6


of the BEST


a 72


OFF-BEACH ESCAPES


The best Caribbean boltholes aren’t always by the beach, finds Katie McGonagle


sk anyone to describe their ultimate Caribbean holiday, and the answer will likely centre on sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and sun-warmed waves lapping


gently at their feet, perhaps with an obligatory pina colada in hand. But beautiful as they are, restricting yourself to the Caribbean’s beaches is like nibbling around the edges of a jam doughnut then missing out its gooey middle – tasty enough, but not the whole story. There are plenty of smaller hotels tucked into tiny, untouristed nooks that are just as worthy of attention as the bigger resorts. Here are a handful to consider, offering all the winter sun your clients could want, but with a different kind of Caribbean charm.


28 NOVEMBER 2019 travelweekly.co.uk


1 STAY ON A SUGAR PLANTATION IN ANTIGUA


The Caribbean is awash with new-build, high-end resorts featuring all the mod cons, so it’s rare to find somewhere that offers a window onto the Caribbean’s storied past. With more than 350 years of history, The Great House Antigua certainly has some tales to tell. It was built in 1670 on Mercers Creek sugar plantation using stone shipped from the Cotswolds by British merchant Philip Watkins, and more recently, was a family home that hosted the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Greta Garbo and the Kennedys. These days, the eight-bedroom boutique hotel is replete with antique silver and glassware and 18th-century French four-poster


beds, with four garden cottage suites added this year. Book it: Rates start from $425 per night full-board in a Garden Suite, based on two sharing. thegreathouseantigua.com


2


±


PICTURE: AR Photography


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100