The Guides, which are celebrating their 29th year of publication in Europe, have attracted a loyal readership in the United States too. Each Guide features rich, full-color exterior and interior hotel photographs, and details about facilities, rates and contact information, everything a guest needs to make an informed decision about a reservation. And just recently the international luxury travel guide announced the winners of the 2011 Awards for Excellence.
The winners of these prestigious awards were chosen as the premier properties throughout the Americas, Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
The five winners of the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific are:
1) Most Excellent Resort: Hotel Guanahani & Spa, Saint-Barthelemy
Now for those unaware of the beauty of the Saint Barthelemy island, it is also referred to as the ‘Unique Island’ or just St Barts and is located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. The delightful resort hotel is set in a beautiful location overlooking 2 white sand beaches on a private 16-acre peninsula. The Guanahani’s starling colored cottages, from yellow to indigo to purple to bright green, are scattered amongst bougainvilleas, hibiscus and a coconut grove streching between the ocean and the lagoon.
Its pastel interiors, with vibrant furnishings, rich mahogany floors and tropical woods in each of the bungalow-styled suites, creates an ideal romantic honeymoon getaway. Also the hotel is offering a special romantic ‘Blissfull Package’ valid from 4th April, 2011 to 17th December, 2011 which will include 5-Night Accommodation in Chosen Room Category, Daily Continental breakfast in your room or full American buffet breakfast at the beach front Indigo restaurant, 5 spa treatments per stay and per person,One Cocktail per person per day at one of the hotel bars, 2 lunches and 2 dinners, Private round trip airport transfers with hotel shuttle.
For the ultimate foodies, gourmet cuisine is central to Guanahani: Executive Chef Philippe Masseglia has created an international menu with a French flair in Le Bartoloméo where nightly music is played. The Lounge Bar is a pleasant setting for pre-dinner cocktails and L’Indigo is the casual pool-side restaurant overlooking the pool and beach.
Looking for some relaxation? The open-air Spa by Clarins offers 11 treatment rooms, a hammam ritual bath, beauty salon, herbal tea room and Frederic Fekkai hairdressing salon. Private boat and plane charters can be arranged, and complimentary children’s programs are available.
‘A fabulous resort on the east of the island, away from the bustle. Some of the suites are on the rugged cliff top, above the beach and the bay. There is a fine spa on the extensive grounds.’
- Conde Nast Traveller
Rates:
(Prices are inclusive of breakfast, non-motorized water sports and airport/port transfers)
2) Most Excellent Small Resort: Horned Dorset Primavera, Puerto Rico
Those looking for a rugged coast, big waves, humpback whales, emerald hills, and coconut palms, welcome to Rincon. Rincon is known for its surf and seclusion. Located on 8 acres of hillside overlooking a sandy beach, the luxurious resort features aestheic interiors antiques, exotic woods and marble baths.
The Primavera Suites are spacious and king-size with 1,400 sq. ft., 2-story, king-bedded along with private terraces and plunge pools facing the endless horizon of the Straits of Mona. The furnishings are Spanish, Dutch, and Caribbean mahogany and teak, and look out to the 17th-century Spanish Empire of Carlos I. 17 luxurious beach-front villas have private dipping pools, teak and mahogany furnishings, imported rugs and lamps in the Spanish Mozarabic.
Gourmet cuisine at Restaurant Aaron presents a selection of creative and delectable menus, and each morning breakfast is served alfresco in The Verandah, on the terrace of the Blue Room or in the privacy of your suite.
Other facilities include: fishing, golf, gym, jacuzzi, scuba diving, spa, water sports and for those who can’t relax even during a holiday there is wireless internet.
Rates:
(per couple, including breakfast and dinner)
3) Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway: Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia
Architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy has expanded upon his philosophy of building in harmony with Caribbean nature in his creation of Jade Mountain. The bold architectural design – individual bridges leading to exceptional infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching towards the sky – makes Jade Mountain one of the Caribbean’s most mesmerizing resort experiences. The resort compliments and celebrates St. Lucia’s stunning beauty.
Your spacious open-plan bedroom glides easily into your living area and oversized private infinity pool. With the fourth wall missing entirely in each of the guest room sanctuaries, you can embrace St. Lucia’s World Heritage Pitons Mountains and enjoy one of the most unforgettable views of the shimmering Caribbean Sea.
Wrapped around an infinity pool with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors, the Jade Mountain Club caters exclusively to resident guests, celebrating James Beard Award winner, Chef Allen Susser’s “Jade Cuisine.” Hovering in space above the Jade Mountain Club is the Celestial Terrace, perfect for sunset cocktails or star-gazing.
A wide range of spa services can be enjoyed in the privacy of the Jade Mountain sanctuaries or at Kai en Ciel, Jade Mountain’s boutique spa and fitness studio.
THE BEST PART: There are NO telephones, radio or television. However, those who can’t stay away from the outside world, internet access is available at the reception.
Rates:
(double occupancy, excluding tax)
4) Most Excellent Spa Resort: Parrot Cay & COMO Shambhala Retreat, Turks & Caicos
If you want to get one with your soul and rediscover those forgotten rhythms of long days and easy nights, this is the perfect place for you. Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos is the northern Caribbean’s pre-eminent private island. It combines nature – 1000 unspoilt acres, including a mile-long powdered beach – with understated style, cosseting service and smiling staff.
You have a wide choice of garden view rooms, ocean facing rooms, suites, villas. The larger villas and Parrot Cay Estates come complete with a private butler. Parrot Cay’s oversized COMO Suites feature a separate living room, bedroom and two bathrooms. Cosy sofas and a generous dining table offer space to relax. French doors lead onto a wooden balcony with a daybed and garden views. One of the bathrooms has a shower and tub. The interiors are sleek with whitewashed walls accentuated by clean-lined teak furniture, expansive bathrooms and soft linens.
Either indulge in the poolside eatery: Lotus with open kitchens for lunch and dinner. Guests can come and go in simple sarongs and flip-flops. Ideal for families, you can graze while the kids play in the pool or you can enjoy a silent dinner or lunch at the Terrace which has indoor as well as outdoor tables. As with all Parrot Cay’s dining experiences, menus are presided over by Executive Chef Daniel Moran.In case you are on a diet, you can treat yourself with crunchy homemade muesli and our popular energy-giving smoothies.
Overlooking the North Caicos Channel and island’s wetlands, the holistic COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay provides state-of-the-art facilities and offers an extensive Ayurvedic Programme with resident doctor. It pioneered COMO Shambhala spa cuisine and runs Retreat Weeks with the world’s best yoga teachers, as well as guided Pilates and personal training sessions. 3, 5 and 7-night Wellness Programmes, such as Ayurvedic and Stress Management, comprise therapies chosen for a specific purpose.
The perfect place to discover a new you and free yourself from all the stress of the busy life.
Rates:
(incl. breakfast, transfer to/from airport for scheduled flights only and non-motorized water sport activities)
5) Most Excellent Eco Resort: Curtain Bluff, Antigua
Boasting the highest return rates of any Caribbean resort, the Curtain Bluff has two stunning beaches. Nightly entertainment, the professional tennis center, scuba diving, sailing boats, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, sea kayaks, a squash court, gym, pool, basketball, bocce ball, a glass-walled exercise room are all covered in the room rate.
For an extra fee you can enjoy the luxurious sea-side spa and have massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. Relax in the Jacuzzi with a glass of champagne with spectacular views of Montserrat.
For three consecutive years, Curtain Bluff has been voted among the top three resorts in the Conde Nast travel guide.
Each of the rattan-styled rooms offer panoramic ocean views. Culinary excellence is in the capable hands of French-born Chef Christophe Blatz, and the impressive wine cellar consists of 25,000 bottles. Fine dining is available in the garden pavilion, while a more casual setting is found at the beach bar. For total privacy, enjoy dinner on your balcony.
Rates:
(all inclusive, closed August – November)
2 comments:
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