By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

St. Lucia’s newest adults-only all-inclusive resort, Serenity at Coconut Bay, opened in June. The 36-suite enclave is a resort-within-a resort at Coconut Bay Resort & Spa, part of a sprawling 85-acre estate that hugs a mile of beachfront in the town of Vieux Fort. Last week, we checked in to the south-side retreat to see if it lived up to its high-end hype. And we were impressed. Here are seven things we loved (and you will, too) about Serenity at Coconut Bay.

The Location Until Serenity came on the scene, visitors in search of a high-end St. Lucian hotel had to resign themselves to around an hour’s drive from Hewanorra International Airport, traversing narrow winding roads to the central town of Soufriere and even further to resorts in the capital, Castries. But now luxury lovers can literally go from baggage claim to resort in five minutes, whisked from the airport via private car directly to their suite, where they’re checked in. Better still, staying on the island’s southern tip puts visitors within easy reach of St. Lucia’s most popular attractions. From Serenity, the twin peaks of Pitons are a leisurely half-hour sail from the village of Laborie (15 minutes’ drive away) and the “drive-in volcano” and sulfur springs in Soufriere are 45 minutes by car. So whether you get motion sickness or your just plain impatient to get the vacation started, Serenity’s a solid choice.

The Suites The resort refers to its suites as “sanctuaries,” and the nomenclature really isn’t an overstatement. Each of the villa-style suites is surrounded by a high white picket fence, behind which lies a cloister so comfortable and well-equipped that guests really needn’t leave. At the top of the three room categories, spacious Grand suites feature bathrooms with soaking tubs, walk-in showers and double sinks; two TVs (one, in some suites, pops up from a cabinet at the foot of the king-size bed); two closets; and a lounge with a sofa, coffee table and coffee and tea service. Conceived by Jamaican designer Phillippa Rousseau, all the light-filled suites are decorated using an appropriately soothing palette of grey, blue and white, incorporating native stone tile and flooring and mahogany woodwork. Butler service comes standard, regardless of room category, and room service is available around the clock.

The Decks But as comfortable as the suites may be, what really sets them apart is their exterior spaces, which allow you to live as well indoors as out. French doors lead out to a wood deck with its own private plunge pool and a wet bar complete with a stocked fridge (replenished daily). Most suites also boast outdoor showers (is there any greater luxury than bathing outside?) and a dining gazebo for meals al fresco. And the resort takes great pride in the fact that each sanctuary has its own pair of coconut palms – all the better to string a comfy hammock between.

The Privacy Remember that tall picket fence we mentioned? That head-high enclosure; room service that’s available 24 hours a day; as well as your own wet bar and pool mean that you needn’t leave your room to satisfy any of the most common vacation needs. It also means that you needn’t get dressed to satisfy any of those needs. Just slip into the provided cotton robes – or not.

The Service “We never say no,” one of the managers told us when we asked about the standard of service at the resort. And indeed, over the course of our visit we found that whatever we desired, the answer was always an immediate and enthusiastic “yes.” It didn’t matter whether we wanted to borrow some bug spray, an extra helping of shrimp mac and cheese, a bubble bath drawn or an impromptu riding lesson on the adult tricycles they use to deliver room service, our butler Tony graciously and promptly arranged it.

The Exchange Privileges Although Serenity’s footprint is petite (comprising a cabana-bordered pool, The Greathouse restaurant and a poolside bar), its guests enjoy access to an entire world beyond its borders at neighboring Coconut Bay Resort & Spa. All the amenities of the 250-room all-inclusive (for adults and kids), including five restaurants, seven bars, five pools, the island’s only water park; a spa; gym; and a mile-long sweep of sand are at your disposal. Personally, we preferred to park ourselves in a quiet cabana by Serenity’s pool, where we were served watermelon mojitos with pleasing regularity. But, as they say, your mileage may vary.

The Extras At resorts, as in life, little things can mean a lot. And Serenity we found a lot of little things we loved. How cool was the room service “mailbox,” a hole in the wall, accessible from both outside and inside, that allowed us to pick up our midnight order of munchies without seeing a soul (or even getting dressed). We appreciated the aqua loungers, sensuously curved plastic chaises half-submerged in the pool that kept us cool as we soaked up the sun. The full-size Kitchenaid blender on the mini bar was a first for us, and the three provided cocktail recipes a thoughtful touch. And we really loved the convenience of in-suite spa services, which meant that after your massage there’s no need to rouse yourself to dress and leave. Instead, your therapist simply slips away, leaving you to enjoy your blissful state. And, dare we say, more moments of Serenity.

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By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

The best Caribbean ports don’t just give you a sample of the culture of the larger destination, they also provide worthy “shopportunities” at every price point. So if you want a tangible reminder of the terrific time you’ve had topside, pull into one of these ports, where world-class shopping is just steps from the gangway. Here are the Caribbean’s best cruise ports for shopping.

Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas The Caribbean’s most popular cruise port also has the largest concentration of duty-free shops, most along Droningens Gade, where purveyors of jewelry, crystal, perfume and leathergoods converge. But don’t miss the arcades that lead off the main street because they’re troves of art, craft and whimsical gifts.

Bridgetown, Barbados An easy walk from the terminal, the island’s busiest shopping thoroughfare, Broad Street, is lined with duty-free boutiques and department stores such as the venerable Cave Shepherd. And just minutes away, luxury retailers (think Breitling, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Louis Vuitton) can be found at Limegrove, an open-air shopping mecca in Holetown.

 

George Town, Grand Cayman You’ll have to tender into town but once you get there, the shops that line the main drag, Harbour Street, are poised to tempt you. And less than a 15-minute drive away, Camana Bay, a mixed-use shopping, residential and commercial village just outside the capital, will tempt you further with its posh boutiques and weekly farmers’ market.

Gustavia, St Barth Passengers on small ships disembark at this petite port and are immediately treated to a trove of high-end stores along the waterfront Quai de Republique, where Hermes, Longchamp, and Vuitton vie for your vacation funds. Ten minutes’ drive away in St. Jean, you can spend any remaining cash in a clutch of stylish boutiques.

Philipsburg, St Maarten The Dutch-side terminal boasts all the big names in duty-free port shopping, and on the French side, the open-air waterfront market in Marigot will charm the euros right out of your pocket.

Nassau, Bahamas From Prince George Wharf it’s just steps to Bay Street, the capital’s shopping hub. Those in search of even more shopportunities should hop the 10-minute water taxi to Paradise Island, where there are more stores to be conquered at Atlantis’ Crystal Court Shops and at the burgeoning luxury shopping destination at the Baha Mar.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica The pier at this classic cruise port leads straight into Island Village shopping center, which is itself along Main Street, where you can’t walk two steps without bumping into a souvenir store, duty-free shop or craft market.

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico The capital’s cruise terminal is smack in the center of Old San Juan, a cobblestoned historic district where you’ll find several stores selling everything from duty-free jewelry to rum, artisanal soaps and original art. Luxury lovers should catch a cab to Avenida Ashford in Condado, where Cartier, Gucci and Ferragamo reign. And there’s something for everyone at Plaza Las Americas (the Caribbean’s largest) and the Mall of San Juan (Puerto Rico’s newest.)

Basseterre, St. Kitts While it’s still a bit under the radar, St. Kitts’ 27-acre Port Zante has become an increasingly popular port of call for destinations like Royal Caribbean. And it’s easy to see why, thanks to a suprisingly large collection of top-level duty free shopping.

Terre-De-Haut, Guadeloupe You’ll feel like you stepped into a French-Caribbean fairytale when you land on this tiny island. But the charming boutiques that line the tiny waterfront village’s streets – not to mention the ladies dressed in national costume selling fresh-baked pastries from straw baskets – make it feel a little like a shopper’s dream, too.

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Another significant new hotel project has come to the Spice Isle.

The highly-anticipated Silversands Grenada has announced a target opening date of March 2018 for its luxury resort on the island’s famed Grand Anse Beach.

The project will be comprised of two main buildings off Grand Anse, including 39 open-plan suites, three one-bedroom suites and a large penthouse.

That will be joined by nine residential villas, includign five beachfront villas and four hillside villas.

The resort will be anchored by a 100-meter infinity pool, billed as the longest in the Caribbean, stretching from the heart of the resort all the way to the sand.

Amenities will include a pair of restaurants: the casual-fare Beach Club and the Asian-inspired Thai eatery, along with the “Silversands Spa,” which will include four treatment rooms, a sauna, a hammam, a temperature-controlled pool and a gym.

It’s the latest major new project for Grenada, which has been looking to carve a luxury niche in the increasingly competitive Caribbean market.

The centerpiece of that new wave of development is the planned Kimpton Kawana Bay project, announced earlier this year, Kimpton’s second resort in the Caribbean.

— Caribbean Journal staff

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Fast-growing Caribbean carrier Winair has announced the expansion of its service between St. Maarten and the island of Curacao.

The carrier has announced that it is now offering flights between St. Maarten and Curacao three times weekly.

The expanded service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, according to a company release.

Winair, which is based in St. Maarten, offers flights across much of the northeastern Caribbean.

For more information, visit Winair

— Caribbean Journal staff.

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By Alexander Britell

Before you read any further, know this: the Baha Mar is open in the Bahamas. And it is an impressive thing.

It is remarkably built, wonderfully modern and tastefully executed. It is a class above what you’re used to in the Caribbean.

Whatever you may have thought about it, it will exceed your expectations.

If you’re not familiar with the Baha Mar resort project, the largest in the Caribbean, it first broke ground on Cable Beach in Nassau back at the beginning of 2011.

As it grew over the years and its infrastructure transformed the Cable Beach area of Nassau, it became a large question mark: what was this project all about? How would it draw visitors when Atlantis was just a few miles away?

Of course, that was before the years of legal troubles, the bankruptcy, the ownership change and the developer-government battles, before Rosewood’s parent company, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, acquired the property last year. And while those stories dominated the conversation about the project, they omitted something important: what the resort would actually be like.

The Baha Mar officially welcomed its first guests in the spring to the property’s first hotel, the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, which has opened several hundred of its total 1800 rooms, where we stayed and which will be one of three hotels — along with Rosewood and SLS, both of which are scheduled to open within the next year.

The rooms at the Baha Mar are elegantly designed, the food at the restaurants that have opened already (there will be 42 in total) is excellent – and the service is vigilant — there has been training here, and it shows (as does the sheer scope of the employment benefit to the country).

As I walked around the property, though, the answer to the biggest question became clear.

What is this place? What is it all about? What’s the point of the Baha Mar?

This is Las Vegas.

This is meant to be the Caribbean’s Las Vegas, the Caribbean’s Macau — a high-level luxury resort complex anchored by a 100,000-square-foot casino (nearly twice the size of Atlantis), the kind of property the Caribbean has never seen, with a world-class offering that just isn’t in the Caribbean.

It’s something that becomes clear as you walk around — the quality of the shops, the jazz lounge, the cigar bar, the light shows, the imposing, massive waterfalls at the entrance of the resort — even the direction signs in the casino look identical to the ones you’d find in the Venetian.

Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t a Bahamian identity. This is not blind to its location by any stretch — from details like restaurant and bar names like The Swimming Pig Gastropub and The Lynden (named for the country’s first Prime Minister) to Graycliff cigars at the bar to a massive Bahamian art component, among others.

And it’s all done beautifully, clearly targeting a wealthy, serious, entertainment-seeking visitor — and, perhaps most crucially, not just from North America, either.

Most importantly, this isn’t meant to take away visitors from Atlantis, a decidedly more family-friendly, Disney-like place.

This place can legitimately draw visitors who would usually fly to Las Vegas for the meetings or their gambling trips, and instead take a significantly shorter flight to Nassau. (Yes, there’s an 82,000-square-foot convention center).

This is the kind of resort that can increase the size of the Caribbean’s tourism pie, when everything is firing, when the place is completely open.

If they can pull it off.

It’s Las Vegas with sandals, Las Vegas on a beach. And that’s pretty hard to beat.

See the video at the top for more.

Video by Guy Britton and Alexander Britell.

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