New Developments to Entice Travelers to the Caribbean this Season

This season, The Christopher on St. Barth will open three new villas designed by French interior designer Olivia Putman.

Here are some of the new developments to entice travelers to the Caribbean this season:

The Christopher, St. Barth

This season, The Christopher will open three new villas designed by French interior designer Olivia Putman. Two of the four-bedroom villas will open in December, with the third following in 2020. The new villas allow guests all the space of a private home that is completely open to the sea and all the amenities of a luxury resort. Guests can dine onsite at Christo and Mango Beach Bar restaurants, enjoy Sisley Spa with its open-air treatment rooms, or simply relax and order room service.

What else is cool?

The Christopher has partnered with Artireef to help rebuild the reef of Pointe Milou, the peninsula on which the hotel sits, by creating marine cement that is three times denser than concrete. The growth rate of coral there is three- to five-times that of natural coral. In addition to creating a barrier to the shore, the reef will be more resistant to high water temperatures and pollution.

 

Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla

Sisters Nadia and Katia Narain, Kate Moss’s health gurus and authors of Self Care for the Real World and Rituals for Every Day, will bring their life philosophy to Belmond Cap Juluca for a wellness retreat from July 5–9, 2020. The duo preaches the value of taking time to care for one’s body and mind to open oneself to fully embrace life and maintain balance. The four-night retreat will leave guests feeling refreshed, with sunrise yoga and meditation, snorkeling with sea turtles, self-care workshops in the sand, nighttime kayaking, Taino (indigenous Caribbean) healing salt spa treatments, and sunset cruises through the Caribbean Sea.

What else is cool?

Travelers can seamlessly experience two Leeward Islands in one trip with Belmond’s ‘Island to Island’ package, including accommodations in both Anguilla and St. Martin – and a smooth connection via a 25-minute Caribbean boat ride. Complete with $100 resort credit and daily breakfast per stay at both Belmond Cap Juluca and Belmond La Samanna, the trip offers a taste of both St. Martin’s cosmopolitan buzz and Anguilla’s world-famous, crystal clear beaches.

 

Belmond La Samanna, St. Martin

Set on the glamorous French side of this northeastern Caribbean Island, Belmond La Samanna reopened for the season on November 7 with a fresh new look. Redesigned by London-based interior design firm Muza Lab, the property’s 83 rooms and public spaces, including the new L’Oursin restaurant and Laplaj Beach Bar, have a new pastel-chic flair. With a color scheme of light blues, greens, pinks and peaches, the design was inspired by the natural tones of the Caribbean Sea. Accents of shells and corals are featured alongside botanical-printed fabrics, artworks, lighting and mirrors.

What else is cool?

Guests of Belmond La Samanna can take a Caribbean impressionist painting class inside a French Créole townhouse. The home overlooks early eighteenth-century French soldier barracks, floral gardens, and two centuries of antique architecture. Guests can hone their artistic skills alongside Sir Roland Richardson, one of St. Martin’s most celebrated painters, as he guides them through the study of light and color on living subjects through the technique of ‘Plein Air’ painting.

 

GoldenEye, Jamaica

The FieldSpa at GoldenEye is built into the jungle-like landscape on the edge of the crystal-clear blue lagoon, allowing guests to swim or kayak to their spa appointment. As part of a one-year expansion, two new standalone spa huts will open in mid-December 2019, along with a new yoga deck. A selection of elixirs, juice, and healthy bites incorporating fresh ingredients from Pantrepant, the private farm of music executive Chris Blackwell, and a new therapy menu will be introduced. This expansion will provide direct access to the new spa cove, a crescent of sand nestled along the property’s signature lagoon. GoldenEye will also unveil three new accommodations – a three-bedroom lagoon villa and two lagoon cottages in summer 2020. Additionally, a new dive shop, available to guests and the community, opened on neighboring, James Bond Beach in November 2019. The shop offers scuba certification and excursions, boat tours of the Bay and coral planting opportunities in the underwater coral nursery. All profits of the dive shop will go to the Oracabessa Foundation, which is responsible for improving marine life in the Bay.

What else is cool?

The 25th James Bond movie, No Time to Die, which will mark Daniel Craig’s final appearance as 007, is heading back to Jamaica. In celebration of the April 8, 2020 release, movie buffs can retrace the island life of Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming. The author was a former British intelligence officer and discovered Jamaica during a WWII mission in 1942. Four years later, he purchased 15 acres of under-developed tropical land and named it GoldenEye to pay homage to his naval operation that first brought him to the island. He resided at GoldenEye every January and February for more than two decades and wrote a new Bond novel each winter for a total of 14 books. His beachfront bungalow, which is now called The Fleming Villa with five bedrooms, is part of the 52-acre GoldenEye resort. Fleming’s writing desk and sunken garden, where he would entertain the likes of Noël Coward and Katherine Hepburn, are available for guests to enjoy.

 

PONANT, Caribbean Sea

During the 2019-2020 season, the recently launched PONANT EXPLORER ships, Le Champlain and Le Dumont-d’Urville, are offering 29 sailings with seven new itineraries, including the eight-day ‘Pearls of the Caribbean’ journey roundtrip from Fort-de-France. With an experienced diving instructor on board throughout the duration of the cruise, guests will enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters as the ship island-hops from Guadalupe to Saint Lucia to Grenada. Other highlights include a spot at the private Mayreau Island, the smallest in the Grenadine archipelago. PONANT guests can enjoy a beach barbeque and an optional excursion to pilot a Zodiac along Grenada’s coast before jumping into the water to explore the world’s first underwater sculpture park.

What else is cool?

Back on board, PONANT guests will be able to see the Caribbean like never before onboard two of its new PONANT EXPLORER ships, each featuring an industry-first underwater lounge. Located eight feet below water, the unprecedented views from the Blue Eye lounge offer a peek into underwater life through the whale-eye shaped portholes; as well as project images of the sea onto screens in real time. For a completely immersive experience, the lounge also brings the sounds of the sea inside.

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain, Anse Chastanet Lauded as Top Luxury Resorts

Jade Mountain’s high-rise vistas of The Pitons are breathtaking.

Naming St. Lucia’s iconic Jade Mountain the number one “Best Hotel in the Caribbean”, U.S. News & World Report rhapsodized about the resort’s high-rise vistas of The Pitons, with architecture that draws on St. Lucia’s natural beauty, and referenced the varied list of island sports, including snorkeling in its sister resort, Anse Chastanet’s clear waters, sunset sailing on the resort yacht and scuba diving with experts from the on-site PADI dive center.

With its rankings based on analyses of industry awards, hotel star and user ratings, U.S. News & World Report praised the resort’s ambiance: “As the site of the finale of the 14th season of ‘The Bachelor’, Jade Mountain knows how to create a romantic atmosphere. Couples can arrange for an in-room massage with the Kai en Ciel Spa or a private dinner on the Celestial Terrace. For other meals, there’s the Jade Mountain Club helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Allen Susser.”

Turning to Jade Mountain’s sister resort, U.S. News & World Report reported that Anse Chastanet, spread across 600 tropical acres, is flanked by two sandy beaches. The resort’s 49 rooms are either perched on the verdant hillside or nestled beach level within a tropical garden.” The resort was rated number 49 in the world.

Both Jade Mountain and its sister resort Anse Chastanet on St. Lucia have been lauded as top luxury resorts © Laini Miranda/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The media outlet reported recent guests loved the relaxing, natural setting and their access to a host of activities, from yoga to jungle biking, and scuba diving in a marine reserve offshore. “To round out this nature-inspired retreat, travelers have their pick of five dining options, including one inside a treehouse,” they noted.

Meanwhile, Islands magazine declared Jade Mountain winner of its Readers’ Choice in its list of the top luxury all-inclusive resorts of the world, while Big 7 Travel, the global travel site, listed the resort among the world’s “50 Most Romantic Hotels in the World.” Big 7’s Top 50 list positioned Jade Mountain as number six in the world.

Karolin Troubetzkoy, Executive Director of both properties, was delighted by the latest of many accolades bestowed on her two resorts: “It’s heartening to see how these media houses noted the complementality of the adjoining sister resorts because that is precisely the sort of harmony with nature and each other which my husband Nick Troubetzkoy (the owner/architect) was aiming for.”

Islands magazine wrote about Jade Mountain: “There’s nothing quite like it. Even though there are other resorts with a similar concept – a nonexistent fourth wall, so your room is open to the sea and sky – we can honestly say that Jade Mountain guarantees you a one-of-a-kind luxury experience.”

Noting its editors and writers scoured the globe to find the best all-inclusive resorts based on “standout offerings, from top-notch dining options and cool bars to over-the-top suites and white-glove butler service,” Islands magazine reported on the “mesmerizing” rooms, called sanctuaries, “designed in a stunning blend of wood and stone elements. They’re massive (1,400 to 2,000 square feet) and layered atop each other, each with its own equally large (450 to 900 square feet) infinity pool offering unobstructed views of St. Lucia’s twin Piton peaks and the sapphire-blue sea.”

Troubetzkoy credited resort staff for their commitment to the sustainable aspects of the sister resorts: “We could not have achieved such mixing of luxury and conservation without the priceless contributions of our dedicated staff and their deep knowledge of the area.”

With only 78 rooms in total between the two sister resorts, the company employs more than 550 team members, 97 percent of whom are from the surrounding communities.

Anse Chastanet is set amid a lush 600-acre estate with two soft-sand beaches and breathtaking views of St. Lucia’s twin Pitons mountains, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amidst St. Lucia’s lush tropical beauty, activities range from jungle biking, hiking and bird watching to snorkeling on the reef within swimming distance of the beach. The environmentally friendly, award-winning resort comprises 49 individually designed rooms, 37 of which are scattered about a lush hillside, and 12 that are nestled within a tropical garden at beach level. It offers innovative menus, one entirely vegetarian, in four different locations and features fresh produce served up from the resort’s organic farm. Guests can take in interactive chocolate-making classes in the resort’s chocolate laboratory and a variety of water sports are also on offer. For more information, visit www.ansechastanet.com.

Rising majestically above the 600-acre beachfront resort of Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain Resort on St. Lucia’s south-western Caribbean coastline is a cornucopia of organic architecture celebrating St. Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty. Architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy has expanded upon his philosophy of building in harmony with Caribbean nature in his creation of Jade Mountain St. Lucia. 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. For more information, visit www.jademountain.com.

See: Honeymoon in Paradise: Anse Chastanet in Saint Lucia

 

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/krubin0830/

instagram.com/famtravltr/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada Re-Opening Sept. 29 with Resort Enhancements

Spice Island Beach Resort spa’s Yoga Pavilion overlooking the Grand Anse Beach, Grenada, is a tranquil relaxation area

GRAND ANSE BEACH, Grenada (Sept. 28, 2017) – Grenada’s premier all-inclusive luxury resort, Spice Island Beach Resort is reopening Friday, Sept. 29 with several resort enhancements including the addition of an open-air Yoga Pavilion overlooking the idyllic Grand Anse Beach, which will be fully operational by the end of October. The AAA Five Diamond award-winning property’s planned closure throughout the month of September was not impacted by recent hurricanes that affected the Leeward Islands.

“While Grenada has remained untouched, those suffering in the aftermath of the catastrophic hurricanes are in our hearts and prayers,” said Sir Royston Hopkin KCMG, chairman and managing director of Spice Island Beach Resort, who will encourage guests interested in contributing to relief efforts to support the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund via Tourism Cares.

The award-winning Spice Island Beach Resort features 64 elegantly-appointed suites, the full-service Janissa’s Spa, a Cybex® fitness center, Oliver’s beachside gourmet restaurant, the Sea & Surf Terrace for light lunches, the Sea & Surf Bar for refreshing cocktails throughout the day, a central swimming pool with swim-up whirlpool, an Omnicourt® tennis court, the Nutmeg Pod children’s activity center, the Gatsby Boutique and more.

Spice Island Beach Resort is a recipient of the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences and was ranked the # 1 property in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor according to traveler reviews in 2013. The resort has also received Virgin Holidays’ Gold Award as the #1 property in its exclusive worldwide Platinum Collection for 10 consecutive years from 2006-2015.

Spice Island Beach Resort is a  member of the esteemed Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) collection, recipient of the 2016 Condé Nast Johansens “Best for Service” award and the first resort in Grenada to be featured in the exclusive Virtuoso network’s Hotels & Resorts Program.

For more information, contact Spice Island Beach Resort toll-free at 1-800-501-8603, tel: 473-444-4258, fax: 473-444-4807, e-mail: reservations@spicebeachresort.com, or visit www.SpiceIslandBeachResort.com.

 

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/krubin0830/

instagram.com/famtravltr/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

 

Verdanza Hotel, Puerto Rico, Reports No Major Damage from Maria, Plans to Reopen Oct. 15

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico (September 25, 2017) – The Management of Verdanza Hotel, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Lifestyle Collection, reports that the property suffered no significant structural damage as a result of the passing of Hurricane Maria, with the impact mainly limited to water and landscaping damage and plans to reopen October 15.

Although utilities are down and in the process of being restored across the island, the property has not lost water service at any time, while an electricity generator provides power for all hotel operations both in guestrooms and common areas. Meanwhile, guests and staff are safe.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the passing of Hurricane Maria,” said Ricky Newman, general manager. Newman explained that Verdanza Hotel is operational; however, the property is currently serving as a home base for first responders and representatives from the local and federal agencies working on recovery efforts. “As always, we stand in solidarity with our community, committed to once again play a part in the recuperation and rebuilding of Puerto Rico,” he added.

Verdanza Hotel is scheduled to open its doors to welcome visitors starting Sunday, October 15, 2017.

The property’s Hurricane Policy is now in place for those whose vacation at Verdanza has been disrupted by the hurricane. Reservations for stays before October 15th may be rescheduled or cancelled without penalty.

We will provide a more comprehensive update as soon as our telecommunications system is restored.

For online updates from the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, please visit www.puertoriconow.seepuertorico.com.

Set just steps from the golden sands of Puerto Rico’s popular Isla Verde Beach, the Verdanza Hotel offers a blend of boutique-style service and the conveniences of a full-service hotel.

• Privileged location within walking distance of restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment
• 222 comfortable guestrooms
• Free wireless Internet access
• Expansive pool area with jacuzzi, children’s spray water park, food & beverage service, and poolside spa services upon request
• Two restaurants, a deli café, and a wine & tapas bar
• Complimentary fitness room
• Pet friendly program and pet park
• Corporate travel program
• Full services for meetings and social events: 16,000+ square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space; unique Muse Creative Room designed to promote creative corporate meetings.

For more information and reservations, visit  www.verdanzahotel.com or email at feelthevibe@verdanzahotel.com, phone: 800-625-0312, 787-626-9025.

 

For more travel features, visit:

goingplacesfarandnear.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

instagram.com/krubin0830/

instagram.com/famtravltr/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort in Tobago Offers Grand Sale

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort in Tobago

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago  – Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort in Tobago (www.MagdalenaGrand.com) is offering its Grand Sale, valid for travel through July 31, with discounted rates starting at $191 per room, per night, for a nightly savings of 35%. The hotel adds further value to a family vacation with one child (up to 12 years of age) staying free-of-charge when sharing a room with two paying adults.

Reduced rates for a one-bedroom suite at Magdalena Grand start at $363 per room, per night, while prices for a two-bedroom suite are from $556 per room, per night. All rates quoted are based on double occupancy, and include accommodations and daily buffet breakfast.

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort features 178 rooms, including 22 one- or two-bedroom suite combinations. The spacious suites offer a private balcony, hot tub and parlor featuring a pull-out sofa-bed. The resort’s two-bedroom suites feature a king-size and two double beds while the resort’s one-bedroom suites include the option of either one king-size or two double beds.

Guests can indulge in the use of three on-site swimming pools, including an adults-only pool; a 5-Star PADI Dive Center with its training pool; daily activities program; day and nighttime tennis; use of bicycles; and a 24-hour fitness center. For added convenience, the following are also available: room service, concierge service, a business center, beauty salon and spa, tour desk that can arrange off-property excursions, as well as a gift shop.

For an additional fee, the resort offers guests the opportunity to golf at its Par-72, 18-hole championship course that is woven into the landscape of Tobago Plantations Estate. Golf enthusiasts can practice their short game on the pitching and putting greens while enhancing their swing at the driving range.

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort is a 15-minute drive from A.N.R Robinson International Airport in Tobago and is situated on the Tobago Plantations Estate, a gated community of luxury villas, condos and bungalows. Magdalena Grand has earned the Certificate of Excellence honor from TripAdvisor® for four consecutive years since opening in 2012, and was named Trinidad & Tobago’s “Best Golf Hotel” by the World Golf Awards for the last two years.

For more information about the resort, call 1-866-353-6222 or 1-868-660-8500. To book a stay, email reservations@MagdalenaGrand.com. Visit http://www.MagdalenaGrand.com, http://www.facebook.com/MagdalenaGrand, www.instagram.com/MagdalenaGrandResort and http://www.twitter.com/MagdalenaGrand.

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Barbados Crop Over Festival June 4-Aug 1 is Ideal Time to Visit Mango Bay Barbados All-Inclusive Resort

The 76-room all-inclusive Mango Bay Hotel in Barbados is inviting visitors to take advantage of off-season rates during the tradition of the Barbados Crop Over Festival, taking place June 4 – Aug 1, 2016.

HOLETOWN, Barbados – The 76-room all-inclusive Mango Bay Hotel (www.MangoBayBarbados.com) in Barbados is inviting visitors to take advantage of off-season rates during the tradition of the Barbados Crop Over Festival, taking place June 4 – Aug 1, 2016.

Mango Bay Barbados all-inclusive rates start at $535 per room, per night, based on double occupancy for travel May 1 – Dec. 14, 2016 – a savings of 20% off high-season rates.

Marking the culmination of the island’s sugarcane season, Crop Over is a Barbadian tradition dating back to the 1780s when the island was the world’s largest producer of sugar. The festival was originally created to celebrate the success of the sugarcane season and has since been revived with additional elements, including highlights of the island’s culture and attracting A-list celebrities such as Rihanna, along with travelers and locals.

Situated on the vibrant west coast, Mango Bay Hotel provides the perfect location for travelers seeking to combine relaxing tropical indulgence with the excitement of local culture.

Crop Over activities traditionally include music and masquerades, calypso tents, ceremonial delivery of the last canes, kiddies kadooment, folk concerts, art and photogenic exhibitions, party monarchs and much more. The festival concludes with the Grand Kadooment where a carnival and parade fill the streets with color and the sounds of calypso musicians. For more information on the 2016 Barbados Crop Over Festival visit  www.carnifest.com/events/barbados/bridgetown/18/barbados-crop-over-festival-2016.aspx.

An all-inclusive Mango Bay vacation features: all meals, afternoon tea, local and brand name drinks including wine with dinner; various watersports including water-skiing, kayaking, hobiecat sailing, pedal boating and snorkeling; complimentary offering of scuba diving lessons (on-property); off-property sightseeing excursions such as a glass-bottom boat trip and a catamaran sail, as well as nightly entertainment.

Dining at the hotel provides savory fusion of Caribbean and international cuisine, with buffet-style meals and table service options. Live music is offered nightly from 9-11p.m.

Accommodations at the resort include the following categories: Standard Rooms, Standard One-Bedrooms, Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Oceanfront Rooms and Penthouse Suites. Decorated in warm Caribbean colors, the contemporarily-styled rooms and suites at Mango Bay feature king-size beds, air conditioning, bathrobes, beach towels, iPod docking stations, cable television, direct-dial telephone, hairdryer, an electronic safe, iron with ironing board and coffee/tea-making facilities. Computer wireless internet access is available in public areas, including the reception, guest lounge, around the pool and bar and restaurant.

Children three years of age and under sharing with two adults stay free-of-charge and children 4 to 18 years old are offered a reduced rate. For added convenience, cribs, extra beds and high chairs are available at no additional cost.

Located in the historic Holetown area on the famed Gold Coast of Barbados, the 76-room Mango Bay is known for its casual sophistication and all-inclusive value. Having been honored with TripAdvisor’s 2015 Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame, Mango Bay has proven to cater to the needs of its guests. This unique accolade honors hospitality excellence and is only given to establishments that have won TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years.

This beachfront, boutique-style property is an ideal tropical retreat for travelers seeking an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle – an oasis where warm breezes, delightful Caribbean sunshine, and picturesque beaches are refreshing and revitalizing. Spacious accommodations, a centrally-located swimming pool, delicious dining and tremendous all-inclusive value make Mango Bay an “Uncomplicated, Unencumbered, Unforgettable” vacation paradise.

Find Mango Bay on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/MangoBayBB), Twitter (http://twitter.com/MangoBayBB) and Instagram (https://instagram.com/mangobaybarbados).  For more information call (246) 626-1384, or visit online at www.MangoBayBarbados.com

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada Awarded AAA 5-Diamond Rating

Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada has received the ultimate distinction for hotels – the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award, only granted to six other resorts in the Caribbean.

GRAND ANSE BEACH, Grenada — Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada has just received the ultimate distinction for hotels — the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award, which has been granted to only six other resorts in the Caribbean and 118 hotels worldwide.

According to AAA, nearly 28,000 hotels are reviewed by AAA inspectors who use published guidelines to evaluate and rate properties for the AAA Five Diamond Award and only 0.4 percent make the AAA Five Diamond List. This achievement elevates the Spice Island Beach Resort from a Four Diamond status which it maintained for over 15 years and ranks the resort as a premier establishment esteemed by AAA professional inspectors, the hospitality industry and over 56 million AAA/CAA members.

“I am overjoyed and heartened by this accomplishment,” Chairman and Managing Director of Spice Island Beach Resort Sir Royston Hopkin, KCMG, said. “I continue to be encouraged by the hard work and dedication of the Spice Family which has brought us to this significant milestone of which we are extremely proud. I am only the custodian, but this success belongs to my outstanding team, my wife Betty, my General Manager Brian Hardy, my three children Nerissa, Janelle and Ryan, the rest of the management team and my entire staff who make it happen day after day. They are all important cogs in our wheel of success.”

This award comes on the heels of Sir Royston being honored last month by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences with a Six Star Diamond Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing his untiring service of over 51 years to Grenada and the Caribbean region as well as the resort’s third consecutive year of achieving Six-Star-Diamond status.

No stranger to awards, Sir Royston gave a brief insight into some of his strategy. “Over the years, I have invested substantially, both in the continuous upgrade of the physical plant and in the development of my most valuable asset, my human resources,” he said

“The key to our success is providing unforgettable and essentially priceless experiences with our guest-centric service philosophy as well as our attention to fine details,” noted Sir Royston. “In other words, we spare no effort in providing our guests with the finest and most luxurious amenities. The true Grenadian hospitality exhibited in the courtesy of all team members ensures seamless perfection. Each highly disciplined employee plays an important role in the creation of memorable experiences, personalized for each discerning guest.”

Spice Island Beach Resort

Tucked away on spectacular Grand Anse Beach (frequently named one of the top 10 beaches in the Caribbean) and just 10 minutes from the airport, Spice Island Beach Resort is surrounded by pristine tropical gardens and offers a world-class spa, culinary program, and a wide choice of super-elegant accommodation including beachfront suites, situated at the edge of the Caribbean Sea, providing a new spin on beachfront elegance in its Sea Grape Suites equipped with a luxurious large bathtub with views of the ocean. A 225 sq ft. patio with private garden, chaise lounges and double hammock provide the perfect romantic setting to absorb the Caribbean sunset.

The 1,200 sq. ft. Anthurium Pool Suites have 12′ x 16′ plunge pools, private terrace with a double daybed for relaxing.

The resort’s 1,500 sq. ft. Luxury Almond Pool Suites offer private luxury with a 16′ x 20′ residential-size swimming pool as well as guests’ own private entrance, tropical garden and outdoor dining terrace.

The Royal Collection Pool Suites are the quintessential honeymooner’s dream featuring a 16′ x 20′ pool and every amenity in the Luxury Almond Pool Suites, plus a full-scale living room, enchanting marble bathroom and private Cedar Sauna on the patio.

The palatial Cinnamon and Saffron Suites measure 1,440 sq. feet each and feature a romantic ambiance with a floating canopy bed, an elaborate marble bathroom, spacious living room with 47″ LCD television and Bose Lifestyle Entertainment System, wet-bar and dining area set for six and private patios with a double hammock.

All suites are air conditioned and outfitted with spectacular five-star amenities including flat panel televisions, iPod docking stations, Italian Frette bathrobes and linens, Molton Brown bath and body amenities, mini-bar, Internet access, safe, coffee/tea facility, toaster, chaise lounges and patio or balcony.

The award-winning Spice Island Beach Resort features 64 elegantly-appointed suites, a full-service Janissa’s Spa, a fitness center and Omnicourt® tennis court, Oliver’s beachside gourmet restaurant, the Sea & Surf Terrace for light lunches, the Sea & Surf Bar for refreshing cocktails throughout the day, a central swimming pool with swim-up whirlpool, the Nutmeg Pod children’s activity center, the Gatsby Boutique and more.

Spice Island Beach Resort is a proud recipient of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Six Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences and was ranked the #1 property in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor according to traveler reviews in 2013. The resort has also received Virgin Holidays’ Gold Award as the #1 property in its exclusive worldwide Platinum Collection for 10 consecutive years from 2006-2015.

Spice Island Beach Resort is a proud member of the esteemed Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) collection and the first and only resort in Grenada to be featured in the exclusive Virtuoso network’s Hotels & Resorts Program.

For more information, contact Spice Island Beach Resort toll-free at 1-800-501-8603, tel: 473-444-4258, fax: 473-444-4807, e-mail: reservations@spicebeachresort.com, or visit www.SpiceIslandBeachResort.com. Connect with Spice Island Beach Resort on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

 

 

Mango Bay Hotel, Barbados is All-Inclusive Beach Resort Ideal for Family Getaway

Mango Bay all-inclusive resort, Barbados

HOLETOWN, Barbados – Located on the famed Gold Coast of Barbados, the 76-room Mango Bay Hotel provides fun in the sun vacations for families of all sizes. Mango Bay’s all-inclusive value allows vacationers to be entertained from sunrise to sunset – and every second in-between, regardless of age.

An all-inclusive vacation at Mangao Bay features hotel accommodations; all meals, afternoon tea, all local and brand name drinks including wine with dinner; various watersports including water-skiing, kayaking, hobiecat sailing, pedal boating and snorkeling; an on-property complimentary offering of scuba diving lessons; nightly entertainment; and off-property sightseeing excursions such as a glass-bottom boat trip and a catamaran sail.

Children three years of age and under sharing with two adults stay free-of-charge and children 4 to 18 years old are offered a reduced rate. For added convenience, cribs, extra beds and high chairs are available at no extra cost.

The Mango Bay restaurant provides children’s menus and earlier meal times can be set upon request. Organized games and activities such as movie nights, sand castle building and scavenger hunts can be arranged depending on the number of children staying at the resort. For an additional fee, babysitting services can be arranged so parents can steal some alone time.

Offering family-friendly vacation value, children four and up may participate in all watersport activities and children five and up have the option of attending the catamaran and glass bottom boat trips. Scuba diving lessons are given on select days in the pool from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.  Kids eight years of age and older may participate.

Mango Bay has proven to be a great getaway for the whole family having been named a 2014 Family Vacation Critic Favorite in the first annual hotel awards on www.FamilyVacationCritic.com. Receiving this award means that Mango Bay has at least four stars or higher from the website’s editorial staff and have had at least 75% of families recommend the property with four stars or higher. The resort also received TripAdvisor’s 2015 Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame.

Mango Bay Hotel also was recently included in USA Today’s Top 10 “Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts Have the Biggest Bang For Your Buck?”

Rates start at $660 per room, per night, based on double occupancy for travel Jan. 6 – April 30, 2016.

Contact Mango Bay at 246-626-1384, email reservations@mangobaybarbados.com or visit www.MangoBayBarbados.com.

 

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

goingplacesfarandnear.tumblr.com/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Four Seasons Resort Nevis Earns 2016 AAA Five Diamond Award

Four Seasons Nevis as seen from the private ferry between Porte Zante, St. Kitts to its private dock on Nevis

NEVIS, WEST INDIES – For the 20th time, Four Seasons Resort Nevis was named among the recipients of the coveted 2016 AAA/CAA Five Diamond Award. The award recognizes properties that deliver ultimate luxury, sophistication and comfort with extraordinary physical attributes, meticulous personalized service, extensive amenities and impeccable standards of excellence.

“We are truly delighted and honored to receive our 20th AAA Five Diamond Award,” said General Manager Ed Gannon. “Every member of the exceptional Four Seasons Resort Nevis staff is committed to delivering a true Caribbean experience with superior personalized service to every guest, every day. We are especially happy to receive this latest AAA Five Diamond Award for our resort’s 25th anniversary in 2016.”

Opened on February 14, 1991, the 196-room Four Seasons Resort Nevis delivers an intimate and authentic travel experience for adventurous and up-market couples and families. The resort was the first among Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to ever receive the AAA Five Diamond Award in 1992, and Four Seasons Resort Nevis is currently among only seven Caribbean hotels and resorts to receive the 2015 Five Diamond recognition. The new recognition for 2016 ranks the resort as a premier establishment, esteemed by AAA’s professional inspectors, the hospitality industry, and the club’s more than 55 million members.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, the only Four Seasons Resort in the Caribbean, is set along the golden sands of Pinney’s Beach, on the western coast of the island, minutes from museums, plantation homes and historic churches dating to the 1600s.

For more information, visit www.FourSeasons.com/Nevis.

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

goingplacesfarandnear.com

goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com

moralcompasstravel.info

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Mango Bay Hotel Voted Barbados’ Leading Boutique Resort at World Travel Awards

Barbados’ Mango Bay Hotel was voted Barbados’ Leading Boutique Resort at the World Travel Awards.

Barbados’ Mango Bay Hotel (www.MangoBayBarbados.com) has been voted Barbados’ Leading Boutique Resort at the World Travel Awards™, recognizing the property’s commitment to excellence over the last 12 months.

“I speak for the entire Mango Bay team in saying that we are truly honored to be voted as Barbados’ Leading Boutique Resort,” said Peter Odle, chairman of the Mango Bay Hotel Group.  “Our team members strive for outstanding service and are eager to meet guests’ needs, something which we feel is imperative in reaching this caliber of excellence,” he continued.

The World Travel Awards™ was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the travel and tourism industry.  The annual program is renowned as the most prestigious and comprehensive in the field.

Nominations for World Travel Awards™ are based on past years’ winners, approved self-nominations and approved World Travel Awards™ commendations.  Once nominated, votes come from qualified executives working within travel and tourism and consumer travel buyers.  Votes are internally audited to ensure the validity of each individual vote.

Located in the historic Holetown area on the famed Gold Coast of Barbados, the 76-room Mango Bay Hotel is known for its sophistication and all-inclusive value. This beachfront, boutique-style property is the ideal tropical retreat for travelers seeking an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, offering spacious accommodations, a picturesque beach, a centrally-located swimming pool and superb dining. The property is just a short walk from the posh Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, where guests can shop at global luxury retailers including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Cartier, Michael Kors and more.

Mango Bay is celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2014 with discounted rates starting at US$384 per room, per night, based on double occupancy, on an all-inclusive basis when booked directly.  A Mango Bay all-inclusive vacation includes hotel accommodations, all meals, afternoon tea, all local and brand name drinks including glasses of wine, use of the on-site gym and nightly entertainment. The property is also now offering room service as well as drink and food service at the pool and the beach.  Water skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, wakeboarding, pedal boats, a glass bottom boat ride and a catamaran trip to snorkel with the turtles are also included.

For more information on Mango Bay, call 246-432-1384, email reservations@mangobaybarbados.comor, or visit www.MangoBayBarbados.com.