With travel restrictions soon to be lifted, many of us are keen to spread our wings again and enjoy a change of scenery. Whether reconnecting with family and friends or enjoying a much needed couple’s break, we take a look at some of the world’s most exclusive beach resorts.
From the charm of the Caribbean Islands to the beauty of Bali, these luxury escapes are the perfect choice for those looking to relax and recharge in some of the most stunning locations around the world.
Bahama House, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Ideal for those seeking a secluded island experience away from it all, the iconic 11-bedroom Bahama House is set on the pink sands of Harbour Island. With zero cases of Covid-19 on the island and neighbouring Eleuthera to date, this is the ultimate island hideout for families and groups of friends, opening for exclusive takeover from 1st July to 8th August 2020.
Offering the perfect balance of beach holiday with an active twist, Eleven Experience’s range of bespoke experiences led by its expert team of guides are what set this boutique property apart. Guests will be able to zip along the coastline onboard the private Scorpion rib boat or spend a full or half day fishing for bonefish on the saltwater flats.
There are water sports aplenty, from water-skiing and wakeboarding to snorkelling some of the clearest waters in the Caribbean, and for the ultimate beach day, opt for the Pink Sands Beach Experience where teak sitting chairs, snacks and drinks are set up alongside kayaks, snorkel gear and a volleyball area.
Sleeping up to 22 guests, Bahama House is a series of separate buildings arranged around a central pool with its own tiki bar, one of the best stocked rum bars on the island – for endless rounds of Goombay Smash cocktails.
Private buyout rates of Bahama House start from £7,716 based on 22 guests.
The Legian Seminyak, Bali
Built over 20 years ago, The Legian Bali is one of the island’s most iconic and best loved hotels. It has truly stood the test of time and is still the luxury travellers’ top choice in Seminyak, thanks to its unparalleled elevated location on one of Bali’s best beaches and its superb choice of 11 private pool villas and 67 suites, all of which directly face the sea.
Its chic, locally-inspired design by Indonesian architect Jaya Ibrahim is also a highlight, as it exudes rustic charm through the use of Balinese and Indonesian architecture, natural fibre furniture and indigenous artefacts, all framed by lush tropical gardens.
Those looking for the ultimate luxury escape can opt to stay in The Club, located adjacent to The Legian Bali’s main entrance. This exclusive retreat houses a 28-metre lap pool, private outdoor seating area with one-bedroom and two-bedroom pool villas which come complete with personal butlers trained by consultants from The Guild of Professional English Butlers.
Dining options at The Legian Bali include The Restaurant, a spacious fine dining area overlooking the hotel’s iconic three-tiered infinity pool; The Pool and Ocean Champagne Bar, offering light entrees and refreshing cocktails throughout the day as well as The Lobby Lounge, a relaxing venue perfect for drinks and cocktails.
The Legian is also home to an outstanding spa, nestled within the property’s South Garden, designed to relax and rejuvenate. Stylishly subtle and minimalistic in design, The Spa creates a holistic, calming ambience and offers an extensive treatment menu of signature experiences and rituals using products by Pevonia and Elemis, incorporating ancient Indonesian methods. The Spa features four double and two single beachfront spa treatment rooms, warm plunge whirlpool, refreshing cold plunge pool, spacious sauna and steam rooms, manicure and pedicure lounges, a spa boutique and fully equipped gym.
The hotel also provides complimentary daily morning yoga classes for guests, conducted on perfectly manicured lawns for a complete restorative retreat. The Legian Bali is part of the new, innovative, distinctively modern Indonesian hotel group, LHM, which aims to deliver exceptional service, innovative design, style and space. The hotel is situated on Bali’s southern coast, along Seminyak Beach and within walking distance of some of Bali’s trendiest shopping and nightlife.
The Legian Bali is a mere 25-minute drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport and is situated on Bali’s southern coast.
Baros, Maldives
Formally a coconut plantation, Baros Maldives was one of the first resorts to open to the public in 1973 and remains one of the very best and most beautiful and romantic, having taken home the award for the “Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort” at the World Travel Awards 2019 for the seventh time. Surrounded by tropical greenery and an exquisite house reef, just 15 meters from the shore, Baros is the ultimate choice for a secluded island escape. There are 45 Beachside and 30 Water Private Villas to choose from, many with private pools and each complete with a Villa Host to cater to guests every possible requirement.
For ultimate seclusion, the award-winning Baros Residence is encircled by lush flora, hidden away from the rest of the island but with direct access to the beach, a private swimming pool in the garden and a dedicated butler on call 24/7. It is hard for guests to tear themselves away from the spectacular surroundings and privacy of their private villa, however even at mealtimes, they are able to choose not see another person. Thanks to Destination Dining at Baros, guests can enjoy a fine dining experience anywhere on the island. Nowhere is off limits, from the comfort of their villa terrace, on the beach, to a romantic cruise at sunset on the resorts traditional wooden dhoni, ‘Nooma’ or secluded sandbank for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Private dining is also available on the Piano Deck, a unique wooden deck shaped like a grand piano, floating off the coast of Baros, while famous fine dining restaurant, The Lighthouse is an experience not to be missed. Baros has direct access to 30 of the world’s best diving spots, and there is nowhere more secluded and calming than the spectacular underwater world of the Maldives. Transporting guests into their own underwater world, Baros offer Diving by Design programmers and a Diver Valet Service so they can marvel at the likes of manta and eagle rays, turtles and sharks and adventure-seeking pairs can even embark on fascinating Fluro night dives.
Baros Maldives is situated in the central southern part of North Male’ Atoll, just 25 minutes by speedboat from Maldives International Airport. Rates at Baros Maldives start from $675 (US) per night in a Deluxe Villa on a B&B basis, excluding taxes.
Silversands, Grenada
Silversands Grenada which launched on 1 December 2018 on the ivory white sands of Grand Anse beach, has introduced a completely new way for discerning travellers to experience the unspoilt island of Grenada – the ‘Spice Island of the Caribbean.’
Sleek and modern in its design unlike anything else in the Caribbean, the all-suite resort and residential project offers a chic luxury experience perfectly befitting the warmth and authenticity of a true Grenadian lifestyle. Silversands Grenada is home to 43 suites and a mix of nine Hillside and Beachfront residential villas unobtrusively peppered into the surrounding landscape.
The resort is also intersected by an artfully-designed 100-metre outdoor infinity pool, the longest in the Caribbean. Emphasis on community and culture flows throughout, with two distinctive restaurants to showcase the island’s abundant agriculture serving the likes of line-caught fish, handpicked herbs, spices and fruit, alongside Grenadian craft beers, rums and wines.
Beyond this, Silversands Grenada partners with local tour operators and guides to connect guests with the island’s spectacular landscape. From waterfall chasing to some of the most magical scuba dives; exploring historical sites, centuries-old rum distilleries and organic farm tours, the captivating soul of authentic Grenada is at the forefront.
Scott Dunn offers a 7-night holiday to Silversands Grenada from £3,200 per person. This includes accommodation in a Silversands Garden Room on a B&B basis, international flights and private transfers.
Cobblers Cove, Barbados
The new look Cobblers Cove is the Caribbean at its very best. Located on the calm west coast of the island, with a beachfront location and stunning views, the family-owned hotel is a unique and historic beach-side weekend retreat and embodies British elegance with Caribbean charm.
Claiming one-quarter mile of white sand beach in a quiet cove, the boutique hotel is encompassed by a coral stone wall and three acres of lush tropical gardens. The powder pink interiors with their pretty white woodwork are complemented inside with elegant shades of blue, pink and green and hand printed linens. The 40 suites are spread among nine two-storey cottages set in the gardens surrounding the original house. Spacious sitting rooms open on to a terrace with views over the gardens or the sea.
The Camelot and Colleton suites offer the height of quintessential Caribbean luxury, with marble floors and four-poster beds. In October, the hotel unveiled a dramatic new look following a five-year refurbishment programme. The hotel’s extensive refurbishment, led by hotel owner Sam de Teran, included the renovation of all rooms, suites and public areas and concluded with a remarkable partnership with British interior designer, Soane Britain.
Renowned for its island-inspired dishes that cleverly reflect the changing seasons, the award-winning Camelot Restaurant is overseen by local Bajan Chef Jason Joseph and serves the finest food in Barbados. The hotel also offers an array of activities including paddle boarding, tennis, gym, sailing, kayaking, yoga, water skiing and snorkelling, as well as heritage tours or garden tours both led by the National Trust or guided hiking tours.
Rates at Cobblers Cove start from $420 (currently approx. £336) based on two sharing a Garden Suite on B&B basis.
Pine Cliffs Resort, Algarve, Portugal
Scott Dunn is excited to introduce CREW to Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal this summer, encouraging older children to meet new friends, try new sports and learn new skills, all away from a kid’s club environment. Perfect for independent, active teenagers aged 11 and to 16, Pine Cliffs is one of three family-friendly resorts around the world to offer Scott Dunn’s CREW programme. The six day flexible programme of water sports and land-based activities is led by qualified staff. Teenagers will get to choose 18 hours of adventurous activities that are sure to see them off their phones and honing a new sport using the beautiful coastline as their playground.
Activities include tennis at Annabel Croft Tennis Academy, golf at Pine Cliffs Golf Academy, high ropes, surfing and a boat trip with SUPs and kayaks all under the supervision of a Crew Leader or qualified sports staff. Those who want to have a taste of the region’s freshest seafood and produce can enjoy a ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ style cookery competition at the new Mimo Cooking School at Pine Cliffs. Families will be well looked after, with plenty of green open space and a stunning sandy beach with a beach club to explore, along with a variety of restaurants to choose from.
Scott Dunn offers a seven-night stay at Pine Cliffs Resort, Algarve, from £2,085 per person for a family of four in a two-bedroom Comfort Residence on a room only basis with private transfers, flights from the UK and 2 Crew spaces.
Shanti Maurice, Mauritius
Offering Scott Dunn’s first Explorers Kids Club in Mauritius, Shanti Maurice is the perfect family escape. For children aged from 4 months to 11 years old, offering an exciting and engaging range of activities and experiences that make full use of the incredible resort facilities and showcase the local culture and traditions of Mauritius. Fun and imaginative, Explorers at Shanti Maurice raises the bar for kids clubs in Mauritius, offering children fully immersive experiences in the local area.
Shanti Maurice’s resident ‘Grandma’ will show children how to cook delicious local sweet treats and feratha bread, while more adventurous children can head out to sea for a day of fishing using traditional Mauritian techniques. Other water-based activities include stand up paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkelling. The Explorers programme even offers pampering sessions for children at the hotel’s spa. Shanti Maurice has a great range of family friendly accommodation and the largest spa in the Indian Ocean, making it the perfect long-haul destination for all the family and a great option for parents taking little ones on their first far-flung adventure.
All 61 spacious suites and villas have views of the white sand beach surrounded by lush tropical gardens, terraces and courtyards. The beach is tranquil and the resort offers non-motorised water sports including; sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling and kayaking. Coral reefs circle the sands and clusters of volcanic black rock create pools as the tide goes out. Whilst children are kept busy at the Explorers kids club, grown-ups can enjoy yoga and meditation classes, nature walks and treks, deep-sea fishing, tennis and golf, as well as Ayuverdic treatments in the spa.
Scott Dunn offers 7-nights at Shanti Maurice from £2,500 per person. Price is based on a family of four sharing a junior suite Ocean View on a half board basis, and includes two spaces at the Explorers kids club*, British Airways flights from the UK and private transfers.
Kumu Beach, Sri Lanka
Perched on an elevated, elongated strip of land overlooking the boulder-scattered Balapitiya Beach is Kumu Beach. This contemporary 10-room west boutique hotel is perfect for soaking up the sun in paradise in total privacy. Located only two hours from Colombo and an hour from Galle, the hotel has been designed by Annika Fernando – one of Sri Lanka’s hottest interior designers – meaning you could self-isolate in style. All 10 bedrooms have direct ocean views while the Ocean View Suites and Ocean View Bedrooms also open onto private balconies or garden terraces, making Kumu Beach the most perfect place to enjoy Sri Lanka’s golden coast.
Its stylish design epitomises chic living with sweeping lawns stretching out to a 23-metre infinity swimming pool and timber sun deck shaded by palm trees, just footsteps away from the powder-soft beach of Balaptiya, and would make those working from home days pass by in a flash. The hotel is a real celebration of Sri Lankan style yet is simplistic enough to allow for sweeping views of the Indian Ocean to shine. Kumu Beach’s furnishings are beautifully crafted, with rooms brought alive by contemporary colour-splashed batik cushions by Colombo-based designer Sonali Dharmawardena including greenish-hued copper globe sculptures and floating metallic fish.
Rates at Kumu Beach start from £200 / US$153 per night including breakfast, afternoon tea and a selection of minibar drinks.
Nantucket Island, USA
The ‘faraway island’ of Nantucket, located off the East Coast of the US and just a quick flight from New York and Boston, is known as a discreet high-end hideaway that attracts a super-chic holiday crowd. Small in stature at just 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide – but big in terms of serene sea views, gourmet hot spots, history and an abundance of culture – Nantucket is an island haven that offers things to do for all ages. White picket fences, quaint boutique-lined high streets and 18th century buildings clad in clambering pink roses, this is understated all-American chic at its finest.
With 80 miles of beach, moors, salt marshes and pale white sand dunes, a large part of the island is protected by conservationists. With enough beaches to discover a new one each day over a two-week holiday, guests are often found perched in the dunes as the sun sets over the glistening horizon.
Visitors should stay on the northernmost tip of the island, 20 minutes from downtown Nantucket at The Wauwinet for the most picturesque getaway experience. Think Jackie Kennedy and JFK on a weekend trip away: pressed chinos, weathered cedar cottages, cobbled streets, bicycles, lemonade stands and seals lolling about in the sea. For the more active wishing to explore the island on two wheels, bike trails and off-road dirt paths scatter Nantucket with easy viewing access to the abundance of flora and fauna it has to offer.
Following a day of exploring one of Nantucket’s many beaches, travellers can hop aboard The Wauwinet Lady, where a leisurely 50-minute cruise to TOPPER’S enables them to sip on delicious cocktails and reminisce events of the day while en-route to what is considered the best restaurant on Nantucket Island. Steeped in island charm, surrounded by the natural beauty of Nantucket’s timeless surroundings, lies the stunning waterfront resort of the White Elephant. Guests can kick off their shoes and relax in one of the chic rooms, overlooking the harbour against the splendid ocean backdrop.
For more information and individual hotel rates, visit whiteelephantresorts.com
Jumby Bay Island, Antigua and Barbuda
Set in one of the most beautiful untouched locations in the world, Jumby Bay Island is a private island of simple pleasures situated in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, just two miles off mainland Antigua. Ringed with coral reefs and reachable only by boat with no cars in sight, this private isle comprises three stunning white-powdered beaches and countless winding bicycle paths to create a one-of-a-kind hideaway known, quite simply, as the finest resort in the Caribbean.
Surrounded by lush tropical foliage, Jumby Bay Island spans 300 secluded acres and is home to 4.5 miles of pristine shoreline, with the main resort presiding over some of the most spectacular and fiercely protected beaches in the Caribbean.
Jumby Bay recently completed phase two of an inspired complete renovation in collaboration with design firm Studio IDC, with beautiful new suites more romantic than ever, having been re-designed to create a fresh new guest experience, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces.
There is a journey of experiences waiting to be discovered at Jumby Bay Island: a private beachside picnic; a barefoot walk across the golden sand bar, suspended in the open sea; or perhaps a bicycle ride à deux, followed by a sunset cruise on a private yacht. In the evening, guests can enjoy a private beach dinner under the stars and then pull up a cushion, recline on the sand and enjoy a movie backlit by the magnificent night sky.
Waking up the next morning and some well-deserved R&R is on the menu, with indulgent massages for two available at the spectacular spa, where treatments have been curated based on research of ancient healing traditions practiced in Antigua and the Caribbean.
The exclusive resort offers so much, from splendid accommodations, exquisite restaurants, a sensational spa and world-renowned facilities to showcase both the beauty of nature and the tradition of elegance that has long graced the private island.
Rates start from $1,250 (currently approx. £984) + 22.5% service and tax in an entry-level Rondavel Room, inclusive of all meals, beverages, cocktails and house wine by the glass, as well as water sports.
Main image – Baros, Maldives
