LIMITLESS LUXURY IN THE CARIBBEAN
Limitless Luxury in the Caribbean - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Limitless Luxury in the Caribbean | |||||
| By: Aimeé Wagenheim, Issue 45 – Summer 2011 | |||||
| (Dominican Republic, St Barths, Jamaica, Caribbean) | |||||
| FOR DECADES THE CARIBBEAN HAS BEEN A LUXURY DESTINATION FOR WEALTHY AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS. AIMEÉ WAGENHEIM SAMPLES SOME OF THE ULTRA-LUXURY ON OFFER TODAY. | |||||
| American movie stars, millionaires, politicians and industrialists have been flocking to opulent hotels, casinos and elegant drinking and dining establishments in the Caribbean since early in the 20th century. It’s no surprise then to find an unusually high concentration of ultra-luxury hotels and resorts there today. Here’s a sample of the ultra-luxury on offer in some of the countries of the Caribbean; the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and St Barts. | |||||
| DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | |||||
| The Dominican Republic is the second largest nation in the Caribbean and has quickly become the largest tourist destination with travellers flocking there for year-round golf and great scuba diving. Some go with an interest in the European, African and native Taíno Indian influences in the food, arts and museums. Others go for sun and tropical landscapes and gorgeous beaches. The official language is Spanish but most hotel staff can speak up to four other languages. | |||||
| PARADISUS RESORT, PUNTA CANA | |||||
| This playground, as the resort labels it, is set on the longest coral reef in the district of Punta Cana. The resort is entwined in a tropical scape of palm trees and natural wildlife designed to evoke tranquillity through nature. All guests have access to a casino, golf courses, tennis courts, a spa and heath club, seven swimming pools, twelve restaurants and eight bars that serve up traditional Caribbean-style cocktails. Reserve level accommodation is described as a “resort within a resort”. Guests occupy residential-style suites within a private community. There’s a private check-in area, a private beach with concierge service and transport to the surrounding resort facilities. At the next level up, Royal Service, guests have private pools and beach areas and a personal butler service contactable at any time via mobile phone. Activities arranged at the resort include horseback riding, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, volleyball sushi making and wine tasting. Stay Paradisus Punta Cana, Playa de Bávaro – Higuey, Dominican Republic, +1 809 687 9923 Email: paradisus.punta.cana@solmelia.com | |||||
| paradisuspuntacana.travel | |||||
| Rates Rooms for two people start at US$283 (about A$285) per night for a Deluxe Garden View Junior Suite. A flexible, unrestricted rate at a Royal Service Garden Villa starts at US$2,250 (about A$2,268) per night. | |||||
| TORTUGA BAY, PUNTA CANA | |||||
| Designed by fashion designer Oscar de la Renta and influenced by his Dominican heritage, the Tortuga Bay resort is all bona fide Dominican Republic. On touch down, a luxury car awaits visitors with a VIP pick up service assisting them through custom and immigration procedures and baggage collection. On arrival at Tortuga Bay guests are assigned a personal golf cart to get around the resort during their stay. Golfplaying guests choose between three golf courses including the La Cana Golf Course, designed by P.B. Dye with ocean views from 14 playing holes. Stay Punta Cana Resort And Club, Punta Cana Higuey, Praia Bavaro, Dominican Republic, +1 809 959 8229 | |||||
| puntacana.com | |||||
| Rates Rooms start at US$425 per night (about A$429) for a Junior Suite. A two bedroom oceanfrontsuite starts at US$1,425 per night (about A$1,438). A five-bedroom Tortuga Bay Home starts at US$3,500 per night (about A$3,532). | |||||
| ZOETRY AGUA, PUNTA CANA | |||||
| At this resort there’s a package titled Endless Privilege that promises “luxury without limit”. It’s all-inclusive of services and amenities so one of the luxuries is not having to keep track of extra costs. The accommodations are set either on lush, tropical gardens or near the azure sea, views of which can be enjoyed from secluded terraces accessed by quaint, French doors. The resort arranges Spanish classes, local cuisine cooking classes, rum tasting, cigar rolling and photography classes. Guests can also work up a sweat in dance and fitness classes. Stay Zoetry Agua, Uvero Alto, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, +1 809 468 0000 Email: info.zoapc@zoetryresorts.com, | |||||
| zoetryaguaresorts.com/agua | |||||
| Rates Rooms start at US$399 per night (about A$402) for a Double Junior Suite. An Endless Privilege stay in the Suite Carib starts at US$692 per night (about A$698). | |||||
| JAMAICA | |||||
| Jamaica is the largest English-speaking Island of the Caribbean and the majority of its population are of African descent. Many settlers from other countries over the centuries have left their mark on Jamaica’s colourful cultural character. | |||||
| SANDALS WHITEHOUSE | |||||
| Sandals is a popular American luxury resort brand and its newest 360-room resort is on Jamaica’s south coast. Decorated in an opulent style that taps into Jamaica’s colonial history, the rooms and suites are located in three villages with distinct Italian, Dutch and French architectural themes and are set in acres of colourful tropical gardens. Rooms come with a choice of either concierge or butler service, depending on price. In room services are completely coordinated by an assigned, professionally trained staff member who will assist with things like unpacking guests’ suitcases, making dinner reservations, reserving sun beds on the beach and preparing candlelit bubble-baths. Stay Whitehouse, Westmoreland, Jamaica, West Indies, +1 876 640 3000 Rates Standard luxury accommodation starts at US$177 per person, per night (about A$179). Concierge-serviced accommodation starts at US$250 per person, per night (about A$253). Butler-serviced suites start at US$485 per person, per night (about A$491). | |||||
| SAINT BARTS | |||||
| A popular playground of the rich and famous, the tiny island of St Barts offers a flavour of France in the Caribbean. Most of the luxury accommodation options on offer are privately owned villas often positioned on private, pristine beaches, while some of the other 21 beaches on the island are untouched and only accessible by boat. | |||||
| EDEN ROCK | |||||
| Eden Rock started out as the private home of St Barts’ first mayor and adventurer Rémy de Haenen but after major refurbishments and additions in 1995 it is now a stylish, luxury resort. Perched on a rock above the ocean, Eden rock’s guests enjoy water activities and snorkelling. Friendly staff with a “yes” attitude is promised by management. At the Eden Rock’s beach area, teak beach loungers and umbrellas are arranged, bar service is provided and fresh fruit and homemade sorbet is served, inclusive in every stay. The resort has two fine dining restaurants run by a team of 30 headed by chef Jean-Claude Dufour. For a luxury arrival, The “Eden Rock – St Barts” 65-foot, 16-person yacht can collect guests and take them directly to Gustavia harbor in St Barths from where they are chauffeur driven to the hotel ten minutes away. Stay Eden Rock, St Barts, St. Jean Bay, St Barts 97133 French West Indies, +590 590 29 79 99 Email: info@edenrockhotel.com. | |||||
| edenrockhotel.com | |||||
| Rates Prices start at c490 (about A$659) for a garden cottage to c2,500 (about A$3,365) for a big beach house, per night. Eden Rock Estates (Villa Nina and Villa Rockstar) are available from c7,000 (about A$9,424) to c25,000 (A$33,655) per night. | |||||
| When To Go | |||||
| The Caribbean has become a year-round holiday destination for its low variation of average warm temperatures. Expect year round climates between 19 and 30 degrees celsius, although during the summer months between June and September, visitors can experience heat above 30 degrees Celcius with added rain. The busy season to visit is from mid-December to mid-April. | |||||
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