The Two Bedroom Beachfront Suite offers 2690 square feet of space and has a
I recently returned from Canouan, a hilly paradise in the Caribbean, which allows for a tranquil escape from the fast-paced New York City environment, either for a long weekend or for a week and longer.
Flying from JFK on JetBlue’s MINT service, I landed in Barbados, where I was met by an ambassador and swiftly escorted through customs and immigration to a Citation Jet waiting for me. After a 20-minute flight to Canouan, I was taken to the Pink Sands Club, through the local village filled with colorful houses, by a personal butler provided by the resort. (Private jets can also be chartered directly to the islands, as we saw when we landed. There were quite a few private jets on the runway).
The car pulled up at the resort’s grand entrance. Inside, there is a floor of patterned tiles modeled after the Scuola Grande della Misericordia in Venice. Mosaics of turtles and seahorses, playfully decorated with colored shells and starfish in Murano glass, lead onto a terrace overlooking the sea, where a glass of champagne welcomes you.
Pictured: The Pink Sands Club is a palatial hideaway surrounded by natural beauty.
Canouan, the James Bond island of today, introduces a new level of sophistication to the Caribbean — complete privacy, impeccable comforts, outstanding activities and natural beauty. The island only spans 3.5 square miles, with a heavily forested, 900-foot tall peak, making it the perfect place for a short scenic hike. The island is also flanked by a beautiful coral reef, just as bewitching as the ones you will find in the Indian Ocean or the South Pacific.
The estate recently underwent a major transformation in which no detail was overlooked. The original resort suites, formerly managed by Raffles and Rosewood, have all been taken down and the remaining private villas are now called the Canouan Estate. Those magnificent villas and residences vary from two to seven bedrooms and have access to the brand new Pink Sands Club. The new resort comprises 20 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom suites, along with six four-bedroom villas, and two one-bedroom Penthouses.
Pink Sands Club is a palatial hideaway with incredible design elements that are yet to be seen in the Caribbean. The suites have high-quality mahogany furniture, Pratesi linen, incredibly comfortable Hotel LYS beds from France, cream fabrics with splashes of coral pink, gray Carrara marble and cutting-edge technology. The suites measure a minimum of 1,300 square feet. With a touch of a button, you have control of every aspect of the suite, including turning on the TV embedded onto a floor-to-ceiling mirror, which when slid to the side reveals a mesmerizing view of the beach on a turquoise lagoon. The bathrooms have top-quality Carrara marble, separate bathtub and shower, leather handles on the closet doors, and plenty of space, as well as a large dressing area. Each suite comes with a butler to attend to your every wish, and your own personal golf cart to transport you throughout the resort island. The island’s famous 18-hole golf course, designed by Jim Fazio, presents a tough challenge, including tortoises patiently crossing the greens. At sunset, you can visit the 13th hole, where your butler awaits with champagne and canapés for you to enjoy while you take in the view of the Grenadines with a backdrop of an incredible multicolored sky.
The Residences at Pink Sands Club allow guests to unwind in a spacious living area that has views of the sea, the barrier reef and The Grenadines Estate Golf Course.
The spa, managed by ESPA, comprises nine spa suites, set on a hill with lagoon views, and linked by a mini-funicular railway.Two other suites are built over the water with a glass floor to offer views of the sea and fish beneath you. While parents enjoy their luxurious spa treatments, the kids can head to the Pirates of Pink Sands Kids Club, which has its own two pools, a playground and a multitude of fun activities.
The various bar & dining venues available at the Pink Sands Club to whet your appetite include Shell Beach Bar and Grill, Bellinis Bar and Restaurant, Piazza, Romeo Restaurant, Juliet Restaurant, and Lagoon café and Turtles’ Bar & Lounge. The Canouan Estate has another three, AnceGuyac, Bellini’s and Shell Beach Bar & Grill.
Pictured: The One Bedroom Suite includes balcony seating offering expansive beachfront views.
There is a fully equipped gym, three tennis courts, which can be lit at night, hiking activities, diving and more.
An infinity pool sits alongside an Italian trattoria and bar for lunch. All this sits on a spectacular white sand Godahl Beach.
There are a total of six beaches throughout the resort — Godahl Beach, Ance Guyac, Mahault, Shell Beach, Carenage Bay and Mysore Beach — allowing for a different experience every day. Private boat charters are available to visit the Tobago Cays, a treasured marine reserve where the sea radiates with colorful fish, and the gorgeous private beaches where lunches and barbecues can be arranged.
Service, which is always provided with a smile throughout the resort, is up to the standards of any upscale client.
The Pink Sands Club is up and running and soon Marina, Canouan Island, the hidden gem of the Grenadines, will make a comeback in the Caribbean scene.