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Weddings Tie the knot in the Caribbean for FREE!

BEST HAUTE HOTELS FOR KIDS!

hauteCaribbean

SUMMER 2013

potted history of peter island

HAUTE COUTURE for the beachWondering what to wear at your HAUTE HOTEL?Click ViX Swimwear and wonder no more ...

www.vixpaulahermanny.com

VANESSA HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

www. vanessahallphotography.com

GALLEY BAY, AntiguaYou can get married on this beautiful beach for FREE! Just book 7 nights in a Premium Beachfront Suite atGalley Bay in Antigua. The free wedding package is worth US$2,000 and includes all the legal formalities, as well as flowers, the wedding cake and champagne. See page 30 for more details.

contents9 Welcome to HAUTE Caribbean

10 What’s going on? The latest Caribbean happenings

Montpelier Plantation & Beach, Hermitage

Bay, Cap Maison, Carlisle Bay, Sandy Lane,

Tradewinds Aviation.

14 Palm Island Daytrips to the Tobago Cays

18 Family Holidays Haute Hotels for the Kids

Sandy Lane, Carlisle Bay, Jumby Bay,

Guanahani, Spice Island Beach Resort,

Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort.

22 Hotel Christopher, St. Barths The best swimming pool in St. Barths

24 Caribbean Weddings Wedding Packages

Little Arches, Barbados

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada

Sandy Lane, Barbados

Cobblers Cove, Barbados

Galley Bay, Antigua

Jumby Bay, Antigua

32 Wedding Formalities All the legal stuff

34 Peter Island, Virgin Islands A potted history

38 Le Sereno, St. Barths Spotlight on designer Christian Liaigre

42 Sandy Lane, Barbados Improving upon perfection.

46 Coral Reef Club & The Sandpiper Best sister act in Barbados

48 Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barths Bon Vivant Package

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All the text written for this e-magainze is the copyright of HAUTE HOTELS. Nothing may be reproduced without the company’s written consent. All the information is given in good faith and HAUTE HOTELS accept no responsibility for any change in standards, personnel or facilities at the hotels. Details correct June 2013.

Family Holidays

Sandy Lane, Barbados

Palm Island, Grenadines

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Peter Island, Virgin Islands

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46The Sandpiper, Barbados

Carlisle Bay ANTIGUA18

Summer in the Caribbean means family holidays!See page 20 for details on the best HAUTE HOTELS for kids.We’re talking kids’ clubs, kids’ meals and even kids’ bathrobes.

Photo courtesy of Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Antigua.

It’s with the greatest of pleasure that we welcome you to HAUTE, the companion magazine to haute-hotels.com Just like our website, it’s a celebration of all that’s great about Caribbean hotels, but from a refreshingly down-to-earth perspective ...

Summer in the Caribbean is all about carnivals, weddings and family holidays. It’s a fun time, the hotels delighted to have survived the high season months and now looking forward to the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps. And we’re not just talking kiddywinks here, but anxious brides-to-be. (They’ve absolutely no need to fret, of course, the wedding planners have got it all covered.)

If you’re seriously tempted to tie the knot in the islands this year, we hope our focus upon Caribbean weddings will help make up your mind. Our luxury hotels pull out all the stops to make sure your day is extra special and some will even arrange your ceremony for free - you’ve just got to book a certain room grade for a particular length of time. And if you get the Antigua-based Vanessa Hall to take your wedding pics, you’ll be able to look back on the day with the very greatest of pleasure. Vanessa has the greatest eye - just see our front cover shot for the proof!

You may, of course, be thinking less along the lines of walkingdown the aisle and more along the lines of walking down to the kids’ club. In this issue we’ve highlighted the luxury Caribbean hotels that boast the best ones, as there’s no doubt that a family vacation where someone else entertains your children from 9 to 5 is a vacation for everyone.

Finally summer in the Caribbean is also the time when the hotels come up with some exciting summer offers. They’re giving away anything from free nights to free stays for kids and whilst we’ve highlighted some here, we suggest you go to www.haute-hotels.com to get all the latest details.

Here’s to a haute summer!

Jackie LoxhamEditor

haute

Hotels have become more

than just places to stay.

They are as much a

statement about who we

are as what we wear or

drive. HAUTE HOTELS

prefers to focus upon

those that have still got

plenty of substance

behind the style ...

CA

RIB

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Fed up, done in or stressed out? Then treat yourselves to a stay at Montpelier Plantation & Beach this summer. This vintage yet voguish plantation house is so relaxing it should be given out on prescription. The tropical gardens are restorative, the modern cuisine is delicious and the fruit punches are the best in Nevis (or so the barman claims!) You’re also sure to re-discover the lost art of conversation over pre-dinner cocktails and postprandial brandies in the gorgeous Great House.

And anyone staying in a Plantation Room on a bed and breakfast basis this summer or autumn will receive a 25% discount on their room rate.But that’s not all. You also get a complimentary dinner for one person every night (drinks extra). You can dine poolside at Indigo or on the terrace at Restaurant 750.

This ‘On a Whim’ offer is valid until 19 December 2013. Must book by 31 October. It cannot be combined with any other promotion.

Plantation Rooms from US$405 per room per night, including breakfast. Plus tax & service charge.

What’s going on?Book Montpelier Plantation & Beach ‘On a Whim’ ...

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at Hermitage Bay, Antigua Stay at Hermitage Bay this summer and you can forget about signing extras bills in the restaurant and at the bar. Yet this beachfront bolthole is no ordinary ‘all-inclusive’,as transfers, canapés and even Pilates classes are included ...

All of which contributes to the exclusive, house-party vibe that prevails here. Hermitage Bay is hidden away on a strand of beach so secret that you feel rather privileged to have been given an ‘invitation’! Stays here are predominantly low-key and laid-back, couples often quite content to chill-out by their private pools on the hillside during the day, only venturing down to the beach at sunset for a glass of Prosecco and a chat with fellow guests. And then there’s the food, the à la carte menus changing every day, award-winning Jamaican chef Dezi Banham a whiz with Caribbean spices, seafood and vegetables. Complimentary things-to-do include morning yoga, meditation and Pilates classes (on alternatingdays), the non-motorised watersports including snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing. If you need some instruction on the latter there’s a lovely man waiting to show you - and he’ll even do that for free.

Rooms this summer from US$920 per night all-inclusive.

EvERYTHInG’S IncLUDED

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• Breakfast, lunch & dinner

• Afternoon snack

• Canapés at cocktail hour

• Beverages, including a

selection of house wines

and premium drinks

• Champagne in winter

and Prosecco in summer

• Airport transfers via luxury

4x4 vehicle

• Morning yoga, meditation

and Pilates classes

• Non-motorised watersports

including tuition

WHAT’S GOING ON?

A word about Tradewinds

PREMIUM FLIGHTS ANTIGUA TO ST BARTHS

We’re delighted to announce that the private charter company Tradewinds Aviation is continuing to offer its Premium Scheduled Service between Antigua and St. Barths this summer. The flights are available right up until the 31st August and then they begin again on the 18th October after a bit of a summer break - most of the best hotels in St. Barths are closed in September and October anyway.

The Tradewinds flights take less than an hour and are scheduled to connect with the inter-national arrivals in Antigua. And as you get air-conditioning, free wine and even nibbles on-board, they are the perfect way to make your entrance into fashionable St. Barths. Flights from $395 to $595 one-way. See www.tradewindaviation.com

Slushy Cap Maison!St. Lucia’s Cap Maison is soooo slushy. It doesn’t just offer honeymooners a 25% discount, but lots of romantic little extras too. We’re talking things like a bottle of champagne on arrival, a couples massage in the spa, a Sunset Cruise along the coast, a champagne breakfast and a candlelit dinner on Rock Maison. You’re guaranteed to come back even more in love than on theday you tied the knot. Honeymoon offer valid up to 19 December in suite-style accommodation only. Minimum stay applies. From US$705 per night including breakfast.

10 - 17 November 2013

Get into shape before Christmas and join former UK professional tennis player Jeremy Bates at Carlisle Bay this winter. The former Davis Cup player is running a tennis week offering five days of tennis coaching from Monday to Friday morning. Also included:-

• 7 nights accommodation• Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner • Drinks including cocktails and wines• Welcome reception hosted by Jeremy Bates • Tennis competition on Friday• Prize giving dinner hosted by Jeremy Bates

Single occupancy (1 player) from US$3,375Double occupany (2 players) from US$6,750Go to www.carlisle-bay.com for details 12

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Professional Tennis Weeksat carlisle Bay, Antigua

It may be the definitive HAUTE HOTEL, but Sandy Lane realises that it’s first and foremost a beach resort. So the legendary service levels don’t take a nosedive the moment you step out onto its famous stretch of white sand. After all, the beach is where Sandy Laners spend most of their time.

Uniquely everyone is assigned their own pink-cushioned sun lounger for the duration of their stay at this ‘Leading Hotel of the World’, additional drinks tables and extra sun umbrellas readily available from your hovering beach attendant - you’ll soon get to know his name. So provided you get down there by 11am, you’re not going to discover that someone famous has bagged your favourite spot.

Once ensconsed, there’s no need for you to stand upright ever again. The beach service starts at 9am precisely, a pager system in operation, and cocktails and lunch served right to your sun lounger. Cold towels, fresh fruit and refreshing sorbets are nice ‘surprises’ delivered throughout the day, your sun shades wiped clean if you’ve carelessly smeared them with Piz Buin. Rooms at Sandy Lane from US$1,040 per night including breakfast.

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Sandy Laneservice on the beach

Sandy Lane beach

Mother Nature plays its part perfectly too. The sand is soft, there’s shade from the mahogany trees and the water is always as blue (and usually as calm) as you could hope for. And nowadays it’s pretty private too, the only people you’re likely to bump into fellow guests of the Sandy Lane hotel or itsprivate villas. Doesn’t stop the paparazzi hiding out at one end though!

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PALM ISLANDAs if Palm Island didn’t have enough going for it on the natural attractions front. The ravishing retreat in the Grenadines is only a short sail from the iconic Tobago Cays, these five uninhabited islets generally considered the Caribbean’s definitive beauty spot. Johnny Depp only added to their aesthetic appeal when he was filmed on one of their deserted beaches for a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Ask to be ‘marooned’ on Petit Tabac if you fancy doing your own version of Cap’n Jack Sparrow ...

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THE TOBAGO CAYS

The Tobago Cays are 5 uninhabited islands located in the southern Grenadines - Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Petit Tobac, Baradol and James Bay. Once privately owned, they were purchased by the St. Vincent & Grenadines government in 1999 for just over US$1 million and are now designated a national marine park. Natural attractions include the sea bird nesting colony at Catholic Rock, coral reefs like Mayreau Gardens and Horseshoe Reef, and the Baradal Turtle Sanctuary which is home to both green and hawsksbill turtles. Whilst most visitors are content to snorkel above the reefs, scuba-diving is also available over the Purunia Wreck, a 140ft WW1 British gunship which sank in 1918 just off the western coast of Mayreau.

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The sand in the Tobago Cays is as powder soft and dazzling white as you’ll encounter anywhere, the surrounding waters so many shades of blue that you’ll soon give up counting. Thousands of tourists and sailors travel from all over the world to experience their Robinson Crusoe charms, but Palm Island guests are so lucky that they get tofit them in between breakfast and lunch.

Straight after morning pancakes you can set sail for the Cays aboard the hotel’s suitably rustic37ft. sailing sloop Pink Lady (maximum 6 people at any one time). Come back 4 hours later blissfully happy and full of the barbecue lunch that’s been prepared on the beach by your friendly crew.

In between you’ve been up to all sorts of exciting stuff - both above and below the water. There’s beachcombing on white sands and snorkelling off Horseshoe Reef, encounters possible withanything from iguanas and hawksbill turtles to starfish and nurse sharks. A tremendous variety of tropical fish and colourful sponges are also hiding away amidst the coral.

Hiking is also possible on the hillier islands, namely Petit Bateau, James Bay and Petit Rameau. When you get to see the panoramic vistas over the Grenadines archipelago, you’ll think you’ve never spent a better ninety bucks.

TOBAGO CAYS SNORKELLING TRIPDeparts 9:30am & returns 1:30pm

Sail to the Tobago Cays aboard Palm Island’s handcrafted 37ft. sailing sloop Pink Lady. Snorkel off the famous Horseshoe Reef and swim with green turtles in the crystal clear waters. Then enjoy a delicious barbecue on the beach, prepared by your crew. US$90pp. Maximum 6 persons.

ISLAND LOFTIf you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of the 2 Island Lofts (see picture left) on the tip of Palm Island, you can relax on your private terrace and watch the yachts as they make their way to the nearby Tobago Cays. From $1,030 to $1,165 per night all inclusive.Other rooms from $980.

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HAUTE HOTELS FOR THE KIDS

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HAUTE HOTELS FOR THE KIDSIn anticipation of the summer hols, we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on the Caribbean hotels that welcome kiddywinks just as warmly as they do the lucky people who are paying all the bills. The hotels with the kids’ clubs and the kids’ menus, as well as plenty of coloured crayons, Disney DVDs and tutti frutti ice cream. Although the chances are that your offspring will discover that in the Caribbean there’s also plenty of fun to be had hunting for lizards, beach-combing for shells and learning how to snorkel. See the HAUTE HOTELSwebsite for lots more details ...

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Sandy Lane is quite simply a rather posh playground. No matter how old you are, it will have something to keep you entertained. Whilst daddy is teeing off on the golf course and mummy is taking off in the spa, 4-year-old Oscar can be in the kids’ club up to his elbows in paint, 11-year-old Emily can be on the tennis court learning how to return serve and 16-year-old Ollie can be hanging out in The Den with the other teens ... THE TREEHOUSE CLUBDaily 10am-5pm & 6pm-8pmFree for children & teens

• Outdoor play area• Morning, afternoon & evening programmes for 3 to 12s• Swim hour daily• Movie time (am & pm)• Pool parties• Lunches (extra)• Themed dinner parties (extra) ToddlersUnder 3s have their own little branch of The Treehouse Club with toys, puzzles and games. Toddlers must be accompanied by a parent, nanny or babysitter.

TeensThe Den has its own lounge and games room. Facilities include large-screen TVs, pool tables,and computer stations.

Carlisle Bay in Antigua is also one of the world’s most style-conscious resorts. But never let it be said that this luxurious beachfront getaway turns its nose up at guests too young to fall in love with its REN toiletries. The resort welcomes kids with the kind of warmth that other places reserve for Jennifer Aniston. Think along the lines of kids’ clubs and family-friendly suites. And best of all, it makes no compromises for age ...

KIDS & TEENS ACTIVITIES The Cool Kids Club is free for over 2s. Open daily, its facilities include a jungle gym, paddling pool and mini-tennis courts. Activities for different age groups are available in the holidays.

CRèCHE (6 months to 3 yrs) Finger painting, water play, treasure hunts, beach games. (US$15 per hour for under 2s.)

KIDS CLUB (4 to 6 years)Swimming, junior tennis, art projects, song and dance.

CREW BLUE (7 to 12 years)Beach Olympics, T-shirt design, and excursions to Sting Ray City.

CRUSH (13 to 18 years)Wake boarding, tennis workshop and mocktail making.

Jumby Bay in Antigua is so exclusive that it tends to make everyone think of holidaying hedge funders and vacationing movie stars. But if we were to tell you that this glossy getaway gets its name from ‘jumbie’ an Antiguan colloquial word meaning ‘playful and mischievious spirit’, could you try to see the place in a different light? Especially as it’s also got kid’s clubs, nannies on tap and even child-size bathrobes ...

ROSEBUDS™ CAMP JUMBYFamilies will enjoy the Camp Jumby programme for 3-12 year olds. With 3 different pavilions there are a host of possibilities for outdoor excitement and creative expression - these include Little Chefs, Wildlife & Ocean Adventures, Discover Science, Pirates of the Carib-bean, Dance & Sing, Day at the Beach and much more. And let’s not forget the nanny services, the children’s amenities and the Kids’ Night Out ...

HAWKSBILL TURTLE PROGRAMMEEach year Hawksbill turtles return to nest on Pasture Bay Beach and kids (and parents too, of course) can sign up for ‘turtle watch’ from June through November - great fun and veryeducational.

SANDY LANEBARBADOS

JUMBY BAYANTIGUA

CARLISLE BAYANTIGUA

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Your kids will never forget their vacation at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort. Not only is this spectacular beach resort located slap bang in the middle of a World Heritage Site, but it’s got a first-class kids’ club, complete with a stage and set of drums, no less. Children’s menus are on offer in all the restaurants (even the posh one) and the luxury villas are the kind of places they can make them-selves right at home. They even come with pools ...

KIDS’ CLUB For 4 to 8 year oldsTots, toddlers and teenyboppers can all find something to keep themselves amused here. The Kids’ Club has just had a bit of a makeover actually and now features a hand-painted Wendy House, as well as murals by the children’s artist/author Lucy Loveheart. (The one who wrote Imagine You are a Mermaid etc.)

There’s also a Games Room with foosball, table hockey, a pinball machine and a basketball throw. For any kids fancying themselves as the next Adele or member of One Direction there’s a room with a stage, guitars and set of drums. And let’s not forget the organised activities aimed at the 4 to 8s. These include arts & crafts, sand castle building, coconut bowling and nature walks.

GUANAHANIst barths

spice island resortgrenada

sugar beachst lucia

Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada understands the importance of family. After all, it’s been owned by the same one for decades. So kids are always welcome at this gorgeous getaway, its family-friendly beach suites boasting plenty of space for sharing, as does its world-famous Grand Anse Beach. And luckily the Nutmeg Pod Activity Centre is so much fun that the honeymooners hardly notice the kids are there ...

THE NUTMEG PODFor 3 to 12 year oldsConveniently located close to all the central facilities, ‘The Pod’ is a supervised play space for youngsters. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm and offers a weekly schedule of activities and games for kids between the ages of 3 and 12. There’s a Playstation when they’ve had enough of the board games, healthy snacks when energy levels fall, a nap room when things get too much and movie nights during the school holidays.

And, of course, there are plenty of activities available to keep the older kids happy outside ‘The Pod’. There’s complimentary tennis and cycling, as well as non-motorised watersports such as snorkelling, kayaking and hobie-cats.

Hotel Guanahani & Spa in St. Barts is a playground for all age groups. This clubby resort sprawled out between two beaches not only comes in bright paintbox colours, but has also got plenty of space for everyone to let their hair down. There’s a kindergarten and a Junior’s Club, the Indigo restaurant just as happy making pommes frites for snotty 4 year-olds as it is making Salades César for super models - well, almost ...

KINDERGARTENFor 2 to 6 year oldsThe supervised activities offer a taste of French culture and language through interactive indoor activities and games. Kids can expect things like singing, drawing, colouring their handmade paper creations and playing with dolls or lego. And, of course, everyone loves look-ing for seashells on the beach before painting them.

JUNIOR’S CLUBFor 6 to 12 year olds The children can go swimming or be introducted to ‘new’ water sports such as snorkelling and windsurfing. There’s also beachsoccer and volleyball, and let’s not forget building castle in the sand. If the weather’s too hot (or too wet!) there are also indoor games like Uno and Pictionary.

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And the award for‘Best Pool’ goes to ...

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Thankfully the HOTEL CHRISTOPHER in St. Barths got this early on. It realised that if it had a great pool then people would overlook the fact that it didn’t have a great beach (or any beach at all, come to that!) And it’s a gamble that has paid off handsomely, people as happy as sandboys perched around its edges and pottering about in its cool, silky waters.

Indeed, this aquatic masterpiece takes centre stage wherever you are at the Hotel Christopher, most of its public spaces and many of its guests rooms overlooking its meandering form. Add to this the pool’s proximity to a breezy ocean and you’ve got all the benefits of a Caribbean beach without any of the drawbacks. (We’re thinking sand in the crevices, salt water in the hair and fishy things darting about in the sea grasses.)

The Hotel Christopher swimming pool is also a major design triumph, boasting a mesmeric infinity-edge and an exotic lava stone lining that gives it the subtle colour of the Caribbean Sea just about the time you take afternoon tea. It’s edged by a natural teak deck through which graceful palms are encouraged to grow, black sun umbrellas and vivid orange towels dispersed amongst all the random cushions, day beds and sun loungers. The breezes coming in from the ocean keep everyone cool.

And then there are the views. Castaway islands dot the pristine blue bay out front, a couple of white sand beaches beckoning from the other side. (A 10-minute drive and you can actually be on one of them.) And later on in the day you just have to order a cocktail from Mango’s, take a comfy seat by its edge, and you’ve bagged yourself one of the best spots in St. Barths for watching the sun go down.

Stay this summer from €380 to €800 per night, breakfast and airport transfers included.

And the award for‘Best Pool’ goes to ...

Swimming pools in Caribbean hotels can sometimes be a bit of a let-down. An obvious second-thought. Added on years after the original construction, when everyone suddenly realised that guests love a swimming pool just as much as they do a sandy beach ...

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The oceanfront swimming pool atthe Hotel Christopher in St. Barths.

Beach BridesTropical weddings are for True romanTics. They’re for couples who wanT To run away TogeTher and Tie The knoT wiTh The minimum amounT of fuss, The maximum amounT of sunshine and a generous sprinkling of caribbean cool ...

Photo courtesy of Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Antigua

CARIBBEAN WEDDINGS

Nowadays it’s very easy to get married in the islands. The legal stuff is kept to a minimum and you can tie the knot soon after you arrive. Most luxury Caribbean hotels also have dedicated wedding planners whose sole purpose in life is to hold your hands throughout the wholeprocess and ensure your special day runs as smoothly as your newly-buffed tootsies. From the flowers and the witnesses to the photos and the wedding breakfast, a Caribbean wedding can be the stuff of which dreams are made. And just think of the gorgeous photos!

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Wedding Package From US$2,555 including ...

• Services of Sandy Lane Wedding Planner• Round trip transfers to town to obtain licence• Marriage licence, stamp duty and registration of certificate• Wedding pillars decorated with fresh flowers• Bridal bouquet and boutonnière• Minister to perform the ceremony• Wedding Cake (for a maximum 8 persons)

Photography, videos, hors d’oeuvres, private dinners, additional champagne, beauty treatments and local entertainment such as steel bands are all readily available on request. Your personal wedding co-ordinator will assist with all the legal formalities and wedding arrangements on your arrival at the hotel.

SANDY LANE barbados

This ritzy resort is for the most elegant events. It’s for when nothing less than a Rolls Royce, Beluga caviar and French Champagne will do. It’s also got a blissful beach, a stunning spa and a collection of luxury rooms and suites that combine coral stone, creamy marble and dark woods. Yet best of all, Sandy Lane boasts the friendliest staff who know just how to strike the right balance between international professionalism and Bajan warmth ...

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COBBLERS COVE barbados

This chic ‘Country House’ hotel offers all the tranquillity, intimacy and creative cuisine you’d expect from a Relais & Chateaux retreat. Weddings here are tasteful and refined. But if you’d like to inject a little sex appeal, treat yourselves to the Colleton or Camelot Suites. These unique sanctuaries come with 4-poster beds and their own private plunge pools on the roof. You’ll rarely emerge ...

Wedding Package

From US$1,025 including ...

• Minister’s Fee• Marriage Licence and Certificate• Round Trip transfers to obtain Licence• Dressed location within grounds of hotel• Bouquet and head band for the bride• Boutonnière for the groom• One Tier Plain Wedding Cake• One Bottle of Champagne

Photography, videos, hors d’oeuvres, private dinners, additional champagne, beauty treatments and local entertainment such as steel bands are all readily available on request. Your personal wedding co-ordinator will assist with all the legal formalities and wedding arrangements on your arrival at the hotel.

Colleton Suite

Wedding Package From US$1,600 including ...

• Services of a wedding co-ordinator • All legal documents and services of Minister or Magistrate• Transportation to and from the licensing office • Bouquet for the bride & matching buttonhole for the groom • Petal aisle and flower arrangement for the signing table• Cliffside cold towel and water service • Professional photos - 24 exposures, 5x7 prints in an album with digitals saved to CD• One tier wedding cake for two • Café Luna candlelit dinner for two (appetiser and main course) • 1 Bottle of Champagne (served with dinner or saved for later!)

GET MARRIED FOR FREE IF yOU BOOk A LUxURy OCEAN SUITE FOR A MINIMUM OF 14 NIGHTS ...

LITTLE ARCHES barbados

Treat yourselves to this intimate Mediterranean ‘villa’ on the south coast of Barbados and you’ll not only enjoy five-star views and first-class dinners, but thekind of personal attention you usually only getfrom your mother - always a good thing whenyou’re planning a wedding!

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SPICE ISLAND BEACH RESORT grenada

Couples at ‘Spice Island’ benefit from the personal service of one of the Caribbean’s most famous family-owned resorts. Private swimming pools, canopy beds sprinkled with petals and one of the best beaches in the Caribbean are also on offer at this unashamedly romantic getaway in Grenada. And if you go for a beachfront Saffron or Cinnamon Suite, you even get a heart-shaped Jacuzzi to sip your Champagne in!

Wedding Package From US$500 including ...

• Fresh fruit in room upon arrival• Room upgrade subject to availability upon arrival• Transfers for signing documents• Fees for the Marriage Licence, Embassy Signing, Priest or Magistrate and preparation of Marriage Documents• Decorated Wedding Location - Beachside or Gazebo • Bridal bouquet and boutonnière for the groom • One 8” x 10” framed photograph• One bottle of Champagne• One tier 9” Wedding Cake (chocolate/vanilla)• One platter of hors d’oeuvres for 2 persons• Decorated Honeymoon Room• Private dinner on your patio or terrace on the night of the wedding

GALLEY BAY antigua

Galley Bay was specially created for people in love. Rustic yet ravishing, there are tables for two overlooking the Caribbean Sea, a palm-fringed beach that’s just perfect for hand-in-hand strolls and guest rooms that simply can’t get any closer to the sands. The staff make you feel so welcome you’ll want to invite them all to your wedding ...

Wedding PackageFrom US$1,199 including ... • Services of a wedding co-ordinator• Marriage officer and witnesses (if required) • Government fees, Registrar costs and ceremony charges• Bouquet of fresh, local garden flowers for the bride • Decorated wedding venue • Boutonnière for the groom • Wedding cake (one tier)• One bottle of champagne • All taxes and gratuities

THE ABOvE PACkAGE IS FREE FOR COUPLES STAyING 7-NIGHTS IN A PREMIUM BEACHFRONT SUITE.

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JUMBY BAY, A ROSEWOOD RESORT antigua

A glamorous private island resort with a colouful past, interesting wildlife (and guests!) and a spellbinding setting in one of Antigua’s most beautiful national parks. Treat yourselves to a private pool suite, dine alone together in a secluded bay and tie the knot on one of the island’s most spectacular beaches ...

Wedding Package

From US$3,500 including ...

• Return airport transfers• Location for ceremony and reception at the resort• Assistance of dedicated Guest Services Manager • Assistance in obtaining the license in St. John’s• Marriage license, officer fees & witnesses if necessary• Bridal bouquet and boutonnière• 8” wedding cake• Bottle of Veuve Cliquot Brut Champagne• Pressing of the wedding dress and tuxedo or suit• Romantic turndown on evening of wedding• A 50-minute couple’s massage

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Weddings The Legal Stuff

ANTIGUA

In Antigua there is no required waiting period and it is possible to get married in one day. Both parties must go to the Ministry of Legal Affairs (open weekdays only) with the appropriate documen-tation. After being issued with your licence, you must then go to the Registrar General’s office to register the wedding and obtain your marriage certificate. Your Wedding Planner will assist with all these legal arrangements.

BARBADOS

In Barbados there is no required waiting period. However arrangements should be made with a Marriage Officer prior to applying for the marriage licence and a letter from the Marriage Officer must be presented at the time of making the application. Bride and groom must apply for the marriage licence at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bridge-town (weekdays only). Your Wedding Planner will assist with the formalities.

ST LUCIA

In St. Lucia there is no required waiting period and, dependent upon all the practicalities, it is possible to get marriedin one day. Application to be married must be made by a local solicitor to the Attorney General who prepares and signs the marriage licence. Your Wedding Planner will arrange for the solitor to meet with you at your resort and handle all the necessary paperwork.

The documentation you’ll need ...• Passports (for identification)• Birth certificates (not always compulsory, but always a good idea)• Return flight tickets• If divorced, the Decree Absolute (not the Decree Nisi)• If widowed, the original Marriage Certificate and Death Certificate of the deceased spouse. • In some cases, proof of single status.• A sworn affidavit of consent stamped by a Notary Public if one of the parties is under age - this varies from 16 to 21 depending upon the island.

All documents must be original or certified original by the issuing offices. They must be in your legal name and affidavits must be provided if you are known by another name. All non-English documents must be accompanied by a certified translation. Church, Jewish or Roman Catholic weddings are usually available but different rules apply. The hotel will be pleased to provide the necessary information.

ALL HAUTE HOTELS HAvE WEDDING PLANNERS WHO WILL HELP WITH THE LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS. MANy OF THE WEDDING PACkAGES ALSO INCLUDE THE NECESSARy LEGAL FEES, AS WELL AS TRANSFERS INTO TOWN TO COMPLETE THE NECESSARy FORMALITIES. ALWAyS ADvISE yOUR HOTEL IN ADvANCE THAT yOU ARE PLANNING TO GET MARRIED DURING yOUR STAy WITH THEM.

Weddings The Legal Stuff

GRENADA

Couples must be resident in Grenada for at least three full working days prior to applying for the marriage licence. Application must be made in person at the Prime Minister’s Office in St. Georges. (Open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.) Marriage licences are usually processed within two working days, although it might take longer if the parties have been married before.

BvI

You must be resident in the British Virgin Islands for at least 3 working days before your ceremony can take place. As soon as you arrive you can apply for a licence at the Attorney General’s Office in Tortola. (Open Monday to Friday.) After applying for your licence you must go to the Registrar’s Office to schedule an appointment for the date and time you want to marry. The licence takes 3 days to process.

THE GRENADINES

Couples must be resident for at least 24 hours in St. Vincent & the Grenadines prior to applying in person for their marriage licence. This must be done at the office of the Solicitor General in St. Vincent. (Open Monday to Friday.) If you are staying on one of the smaller islands in the Grenadines, it will be necessary to make a day-trip (usually by boat and flight) to St. Vincent to complete the legal formalities.

The documentation you’ll need ...

All information with regards to legal formalities is subject to change and practical arrangements. Please double-check all the requirements for getting married in the Caribbean with your chosen hotel.

Photo courtesy of Vanessa Hall, our preferred wedding photographer. See www.vanessahallphotography.com

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Transforming a far-flung tropical island into an award-winning tropical resort is no mean feat. It takes vision and creativity, as well as drive and resourcefulness. Of course, it also helps if you’ve got bucketloads of money, so it was lucky for Peter Island that a certain Torolf Smedvig had all of these things …

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PETER ISLANDA potted history

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It was in the 1960s that Torolf Smedvig first heard the name Peter Island mentioned. The Virgin Islands were gradually opening up to tourism, Laurence Rockefeller having leased a parcel of land there and The Moorings launching a yacht charter business in Tortola ...

Mr Smedvig was seeking other challenges himself. A pioneer in the Norwegian oil industry and the owner of Norway’s largest sardine packing plant, the super-successful industrialist felt his future was in the hotel business. As he was also a great sailing enthusiast, he decided a plot of land in the British Virgin Islands would be a particularly good choice. So for a reputed US$950,000, he purchased 500-acres on the 18,000-acre Peter Island in 1968 and began to develop his small resort.

Prior to Smedvig’s involvement, Peter Island’s history is sketchy. But in the 20th century it was home to about 50 people, the remains of their stone church and graveyard still visible today. Farming and fishing appear to have been their main sources of income, sheep, cows and goatsall raised and the land cultivated for cassava, potatoes and bananas. A couple of families, the Bruce’s and the LaFontaine’s became verysuccessful in in tobacco and fishing.

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The island still had no infrastructure, however, and when Smedvig got involved, he realised that the introduction of roads, water and electricity was not going to be easy. So he made the decision to pre-fabricate his hotel buildings back in Norway, shipping everything over in two huge vessels in 1969. Twenty Norwegian craftsmen accompanied the trailors, timber, cranes and earth movers, the good vessel ‘Sunshine’ contracted to ferry in local workers from the main island of Tortola.

Much of the original hotel (the pool, lobby, dining room and oceanview A-frame rooms) was built on reclaimed land, the rooms erected in about 10 days, a sea wall created to protect the pool, bar and restaurant from the waves of the Sir Francis Drake Channel. And even though Peter Island welcomed its first paying guests in the 1970s, the construction went on right through the decade, the giant water cistern solving the most pressing problem, but some much-needed roads also completed.

But just as Peter Island was taking shape, Smedvig was bowing out. Due to ill health he returned to Norway in 1977 and died soon afterwards. As luck would have it, there were two saviours waiting in the wings, namely a Richard DeVos and a Jay Van Andel of the direct-selling Amway Corporation. This dynamic duo took over the reins, not only purchasing Peter Island, but expanding its beach restaurant, instigating staff training programmes and adding the highly sought-after Beachfront Cottages on Deadman’s Beach.

The changes met with excellent reviews, so imagine everyone’s dismay when Hurricane Hugo made a direct hit on the British Virgin Islands in September 1989. The 130mph winds did their worst and it took over a year before Peter Island itself could recover.

Yet Peter Island did rise again. Over the years it has become one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after and successful resorts, successfully blending its own brand of understated glamour with the island’s relaxed, back-to-nature vibe. It has twice been named one of ‘The Best Places to Stay in the World’ by Condé Nast Traveler, the addition of a 10,000 sq.ft. spa in 2004 certainly the icing on the cake. We think Torolf Smedvig would approve!

Doubles this summer from US$385 to $855 per night, no meals. Meal plans available.

Thanks to ‘A Place Like This’ an account of Peter Island by Hugh Benjamin with Richard B. Myers.Book available to purchase at Peter Island.

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Back in 2004 a South American businessman by the name of Luis Contreras purchased a struggling little hotel in St. Barths with a view to redeveloping it. Right from the get-go he knew he’d have to bring in the big guns if he wanted the ‘new’ Le Sereno to make any impact in a part of the world already spoilt by superstar hotels ..

Le Sereno

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Luis looked to Christian Liaigre to work the design magic at Le Sereno, an innovative French-man who has also remodelled the private residences of Kenzo, Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld and Rupert Murdoch. Christian had already set everyone back on their Laboutin heels with his interior designs for the Mercer Hotel in New York and the Montalembert hotel in Paris, his focus always upon simplicity, understatement and craftsmanship.

All three are used to great effect at Le Sereno. Butin St. Barths Liaigre’s restraint has the effect of being both soothing and dramatic. There’s a distinct contrast here between his cool shades and clean lines and the striking colours and unstructured shapes of the tropics. The vibrant turquoise of Grand Cul-de-Sac bay with the soft blue of a sofa, for example. The twisted brown roots of an ancient tree with the smooth woods of a white panelled wall.

Yet Liaigre’s interiors are subtly inspired by nature. His family bred horses for several generations, his signature colour palette of soft greys, blacks and creams a nod to his equestrian roots. Yet there are also startling shots of colour. Lime green apples in a wooden bowel, for example, and parrot red paint inside a hand-crafted wardrobe.

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LE SERENO SPA SERVICES

Now that you’ve been lulled into a state of serenity by Liaigre’s interiors, it’s time to take the next step to Nirvana. A massage in the hotel ‘s waterfront spa suite. This pocket-sized timber pavilion is perched right on the edge of Grand Cul-de-Sac bay, its fourth wall totally missing to allow all the sights, sounds and smells of the island’s most famous nature reserve to enhance the spa experience. The distant whisper of surf surging over a tropical reef doesn’t come from a relaxation CD at Le Sereno, you know.

Treatments in this breezy sanctuary are truly sensorial occasions, all perfectly enhanced by the Ligne St. Barth product line. The restorative oils, nourishing creams and moisturising mousses are made exclusively on the island, the natural ingredients sourced from local shrubs, flowers, seeds, fruits and plants. Think exotic things like pineapples, avocados, lilies, bourbon vanilla and the Caribbean tiaré, even seaweed, coconuts and clam shells put to good use in the massages. ST BARTH CHILL-OUT 1 HOUR €140

The warmth of the shells, combined with manual massage and the delicate perfume of precious oil will whisk you away, immersing you from tip to toe in a profoundly relaxing space.

Liaigre is totally at home with the exotic, his upbringing in the French port city of La Rochelle an early introduction to different cultures. At Le Sereno the references to Asia are everywhere and include daybeds, chunky furnishings, wooden decking and pebble gardens. And texture is equallyimportant to him, granite and slate used to great effect in the bathrooms, rough linens contrasting with soft cottons in the bedrooms and living areas.At Le Sereno you get the best of all worlds.

Summer rates from €550 to €1,995, includingbreakfast and return airport/port transfers. Special packages including car rentalalso available.

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Randall Wilkie has been at the helm of the Sandy Lane hotel since April 2012. After almost three decades running an assortment of popular Caribbean boltholes, the affable hotelier was a shoe-for the top spot. The fact that he was actually born in Barbados was a definite plus point, of course. No one could tell him anything he didn’t already know about the island and its people ...

Improving uponperfection ...

ow after more than a year in his demanding new role, ‘Randy’s’ guests are loving him, Randy’s staff are loving him and Randy himself is loving his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ‘improve upon perfection’!

After all Sandy Lane was already a legend when Randy first showed up for work that first morning. The famous grande dame had world-class golf courses, a spa to die for and guest rooms so bloomin’ lovely that everyone felt as though they’d hit the jackpot whenever they ventured inside. (And let’s not even mention those mind-blowing Sunday brunches with their sushi, seafood and suckling pigs.) The guest list was already so stellar that a guy with a long-lens Nikon could often be found pushing his luck at the far end of the blissful beach.

Everything ran so smoothly and everyone was so happy that the new Sandy Lane GM could have been forgiven for simply turning up and going through the motions, maybe shaking a few hands and joining his guests for the occasional round of golf. (Randy is an avid golfer, after all.) But what he actually decided to do was refine matters, shining the spotlight on the so-called ‘little things’ and giving guests the kind of stuff (and service levels) that they hadn’t even thought possible in a beach hotel on a tropical island. We’re talking Beluga caviar in the restaurants, Aromatherapy Associates products in the spa, as well as an Italian Resident Manager with a name that’s as interminable as his natural charm (Mario Bevilacqua von Gunderrode, if you must know.)

And under Randy’s watch there’s now an incredible staff to guest ratio of 5:1. He’s led the way in showing that it is quite possible to combine the friendliness of Barbados with the professionalism that defines a member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’. All the guests still get the red-carpet welcome, of course, but nowadays the grande dame that is Sandy Lane is far more genial than grand! Continued ...

SANDY LANE • BARBADOS

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26L’Acajou restaurant

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Nowhere has Randy influence been felt more than in Sandy Lane’s food and beverage department. A self-confessed foodie, he’s flown in the best cuisiniers from all over the world and a new Executive Chef from France (with Michelin Star experience) is set to take over the reigns shortly. As always the new chef will only have the best ingredients to work with in Sandy Lane’s four restaurants - the hotel’s salmon comes from Scotland, its lamb from Colorado, its artisan cheeses from France and its oysters all the way from Prince Edward Island in Canada.

After dark though it’s the main Bajan Blue restau-rant that’s heavily dusted with international flavour. The ‘Spice Market’ and ‘Flavours of the Mediterra-nean’ evenings are always special à la carte events, and then there are the South East Asian, Caribbean and Indian specialities served in spectacular buffet-style right on the sands. One starry night it’s all dim sum, Peking duck and wok-fried noodles, the next you’ll be slurping some perfectly-seasoned bouil-labaisse and spreading foie gras with truffes onto your toast.

Randy’s culinary team even includes an Indian chef who’s a whiz with pakoras, samosas and dahls, his naan breads freshly baked in an authentic Tandoori oven. And the jerk chicken, roti station, Dominican coconut grouper ceviche and Bajan rum cake demonstrate how easily the menus are adapted to the setting.

Of course if you fancy holding hands, there’s nowhere better than the fine dining restaurant L’Acajou. Lit by flickering candles and dressed in dusky pink, its terrace opens out to views of the Caribbean Sea and its pianist plays the kind of vintage tunes that get you whispering sweet nothings. The presentation is contemporary, the service is pure class and cuisine is a little bit French and a little bit Mediterranean with both classic and modern influences.

Summer rates from $1,040 to $2,080 per night, including breakfast and airport transfers.

THE cOUnTRY cLUBSandy Lane’s stone-floored Country Club is located high up on the championship golf course. Such are the jaw-dropping vistas across the manicured fairways to the seathat for once golf widows/ers will have no problem vacating their sun loungers and joining their partners on completion of their rounds. The luncheon menu offers suitably unpretentious favourites like burgers, fish & chips, Club sandwiches and Shepherd’s Pie, the hushed, monied vibe combining with the photos of Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood et al to show that this is a place that takes more than its food very seriously.

45L’Acajou restaurant

This summer you can take advantage of Free Nights, Free Kids and Free Swimming Lessons at The Sandpiper and Coral Reef Club, two luxury sister hotels in Barbados ...

Sister Act

CORAL REEF CLUB

The 88-room Coral Reef Club combines the classic with the contemporary. The old prints in the lobby and the baby grand in the restaurantstand side by side with the designer spa, the Mediterranean-style pool and the exciting collection of luxury suites ...

FREE NIGHTSStay 7 nights for the price of 6 between 17 July &30 August including breakfast. Not applicable in Luxury Cottages/Suites/Plantation Suites.

FAMILY OFFERSUnder 12s sharing with parents between 17 July & 30 August stay free including breakfast. Families booking two rooms for at least 7 nights during this period get a 50% discount on 2nd room. Discount available on lesser priced room. Not Luxury Cottages/Suites/Plantation Suites.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDSBetween 17 July and 30 August the following free activities are provided each week for all children between 2 and 12 years of age - 3 half-hour sailing lessons; 3 half-hour swimming lessons; 2 hours per day of supervised care for 2 to 8s Monday to Friday.

Summer rates from US$465 to $1,400

THE SANDPIPER

The 48-room Sandpiper is now set to dazzle you. Long loved for its understated island charm, this ‘Small Luxury Hotel of the World’ has a little bit of Barbados, a little bit of Asia and a little bit of France thrown in. And the cocktail bar is sooo Ralph Lauren ...

FREE NIGHTS Book 6 or 12 nights between 1 & 30 June and get 1 or 2 nights free respectively, including breakfast. Not applicable in the 2-bedroom suites, Tree Top Suites or the Beach House.

FAMILY OFFERS Children under 12 years sharing a 1-bedroom suite with their parents between 1 July & 10 August can stay free of charge including breakfast.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDSBetween 1 July and 10 August the following free activities are provided each week for all children between 2 and 12 years of age - 3 half-hour sailing lessons; 3 half-hour swimming lessons; 2 hours per day of supervised care for 2 to 8s Monday to Friday.

Summer rates from US$465 to $1,40047

Bon VivantEnjoy the good things in life at Hotel Le Toiny in St. BarthsThis 4-night package includes everything you need to get the best out of St. Barths.It includes spa treatments, a SMART car and dinners in some of the finest eateries on the island. (Le Toiny’s own restaurant is generally considered the best place toeat in the Caribbean.) So either jet over to this hillside hideaway for a long andluxurious weekend or combine it with a longer stay on Antigua, for example - Tradewind Aviation will be delighted to fly you between the two islands ...

Your villa suite has so much style it hurts. Think taupe walls, timber floors and teak

furnishings, the whole vibe reminiscent of French Colonial times. Yet the black-and-

white photos add modern flair, whilst the vibrant toile du soleil fabrics contribute a

strong sense of place. Although nothing quite upstages those four-poster beds made in Martinique and romantically draped in

traditional white gauze. Of course things get even more interesting when you step out

through the patio doors. Here you’ll find a furnished travertine-tiled terrace and a private

swimming pool lined in lava stone and lit by different mood-enhancing colours after dark.

BON VIVANT 4-night package

From 4,160€ per couple (extra nights 715€ )

• You’ll be met on arrival at either St. Barths airport or harbour and whisked to Le Toiny• A bottle of wine and gourmet snacks will welcome you to your luxurious one-bedroom Villa Suite with its private pool and ocean views• Use of a convertible SMART car* during your stay• A full American breakfast every day, either on your terrace or in the restaurant• A 2-course lunch (including soft drinks) at the local ‘feet-in-the-sand’ restaurant La Gloriette • Three 3-course dinners (excluding beverages) at Bonito (French-Latin cuisine and ceviche bar), L’Isola (authentic Italian) and, of course, Le Toiny’s restaurant Le Gaiac (French gourmet cuisine.)• Two 1-hour spa treatments of your choice in the Le Toiny spa• An oenology course where you learn all about winemaking• Transfers back to the airport or harbour

* SMART car insurance and petrol is payable locally. Package available June 1 to 17 November 2013.

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The stunning views from the dining terrace of Cap Maison in St. Lucia

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