Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2009 - (Page 14)

and Chelle Hulford opened the property in 1957. Today, they live on property at the highest point of the resort in a to-die-for home that is also used for special receptions and weddings. Hint: If you’re invited for drinks up at their abode, dress in your finest resort attire; with open-air living areas, splendid service and elegant balconies, this classy venue will bring out the inner jetsetter in anyone. Curtain Bluff is run by the very-hands-on managing director, Rob Sherman (roberts@curtain bluff.com; he was a nominee in the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence for the “Top General Manager” category). He moved to Antigua 30 years ago and never looked back. If you’re lucky, he’ll take you to his office to show you a 20-year-old photo that depicts a number of Curtain Bluff employees who started their careers at the resort and still work there today. Note: Because of the trusting, casual ambiance of Curtain Bluff, guest rooms up until a year ago did not have locks; while guests now do indeed receive keys to their rooms, many repeaters stick to the original habit of leaving their quarters unsecured. It’s also important to tell clients that rooms do not have TVs, which are available in a public lounge that also houses computers with high-speed Internet. Guest rooms are spacious at Curtain Bluff, no matter the category. Junior Suites (750 square feet in size) have large bathrooms sporting separate showers and big tubs. (Nice Touch: A small bottle of local rum and a bucket of ice can be found tubside upon arrival.) The sleeping area extends to a stepdown living room that leads to the balcony. Added Magic: Minibars are filled with preferred guest bever- THE TERRACE SUITE is popular with honeymooners. ages, including champagne, beers, water and sodas. Tops digs at the resort are the 2,000-square-foot Morris Bay and Grace Bay Suites, which supply extra posh touches, such as four-poster beds and Jacuzzis on the balconies. They can also connect to Junior suites. Premium accommodations are also available higher up on the bluff. We were surprised to learn that Curtain Bluff is an all-inclusive resort; all meals, drinks and water sports are a part of the pricing. The spa at Curtain Bluff is a home run, thanks to the high level of service from therapists who were trained in Bali. There’s more: Each of the five treatment rooms has an openair balcony with chaise lounges. The dressing area is cozy, but it’s only a prelude to the very large relaxation area, where guests can lounge around prior to their treatments; we enjoyed a dose of ginger tea prior to heading off to our 90-minute Signature facial. Hint: Ask for Sharon. After one’s treatment, it’s advisable to head back to the relaxation area, where a Jacuzzi overlooking the sea awaits and guests are served a tapas-style snack. Be sure to book treatments six weeks out for the busy Christmas and Spring Break periods through Randy (268-462-8400; thespa@ curtainbluff.com), the spa concierge. The facility’s director, Gilly Shillingford (gillys@cur tainbluff.com), can also answer questions. Don’t overlook the tennis facilities at Curtain Bluff. Three resident instructors meticulously encourage guests to strive for top form on the four courts. There’s also a squash court, yoga, swimming in the 75-foot pool, croquet and a full range of motorized and non-motorized water sports. We loved Curtain Bluff ’s Beach Restaurant, which serves a luncheon buffet but also serves up a great menu selection. In the Main Dining Room, a wide selection of French continental cuisine (with a bit of Caribbean infusion) is served with very caring service; we also loved the local live entertainment every evening. Afternoon tea and hors d’œuvres before dinner are other thoughtful touches we enjoyed; we also enjoyed that reservations are not taken for dinner, meaning there was no pressure to track down the maitre d’ each evening to snag a good table. There’s also a fabulous wine cellar housing 25,000 bottles; be sure to ask for a private wine tasting. The luxury travel advisor liaisons for Curtain Bluff are Annette Williams or Sandra McKay ADVISOR INSIGHT: Joshua Bush of Park Avenue Travel chose Curtain Bluff for his honeymoon and we think that’s a pretty strong endorsement. Bush, who appeared on the cover of Luxury Travel Advisor last April, said he chose the resort “because it’s a place where you don’t have to think about anything. The normal activities and hassles of a vacation (signing checks, worrying if activities are full or expensive, getting dressed up for dinner) are nonexistent at Curtain Bluff, allowing complete serenity. We found it to be a great way to unwind after the busy planning of our wedding and an opportunity to disconnect from the stress of real life. This escape allowed Jen and me to re-energize and be refreshed after our return. Curtain Bluff is very special to us and I would bet we will return for many milestone anniversaries!” in reservations (curtainbluff@ curtainbluff.com). They can also assist with transfers from VC Bird International Airport, which is a 35-minute ride away. Curtain Bluff will close for its customary renovations on July 31. It will reopen on October 31. —Ruthanne Terrero 14 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | March 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2009

Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2009 Contents Publisher’s Letter Editor’s Letter Chiang Mai Curtain Bluff Destination Weddings Las Vegas Cruising Japan Tierra Del Volcan Riviera Maya Gordon Campbell Gray The Pulse Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - March 2009

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