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Top 10 Recover-From-Winter Caribbean Escapes
Top 10 Recover-From-Winter Caribbean
Escapes
Tamarind Beach Resort & Yacht Club, Canouan Island - St. Vincent & Grenadines
As we go to press, the East Coast and Midwest are in a deep freeze, with
slippery sidewalks, stressed heating systems, and snow amounts measured in feet
rather than inches. And we're looking at several more months of wild winter
weather. But instead of succumbing to frigid cabin fever, it's time to plan
that Caribbean escape.
Below, Hideaways shares our top picks for unique and noteworthy places
where you can recover from winter in stunning (and sunning) style. Each one is
sure to soothe your soul and renew your spirit.
When you're ready to book your trip, contact your personal planner at Hideaways
Travel Services (toll-free: 800-843-4433;
ts@hideaways.com). Your expert agent can be anything from your
reservation-maker to your matchmaker, introducing you to the hideaway that best
fits your travel style and budget.
How to Sun & Save
Here are three smart and easy ways to save on your Caribbean escape:
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Book between the unofficial end of winter and the beginning of summer
("shoulder season"). During this time, you'll enjoy great weather, better
availability, and more elbow room along with discounted prices and/or deals.
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Speaking of deals, find can't-beat-'em deals--for stays in the Caribbean, and
around the world--at
www.hideaways.com/LTD. These limited-time-only deals include discounts
and perks, like a complimentary couple's massage, that have been specially
arranged for Hideaways' savvy members.
-
Make your arrangements with Hideaways Travel Services (toll-free:
800-843-4433 ; ts@hideaways.com).
Your expert agent knows how to get you the best deal, and ensures that members
of the Hideaways Aficionado Club get their exclusive, member-only
privileges, like a complimentary room upgrade at check-in (when available).
Hideaways' Top 10 Recover-From-Winter Caribbean Escapes
1. Belmond La Samanna
, Marigot, St. Martin
This luscious escape is so decadent, so completely given over to the good life,
that it will most certainly erase any memory of winter's hardships. Here,
you'll stay in a guest room, suite, or villa that's bathed in sunlight, enjoy
morning coffee on a private seaside terrace, succumb to an achingly good
deep-tissue massage in an outdoor treatment room, frolic on a secluded sliver
of white-sand beach, and savor gourmet cuisine served with world-class wine and
an ocean view.
2. The Meridian
Club, Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos
This environmentally conscious club on 800 acres exudes an enticing
barefoot-elegance vibe, where shoes are optional, TVs are unheard of, and the
only guest phone is in a thatched-roof hut. In other words, it's the perfect
place to recharge your mind and spirit (but not your iPad!) after a
long winter. Its 12 rooms and secluded Sand Dollar Cottages are "famously
plain," but all face the ocean across a powder-soft, two-mile long beach. Here,
R&R refers to reading and rocking in a hammock, though adventure-lovers can
get their fill with sailing, kayaking, nature hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving,
and excursions like whale-watching and an evening Glow Worms Cruise. (Just for
the record, there actually is Wi-Fi coverage near the Clubhouse, so you can
stay in touch if you really want to.)
3. Covecastles,
Shoal Bay West, Anguilla
Your bold, geometric villa--with its warm interiors and wonderful little
luxuries--sits on the edge of a pristine, half-mile beach. Walk out your door
and, within moments, you'll be swimming or snorkeling . . . and that
crystal-clear water offers a perfect way to baptize a new season. Though your
freestanding villa has all the comforts of home, it also has all the varied
amenities and services of a world-class resort. So when it's time for dinner,
pass by your kitchen and head to the resort's private dining room instead, for
an exquisite taste of French/Caribbean cuisine. Following an after-dinner
drink, you'll want to take a relaxed stroll back "home" along the beach, with
only the stars for company.
4. Tamarind Beach
Resort & Yacht Club,
Canouan Island, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
After a tough winter, you might want to go-go-go or get some much-needed rest, and this is the kind of place where you can do either. Those who
need to recuperate from battling one too many snowstorms can delight in a seductive massage or a cocktail on the sand; those who need to stretch their legs
after battling cabin fever can golf, swim, kayak, sail, snorkel, or dive. Either way, you'll enjoy retiring each night to one of the lovely beachfront
rooms or suites (only 39 total) that sit just steps from the sand, in a colorful setting of tropical gardens, and with dazzling views of the Caribbean.
5. Guana Island,
British Virgin Islands
There's plenty here to remind you you're not in (frozen) Kansas anymore, from
the sea turtles and flamingos to the private island's seven deserted beaches
and miles of nature reserve hiking trails. It's just you, fewer than 30 other
guests, and an attentive staff sharing this laid-back and restorative resort
with the local creatures. Guana's secluded stone cottages are done in relaxed
plantation style with rattan furniture, and each has a private ocean-view
terrace, perfect for serious relaxing. On active days, you can snorkel and dive
the offshore reefs or venture out on a deep-sea fishing excursion or a day-trip
to nearby Tortola. But best of all is lingering with other Guana guests on the
main house veranda for sunset cocktails and a glimpse of the green flash,
followed by feasting on delicious seafood and island-grown produce.
6. The Buccaneer,
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
The kids love winter--from building snow forts to enjoying snow days--but they
miss the warm temps, too. So take them to this family-friendly standout on
quiet St. Croix. Here, younger travelers can head to the Kids' Camp while
adults play golf or tennis, take a nature hike, get a spa treatment, go
snorkeling, take a scuba trip out to Buck Island, or just stroll along one of
the resort's three beaches. Meet up again at the end of the day: Accommodations
are clustered in several distinct areas-the plantation-style Great House,
two-bedroom family cottages on the hillside above the beach, oceanfront suites
and rooms, and the ultra-luxurious Doubloons, a cluster of villas perched above
Mermaid Beach.
7. Laluna, Grenada
This is just the place to shake off any remnants of winter and soak up all the
sun's restorative powers. This refined-yet-relaxed concoction of a resort
overlooks a sparkling beach, but you can catch those rays away from the beach,
too, back at your cottage, with your own plunge pool and your partly open
bathroom, where you can bathe au naturel, yet with complete privacy. Speaking
of au naturel, Grenada itself is still largely unspoiled, and is easy to
explore by mountain bike or moped, sailboat or scuba excursion. And, as it's
the Isle of Spice, be sure to check out the aromatic spice markets--just follow
your nose.
8. Round Hill Hotel and Villas,
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Grab your kids or your friends, and head to this balmy paradise for post-winter
doses of healing comfort, five-star service, privacy, and glamour, all served
up in a convivial, club-like atmosphere. Take your pick from two ways to stay:
in one of 36 oceanfront rooms designed by Ralph Lauren (himself a cottage
owner) or in one of 27 individually owned and uniquely decorated villas and
cottages, each with a selection of villa suites or more expansive two- to
six-bedroom suites that can be taken individually or as a complete home. With
the kids happily ensconced in the high-energy Kids' Club, the grownups have
time to enjoy ocean-side spa treatments, a round of golf, deep-sea fishing, or
tropical cocktails by the pool.
9. Le Sereno, St. Barth,
French West Indies
This stylish sanctuary is a magical combination of laid-back simplicity and
chic Parisian design, inviting you to pause and refresh. At this truly
beachfront resort-with 36 spacious suites plus three huge, four-bedroom
villas-you're just steps away from lazy, languid days of sun and fun. The
turquoise bay at your feet isn't just beautiful, it's also a natural, protected
playground for swimming, snorkeling, kite surfing, and paddle-boarding. After
being active all day, you'll surely work up an appetite for the innovative
French cuisine served at the resort's sophisticated, open-air restaurant, when
you'll dine with Mother Nature as you try to forget Old Man Winter.
10. Eden Roc at Cap
Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
This understated-yet-elegant enclave offers equal parts old-world glamour and
contemporary style. Each of the resort's exquisite suites is a small jewel of
design, with vibrant pops of color against minimalist white and a spacious
garden patio area with a sparkling pool that's made for real swimming and play.
Your personal golf cart, included with your suite, will whisk you from your
home-away-from-home to the private Caletón Beach Club, just steps from the
white sand and turquoise sea, or to the signature Jack Nicklaus golf course, or
maybe the Solaya Spa, where sensual open-air treatment rooms sit at the edge of
winding lagoons. Best yet, take that golf cart for an evening spin to La Palapa
by Eden Roc, a waterfront restaurant where seafood is prepared to perfection,
and the views are among the best in Punta Cana. As you toast your unforgettable
stay, be sure to raise your glass to your stylish recovery from winter.
Let Hideaways Do Your Travel Planning
Remember, your expert Hideaways Travel Consultant can get you the best
deal going at your favorite Hideaways-preferred Caribbean getaway--so
you can get going and escape winter's chill! Just email
ts@hideaways.com, or call
800-843-4433
.
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