Recommend October 2010 - (Page 74)

five high-end VILLA continued from page 72 STAYS “Wings’ experience in this changing landscape has been that a good number of our clients have moved up into the luxury market. I’m not sure if it is due to the pent-up frustration of not traveling much in 2008/09, or the very attractive pricing. The good thing about it is once you have experienced luxury travel it is very hard to go back.” Kate Murphy, President, Wings Travel Group cove spring house, barbados If you’re looking for the pinnacle of the villa experience in the Caribbean, it’s hard to top Cove Spring House in Barbados. The sprawling 10bedroom vacation home is almost too palatial to be called a villa; at the very least, it’s a mansion. And not just any mansion—this one is set atop coral cliffs that rise along the island’s chi-chi Platinum Coast, just above a stretch of sand reserved exclusively for its guests. Move inland toward the house and you’ll pass through perfectly pruned tropical gardens where a gazebo on its wooden deck offers chandelier-lit dining in the round looking out to sea, while daybeds at another part of the cliff offer a more private setting for relaxation. Still closer, a half-moon-shaped swimming pool hugs a jacuzzi, all surrounded with padded loungers and wide umbrellas for shade. Then there’s the service—five-star, of course. In addition to chef, butler, housekeeper and gardeners, clients also have a house manager who’ll handle everything from dinner reservations to private jet bookings. It’s no wonder Cove Spring House is known to cater to Hollywood stars and heads of state. Rates start at $7,858 per night. But don’t expect a small desert hut. The 6-bedroom building sprawls out along St. Martin’s Baie Rouge beach, with massive public spaces, including the kitchen and living room, open to the outdoors. Ideal for clients who want privacy without giving up the amenities of a resort. L’Oasis features a full-service spa, complete with a massage room big enough for couples’ treatments, an area for manicures and pedicures, steam room and gym with treadmill, elliptical machine and free weights. Two swimming pools, an outdoor pavilion for dining and, of course, direct beach access round out its amenities. With renovations underway designed to bring all its amenities to top shape, Palmer says that L’Oasis will be one of the Caribbean’s top villas when it reopens. Rates start at $4,286 per night. n best of both worlds The privacy of stand-alone villas appeals to honeymooners and other romantic couples, Palmer says, but groups like families and friends on vacation together sometimes miss the amenities of a full-service resort. “Families usually like activity,” she explains, “so usually we recommend homes which are part of other resorts.” With more and more resorts adding villas in addition to traditional guestrooms, the demand for the product is clear. But the most luxurious villas, Palmer says, are the ones at upscale resorts that have been catering to the villa market for years. Here are a few of her favorites. Half Moon: The Jamaican property offers a diverse range of villas, from cozy 4- to 7-bedrooms. Amenities include private pools and full staff, plus access to the resort’s expansive spa, onsite dolphin encounter and nearby golf course. Sandy Lane Estates: Barbados, a favorite destination for standalone villas, is also home to the Sandy Lane Estates that line the famous golf course attached to Sandy Lane resort. Clients here also have access to the resort’s spectacular spa and award-winning dining. Parrot Cay: At this wellness-focused resort in Turks & Caicos, clients can meditate in the comfort of their villas, most of which have three bedrooms, all decorated in clean, modern style. The resort can arrange private children’s activities as well as private spa therapies and yoga sessions. janes’ harbour, barbados Not a Hollywood mogul with millions to spend? Not a problem, Palmer says—Barbados is one of the most diverse villa destinations in the Caribbean. Take Janes’ Harbour, for example—still an incredibly upscale villa that cuts more than $3,000 off the price each night as compared to Cove Spring House. This 9-bedroom villa sits on Sandy Lane beach, right next door to Sandy Lane resort. Naturally, clients enjoy amenities including the resort’s famous 18-hole championship golf course, spacious and state-of-the-art spa, restaurants, shops and more. But there’s more to this villa than location alone. Inside—in addition to plush, British Colonial furnishings and high-end bathroom amenities—clients will find a traditional formal drawing room, complete with two crystal chandeliers and a baby grand piano. The formality continues in its dining room, where a dedicated staff of butlers and chefs serve sit-down dinners. But there are plenty of places here for clients to kick back and relax, including the swimming pool and pool deck, as well as the adjacent beach terrace dining area. Rates start at $4,500 per night. l’oasis, st. martin This villa is in French St. Martin, but once inside, clients feel as if they’ve been transported to Morocco (with a little added humidity in the climate, of course). Reopening in January 2011, with extensive renovations, the villa has an upscale, earthy feel with stone flooring, dark wood accents and white walls prevailing. Moroccan touches include a domed entryway, ornate golden mirrors and tilework accents. 74 october 2010 contact information Half Moon: (888) 830-5974; halfmoon.com/agents Parrot Cay: (877) 754-0726; parrotcay.como.bz Sandy Lane: (866) 444-4080; sandylane.com Villas of Distinction (for all individual villas): (800) 289-0900; villasofdistinction.com recommend.com http://www.halfmoon.com/agents http://parrotcay.como.bz http://www.sandylane.com http://www.villasofdistinction.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Luxurious India by Rail, Plane and Boat
The Heavenly Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces
Experiencing the High Life in Kenya
Savoring the North of England
Riviera Nayarit Travel Planner
Marival Residences & World Spa
Wildly Luxurious––High-End Vacations
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Does it Again
Guadeloupe
Five High-End Villa Stays
Compagnie du Ponant's Le Boreal
Palm Beach: Playground for the Rich and Famous
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
La Costa Resort and Spa, California

Recommend October 2010