12 minute read
CARIBBEAN FAVOURITES
by sunways
Your long-awaited holiday is well deserved, so indulge in the blissful pleasures that our tropical destinations bring and make your next trip a one-in-a-lifetime experience. We have hand-picked a selection of our favourite Caribbean luxury holidays where you can really spoil yourself with something extra special.
FAIRMONT ROYAL PAVILION BARBADOS
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Fairmont Royal Pavilion is one of Barbados’ truly iconic west coast hotels and is the epitome of luxury and elegance. Its grand architecture reflects the hotel’s rich heritage and is complimented with a cool contemporary beach-inspired design, celebrating Bajan lifestyle and culture. This is the perfect place to just relax, unwind and enjoy unbroken ocean views across one of the best beachfront locations on the island. There are a wide range of activities on the water to enjoy including windsurfing, paddleboarding, snorkelling, and kayaking tours around the calm waters in the bay.
The hotel is the only one in Barbados to be positioned right on the beach and take full advantage of this by upgrading your stay to one of the stunning Beachfront Suites, which also benefit from dedicated butler service. As a Fairmont Royal Pavilion guest, you will receive a VIP welcome with a fast-track arrival service at Barbados airport.
The hotel has some fabulous new al fresco dining options under the guidance of new Executive Chef, Tim Palmer. The recently renovated Palm Terrace restaurant has now been transformed into an elegant Grill Restaurant. Both hotel guests and locals alike are invited to enjoy the new menu which pays special homage to indigenous, seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients.
WINDJAMMER LANDING VILLA BEACH RESORT SAINT LUCIA
Why our Senior Travel Adviser, Helen, recommends Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
Windjammer provides the best of both worlds with the privacy and comfort of your own villa, along with all the benefits of a luxury resort which has all the beauty and charm of a picturesque Mediterranean village. The resort has a lovely, relaxed atmosphere and is ideal for families and couples alike with a choice of 191 spacious rooms, suites and villas scattered on the hillside above the bay or located on the ocean front offering stunning views. The sensational Luxury Beachfront Villas sleep up to 12 guests and boast generous indoor and outdoor luxurious living spaces and private infinity pools. The resort is nestled on 60 acres of Saint Lucia’s beautiful northwest coast in Labrelotte Bay, and has all the facilities you could want and more, including four swimming pools, two children’s pools, two floodlit tennis courts, a fully-equipped gym, yoga deck, games room, mini-mart and complimentary watersports. The in-water hammocks just off the beach at Windjammer are pure bliss and ideal for soaking up the sun whilst being cooled by the gentle Caribbean Sea.
There’s a lovely spa for the grown-ups and a fun kids club for younger guests. The All-Inclusive options are recommended to take advantage of the five restaurants and four bars which offer a wide variety of cuisine and ambience, accompanied by an impressive selection of tropical cocktails, quality wines, and more.
7 nights from £1,479 per person sharing an Ocean View Guest Room including breakfast. OFFER: Save 35%.
It’s hard spending time apart from someone you love, and that’s how we feel about Antigua - we can’t wait to be back, soaking up the rays on one of the island’s 365 gorgeous beaches. Our favourite hotels here are low key and low rise, giving you plenty of space in the sun, so this is a great destination to escape the ANTIGUA crowds. Privacy and exclusivity are the watchword at hotels like Hermitage Bay and Carlisle Bay, while the stunning Jumby Bay is situated on its own SAILING, SUNSHINE AND SUMMERTIME FUN private island. There’s plenty of Caribbean countryside to explore, from sleepy villages and old sugar mills to lush tropical rainforest, and the warm turquoise waters just offshore are superb for snorkelling and scuba diving.
HERMITAGE BAY ANTIGUA
This adults-only luxury boutique hotel is a hidden gem, nestled into a lush green hillside and overlooking the stunning turquoise bay. The 30 luxurious suites are set amongst 17 acres of tropical gardens, and the Beachfront Suites are right on the beach with uninterrupted ocean views. The spacious hillside pool suites are ideal for romantically-minded couples with their own private pool and wrap around veranda, as well as outdoor showers overlooking the sea to give a real tropical feel. With the beautiful Garden Spa offering massages and treatments to rejuvenate guests, and exquisite cuisine incorporating freshly picked food from their organic garden, Hermitage Bay really is a perfect hideaway retreat for the mind, body and soul.
CARLISLE BAY ANTIGUA
The resort offers the perfect balance of being luxurious and stylish, yet unpretentious and family-friendly, warmly welcoming guests of all ages. Tucked away on a secluded bay and surrounded by verdant rainforest, Carlisle Bay offers a completely idyllic setting separated into two distinct areas: one for families, one for adults. Half of the 500-metre beach is designed purely for families; Beach Balcony and Terrace Suites are based here and feature studio-style master bedrooms with direct views of the beach and separate twin rooms. Plus, for families staying in these suites on an all-inclusive basis, up to two children will receive complimentary all-inclusive.
During school holidays, the Cool Kids Club caters for children from 6 months up to 6 years of age, while the Crew Blue programme keeps 7 to 12-year-olds busy with everything from movie screenings to Hobie Cat sailing. Towards the end of the bay lie beautiful mangroves which are ideal for gentle kayaking trips, and older children in particular will enjoy the fun activities organised by the resort such as zip lining and raft building.
Couples are well looked after too with adult-only dining areas and accommodation. Plus the spa is highly recommended with an extensive menu of massages, body treatments and luxurious rituals to help you relax and rejuvenate.
7 nights from £1,899 per person sharing a Garden Suite on Half Board. OFFER: Save up to 35% + Complimentary Room Upgrade + Complimentary Half Board.
ELEGANT HOTELS BARBADOS
A unique collection of seven luxury properties in prime beachfront locations across Barbados, Elegant are amongst our most popular hotels and for good reason. For any families looking for an all-inclusive escape, we recommend Turtle Beach in the South or Tamarind and Crystal Cove on the West Coast; each have excellent kids’ clubs, complimentary non-motorised watersports and a range of dining options. For adults seeking the ultimate in rest and relaxation, we love the intimate boutique hideaway of The House and the “art-inspired” and all-suite Treasure Beach. Also, on the West Coast is the timeless elegance of Colony Club and, for those seeking a mind and body holiday, the all-inclusive wellness haven of The Waves Resort & Spa. To enjoy the best of Elegant, take the complimentary water taxi for exchange dining privileges across the hotels with the “Taste of Elegance Dine Around Programme.”*
7 nights from £1,699 per person sharing a Pool/Garden View Room at Tamarind on All-Inclusive. OFFER: Save 50%.*Excludes The House.
SUGAR BEACH, A VICEROY RESORT SAINT LUCIA
Why our Private Sales Manager, Abi, recommends Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Sugar Beach has one of the most breathtaking locations in the Caribbean, set on a beautiful whitesand bay and tucked between the iconic UNESCO Piton mountains. There are a range of stunning accommodation options to suit all with a plunge pool and butler service; the resort’s luxurious collection of Residences are ideal for extended families with up to four bedrooms and a lovely sense of privacy and tranquillity. The diving is also spectacular where you can expect to see squid, turtles and countless tropical fish in the resorts own marine protected bay. For those that want to fully relax, a visit to the unique tree house treatment rooms at the magical Rainforest Spa is a must, where you can enjoy a range of signature treatments.
7 nights from £2,199 per person sharing a Luxury Sugar Mill Room including breakfast. OFFER: Stay 7 Pay 5 + Complimentary breakfast.
GALLEY BAY RESORT & SPA ANTIGUA
Why our Senior Travel Adviser, Karen, recommends Galley Bay Resort & Spa
An authentic Caribbean getaway, this ever-popular adult-only all-inclusive resort is the perfect choice for honeymooners. Idyllic beachfront rooms and suites enhance the sense of romance that flows through Galley Bay, but for something truly special we recommend the supremely private Gauguin Suites, each with their own plunge pool. Set within 40 acres of lush gardens and along a three-quarter mile white-sand beach, there is plenty of space to find your piece of paradise and to enjoy the wealth of activities available. The latest addition to the resort, The Rum Shack, is the epitome of laid-back Caribbean charm and dining is a farm-to-table experience with three excellent open-air beachfront restaurants on offer, all with stunning views.
HAMMOCK COVE ANTIGUA
Why our Trade Sales Manager, Karen, recommends Hammock Cove
Instagram-worthy plunge pools? Check. In-room dining from a Michelin-trained chef? Check. Noisy kids running around the pool? Absolutely not, this new boutique hotel is a strictly adults-only affair. Contemporary but unmistakably Caribbean, each of the 42 villas has a gorgeous infinity-edge plunge pool overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, and an open-air living and dining area bathed sunshine. The hotel is fully all-inclusive and you’ll be spoiled by the unfailingly efficient Guest Ambassadors, who are on hand to assist with restaurant bookings, in-villa dining, your morning coffee or just about anything else you can think of.
VICEROY RIVIERA MAYA MEXICO
You can truly escape when you stay at this adult-only boutique resort in the heart of the Riviera Maya. Fringed by rainforest and with a fabulous beachfront location, Viceroy Riviera Maya is a unique retreat. You’ll be met on arrival by the resident Shaman who will perform a Mayan blessing, before being personally escorted to your villa by your butler. Each of the 41 luxurious villas have a furnished terrace, plunge pool, and outdoor shower to enjoy in seclusion. Discover complete relaxation and rejuvenation at the full-service spa. Recently upgraded, we love the new cabana lined pool deck and the authentic Mexican cuisine at al fresco Coral Restaurant + Bar.
7 nights from £1,979 per person sharing a Luxury Villa including breakfast. OFFER: US$150 Resort Credit.
EDEN ROC CAP CANA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Why our Private Sales Manager, Fiona, recommends Eden Roc Cap Cana
Eden Roc Cap Cana is a unique and secluded complex home to pristine beaches, towering cliffs and tropical forests and designed with the elegance and sophistication of the French Riviera with a colourful Caribbean twist. In my 20 years at Caribtours, I’ve stayed at some of the most luxurious hotels in the Caribbean, but I was still wowed by Eden Roc - the suites here are jaw-droppingly gorgeous and all come equipped with their own private pool. Eden Roc Cap Cana is the first Relais & Châteaux property in the Dominican Republic so you can expect superb dining and faultless service. Other highlights include a Jack Nicklaus golf course, a huge equestrian centre, and recently renovated luxury spa, where there is also a mini spa dedicated to pamper the younger guests.
MONTPELIER PLANTATION ST KITTS & NEVIS
The beautifully-boutique Montpelier Plantation & Beach is one of the most atmospheric hotels in the Caribbean, retaining the character from its days as a former sugar plantation and complimented with chic and contemporary design. Set within 60 acres of lush tropical gardens, 750 feet up in the hills of Nevis, you can enjoy captivating views of Mount Nevis - especially from the beautiful mosaic-tiled swimming pool. The hotel’s own private beach is just a short drive away via the complimentary shuttle bus, where you can relax on the cabanas or sip on cocktails at the beach bar. There are 19 elegant plantation rooms, each providing sumptuous linens, Egyptian cottons, and private verandas. Largely off the tourist track, Nevis itself is both tranquil and spectacular with its mix of bright blue seas, green mountains, and picture-perfect beaches.
I highly recommend experiencing the six-course tasting menu at Mil Priveé the 300-year-old converted stone sugar mill, which is the only restaurant of its kind in the world. The dishes are out-of-this-world exceptional – rich lobster bisque, fresh tuna tartare and desserts that could be framed as artwork. The culinary adventures don’t stop there with their two other restaurants, Restaurant 750 for gourmet creations, and Indigo for casual poolside dining. Cooking classes and demonstrations, plus wine and rum tasting, can also be enjoyed here.
