Escape to the West Indies
Shore up on a Caribbean island for a romantic getaway far from San Joaquin’s winter chill
by JENNIFER THORNTON | photos supplied by PINKS SANDS RESORT, JADE MOUNTAIN and the REGENT PALMS HOTEL
Sugary white-sand beaches, reefed swimming holes, azure seas, and the low-key vibe of the West Indies make this cluster of islands a hot-spot destination for couples. To ensure that you’re headed in the right direction, we picked three Caribbean islands and a trio of hot properties for your romantic destination rendezvous.
BAHAMAS
Mesmerizing blue lagoons, promising nightlife, and all-occasion aqua adventures make the Bahamas one of the world’s most desired and visited ports of call. For romance, those who look beyond the reggae street parties, all-inclusive resorts, and sideshow tourism of Nassau will discover the Out Islands, a scattering of slower-paced Bahamian respites that have avoided colossal development and massive crowds, lavishing visitors for less. Thankfully, less is still more.
Who: Laid-back couples entranced by explosions of color from verdant tropical gardens, paintbrush sunsets, lazy-day sunbathing, powdery sands, sagging hammocks, and no place to go.
What: The absence of high-rise hotels makes the Out Islands ideal for hoisting up a sail for all forms of seafaring. Secluded beaches and untouched natural beauty make for picture-postcard beachcombing, while white-picketed Bahamian towns provide visitors with a sense of authentic West African life.
Where: If pastel-paletted accommodations, boutique hospitality, unmarred views, and rose-tinted shores are high priorities, look no further than the beachfront Pink Sands Resort on Harbour Island. This quaint colonial outpost amid 20 acres of natural tropic charms, including an actual bird sanctuary, claims three miles of blushing, pink-sand shoreline and offers, among other luxe comforts, shuttered cottages with garden or ocean views, fine dining, and both land and sea excursions.
Not to be missed: Wading out into a calm-as-dawn ocean to an abandoned sandbar, where powdery pink sand engulfs weary toes, exotic seashells fill empty, expectant pockets, and sea birds chirp a lively, inspired chorus. Early morning garden walks, mid-afternoon sunbathing, and late-evening imbibing round out Pink Sands’ earthly and otherworldly isle delights. For more information, visit www.pinksandsresort.com.
ST. LUCIA
Exquisite St. Lucia, a dreamy portal into paradise, is a hideaway Caribbean island without peer. The Pitons, two iconic volcanic peaks that rise up from the Caribbean to the heavens, lend rainforested St. Lucia its emerald green earthiness, while the pulse of the island comes from West Indian culture, which is simultaneously laid-back and lively. Although the secret is out about slow-to-develop St. Lucia, where posh digs are not hard to come by and neither is an expertly mixed, mint-topped mojito, the island looms relatively under the radar.
Who: Adventurous couples find a home-away-from-home on St. Lucia, and love it for its organic beauty, unspoiled nature, pristine beaches, and prism-clear water that supernaturally shifts from deep blue to light green. With trees that whisper and sway, and tropical blooms providing a breathtaking backdrop for all activities and occasions, St. Lucia is for lovers.
What: Hiking and jungle biking thrill, while botanical gardens, a diverse aquaculture, a drive-in volcano, and sulphur springs inspire. Waveless water, soft-sand beaches, and reefed coves make for excellent water sporting, namely scuba diving, snorkeling, and ocean kayaking. Night sailing and yacht cruising are popular island pastimes, while the sight of a vacant hammock signals a breezy afternoon of leisure.
Where: Majestic Jade Mountain, a bold example of how organic architecture can also be wildly luxurious, is a secluded, airy resort located high above its sister property, Anse Chastanet. Guest accommodations—aptly named “sanctuaries”—are expansive, open-air spaces designed to give residents the heavenly sense that they’re floating among the clouds. With no walls to obstruct views of the nearby Pitons, these celestial-inspired sanctuaries make Jade Mountain the star of St. Lucia. Infinity pools, world-class furnishings and amenities, chromotherapeutic bathrooms, and ideal proximity to the beach are just a few of Jade Mountain’s perks.
Not to be missed: The 600-acre property includes a meticulously groomed beach and actual treehouse. If you happen to know anyone getting married this year, couples who stay five nights at Jade Mountain from August 1-September 31 have the option of marrying at the resort for free. For more information, visit www.jademountain.com.
TURKS AND CAICOS
Secluded Turks and Caicos is one of the world’s remaining Shangri-Las, the visibility of which, thanks to a steady peppering of elegant resorts, indulgent spas, and high-profile guests (blink and you’ll miss a celebrity), is on the rise. Beautiful beaches, jaw-dropping views, a casual, come-as-you-are vibe, savory cuisine, refreshing cocktails, and only one major town—the developing travel gateway of Providenciales—make Turks and Caicos a coveted stopover for the jet set. With luxury resorts offering at-your-every-whim service, Turks and Caicos has long delighted couples eager for getaway romance with its small, uncrowded, culturally-diverse island.
Who: Discerning couples with a five-star sense of style that seek and appreciate the finer things of island life—an unpopulated beach, a refreshing conch salad, luxuriant accommodations, and a sunset cruise with a seasoned sailor—are most at home on Turks and Caicos.
What: Waves don’t crash on Turks and Caicos, they glide gracefully to the shore, which makes the island exceptional for anything nautical, especially diving and sailing. Those interested in the latter should seek out the services of Captain Tim, a wily, displaced Canadian with movie star looks who three decades ago arrived on Turks and Caicos by accident and never left. Aboard his wine-stocked catamaran, “The Beluga,” Captain Tim introduces passengers to little-seen Turks and Caicos, all the while regaling them with abridged history lessons about the island, glowworm mating rituals, and the genius of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, which he pipes in from somewhere below deck. As the sun sets, painting the sky with a sherbet palette, Captain Tim slices “The Beluga” through turquoise sea while waves lap gently at its sides, drifting only when it is time to uncork.
Where: Unlike party-focused resorts, The Regent Palms—an amenity-rich, white-walled property with only 72 luxury suites—offers boutique service, five-star accommodations (suites are expansive, equipped, and well-stocked), immaculate grounds, quiet breezes, a wondrous spa with a menu of progressive, indigenous treatments, and a tranquil backdrop within which to truly lose yourself. Privacy is the priority at The Regent Palms, where hospitality is a well-practiced fine art, and romance trumps all.
Not to be missed: The immaculate shores of Grace Bay, and the resort’s architectural richness, including flower-flanked atriums, serene courtyards, and a reflecting pond at the spa, which when illuminated with lighted candles and floating Caribbean botanicals, resembles a cross between a Roman bath and Moroccan palace. For more information, visit www.regenthotels.com/thepalms.
