Recommend February 2014 - (Page 42)

caribbean onsitereview F E B R U A R Y 2 0 13 The resort is embraced by a stunning landscape. carlisle bay, antigua ed wetschler Where do movie actresses cast as scientists who also happen to be sexy blondes spend their vacations? Maybe Carlisle Bay, where a woman with cover-girl looks ambled toward the beach carrying-what, an iPhone? A fanzine? No, a book. By Stephen Hawking. Other guests I saw there included an Italian family with two multi-lingual children, a retired English couple with a fondness for afternoon tea, and a fortysomething tennis-playing couple with twentysomething stamina. What these vacationers had in common gets to the heart of what Carlisle Bay, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is all about. This 80-suite resort on Antigua's southwest coast is a low-rise hideaway with a white sandy beach, cuisine aimed at sophisticated adults, well-run programs for children, and exceptional watersports, spa, ﬁtness, and tennis facilities. It's for people who prefer sailboats to jet skis, thin-crust pizza to Domino's, and pickled wood to pickled humans. "Carlisle Bay distinguishes itself the minute you arrive," says Jamo Ladd, luxury travel advisor at Virtuoso-afﬁliated Park Avenue Travel. "You are met by staff and led across a bridge over a koi pond to the lobby. At night, the water reﬂects the ﬂames of torches, and it's quite a sight." Almost everything in the open-air lobby is white, with one centrally placed table where ﬂowers offer an accent of color while gracefully camouﬂaging the WiFi router. suites vs. suites "Another good thing about Carlisle Bay is that it has an adults section as well as a family section," adds Ladd, "allowing it to appeal to both markets." 42 february 2014 42-45 CB CarlilseBay.indd 42 The huge (18 by 45 ft.) Garden and Ocean suites for couples are in 2-story buildings that stretch south toward the Watersports Centre and Jetty Bar. My suite was typical: The desk and couch in the frou-frou-free sitting area faced a sliding door and private patio; this being a ground ﬂoor Ocean Suite, the patio led to a lawn and then the beach. Behind the sitting room, a bedroom on a platform seemed so far from the window that I could lie in bed, immodestly attired, and look at the beach without people peering in. Or so I hoped. A door behind each side of the king-size bed led to the bathroom, so neither occupant had to stumble around the bed at 3 a.m. Right inside one of the doors was a Gaggia espresso/ cappucino machine whose rich, fresh coffee kept this reporter wired for four days straight. The 2-story, family-oriented suites are by the main buildings and pool. The Beach Suites have an oceanview master bedroom, a bedroom for kids, a shared bath, and a terrace or balcony. The 3-bedroom Carlisle Suites have an oceanview master and sitting room, two children's bedrooms, two baths, and a kitchenette. The corner "B" Carlisle Suites offer especially expansive views. restaurants and grandma's sate Afternoon tea, which a staffer served me on the beach, was classic Olde England: mini-sandwiches, scones and preserves, cookies, ﬁne teas, etc. I restrained myself in anticipation of dinner, which turned out to be a good thing. Entrees at open-air Indigo on the Beach include dishes like tender Cajun tuna with haute hush continued on page 44 recommend.com 1/21/14 11:38 AM ISM18 http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Corinthia Hotels
Tour Talk: Convertible Caravans of Europe
Boutique Hotels Beckon
VIP Havens
Crystal Cruises
Costa Rica Travel Planner
Anguilla, Foodie Paradise
Carlisle Bay, Antigua
Culturally Infused Mexico City
New Zealand's Luxury Retreats
Kenya: Where Wildlife and Luxury Coexist
Chic Outlet Shopping

Recommend February 2014