Recommend June 2011 - (Page 54)

the best beach HONEYMOONS continued from page 36 The renowned restaurant Bushbar, lauded as a “hot table” by Conde Nast Traveler, has a similar vibe, with open-air seating and spectacular views. The Healing Spa offers a full suite of services, including prenatal and neuromuscular massages, as well as a ﬁtness facility with a personal trainer. And in addition to Frenchman’s Cove—the beach that hosted the 1960s jet set—guests also have access to Geejam’s own private beach, Mack Bay, with snorkeling, kayaking and perpetually calm waters. Rates start at $495 per room per night dbl. Contact: (800) OUTPOST; islandoutpost.com/geejam play—it all off. Rates start at $440 per room per night dbl. Contact: (800) 943-3210; cuisinartresort.com gansevoort turks + caicos When some clients say they want to “get away from it all,” they don’t mean they want to leave civilization behind. They want to go to a place with all the amenities and enticements of home, without the accompanying stresses. And that place is the Gansevoort Turks + Caicos. Though it’s set on pristine Providenciales beachfront, this resort has a hip, urban vibe that sets it apart from other resorts here. Each of its 91 guestrooms features spa tubs and rain showers; state-of-the-art appliances in their full kitchens; and modern tech touches like BOSE iPod docking stations, LCD TVs and free WiFi connectivity, so couples can keep friends and family back home up to date on their latest adventures. And there are plenty of adventures to have here. Deep-sea ﬁshing, scuba diving, horseback riding and private yacht charters are all available excursions from the resort. And on property, guests can take advantage of complimentary snorkeling, kayaking and sailing equipment. There’s also the Exhale Spa, offering modern treatments like its signature Provo Flow Massage, alongside more tried and true practices like yoga classes. At Bagatelle Bistro, couples can indulge in French and Mediterranean cuisine, or just hit up its weekly happy hour that draws guests and locals alike. Guests can also take advantage of upscale offerings like access to its VIP pool area, adding even more of a South Beach feel to its oceanview pool with ﬂoating islands. Rates start at $350 per night. Contact: (888) 844-5986; gansevoortturksandcaicos.com cotton tree If all you know about Grand Cayman is Seven Mile Beach with its large condo resorts, prepare for a surprise. Cotton Tree is the sort of quaint, hidden boutique resort you’d expect to ﬁnd in Nevis, Anguilla or the out islands of The Bahamas. But it’s here in the northern end of West Bay where honeymooners can stake out a classic Caymanian escape. Intimacy is a part of every experience at Cotton Tree, a collection of four upscale cottages designed to resemble locals’ homes. That is, until you get inside and discover amenities like jacuzzi tubs, rain showers and rooms ﬁlled with light streaming in through sea-facing windows. It’s just steps to the shore from couples’ accommodations. That beach isn’t just for soaking up the sun or cooling off in the ocean. A spa pavilion hides among sea grape trees on the beach, offering a full roster of treatments with the added beneﬁt of sea breezes. (Clients wanting more privacy can book services to be performed inroom or at the nearby Spa Platinum.) Local catering company Food for Thought can provide personal chefs for romantic private dinners. And bicycle rentals are included in the daily rate, giving couples a fun way to explore beyond West Bay. Ristorante Pappagallo, one of Cayman’s most popular restaurants, is also one of its most romantic, and it sits just a short ride away. Rates start at $365 per cottage dbl, and the resort is closed in September. Contact: caymancottontree.com sandals grande antigua resort & spa Sandals Resorts has long been known as the destination for honeymoons and weddings, and romance travel of all sorts. So what makes its Antigua property so special? Plenty. First, there are the rondovals, circular villas with private plunge pools or direct beach access, all set in a tropical garden. Inside, couples ﬁnd island-style elegance, with thatch ceilings, mahogany furnishings and butler service. If clients are looking for more space, they can book a 1,400-sq.-ft. plunge pool villa, with an expansive private plunge pool and whirlpool on their private outdoor terrace. And then, of course, there’s the island of Antigua itself—elegant and picturesque, especially on the Dickenson Bay beaches fronting the resort. Pair all that with Sandals’ standard services and you have an all-inclusive honeymoon that’s hard to beat. The Red Lane Spa offers an openair water therapy room with jacuzzi and plunge pool, as well as couples’ suites with in-room showers and soaking tubs. When it’s time for dinner, couples can choose from no fewer than 10 restaurants, ranging from local cuisine to Italian dishes and even an English pub. Then it’s back to watersports, tennis or volleyball on land, touring the island or simply soaking up rays by the pool. For a romantic twist on a normal pool day, book a private cabana for honeymooners, where a private attendant fulﬁlls all food and drink requests while couples simply kick back and relax. Rates start at $508 pp, with up to 60 percent discounts available for certain rooms and dates. Contact: (888) SANDALS; sandals.com ■ Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): A Kiss by the Beach (June 2010) recommend.com cuisinart After months of dieting for the big day, the name “CuisinArt” has got to sound good to any bride. But that’s the least of the enticements at this ﬁve-star property in sleepy Anguilla, which hosted the ﬁnale of the latest season of the TV show “The Bachelor.” Its 93 rooms evoke the essence of the Mediterranean, with Greek architecture and white and blue color palettes. Marble bathrooms and private patios come standard, with upgrades to villas adding extras like outdoor showers and more private terrace space. Its Venus Spa received a $10 million redo in 2008, with facilities that now include a VIP suite, a relaxation room with views to the ocean, an aqua therapy pool and—of particular interest to honeymooners—couple’s suites, with attached terraces featuring couple’s tubs or showers. And, yes, there is the food which ranks among the tastiest and most unique on the island. Whether couples dine at Mediterraneo, the resort’s casual poolside restaurant or Santorini, its more upscale sister, their dishes will include produce grown on site at CuisinArt’s hydroponic farm and organic gardens. Chef’s table reservations and a variety of cooking classes are also available for foodies in love. And tell clients not to worry about watching that wedding-perfect ﬁgure. With the resort’s watersports, biking trails, tennis lessons and a state-of-theart ﬁtness center, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to work—or rather, 54 june 2011 http://www.cuisinartresort.com http://www.islandoutpost.com/geejam http://www.gansevoortturksandcaicos.com http://www.caymancottontree.com http://www.sandals.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Club Med Weddings by Imagine
A Perfect Honeymoon
Super-Sexy Voyages by Sea
Home-Based Happily Ever Afters
Kiss & Tell
Saying "I Do" on an Island
The Best Beach Honeymoons
Brazil Travel Planner
Say "I Do" to Central America
Steamy Love in South America
Finding Honeymoon Gems in Europe
Mesmerizing Retreats
Exotic Africa—The Perfect Honeymoon Haven
Five Fiery Honeymoons in Mexico
Mexico Says "I Do" to Destination Weddings

Recommend June 2011