Wellness is going to be a major focus for luxury travelers and resorts in 2021 and beyond. Excluding the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused most people to cancel or delay their travels in 2020, health and wellness was surging as a “trend” — so much so that it was more of the norm than it was the outlier. Given the effects of the pandemic, we’re sure that healthy living will be all the more important in years to come. We can also bet that travelers are going to want to relax and be pampered on their trips in 2021 as they decompress from the stress brought on in 2020. Here are some resorts in the Caribbean with wonderful spa and wellness experiences that travelers will be thrilled to hear about.
Amanyara
Travelers looking to relax, rejuvenate and restore for the New Year, take note. Following the launch of multi-day Individual Wellness Immersions at various properties throughout Asia and Europe in 2019, Aman debuted the concept in the Caribbean in 2019 — starting with Amanyara in Turks and Caicos. While the property closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wellness Immersion programming is back for 2021.
Participants are provided with results-orientated programs devised and curated by the Aman Spa’s team of expert therapists, nutritionists and medical specialists. Guests can choose what type of experience they’re looking for, including Mindfulness & Stress Management, Detox & Cleansing and Weight Management & Transformation.
Each of the three Immersion pathways begins with an initial transformation program, orientation and consultation. The team then creates a bespoke program of exercise, spa treatments, healing therapies and nutritious meals. Good to know: The program also includes specialist therapy and private movement sessions, a spa treatment in the Aman Spa, optional guided meditation and group movement sessions and every meal.
The Aman Spa covers over one acre all to itself. Reflection pools and gardens create spaces to pause, while the yoga pavilion overlooks the spa ponds. Sun loungers line the spa’s aqua-therapy pool, beyond which lie four double treatment pavilions, a relaxation pavilion, spa boutique and Pilates Studio.
One of the signature treatments is the “Caribbean Lullaby,” a water shiatsu treatment performed in the spa pool at night under the starlit sky. Travel advisors should book treatments as far in advance as possible with Spa Director Esmerelda Van der Westhuizen (ewesthuizen@aman.com).
Beyond the spa, The Fitness Centre has a range of Technogym equipment, and the Clubhouse is adjacent to four tennis courts. Other facilities include a boxing studio, soccer pitch, basketball and volleyball courts and a juice bar.
What else is there? A marine lover’s paradise, the resort provides access to a multitude of adventures, from deep-sea fishing to some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in Turks and Caicos, all led by trained instructors. If you’re traveling with kids, educational, fun and informative experiences for young ones are available like eco-hikes and guided snorkeling trips to learn about the surrounding ecosystem and marine life.
The Villas at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos range from three to six bedrooms.
This coming season, guests will also have access to several new activities, including horseback riding, free-diving and kiteboarding. Long Bay, a 30-minute drive from Amanyara offers the ideal conditions for kiteboarding, we’re told, with miles of shallow, sandy, clear water and consistent wind.
For dining, we hear a starlit dinner in a secluded cove, a private beach BBQ with your personal bonfire or a clifftop picnic overlooking the ocean are some signature experiences. The resort also offers a selection of healthy “bowls” and can tailor wellness menus based on guest preference and needs.
Just in time for the resort’s 15th anniversary next year, the resort will unveil a complete refurbishment of its 38 spacious standalone pavilions. Each Pavilion has a combined bedroom and living area; some offer private pools and two bedrooms. The villas, ranging from three to six bedrooms, however, are the most popular accommodations. Top Digs: The 14,450-square-foot six-bedroom Amanyara Villa has a black, infinity-edge swimming pool, direct beach access, private Pilates studio, master bedroom with outdoor shower, and outdoor dining Sala, as well as private chef and housekeeper. The Amanyara Villa comes complete with three four-seater golf buggies for guest use during their stay. Book with Ana Fonseca (afonseca@aman.com), director of sales & marketing.
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Set along Seven Mile Beach, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa on Grand Cayman welcomes guests into a hidden oasis with water vistas, winding gardens, secret sanctuaries and pristine pools, all set on the Caribbean Sea. As the name implies, wellness is a pretty big thing at the resort. The 8,500-square-foot Spa at Seafire has a co-ed, indoor/outdoor garden retreat with a Jacuzzi and waterfall, a relaxation lounge, a hammam, a hair salon, five treatment rooms, two couple’s suites, four nail stations, and men’s and women’s locker areas with steam rooms.
An array of soothing services includes massage therapies, body treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures and more. The spa’s signature treatment happens in the hammam. During the Purification Hammam Journey (120 minutes), therapists use a traditional Kese mitt to cleanse the body, volcanic ash soap to exfoliate and marine-silt mud to mineralize the skin, then perform a scalp and full body massage.
Another popular treatment in the spa is Sands of Time, a “sea-inspired renewal facial,” available in 60 or 90 minutes. Restore and amplify your skin’s natural glow with an antioxidant potion comprising white algae, white tea and copper peptides. Combined with the spa’s signature herbal facial steam, your skin will be hydrated, smoother, lifted and healthy.
Travelers looking for an epicurean jaunt can savor and delight in variety of international and local cuisine at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. Options include casual family dining at Ave, serving Mediterranean seafood and steaks, tapas-style tastings at Avecita, the property’s chef’s bar, and beach and poolside noshing at Coccoloba (we hear the guacamole is a must-order dish).
As for accommodations, travelers will love the beachfront bungalows. For those traveling with family or friends, or for travelers who simply prefer a little more seclusion during their stay, Seafire’s roomy bungalows are a great pick. Steps from the beach and located between tropical swimming pools, the three bungalows house six separate suites; they have a spacious living room, a luxury kitchenette and a dining room for six. Guests of the bungalows have access to special in-room fitness classes, as well as chef-led daily breakfast deliveries, “liming hour” with drinks and bites, and an in-room culinary nightcap. (Liming, as it’s known in the Caribbean, is the art of doing nothing while sharing food, drink and laughs.) There’s also an in-room Vinyl Me, Please music player with a selection of music.
Another option is Seafire’s 4,700-square-foot, 10th-floor Presidential Suite, offering the best views on the island. Floor-to-ceiling windowed wall panels can be opened completely onto the wraparound balcony and both bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms. The master bathroom, wrapped by a private deck, is designed with white onyx, with a floating tub with views to the sea.
The Spa at Seafire has a relaxation lounge, a hammam, a hair salon, five treatment rooms, two couple’s suites, four nail stations, and men’s and women’s locker areas with steam rooms.
Good to know: As with all Kimpton hotels, the resort offers in-room yoga mats to practice wellness at your own pace, or simply in the comfort of your own room.
Travel advisors should reach out to Director Sales and Marketing Virgil Napier (virgil.napier@seafireresortandspa.com).
Beyond the resort, guests can interact with nature at Stingray City or Cayman Turtle Farm, or spy exotic floral displays or even the endangered blue iguana at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. In a retail mood? Shop George Town’s locally made crafts or Camana Bay’s modern boutiques.
Tip: Camp Seafire accommodates kids ages three to 12; it also offers nanny service for younger children.
Half Moon
Briefly, earlier this year, Half Moon opened its new resort-within-a-resort concept, Eclipse at Half Moon; however, it closed soon after due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it has reopened in full. Set between the hills of Montego Bay and the Caribbean Sea and the two existing parts of Half Moon’s property (Rose Hall Villas and Founder’s Cove), Eclipse has 57 accommodations, an infinity-edge pool, a natural swimming cove, and seven bars and restaurants.
Fern Tree, A Salamander Spa has two overwater bungalows for massage treatments and yoga classes. Fern Tree also has Ital Café, a raw vegan dining venue. Other facilities include aromatherapy steam and sauna rooms, Fern Tree Falls and a lagoon pool, an outdoor yoga pavilion, relaxation lounge, tearoom, and gardens with a meditation labyrinth. In total, there are 12 treatment rooms.
Eclipse has a variety of accommodations, which are located in three areas. In the Great House, each second-floor room has large balconies, while the resort’s signature Great House Ocean Suite offers an open-plan design with up to two bedrooms, a classically appointed living area, dining area and a balcony overlooking the Great Lawn and the Caribbean. Surrounded by tropical gardens, the resort’s Estate Homes offer maximum flexibility, including up to four bedrooms — each with its own private entrance. The Estate Homes also include a butler pantry, large great room, indoor/outdoor showers, and living and dining terraces.
Additionally, Eclipse offers seven new restaurants and bars.
Good to know: Guests of the three resort experiences can enjoy access to all of Half Moon’s amenities, including a Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf course and the Sugar Mill restaurant. Horseback riders of all levels can enjoy the Half Moon Equestrian Centre. Water sports include kayaks, paddleboats, standup paddleboards and snorkeling gear. There’s also tennis, pickleball and squash facilities (plus professional coaches offering clinics, private lessons and tournament play). The Anancy Children’s Village is available for guests ages three to 12 years old.
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