Caribbean
means it’s only a short hop to one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.”
Ones to watch Mexico is a destination often overlooked by agents responding to requests for luxury Caribbean, but the white sands of the Riviera Maya fill the need nicely. The hip hideaway of Hotel Esencia gained fast
acclaim when it opened last year. Originally built as the private hideaway of an Italian duchess on what is considered the most beautiful stretch of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the hotel undertook an 18-month design project that included renovation of all rooms, suites and public areas, addition of a beach bar and grill, the introduction of contemporary art and antiques and the launch of two private villas. At the other end of the scale, a new opening in
November, Secrets Akumal, an adults-only larger property with 434 rooms, will appeal to those wanting activities and extensive facilities as part of the package. Grand Velas Riviera Maya meanwhile splits its
Check out what’s on offer in the Caribbean across a range of budgets The cost of luxury
Private paradise
Book Branson’s latest project, the Branson Estate on Moskito Island. ITC features it with seven nights from £255,000 based on 22 people staying across the three properties. Price includes Gatwick BA flights and local Liat flights and all meals and drinks during the stay,
itcluxurytravel.co.uk
Designer getaway
Round Hill is a legend where anyone who’s anyone has stayed, including Ralph Lauren who designed the Pineapple House rooms. Red Savannah offers a week in an oceanfront room from £2,840pp with breakfast, Gatwick Virgin Atlantic flights to Montego Bay and transfers,
redsavannah.com
Inclusive option All-inclusive resorts and packages are on the rise in the Caribbean – Carrier offers seven nights at Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada from £2,385pp all- inclusive, and including Gatwick BA flights and transfers (valid for travel May 1- October 31),
carrier.co.uk
Boutique bolthole Those seeking a trendy boutique hideaway could consider Lone Star on Barbados’s Platinum Coast; Azure Collection offers seven nights from £1,695pp (seven nights for the price of six) in a deluxe garden room including breakfast, BA flights, transfers and lounge access at Gatwick,
azurecollection.com
539 rooms into three zones each boasting its own management team and reception area and has now made its Grand Class area adults-only – it’s home to 90 suites, each with a plunge pool. Another destination bubbling away for 2016 is
Puerto Rico, back on the UK radar thanks to the return of Gatwick flights by Norwegian Air Shuttle, after BA and Virgin Atlantic pulled out. “Load factors have been really strong,” according to a Norwegian spokesman. A key development in the capital San Juan is
the renovation of the iconic El San Juan hotel, built by Pan Am in the 1950s and famous for its live music. Full details of the upgrade, which will take the property from four to five stars, will come later in the year, with work due for completion by peak season 2017. Norwegian’s other Caribbean expansion will
provide some great two-centre options. Late last year, it began linking New York and Boston with the boutique islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, having used its European Union status to gain traffic rights. Another new twin-centre flight option with a
luxury twist comes from US airline JetBlue, which until the end of April operates Saturday flights from JFK to Barbados and Aruba complete with 16 fully-flat beds including two private “suites” with sliding doors. Meanwhile closer to home, those with clients in the north speak of their frustration at the lack of Caribbean air links. “The lack of a flight from Manchester or
Newcastle to Gatwick can be an issue but we try to assist the best we can, and we sell a lot of seats on the Virgin Atlantic service from Manchester to Barbados,” says Lusso’s Linda Bellis, who adds: “We also have access to Air France to St Martin via Paris [from various regional points] and that works well for Anguilla and St Barths.” Another trick agents in the north can use
is to book passengers on domestic flights with British Airways to Heathrow with a chauffeur service onwards to Gatwick. It speaks volumes that many clients will
undertake such journeys to reach the Caribbean – its appeal is that strong.
Pictured 1. Moskito Island Beach House, BVI 2. Playa Grande Beach Club, Dominican Republic 3. Belle Mont Farm, St Kitts 4. Dining at Calabash, Grenada 5. Boutique hideaway Lone Star, Barbados 6. South Point, Antigua 7. Rosalie Bay, Dominica 9. Zemi Beach House & Resort, Anguilla 10. Petit St Vincent
44
TTGLUXURY.COM SPRING 2016 DESTINATIONS
Splurge £255k
Splash £2,840
Value £2,385
Bargain £1,695
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