival of Golf based at the Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados is taking place again this year. The dates are 22 to 29 April and 7-night prices start from US$3,950 to include:• Accommodation in an Orchid Room • Tournament entry fees • Transfers to all courses • Use of the Driving Range and practice facilities • Tournament golf shirt • Welcome cocktails hosted by Sir Garry Sobers • Practice at the Old Nine or Country Club golf courses • 4 days of the Sir Garry Sobers Festival of Golf tournament • Play at 4 courses - The Country Club at Sandy Lane, Royal Westmoreland Golf Club, Apes Hill Golf Club and the Barbados Golf Club See www.sandylane.com for further details.

7 for 6 Peter Island’s Early Booking Offer Considering popping into Peter Island, one of the best resorts in the British Virgin Islands? Well, if you can make your mind up before 31 March, you get the added incentive of free nights. Stay 7 and you only pay for 6, stay 14 and you only pay for 12. The offer is valid for stays up to 19 December, 2013 in Beach Front Junior Suites (pictured). You just have to pay in full when you book. See www.peterisland.com

Giving back! You can make philanthropy a part of your vacation when you stay at Little Arches in Barbados. Save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and bring supplies for the local schools in need. Inspired by the ‘Pack for a Purpose’ intiative, the hotel works with The Variety Club of Barbados to bring story books, crayons, paints and dictionaries for over 115 children from 73 families across Barbados.

For further details see www.littlearches.com

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Biras Creek horses

Any Caribbean hotel that does its bit for the local animals is okay by us! Back in 2008 when Michigan-based real estate developer Pam and David Johnson heard that some beautiful Paso Fino horses were being mis-treated in Puerto Rico, they decided to do something about it. They bought them! And five-years later Ben, Sorbeto, Winston, Fugitive and Kid are living the high life at Biras Creek, the couple’s Relais & Châteaux property in Virgin Gorda. Of course, the initial transfer from the US to the British Virgin Islands was neither a quick nor an easy process. Lots of paperwork, vets, agricultural departments and blood tests were involved, the animals finally shipped across from Puerto Rico to Tortola on the M/V Pacific Seal. Pam and David made sure they were on-site to greet the animals when they finally arrived in their new home, tired but safe. They also made sure they had a lush green pasture close to the beach, in addition to a well-equipped paddock with plenty of shade. Since that time, of course, the five horses have got quite used to the VIP treatment. They receive lots of attention from the guests and now horse trainer Khermaj Tillack has just arrived at Biras Creek to look after them. Due to their turbulent history, you shouldn’t expect to ride them, but do look forward to giving them lots of strokes! Stay at Biras Creek from US$775 per night per double room this winter, full-board included. See www.biras.com

Shopping in Antigua Antigua is famous for its beaches rather than its shopping. But if you know where to go, you can pick up some rather nice stuff, often at rather nice duty free prices ...

Sterlings

Heritage Quay, St. John’s

SUNSEEKERS

Beth Abbott’s exclusive duty-free jewellery store slap bang in the centre of town has got it all going on. Charming bracelets from Pandora, stylish watches from Michael Kors and a whole range of individuallycrafted necklaces and bracelets from Marahlago, the turquoise lorimar stones apparently only sourced on a remote mountaintop in the Dominican Republic! And we really fell in love with the new Story range from Kranz & Ziegler (see left) their beautiful leather and snakeskin wrap bracelets, complete with cool charms, bang on trend. Tel: 268-562-5662

St. John’s & Falmouth Harbour There’s no need to panic if you can’t find the perfect bikini back home. (Always tricky, especially if you’re travelling in the winter.) Antigua’s two Sunseekers stores stock all the best swimwear brands, the duty-free prices another reason to postpone that vital purchase until you get here. ViX (see right), Gottex, Melissa Odabash and Ralph Lauren are all showcased, and there’s a delightful range of kaftans, sundresses and sarongs too - just in case you are planning to stand upright at some point! Gents can choose from equally cool brands like Quiksilver, Reef and Billabong and those lovely 100% linen shirts will do very nicely after dark. Tel: 268-462-4523/562-6523

Sea Island Trading Co. Near V.C. Bird International Airport

A word-of-mouth treasure trove only frequented by those in the know! It’s tucked away in the TCM building a few minutes’ drive from the airport and if you can’t find it, just ask one of the locals. It’s where to come if you’re after a pair of Lindsay Phillips Switchflops (see left), a stylish jersey frock for a cocktail party, a delightful piece of costume jewellery or a sweetlyscented soy candle to remind you of Antigua. Whilst your intention will be to pop in for a few minutes, chances are you’ll still be there an hour later finding stuff you simply can’t live without. Tel: 268-720-5800

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Zemi

Redcliffe Quay, St. John’s

After something a little more local? Then we suggest you pop into the Zemi Art Gallery secreted away in one of Redcliffe Quay’s quaint 18th century buildings. Inspired by the indigenous tribes who used to live in the Caribbean, it offers a unique range of arts and crafts made by local people from natural or recycled materials. There’s nothing mass produced here and you’ll be amazed at what the Zemi artisans can do with a coconut (a rather stylish little handbag) or a nut (a beautiful ring.) There’s also some lovely string bracelets adorned with single sea pearls, as well as hand-carved mahogany jewellery boxes and wine bottle stands. Eco-conscious visitors will love the jewellery made out of soda cans and CDs, or the funky beach bags fashioned out of recycled flour sacks. (One is big enough for the whole family, and we’re talking the Jolie-Pitts here!) But most important, of course, is the artwork of Zemi owner Stephen Murphy. Antigua-born Stephen opened Zemi in 2009 and it’s from this studio that he creates the images that have been shown throughout the Caribbean and have won him numerous awards. It’s impressionistic, whimsical and colourful, and the perfect reminder of your stay in the Caribbean.

Stephen Murphy’s paintings (‘Wadadli Watercolours’) are best described as ‘impressionistic realism’ with watercolours as the medium. Whilst he does paint from his Zemi studio, he can often be found on location absorbing the sounds, smells and colours of his subject matter. Why not stop by and pick up a very reasonably priced original?

Little Arches

Seeking somewhere special to overnight in Barbados? Before you slog over to the west coast, double-check Little Arches doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have one of its delightfully sweet suites available for you ...

The reasons certainly add up. There’s a barely noticeable 10-minute airport transfer instead of an exhausting 40-minute one. Little Arches also boasts a rooftop restaurant that’s as highly romantic as it is highly rated. But perhaps even more importantly, this charming little boutique hotel has only got 10 tasteful guest suites, so there’s a far greater chance of everyone remembering your name during your brief overnight stay. Yes, Little Arches is perfect if you’ve got hours rather than weeks in Barbados. But if you are planning a longer stay, and you like the idea of Mediterranean-inspired chic, lashings of personal attention and looking out onto the bluest ocean you’ll ever see, then please do consider this swish little ‘villa’ tucked away in an unassuming residential district near the island’s southern tip. You’ll feel very much like you’re staying in a private home at Little Arches. Although no kids are allowed here so this tropical house party is a decidedly sophisticated affair. You get to do adult things like chill-out on the pool terrace, work your way through the spa menu and count the hours ‘til your next meal at the rooftop Café Luna. (You’ll probably pick up lots of interior design tips too!) Yet there’s plenty on the doorstep. One of Barbados’s whitest and softest beaches is just a 2-minute walk away, the 18-hole Barbados Golf Club is only down the road (green fees half the price of Royal Westmoreland) and you can actually walk into Oistins on Friday nights to see what the famous street party is all about. Don’t blame us if you can only stagger back after one too many Mount Gay and cokes! Room rates from US$295 per night this winter. The minimum stay is generally 3 nights, although overnights are readily available on request. For further details see www.littlearches.com

Stéphane Mazières is the Caribbean’s first and only Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef. Visit Hôtel Le Toiny in St. Barths to sample his innovative French gourmet cuisine.

A new look for

RESTAURANT LE GAÏAC

Restaurant Le Gaïac at Hôtel Le Toiny in St. Barths is generally considered the Caribbean’s top table. Its dynamic Executive Chef (avid scuba-diver and outdoor fitness enthusiast!) Stéphane Mazières is the region’s first and only Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef. His innovative French cuisine with local flavours marries the cooking style of home with a cornucopia of island ingredients, “fresh, exotic and bursting with taste.” This season sees Stéphane’s gourmet menus feature perfectly seasoned delicacies like mahi mahi ravioli, pan-seared bonito with curry, and shoulder of black pig all the way from Bigorre in south-west France. Many of the accompanying vegetables are grown in the hotel’s own organic green house. And whilst the majority of wines are brought over from France, a few from Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Spain have made the grade too. This year saw Stephane’s restaurant also get a bit of a makeover. Well, quite a substantial one actually as the poolside venue was bravely closed down for a few months this summer and millions of euros were spent. The floor has been re-covered in limestone, the colour scheme is now all soft greys, beiges and aqua blues, and the adjacent half-moon shaped pool has been relined in anthracite lava stone. There’s even a new maitre d’, Pierre Grall joining the team from Alaine Ducasse’s restaurant at the Essex House in New York. The result is the epitome of island chic and we’re sure all those visiting oligarchs, supermodels and movie stars will approve too. From €1,310 per room per night this winter including transfers & breakfast. www.letoiny.com

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eLEGANT Enhancements

Cobblers Cove BARBADOS

Cobblers Cove’s repeat guest list is the envy of many a Caribbean hotel. So this Relais & Châteaux getaway high up on the west coast of Barbados tends to make enhancements rather than changes. Just enough to appeal to a new crowd, but nothing that’s going to upset anyone who’s been dipping into its country house charms for the past 20 years or so …

The much-loved Cobblers Cove in Barbados just about got away with adding two swanky new suites in the 1990s, but only because the Camelot and the Colleton were so damn gorgeous! And this year sees a brand new plunge pool added to the first of these, the Camelot Suite still surely the prettiest perch in the Caribbean. Built over two levels, it’s all very ‘Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady’ downstairs, with lots of swags and tails, and cool blues and whites. The huge bed is a canopied four-poster affair that conjures up images of masterful gentlemen with handlebar moustaches and pale ladies lying back and thinking of England. Of course, there’s a whole different vibe when you tip-toe up that narrow spiral stairway. The roof terrace is an ultra-private earie where you get to rip off all your clothes and achieve an all-over tan whilst quaffing rum and cokes from your mini-bar. And as the newly-built plunge pool has just been re-positioned for the best sunset viewing, you get to do that kind of naughty stuff all day.

Yet the Camelot Suite’s private pool is not the only Cobblers Cove pool that’s had some attention recently. During this year’s September/October closure period, the main swimming pool (above) was also re-lined and now sparkles with a Diamond Brite finish. Quite an improvement, especially as the pool terrace is a Cobblers Cove focal point and both the elegant bar and restaurant open out to it.

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New General Manager There’s been a change at the top too. Earlier this year Alistair Forrest replaced Randall Wilkie as the Cobblers Cove General Manager. The Brit’s impeccable credentials combined with his long Caribbean experience made him the perfect choice. And yes, we know Alistair dabbled with the Indian Ocean, running luxurious escapes like the Banyan Tree in the Seychelles and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, but we also know his heart has always been in the West Indies. For the past few years he’s been in Antigua, most notably launching the chic Carlisle Bay and then moving across the island to take charge of Blue Waters. He also served as the Chairman of the Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association, and if he can do that he can pretty much do anything!

Camelot Suite Terrace Restaurant

New Executive Chef too! But that’s not all. Following Executive Chef Brian Porteus’s recent move to the Maldives, there’s also been some big changes in the culinary department. The man now in charge of The Terrace restaurant is Michael Harrison, a Bajan chef who actually began his career at Cobblers Cove, serving as its Chef de Partie for three years. But he chose to widen his horizons, refining his talent in the kitchens of worldrenowned establishments like Gleneagles in Scotland and Le Gavroche in London. Chef Michael’s skill at creating classical dishes fused with a modern feel has met with excellent reviews back on his home turf, never more so than at this year’s ‘Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival’. He simply stole the show with his lemon grass and ginger infused pork loin on truffle scented local yams, asparagus and Parmesan foam! Cobblers Cove Gourmet Retreats available. For further details see www.cobblerscove.com. Winter rates from $870 per night, with breakfast.

Sandy Lane

Today the most famous hotel in Barbados is as serene as the white marble that covers its floors. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got interesting origins that some people might even call intriguing. Just like all the best grande dames ...

Sandy Lane Barbados Sandy Lane’s history is irretrievably linked with that of Ronald Tree, and if your reaction is to say “Who dat den?” you’re obviously not too well up on your mid-20th century English politicians. Even those with rumoured bisexual tendencies and a couple of high-profile marriages behind them ... Because if it wasn’t for Ronald Tree there would be no Sandy Lane. It’s debatable whether there would even be a ‘Platinum Coast’ of Barbados. For ‘Ronnie’ fell in love with this part of the world when it was far more popular with mosquitoes than it was with movie stars. The former English MP first stepped ashore here in 1946, by this time a man so well connected and admired for his taste that celebrated friends like Sir Anthony Eden and Sir Winston Churchill quickly followed in his footsteps. Other members of the smart set soon showed up to see what all the fuss was about and it wasn’t long before the acclaimed theatrical designer Oliver Messel was creating them magnificent coral stone homes. Here they could invite their blueblooded friends to quaff champagne and congratulate themselves on escaping the frosty English winters. Tree had first become friends with Churchill and Eden in the 1930s. Aware of the rising threat of the Nazi party and staunchly against Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement, Tree and Churchill regularly dined together at Ditchley House, Tree’s 18th century country estate in Oxfordshire. When Churchill finally took office in 1940, Tree became a member of his war cabinet and gave him the use of Ditchley when more obvious choices like Chequers and Chartwell were deemed too vulnerable to enemy attack. But at the end of the war, after a disillusioned Tree lost his Parliamentary seat in the General Election, he decided to sell his sell his country home and pretty much sever ties with England. By this time he had also got himself a new American wife, having ditched Nancy Astor’s niece following a wartime romance with the socialite Marietta Peabody Fitzgerald. Photos from top left: Sandy Lane in the 1960s; The original Starlight Terrace; Ditchley House in Oxfordshire; Ronald Tree (standing) at Ditchley House with Sir Winston Churchill (seated front.) Right: The Monkey Bar.

Marietta was not one to bury herself in the Oxfordshire countryside. So the fashionable couple soon moved to the US and quickly got themselves involved in US politics. The flirtatious Marietta also got herself involved with the politician Adlai Stevenson and the movie director John Huston. But Ronald decided to expend his considerable energies in other directions and gradually began his transformation from politico (and Marietta’s consort) to real estate broker, if always an incredibly wealthy one. He purchased a 40-acre plot on the west coast of Barbados and commissioned the building of the Palladian villa called Heron Bay. On this magnificent beachfront estate he entertained his friends in the grand manner he’d grown accustomed to back home at Ditchley House. But such was the influx of visitors from both sides of the Atlantic that Heron Bay was soon outgrown. The idea of a luxury hotel was born and Tree quickly spotted the potential in a bankrupt 380-acre sugar plantation overlooking an idyllic bay just down the coast. It was called Sandy Lane and he asked American architect Happy Ward to transform it into a tropical version of an English stately home. Sandy Lane the hotel gradually took shape. Its archways, pediments and sweeping stairways echoed the architectural style so popular throughout England in the 18th and 19th centuries, yet the local creamy white coral stone gave it a strong sense of place. Of course, everyone fell in love with the gracious 52-room retreat when it finally opened in 1961 and the Rothschilds, the Kennedys, Aristocle Onassis and Viscount Astor all showed up. Ronald Tree finally bowed out of the hotel business in 1967 and for the next three decades the Sandy Lane story became rather more corporate than it was colourful. First the Trusthouse group ran the property, this company soon morphing into Trusthouse Forte headed by legendary businessman Charles Forte. Finally in 1996 THF became the subject of a takeover bid by the multinational Granada, and an Irish consortium headed by Dermot Desmond and JP McManus stepped into the picture. The new owners decided to elevate Sandy Lane to a whole new level. The project took three years and involved the demolition of the original hotel, as well as many millions of dollars. Yet when the property re-opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 2001, Ronald Tree’s original coral stone façade was still very much in place. Ronald Tree finally died of a stroke in 1976. He and Marietta had one child, the 60s fashion model Penelope Tree. Experience Sandy Lane from US$1,445 per night this winter. See www.sandylane.com for further details.

Le Sereno in St. Barths has just got itself a brand new culinary star. Jean Louis Brocardi is now heading the hotel’s culinary team following the departure of long-time Executive Chef Jean Luc Grabowski ... And from all reports the traditional French-inspired seafood cuisine of Le Restaurant des Pêcheurs remains in very safe hands. Especially its signature bouillabaisse since, as either luck or design would have it, Brocardi hails from Marseilles where the fish stew originates. Before arriving in St. Barths Brocardi’s glittering career took him all around the world. He’s held high-profile positions at L’Absinthe Brasserie in New York, The Madison Hotel in Washington D.C. and the Hotel Le Beauvallon in Saint Tropez, as well as for the Palette Group in Colombia. He’s also received training beneath a number of renowned French chefs including Bernard Loiseau of La Côte d’Or and Roger Vergé of Moulin de Mougins, both famous eateries on the hard-to-please French Riviera. And whilst Jean Louis has a particular passion for sustainable food practices and always sources many of his ingredients locally, he’s happy to take full advantage of the exceptional produce flown in from his homeland. Certainly when it comes to the aforementioned bouillabaisse, the four different types of rock fish always caught in the waters off Marseilles. Yet the St. Barths fishermen don’t miss out when it comes to the restaurant’s other dishes. Locally-caught fish are served en croute de sel, a technique where the fish is baked in a sea-salt crust resulting in an extremely light and moist taste. Other specialities include Caribbean fish soup, poached fish, calamari and shrimp served alongside a French garlic mayo sauce and l’aioli, a Provençal sauce made of garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and egg yolks. Chef Brocardi has also turned his attention to the wines. Teaming up with private wineries in France, he’s just introduced an exclusive collection of vintages to Le Restaurant des Pêcheurs. Featured labels include Champagne Taittinger from Reims, Pascal Jolivet from the Loire Valley and Chateau Léoube from Provence. Food and wine tastings will feature these exciting collaborations. Room rates from €730 per night this winter. See www.lesereno.com

A new culinary star for Le Sereno ...

LE RESTAURANT DES PĂ&#x160;CHEURS A particularly enchanting venue from which to enjoy Chef Brocardiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuisine. Designed with subtle skill by Christian Liaigre, most of the walls of this serene yet stylish octagonal space are missing. You get to enjoy the creative seafood dishes whilst gazing out over stunning Grand Cul de Sac bay, the sound of the surf hitting the nearby reef the fitting backdrop to your conversations. The service is friendly yet switched-on and everyone speaks perfect English with only the hint of an accent - just in case you were worried about those irregular French verbs. Get down before sunset and you can also enjoy aperitifs (the accompanying tapenade is delicious) in the adjacent bar and watch the sky slowly turn colour before the lamps are lit.

Oh, oh, Ottimo!

Carlisle Bay’s new poolside restaurant has been proving particularly popular since it served its first pizza this summer ...

The stylish alfresco restaurant is ideal for hotel guests wanting to grab a quick bite in the middle of the day, especially as its blonde wooden tables flank the meandering swimming pool. (And who really wants to change out of their swimsuits at lunchtime, especially if you’re a hungry 5-year-old?) Yet as is the trend at the family-friendly Carlisle Bay, no compromises are made on quality even when a customer isn’t old enough to distinguish his artichokes from his asparagus tips. All the Italian food at Ottimo! is prepared in an authentic wood-fired oven, the dishes often served on terracotta tableware à la a delightfully rustic inn in Positano. Pizzas are the speciality here. Before Ottimo! had even opened it had flown in an Italian chef to ensure that it got the dough just right. (Due to the tropical temperature, it took about 13 attempts before everyone was happy with the consistency.) Nowadays, of course, the chefs have all got it down to a fine art and you can look forward to anything from smoked salmon, capers and mascopone toppings to goat’s cheese, sun dried tomatoes and baby artichokes.

Otherwise there are healthy salads involving shaved melon and prosciutto di parma, as well as dolcelatte, shaved pear and smoked almonds. The deliciously decadent desserts include Earl Grey Pannacotta and Milk Chocolate and Gianduja Mousse Cake. Things are a tad less sophisticated for the little ones. Think cheese and tomato mini-pizzas, meatballs in tomato sauce and chicken fingers parmigiana, chocolate brownies and vanilla ice cream provided as the ‘after’s. And later on between 5:30pm and 7pm a relaxed buffet-style dinner is also set up for the kids to enjoy whilst they’re still dripping from the pool. That means parents get to enjoy a little ‘together time’ on their own. Although a couple of evenings a week Ottimo! is also open in the evenings. Chef will cook a whole chicken per family, for example, and plans are afoot for it to offer breakfasts during periods of particularly high occupancy. Pancakes, eggs and sausage dishes all prepared in the wood-fired oven sound like a very good idea to us! Nightly rates from US$920 this winter. Book 90 days in advance and receive a 15% discount. www.carlisle-bay.com

BEST PRIVATE POOLS

We love private pools. Especially so when we’ve just got hitched and want to smooch or just had a bad breakup and want to sulk. They’re also a good idea when our bodies haven’t seen any sun for a few months and we’re worried about frightening the locals. (Just think how great we feel when we finally step onto the beach with not a strap line in sight.) Here are some of the best private swimming pools in the Caribbean …

Hôtel Le Toiny, St. Barths

BEST PRIVATE POOLS

Hôtel Le Toiny St. Barths This pastel-painted getaway high above the Caribbean Sea in a remote corner of St. Barths gets plenty of accolades for its food. And with good reason. Stéphane Mazière’s innovative French-Creole fare is just about as good as it gets in the West Indies. Yet Le Toiny’s villa suites are standard-setting too. Each one is an evocative memorial to the French colonial era with just the right number of contemporary touches thrown in. Think hardwood floors, four-poster beds, moody black-and-white photos and stylish Nespresso coffee machines! Step outside though and it only gets better. Their travertine-tiled terrace is encircled by exotic tropical plantings and studded with an infinityedge pool that was recently re-lined in natural lava stone. It’s all totally private (and a little bit decadent) and just in case in-lust couples get swept away by the sexiness of it all, a red mailbox system is in operation so that no one sees anything they shouldn’t - you simply raise the little flag. The only real diversions from each other are the panoramic ocean views over the Côte Sauvage. From €1,310 per room per night this winter including transfers & breakfast. www.letoiny.com

HERMITAGE BAY Hide yourselves away in these private pool suites in Antigua and you get peace, privacy and pulse-quickening views of distant islands ...

Hermitage Bay’s pool suites are perched on a panoramic hillside on the west coast of Antigua. Some of them are so high up that the views don’t just incorporate the white strand of beach far down below, but neighbouring hotels, harbours and even islands - on clear days St. Kitts, Montserrat and Nevis can all be seen in the distance. And you can’t help but spend most of your time outdoors if you hide yourselves away in one of these.

Inside they’re all very zen in style complete with tropical hardwoods and serene off-white fabrics, the freestanding bathtubs and alfresco garden showers both conducive to tropical romance. And don’t worry you’re going to have to schlepp all the way up the hill from the hotel each night shuttles are available and you’ll have to face about 20 steps max. Ask for number 37,38 or 39 if you want the most spectacular views.

There are wraparound timber sundecks and L-shaped daybeds, as well as sizeable infinity-edge private plunge pools in which it’s customary to sit each evening with beaming smiles upon your faces and glasses of Prosecco in your hands. Added bonuses are the sunsets which are traditionally spectacular, and the well-established purple bell creeper which does a very good job of hiding you from your nearest neighbour.

From US$1,510 to $1,700 per night this winter fully-inclusive. www.hermitagebay.com

A beautiful ‘private’ beach is waiting for you at the bottom of the hillside.

BEST PRIVATE POOLS

The panoramic views from a hilltop cottage

Sugar Beach

BEST PRIVATE POOLS

A Viceroy Resort

A week in a Superior Luxury Villa at Sugar Beach in St. Lucia should feature on everyone’s bucket list. Set high on a lushly-vegetated hillside amidst the Pitons National Park, you don’t just get plantationstyle chic inside but heart-stopping views outside. You are slap-bang in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after all. Stay here and chances are you’ll be quite content to spend most of your time in the great outdoors. These gingerbread-trimmed, pastel-coloured villas boast their own panoramic terraces with convenient dining areas and over-sized plunge pools. Everything so close to the Petit Piton that you feel you only have to stretch out your hand to stroke its jagged sides. (Especially when you’re standing buck naked in the outdoor shower and are feeling particularly overwhelmed by that 2,461 ft. granite rock.) But when you are finally ready to meet your public in the hotel far down below, you just have to ring your private butler and he’ll double-check a shuttle bus is already on its way. www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/sugarbeach.

BEST PRIVATE POOLS

The Sandpiper Barbados The designer Tree Top Suites at The Sandpiper will knock your flipflops off. The only accommodations located on the third floor of this ultra-stylish boutique hotel, they’re where to stay if you want to get a bird’s eye view of what Barbados gets up to in the turquoise waters off its Platinum Coast. Some high-profile couples have been known to check-into them and never come out, quite content to chill-out on their open sundecks and take regular dips in their private plunge pools. There are also well-stocked wet-bars conveniently located on their covered terraces for when you’re finally ready for a rum punch (or two) in the shade. The theme inside is ‘timeless elegance’, the chocolatey woods complemented by a colour scheme that’s all cool, calm and collected. Their seductive beds are piled high with carefully-chosen cushions, whilst their sexy marble bathrooms are the size of your average apartment. Strictly no kids allowed! From US$2,745 per night this winter including breakfast. See www.sandpiperbarbados.com

Timeless elegance

FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESORTS

Coral Reef Club Barbados If you’re turned on by the thought of plantation-style chic go for one of the Luxury Plantation Suites at the Coral Reef Club in Barbados. They sit on the third floor of buildings close to a beautiful beach, so blissful ocean views along Barbados’s glittering west coast are also guaranteed. You’ll pass relaxing days here in sexy seclusion. Thickly-padded sun loungers grace the edges of their 12ft. x 9ft. pools, shade readily available when you’ve both achieved that necessary golden glow. Inside it’s all just about as elegant as you could possibly want, beautifully-dressed beds dominating their romance-inducing bedrooms and rolltop tubs the showpieces of their embarrassingly spacious bathrooms. The living areas are so residential in style that you could be forgiven for thinking that you chose the coffee-table books and shell ‘finds’ yourself. As an added bonus, one of the best spas in the Caribbean lies right on the doorstep. From US$2,745 per night this winter including breakfast. See www.coralreefbarbados.com

BEST PRIVATE POOLS

Spice Island Beach Resort Grenada When other Caribbean hotels were building private terraces, the Spice Island Beach Resort was building private pools. This is the luxury resort that really started the whole ‘private pool’ trend off, its first ones built in the 1970s and 17 of them now tucked away just behind the beachfront accommodations. Each one is a totally private sanctuary surrounded by walls so high that you’re free to sunbathe starkers if that’s your thing - the room service waiters will always ring the doorbell before coming in with the lobster salad. We particularly like the Luxury Almond Pool Suites as most of the living space is outdoors, and they also boast the resort’s largest private pools (16ft. x 20ft.) Super-comfy canopy beds, whirlpool bathtubs and striking Caribbean décor are all standard inside, the endless white sands of one of the best beaches you’ll ever see just seconds away. US$1,671 per night this winter all-inclusive.

See www.spiceislandbeachresort.com for further details.

Villa you ... or vonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you?

Photos: Top: Canouan Resort, the Grenadines Right: Le Sereno, St. Barths

A luxury hotel room is the bizz, of course, but sometimes you just want the extra space of a private villa. Maybe it’s a family celebration and you need somewhere for Auntie Madge. Maybe you’re getting hitched and need somewhere for your wife’s annoying girlfriends. Or maybe the two of you just went a bit mad and had a few too many children. And talking of children, there’s much to be said for staying in a villa where nobody’s going to be tutting if the spaghetti hoops get spilled on the floor or someone makes a big splash in the swimming pool. Of course, if the villa is also part of a multi-faceted hotel, then you don’t have to worry about keeping everyone entertained or even fed. Here are some outstanding HAUTE HOUSES attached to our HAUTE HOTELS ...

BEST PRIVATE VILLAS

Canouan Resort Canouan Resort is where you go when you’ve got a sudden yen for the natural beauty of a tropical island combined with the inherent style of Italy.

Or more specifically Sardinia, this sprawling villa, golf and spa resort created in the 90s by the man who conjured up the Aga Khan’s Costa Smeralda. Here in the Grenadines though you get to run around barefoot all day, the white sands of a spectacular Caribbean beach between your toes. Then after the sun has gone down you can slip into a pair of Gucci loafers and venture across to the ‘Italian’ piazza for a glass of nicely chilled prosecco. Should this exciting combo sound like your kind of thing (and the thing of your closest family and friends) then why not dig deep and whisk them all to one of Canouan’s Resort Villas for a week of R&R. Shared 20-minute charter flights are readily available from Barbados, and you can also get here by scheduled ferry or private yacht, even private jets able to land on the island’s extended runway.

These residential-style villas were certainly designed for the kind of people who own private jets. Think top notch décor enhanced by paparazzi-proof privacy. Each one is terraced into the lushly-vegetated hillside above Mysore Bay and boasts spellbinding vistas over undulating hills, golf fairways and a sparkling blue ocean. Expansive sun terraces and infinity-edge swimming pools are all standard comforts, of course, but if you do want to take advantage of the world-class spa, golf course or restaurants of the main resort, they’re all easily accessed by personal golf cart. Many villa guests also employ the services of a chef and butler, or otherwise what’s the point of those fancy kitchens? See www.canouan.com

Il Sogno

4-bedroom Estate Villa Il Sogno (‘The Dream’) is where to stay when you want the best Canouan’s got up its sleeve. Certainly the best views, this 4-bedroom villa perched so high up that you can see distant Grenadines islands, the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the whole length of Canouan itself including Mount Royal. The 4.2 acre estate comprises 4 separate bedroom cottages, each one 111sqm in size complete with a bedroom, sitting room and veranda. General facilities include an indoor dining room, an alfresco dining gazebo and a media room with a suitably large TV and everything else you need to keep in touch with the world. Although why bother? Especially when the walls of the Great Room slide back to reveal your own 18m pool. And as the gardens are planted with anything from banana and plantain to mango and avocado, you even get to enjoy your own fruit and veg too! From US$5,850 to $8,525 per night.

2 to 6 bedroom Resort Villas available from US$3,550 per night this winter. Pay an additional US$200 pppn and you can also enjoy butler service, private chef service, full-board, alcoholic and non-alcoholic bar, daily fresh fruit selection, and access to all resort facilities. Rates plus 20% tax and service.

BEST PRIVATE VILLAS

Le Sereno St. Barths St. Barths is well known for its private villas, of course. It’s got 100s of them, the swankiest ones set aside for the famous faces who flock to the island like paparazzi to a Red Carpet event. If you fancy going all Beyonce and Jay-Z, but would feel more comfortable with five-star facilities right on your doorstep, consider one of the ultra-stylish 3-bedroom villas at Le Sereno. Set up a series of steps just behind this fashionable hotel, the three identical villas are the work of ‘king of calm’ Christian Liaigre. They’re a contemporary take on modern living, all stone, glass and timber on the outside, with as much as possible overlooking the reefprotected waters of Grand Cul-de-Sac bay. On the inside they’re unmistakably ‘Liaigre’, dark woods contrasting with serene neutrals, the occasional splash of blue or red injecting the colour. And as always with the acclaimed French designer, texture is vitally important. You’ll find yourselves wanting to touch their stone floors, smooth woods and soft throws, Arnold Chan’s lighting contributing to the sensual mood after dark.

When it comes to size, it’s probably best just to think big, big, big. Each villa occupies almost half-an-acre of manicured lawns and covers more than 7,500 sq.ft. of indoor and outdoor space over two floors. The main public areas are upstairs, the living room opening out onto a generous timber sundeck complete with its own 33ft. swimming pool. There’s also an elegant dining room and a sleek Schiffini kitchen, the adjacent library boasting a media room where you can catch up on your favourite movies. All 3 of the serene bedrooms qualify as masters, their little luxuries including modern bathrooms with feature showers and deep-soaking tubs, as well as their own private terraces with ocean views. And you get a car and butler too, the latter reliably showing up each morning to butter your toast and brew your coffee - there’s an informal dining area downstairs that’s just perfect for bleary-eyed mornings. Villa rates available on request. See www.lesereno.com

Peter Island At 1,800-acres Peter Island is the largest private island in the British Virgin Islands. And much to the delight of its resident chameleons, goats and iguanas, almost 90% of this undulating, green mini-kingdom is left to Mother Nature. So probably best to think of the place as a kind of luxurious national park. Somewhere you can bring your hiking boots to, as well as your designer sandals ...

A particularly good test of your physical stamina is Peter Island’s 5-mile fitness trail, the so-called ‘Sunset Loop’ always best tackled with steely determination and well before breakfast - some of those hills are especially steep and you’ll not only get up them more easily before the sun has risen, but also if you know a Sprat Bay banana pancake is waiting for you back in the Tradewinds restaurant. And then, of course, there are those challenging 3-mile hikes across the island to White Bay, a long and blissful stretch of alabaster sand where you get to snorkel over coral reefs teeming with tropical fish and then wait for someone nice to bring you a picnic lunch. Romantic picnic lunches have long been popular on Peter Island, particularly with couples reserving Honeymoon Beach. Yes, you actually get to book this tiny little stretch of sand just around the bay from the main Deadman’s Beach, your privacy assured for a whole 3-hours, give or take the occasional passing sailor or pelican. And whilst the curving little bay is as pristine and natural as you’d imagine, there’s also a thatched bohio for shade, as well as a covered deck area furnished with a thickly-padded double sun lounger - although if you do prefer to roll around in the surf like a Hollywood leading lady and man, there’s absolutely nothing to stop you, except the thought of sand in the Villebrequins. Particularly adventurous couples might also want a little underwater action. Especially as the 310-ft. RMS Rhone sank off neighbouring Salt Island in 1867 and is still considered one of the world’s best wreck dives. Special features include the 15 ft. propeller and the hatch which played a prominent role in the movie, The Deep. But just think on - whilst one of you will be entertained by the resident moray eels, turtles and octopus, the other one will be thinking about Jacqueline Bisset … Of course, you don’t have to do any of these sweaty or salty things on Peter Island. It’s just as easy to sit around all day in a stylish white swimsuit and be pampered - whether you prefer the beautiful beach, the photogenic pool or the spectacular spa. Golf buggies will get you about, especially in the evenings when everyone congregates on the panoramic bluff at the end of the ‘Sunset Loop’ to sip wine and watch the sun slow disappear behind the neighbouring islands. Winter from US$775 per room per night.

EARLY BOOKING SPECIAL Book a Beach Front Junior Suite before 31 March and get 7 nights for the price of 6 or 14 nights for the price of 12. See www.peterisland.com

Photos: Top - main beach at Deadmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay Left - swimming pool at the spa Above - double sunlounger on Honeymoon Beach Bottom - scuba-diving over the RMS Rhone

Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barths

Spa-vellous

Size isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t everything! Some Caribbean spas are small in stature, but they certainly make up for it in personality. Here are some of our favourites and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find them anywhere from the border of a rainforest to the edge of the Caribbean Sea ...

The Rainforest Spa OTTLEY’S PLANTATION INN • St. Kitts Ottley’s Plantation Inn is the only hotel we know which comes with its own miniature rainforest. This sugar-plantation-turned-inn famously occupies a 35-acre estate at the foot of St. Kitts’s Verchilds mountain range, its sloping green lawns immaculately landscaped until they disappear into the deep and shady ravine that cuts through the edge of the property. Here branch-hopping vervet monkeys play hide-and-seek amidst the tangle of ancient trees, everywhere so still and silent that you can hear yourself breathe as you slowly explore the vine-covered pathways. So where better than on the edge of this mango tree-studded ravine to position the hotel’s Mango Orchard Spa? And what better to model it on than the home of some ancient retainer, a woodsman’s cabin perhaps complete with tin roof, timber walls and a cheerful red door opening out onto a little porch? This one-roomed rustic retreat fits in perfectly with its back-tonature surroundings, especially so when the wooden shutters are raised up permitting all the sounds, sites and smells of the rainforest to come right in. Don’t be surprised to see an inquisitive monkey staring down on you as you lie back on the massage table.

Rooms from US$260 per night this winter. Spa treatments extra. Stay between 3 January and 30 March and get 7 nights for the price of 6 plus a $50 food & beverage credit.

SPA-VELLOUS

The Hillside Spa

SPA-VELLOUS

HôTEL LE TOINY

St. Barths

Le Toiny’s aptly-named Serenity Spa Cottage is where a tightly-wound Toinette (our phrase!) goes to get their kinks straightened out. It is perched on the panoramic hillside of this Relais & Châteaux hideaway, a quaint gingerbreadtrimmed cottage with one suite offering the sweet-smelling treatments of Ligne St. Barths. There’s coconut oil to moisturise the skin, aloe vera to refresh it and cold-pressed avocado oil to supply it with important nutrients. Extracts of pineapple, papaya and passionfruit are also put to good use, everything as natural as possible and made exclusively on the island of St. Barths. Yet nothing underscores this pleasing, organic approach more than the use of hand-polished clam shells in the Chill Out massages. They’re basically a French West Indies spin on hot stones! The self-heating clams are filled with water and minerals, and then rubbed with warm avocado oil. You can just imagine it, can’t you? The beneficial warmth of the clams, the tension-relieving effects of the manual massage techniques and the subtle fragrance of the precious oil. After 60-minutes of this, little wonder that guests are whisked off to a blissful world of head-to-toe relaxation and find it difficult to remember their own names. 60 minute Chill Out Massage with clams €140. Rooms from €1,310 per room per night this winter including transfers & breakfast. www.letoiny.com

51 59

SPA-VELLOUS

HERMITAGE BAY Antigua Hermitage Bay’s hideaway spa echoes the eco-chic, zen vibe of the rest of the hotel. Located on the lower slopes of a panoramic hillside, it’s a shuttered, timber floored affair with plenty of natural seagrasses and rattans in evidence. Billowing white drapes frame the blissful views, a thick carpet of olive-green trees and pink-studded bougainvillaea shrubs edged by a tranquil blue-green Caribbean Sea. Yet those Asian influences are hard to miss too. The hand-carved, paint-chipped blue doorway looks like it comes from an ancient Indonesian monastery. And although the Dorissima product line might sound Italian, it’s based upon complementary eastern medicine and the healing power of chakras. There’s actually a very interesting story behind Dorissima. It was developed by Doris Brugger, a high-powered PR consultant who worked closely with the late Gianni Versace. Upset by his untimely death, she decided to travel the world and eventually found herself in Sri Lanka. Here she met a lady who introduced her to the benefits of using natural aromatic oils in beauty products. Totally hooked, she began to look at the benefits of complementary medicine. She took up yoga and meditation and became an expert on Ayurvedic practises. Her first scented body oil Aphrodite was launched in 2002 and now her line consists of seven natural body oils in 7 colours, each one referring to a different chakra colour. At Hermitage Bay the Dorissima treatments are carried out by expertly-trained therapists in three serene suites. Herbal teas aid in the relaxation process and soft music is played whilst the rooms are bathed in gentle coloured lights. The ‘Colour Rituals’ begin with refreshing foot baths combining Himalayan salts, selected fruits or flowers and specially-blended essential oils. The holistic facial treatments include anything from soft pressure beauty massages to cleanses and peels. Pilates and yoga classes are readily available too.

Rooms from US$1,125 per night this winter, fully-inclusive. Spa treatments extra. See www.hermitagebay.com.

SPA-VELLOUS

The Zen Spa The 7 chakra colours

• Red - power, stamina and assertiveness • Orange - joy of living, vitality and enthusiasm • Yellow - spontaneity, empathy and self-confidence • Green - tolerance, creativity and self-esteem • Blue - communication, concentration, rational thinking • Indigo - intuition and imagination • Purple - self-awareness and forward-thinking

SPA-VELLOUS

The Seaside Spa

HOTEL CHRISTOPHER St. Barths Only the best hotels get themselves a Sisley spa. Hotels like Le Byblos in St. Tropez, The Carlyle in New York and Le Prince Maurice in Mauritius. This year sees the Hotel Christopher in St. Barths join the ranks of this select group, the property’s clubby tropical style and relaxing zen influences deemed the perfect fit for this prestigious French skincare brand. The sensorial beauty and body treatments are performed in a trio of modern treatment suites perched on a breeze-cooled oceanfront bluff. Their missing fourth walls means that when you’re lying on their massage tables soothed by the sounds of the surf, what you’re hearing is real and not from a tranquillity CD. Look up and your gaze will take in equally soothing images of white sand beaches, a sparkling blue ocean and exotic islands with names like Bonhomme, Toc Vers and Frégate. Book a late-afternoon appointment and you can watch the sun slowly disappear behind them. The Hotel Christopher’s seaside serenity works particularly well with Sisley’s highly-acclaimed Phyto-Aromatique treatments. Frenchman Hubert d’Ornano developed the brand in 1976 when using botanicals in beauty was still considered a major breakthrough. His posh potions make use of essential oils and plant extracts to give tired skin an instant boost. Treatments are available for the face and body, the aromatherapy combined with massage rituals from all over the world. Think Thai, Balinese, Ayurvedic and Hawaiian lomi-lomi. Fitness facilities, aqua-biking, Pilates and yoga classes are all available too and when you’re looking suitably fit and gorgeous, you’ll get to strut your stuff around the very best swimming pool in St. Barths!

Room rates from €460 per night this winter. www.hotelchristopher.com

SPA-VELLOUS

CURTAIN BLUFF Antigua The Curtain Bluff spa might be a relatively recent addition to this vintage Antiguan escape, but it has sure bagged itself a decent spot. Built over two storeys just six years ago, it occupies an elevated position on a seafront bluff, and uninterrupted sea views await from both its breeze-cooled public terraces and sweetly-scented treatment rooms. After your warm bamboo massage - or something similarly exotic - you’ll get to relax in a panoramic plunge pool (heated to a toe-curling 98 degrees) with a flute of chilled champagne and contemplate not only your navel, but also miles and miles of tranquil blue ocean. Neighbouring islands like Montserrat, St. Kitts and even Guadaloupe can be seen in the distance, and if you’ve cleverly booked yourself a late afternoon appointment (the spa closes at 7pm), the chances are you’ll also be rewarded with a decent sunset.

There are 5 treatment rooms here - three single, one double, one for facials - and each one boasts its own private balcony overlooking the water. The double suite even has an outdoor Jacuzzi perfect for getting a newly-relaxed couple to relax even further. Eco-friendly Pevonia Botanica products are used in the long list of treatments and the therapists from Nepal, Bali and Antigua know exactly what they’re up to. See www.curtainbluff.com for details.

The Ultimate Escape

Learn the true meaning of relaxation by giving yourself a one-day, stress-free vacation. Indulge yourself with a Curtain Bluff Signature Massage, Facial, Pedicure, Shampoo, Style and Deep Conditioning Treatment. After 6 hours of pampering, you’ll forget why you needed it in the first place. US$435 for 6 hours.

The bluff Spa

Ismayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant Galley Bay hotel, Antigua

Stan Baxter, Executive Chef, Galley Bay, Antigua

The affable chef

Stan Baxter has been in charge of the kitchens at Galley Bay for the past 13 years. The affable and award-winning chef has no plans to leave Antigua any time soon ...

Ex-pat Executive Chefs come and go in the West Indies, often with the emphasis upon the ‘go’. Stan Baxter is not going anywhere however, this affable (and award-winning) Brit a firm fixture at the Galley Bay hotel for the past 13 years now.

Ismay’s Bar

There are a number of reasons for Stan’s loyalty. He loves Antigua first and foremost, and his wife and family love it too. The island has become their home. But just as importantly, Stan has never got bored or frustrated working at the same property. Over the years he’s been allowed to develop his skills just as Galley Bay itself has developed. This 100-room all-inclusive hideaway now boasts a trio of exciting restaurants, as well as a brand new beachfront grill. Stan arrived in Antigua in 1999 after a career that, although rapidly advancing, was firmly entrenched in the UK. He began his culinary training beneath Chef Anton Mosimann at London’s Dorchester Hotel, following it up with stints at Les Ambassadeurs and the Ritz Casino Restaurant in London, before continuing on to the Swallow Royal Hotel in Bristol and finally the UK leisure group Center Parcs. But Stan was more than ready to swop the grey skies for blue ones. He was delighted to be offered the Executive Chef position at Galley Bay and since landing in Antigua he’s slowly built up a team of local chefs, often hand-picking them from the local community. He’s also forged strong relationships with the region’s agricultural industry, trying to source as many products as possible from the Caribbean, most notably Antigua and Dominica. Although as with all the best chefs, Stan can’t resist growing his own produce as well. His vegetable plot close to the hotel’s 18th century sugar mill yields anything from leeks, onions and eggplants to beets, carrots and arugela lettuce, even mint for the mojitos! In 2010 Stan was awarded the title ‘Antigua Chef of the Year’. If you want to see him really strut his stuff then book yourselves a table at Ismay’s, Galley Bay’s à la carte ‘Special Occasion’ restaurant. Room rates from US$940 per room per night this winter, all-inclusive. See www.galleybayresort.com

Ismay’s Restaurant is named after Galley Bay’s longest serving staff member. Ismay Mason began work in the Housekeeping Department almost 50 years ago and is still a valued member of the team.

Ismay’s Restaurant

Supplement of US$35 pp for dinner Ismay’s is where beachfront dining gets rather chic. Think timber floors, a canvas roof, sisal rugs and Indian day beds. Food-wise you can look forward to a particularly extensive menu showcasing extra special delicacies like jumbo shrimps, smoked salmon and grilled beef filet mignon. Although the Caribbean influences are never far away and a gumbo broth is always on the go, the fresh ingredients added only when the orders are placed. Carefully chosen whiskies (like a 12-year-old Cutty Sark) and digestifs (like an 8-year-old Angostura Rum) complement the dinners and encourage guests to linger!

A dream come true? We know what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like. You love dreaming about luxury Caribbean hotels. You love staying in luxury Caribbean hotels. But what you really love is someone taking the hassle out of getting you to luxury Caribbean hotels. Someone who knows a thing or two about the best airline rates, the nicest taxi drivers and how to get to that tiny island in the Grenadines. And someone who knows the difference between booking you a room and booking you a dream room ...

Tel: 44 (0) 845 026 0975 enquiries@worldwidedreamvillas.com www.worldwidedreamvillas.com

SANDY LANE St. James, Barbados

HAUTE HOTELS All thewww.haute-hotels.com low-down on luxury Caribbean hotels www.haute-hotels.com