June 18, 2021
As travel restrictions loosen and the coronavirus curtain lifts, how about swapping the mandated monotony of pandemic lockdowns for an upscale vacation and a fruity cocktail by the water’s edge?
Go for the posh and check into a luxury retreat in the Caribbean where ritzy resorts are rolling out the welcome mat, and a stay in an oceanfront suite is the stuff of caviar dreams.
Jade mountain, St Lucia
On the only Caribbean island named for a woman, Jade Mountain is a modern marvel sitting pretty on a hilltop. Designed by owner and architect Nick Troubetzkoy, the tony resort on the southwest coast is on the A-list for twosomes craving unrivaled pampering and privacy.
With the fourth wall absent, the suites (called ‘sanctuaries’) are sweeping spaces with extravagant infinity pools that give way to cinematic panoramas of the Pitons peaks and the Caribbean Sea.
Nightly rates in a Galaxy Sanctuary – the resort’s largest at 2,000 square feet – start at $3,612 per couple through October 31, and include non-motorized watersports, beach chairs, Creole history classes and chocolate tastings.
The Tryall Club, Jamaica
Go for the gold at The Tryall Club west of Montego Bay where weekly rates in the super swank Oceans 8 Villa start at $40,000 (yes, that’s forty thousand US dollars). For the you-know-you’re-worth-it crowd, 6-bedroom, 6-bathroom mega-villa is social distancing par excellence in 11,000 square feet of living space.
Perks include a butler, chef, gardener, ginormous living room with rock star views of the Caribbean Sea, infinity pool and a playroom for the kids.
Sandals Royal Caribbean, Jamaica
Ticking all the boxes, over-the-water private island villas at Sandals Royal Caribbean is a fantasy vacation worth its sea salt. At the adults-only all-inclusive in Montego Bay, the villas that are really over the sea come with a boatload of uniqueness like floating water hammocks, see-through glass floors, infinity pools and outdoor showers.
Popular with couples kicking up the mojo, nightly rates, per person, start at $1,753.00 and include butler service, Molton Brown bathroom amenities, private dining and airport transfers.
The Villas at Shore Club, Turks and Caicos
Crowd-free standalone havens of rejuvenation, The Villas at the Shore Club in Providenciales steal the show. On the never-crowded Long Bay Beach, the villas are privacy-central with a heated pool, terraces and courtyard.
Upping the ante, you’ll enjoy glam inclusions such as butler service, breakfast en-suite or al fresco, watersports, small catamaran and airport transfers. Nightly rates in a 6-bedroom villa start at $6,000. Chefs are available at an additional cost.
The Cove at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
At the herculean Atlantis Paradise Island resort with a golf course, casino, nightclub, Dolphin Cay, umpteen rooms, suites, bars and restaurants, indulgence reigns supreme in the Penthouse Suite at The Cove. It’s one of six hotels at the mega-resort on Paradise Island, across the bridge from Nassau.
Inviting, with ocean views from the balcony, there is only one Penthouse Suite in the 600-suite hotel, with its own adults-only pool. Turning up the swagger, the sweet suite comes with round-the-clock butler service, en-suite check-in and nightly rates that start at $7,000.
Santosha Villa Estate, Anguilla
Once a personal residence, the beach is just the beginning at the Santosha Villa Estate on the tranquil east coast of Anguilla. Rented as one retreat to ensure privacy, the 9-bedroom estate is comprised of one villa and 4 guest houses.
Measuring a staggering 37,000 square feet of interior and exterior space, there are tennis and basketball courts, a pool, hot tub and indoor gym. Perks go the distance, such as 8-hour daily butler service and kayaks to search for sea turtles.
Nightly rates through November start at $5,800 for the first 10 guests, an additional $200.00 per guest, per night, up to 21 people. For those who plan ahead, December holiday rates jump to $23,400 nightly for up to 21 of your closest pals.
Le Mangabey at Four Seasons Resort, Nevis
Sitting pretty on the petite island across the channel from St. Kitts, it’s all about seclusion in Le Mangabey at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. Named for the playful Mangabey monkey, the 4-bedroom villa keeps the theme with monkey-themed artwork and a jungle-designed bedroom for the kids.
Outfitted with an infinity pool and barbecue pavilion that seats 12, the villa is a 10-minute golf cart ride to the resort where you’ll find an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II golf course, rum bar, four restaurants, nine tennis courts, spa, basketball court, watersports and three pools by the beach.
Nightly rates booked in the “Reunite and Reconnect” package start at $10,903 and include airport transfers, breakfast and an afternoon of kite making, canapés and poolside cocktails. Rates are valid through December 1 with a 7-day minimum stay.