Blue water, white sand and plenty of privacy. If you’re headed to the Caribbean and considering a villa, here are some to keep on your radar.
Calivigny Island
Are you looking to travel with the whole crew — and then some? Calivigny Island, located just off the southern coast of Grenada, offers total privacy for up to 40 guests at a time. Spread over 80 acres with two private beaches, offering views of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, the residence comprises two all-suite villas and three beach cottages.
Amenities here include two outdoor pools, a swim-up bar, fitness center, tennis court, football / soccer field, basketball court and biking and jogging trails. Guests can choose from a variety of water sports, as well: Jet skiing, water skiing, jet pack, catamaran, kayaking, windsurfing and snorkeling are all available. An outdoor cinema and children’s fantasy tree house filled with video game consoles, board games and water activities round out more of the options.
The Beach House is the heart of the island and is home to the most impressive suites. The 4,000-square-foot Master Suite (one of 10 in the Beach House) has marble floors and French cherrywood trimming; it also has a custom-built, Roman-style Jacuzzi. The Overhang House offers nine more suites with terraces. A freshwater pool and direct beach access are among the perks here. The house is filled with a curated contemporary art collection, along with modern interiors.
A trio of two-bedroom Beach Cottages provide guests with the most intimate island experience. Each cottage features a private outdoor Jacuzzi and a large outdoor terrace, as well as a gourmet kitchen.
Tip: The island’s turtle-hatching season is especially popular with kids. (Four types of turtles lay their eggs on Grenada from March to June, with eggs hatching 50 to 70 days later.)
Note: Calivigny Island is for buyout only; however, the Beach House can be rented on its own during low season (May through October).
Travel advisors may contact Dominique Debay (dominique@dominiquedebay.com), president and owner, Dominique Debay Hotels & Resorts, or Sophie Valette (manager@calivigny-island.com), manager, Calivigny Island. Bookings should be made at least two months in advance, with festive season being the busiest time of year. Valette can also arrange excursions on Grenada. Top picks include visiting one of the numerous chocolate factories, trekking to a variety of impressive waterfalls and visiting local markets. If you prefer to stay on Calivigny Island (as most guests do, we’re told), arrangements can be made for chocolate or rum tastings or more to be done at the property. Guests can also head onto the water with one of Calivigny’s boats where they can enjoy a lunch at sea, prepared by local chefs.
Getting There: Guests should arrive via Grenada’s Maurice Bishop Airport, where private transfers will be arranged by Calivigny. It’s about 15 minutes driving to the marina and is followed by a 10-minute boat ride. Calivigny can also arrange for guests to arrive by private jet or yacht.
Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection
Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection recently added two new existing villas to its portfolio: Villa Kishti West and Villa Kishti East, which are located on Anguilla’s Mead’s Bay, just steps away from the resort.
In Malliouhana, guests staying at Villa Kishti West or Villa Kishti East have a team of chefs available to prepare private meals and serve in the exclusive dining areas.
The five-bedroom Villa Kishti West and the six-bedroom Villa Kishti East are located side-by-side and can be reserved individually or as one 11-bedroom private villa. The contemporary villas have floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, an outdoor infinity pool, hot tub and canopy beds that overlook the beach. The focal point of each villa is its entertaining space: A great room with living, dining and kitchen areas that opens to the terrace via a folding glass wall. Each villa has two kitchens, rooftop and patio gardens, a home theater, office and gym.
Good to know: Despite the difference in room numbers, both villas are the same size (9,022 square feet).
For guests who are looking to get off the property for an activity, we’re told the “Set Sail on a Classic West Indian Sail Boat Experience” is a big draw. The six-hour tour takes guests through the crescent bay of Sandy Ground, along the coast dotted with sea caves to a spot where you can fish or snorkel in a coral-filled cay.
In November, Malliouhana will unveil a two-bedroom beachfront villa on Turtle Cove Beach, as well as 11 new oceanfront suites and an expanded Auberge Spa with an adjacent infinity pool. Should guests want a spa treatment in the interim, they can use the existing Spa Suite or receive a massage in your villa. In addition, guests can enjoy three new dining concepts: Bar and lounge Bar Soleil, Mediterranean-inspired Café Celeste and beach shack Leon’s Porch and Beach Bar.
Tip: Staff for the villas includes a private villa manager, butler and chef. Advisors may contact Tomica Carty (tomica.carty@aubergeresorts.com) and Lauren Bale (lauren.bale@aubergeresorts.com), both reservation agents. Malliouhana recommends booking six months in advance.
The Shore Club
Additionally, The Shore Club in Turks and Caicos is adding two villas on August 31, bringing its total inventory to six. Located on a stretch of beachfront on Long Bay Beach, each of the 8,800-square-foot villas has its own heated pool, private courtyard and expansive terraces. Good to know: All guestrooms have their own large baths. The villas even have private elevators from an underground service area to the first and second level, ensuring privacy from all service providers.
Special services included with each villa rental range from a private butler, VIP airport transfers and airport fast-track arrival and departure to designer bath and turndown scents, an Apple TV and dedicated Hobie Cat and other water sports equipment. Add-on services available include a private chef, kiteboarding lessons, full villa grocery pre-stocking, live entertainment, dry cleaning services and car rentals.
The Shore Club Villas have their own heated pools, private courtyards, expansive terraces, spacious guestrooms with large baths and a master suite with sweeping ocean views.
Because each one of these villas is just steps away from The Shore Club resort, guests benefit from all resort amenities, including access to the four resort pools, wellness center and three restaurants.
Good to know: A new spa will be opening in March 2020. The organic-centric spa will have a salt therapy room with salt coming from local ponds (one of the destination’s top exports prior to tourism); similarly, mineral bath treatments will use all local minerals and seaweed wraps and scrubs will be available. Currently, The Shore Club has the Dune Spa, which offers three beachfront treatment bungalows.
Fun Fact: Turks and Caicos is located off of the world’s third-largest barrier reef, meaning it offers great snorkeling and scuba diving.
If you’re looking for other experiences, we’re told that Turks and Caicos has an impressive food scene. A must is the island fish fry, held on Thursday evenings, where local restaurants only cook up their fresh catches. To continue the culinary theme, guests can head to Da Conch Shack where they can pick their own conch, which is prepared to order; another option is Turk’s Head Brewery, the island’s only locally brewed beer. For film aficionados, this November 15 – 17, the island will play host to the revived Turks and Caicos International Film Festival. The idea is to celebrate the best films focusing primarily on the ocean and environment.
Judith Guerrier (judith.guerrier@theshoreclubtc.com) is your contact at the resort.
Le Sereno St. Barth
Following a complete property rebuild after Hurricane Irma, Le Sereno reopened in December 2018. Updates included a fresh look for all guestrooms, new waterfront suites, a refurbished Restaurant Le Sereno with a beach restaurant extension and an expanded spa.
Le Sereno also has three renovated villas, each with over 7,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. These accommodations, which are well-suited for both families or couples looking for a little extra space and privacy, have three bedrooms (plus one convertible media room), large living areas, a fully equipped kitchen, an expansive terrace with a heated pool, and views of the Grand Cul de Sac. VIP services, such as private chefs, exclusive butler service and event setup is available for guests. Good to know: The villas were also built using sustainable woods and stones and have Christian Liaigre furnishings.
Bedroom 2 is the top option within the villas. These have the best ocean views, king beds, high ceilings and a private terrace overlooking the bay. All bedrooms have a flat-screen TV, stereo, DVD, iPod station, room and bathroom speakers, as well as a generous closet space. Villas also come with a Mini Cooper for guest use, custom amenities by Anya Hindmarch and Ex Voto Paris.
Le Sereno, which reopened in December after a complete rebuild, has three renovated villas, each with over 7,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
Good to know: The Grand Cul de Sac is a protected marine reserve, making it the perfect spot for snorkeling with sea turtles, scuba diving, paddle boarding and kayaking. In addition, the Grand Cul de Sac is well-known as a kitesurfing destination thanks to northeastern exposure to the trade winds combined with its shallow lagoon. Snorkeling gear, glass-bottom kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available complimentary. Fishing and scuba diving charters, kitesurfing lessons and guided hikes are also available through the hotel.As for the resort, returning guests will be pleased to find the pool retains the same chic look, as does the lobby with its Instagrammable red doors.
The expanded Spa at Le Sereno has three treatment rooms, including one waterfront pavilion (yes, please!). In-villa spa services are also available.
Tip: In between the spa and fitness center is a new garden where guests can practice yoga or meditation.
For VIP bookings, contact Marta Camps (sales@serenohotels.com), sales and marketing manager for Sereno Hotels.
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