CARIBBEAN ANTIGUA DESTINATIONS
LEFT: Shirley Heights
RIGHT: Living
Retreats
programme at Blue Waters
to expect on Antigua. It’s not a hardcore bootcamp experience, and it won’t make guests feel out of place among other holidaymakers, but it does allow Blue Waters to tap into the ever-growing wellness market. So for clients that like a
on the sand all benefit from gorgeous Dickenson Bay views. For a burst of local flavour in a sit-down setting, you can’t do much better than brightly- painted, low-lit Papa Zouk in St John’s. It specialises in two of Antigua’s favourite things – fish and rum. Rather than faff about with a menu, your server will sit down and talk you through the selection of both – and we tried everything from conch to lion fish, all washed down with Ti’ Punch, which gave our jetlag the heave-ho. The quintessential Antiguan party takes places at Shirley Heights on Thursdays and Sundays, and yet again the mixture is spot on, with a cosy blend of locals and tourists both enjoying the panoramic views over Nelson’s Dockyard. An early evening barbecue to the backing of a tinkling steel band gives way to heavier rhythms, live bands and dancing later in the evening.
w STAYING IN SHAPE For some, holidays are purely about relaxation, and spacious rooms, flower-filled grounds and numerous pools at Blue Waters Resort & Spa on the north
coast provide ample opportunity for this.
But there are guests who
want to use their holiday time to rebalance their lifestyle, and the hotel’s Living Retreats programme, new this year, is designed with them in mind. A one-on-one, completely personalised service, Living Retreats stays begin with a series of body evaluations measuring everything down to your zinc levels. The subsequent programme takes into account each guest’s individual needs, so yes, weight loss might be part of it, but goals can also include stress management, nutrition, and sleep. The programme includes everything from classes in pilates, yoga, boxing and kayaking to spa treatments. All the hotel’s restaurants mark the healthiest options on their menus, so making the right choice is easy. Bookings through a tour operator require a three- night minimum stay on the programme, bookings through the hotel allow guests to dip in on a day-to day basis. The Living Retreats
programme is another example of the light touch we’ve come
1 June 2017
travelweekly.co.uk 53
compromise, Antigua has it licked – it’s neither too big nor too small, neither too crowded nor too isolated, and can be as lively or relaxed as you wish. The only thing clients are likely to find is that their holiday in Antigua is too short.
Tried &Tested BLUE WATERS RESORT & SPA
I wasn’t here long before I realised why this hotel was chosen to host Prince Harry during his stay on the island. Yes, the rooms are huge and beautifully, traditionally furnished. The food, particularly at new beach restaurant Carolyn’s and at the refurbished fine dining spot Bartley’s, is delicious. Staff are attentive and friendly, with everyone from gardeners to senior management stopping to greet guests and creating a truly friendly atmosphere. But what
makes this a right royal stay is the relaxed seclusion. The Cove Suites and Villas are dotted among 17 acres of grounds, where hummingbirds flit among the hibiscus, frangipani and bougainvillea, and multiple pools mean you can always find a quiet spot to sunbathe – a blessing, even for those of us without blue blood. Book it: Double rooms at Blue Waters start from £265 a night including breakfast.
bluewaters.net
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