Have a VIP — or even a V-VIP — client who’s looking for a warm-weather jaunt? Well, consider one of these ultra-luxe Caribbean resorts that are just as well-suited for celebrities as they are for making non-celebs feel as if they are one.
Late last year, Luxury Travel Advisor was down in Turks and Caicos where we got to check out The Shore Club. Despite it being the two-time winner of our Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World contest (in 2021 and 2022), we had never seen the property firsthand, so we were very excited to see if it lives up to its reputation. The short answer? It more than holds up; in fact, we were disappointed we were only there for a lunch and will jump at the first opportunity we have to stay overnight.
Standout accommodations at The Shore Club—which has hosted the likes of Simone Biles, Chrissy Metz, Kandi Burruss, Robin Roberts and Tracy Morgan—include the six 8,800-square-foot villas that occupy an 850-foot stretch of beachfront on Long Bay Beach. These wall-in (read: private) villas offer up to six bedrooms (split between five in the main house and one detached, perfect for any traveling entourage) as well as a private heated pool in the outdoor courtyard and two floors of space. In all, the villas can accommodate up to 14 people and even include elevators to assist guests with mobility challenges.
What’s unique, however, is this elevator connects to the underground service tunnels used by staff. Luxury Travel Advisor was told by Karen Whitt, vice-president of marketing and brand development for Hartling Group (which manages The Shore Club) that these service tunnels can be used by V-VIP clients who are looking to avoid the eyes of other guests altogether.
Beyond access to all resort amenities, villa guests additionally receive a private butler, VIP airport transfers (plus fast-tracked arrival and departure at Providenciales International Airport (which can accommodate private jets), a champagne arrival in the villa, special kids’ amenities (like bubble bath toiletries, books, toys and more) and even a private sauna in the primary bedroom. The Shore Club can also provide these guests with private chef services, fully pre-stocked kitchens, live entertainment, in-villa yoga classes and more. It’s suggested that guests book a kiteboarding lesson, as Long Bay Beach is one of the best places in the world to enjoy kiteboarding due to its shallow waters and favorable wind patterns.
Beyond the villas, the one- to three-bedroom Executive Penthouses are the pick for celebrity clients. In fact, due to their top-floor location, they offer much better views than the villas. These rooms have a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, separate living and dining rooms, en-suite bathrooms (complete with soaker tubs and couple’s sinks), a sauna and a wraparound oceanfront balcony.
Winter is the year-round resort’s busiest season, so it’s recommended to book several months in advance.
Kerry Hendrickson is the executive assistant manager of The Shore Club, who acts as a travel advisor liaison, but it’s best to reach out to [email protected]; or [email protected] for reservations. The Shore Club is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Sui-Ren, the hotel’s outdoor fine dining restaurant serving Asian and Peruvian-inspired dishes, recently unveiled a new menu with items like lomo saltado and chaufa de pato. Tip: Sui-Ren partakes in “Sushi Fridays,” offering a selection of fresh, artfully crafted sushi and sashimi. Guests can enjoy specialty rolls, nigiri and other Japanese Peruvian fusion creations.
Should guests prefer, the hotel can also arrange for private dining experiences, either in their accommodation or on the beachfront. Be sure to make dining reservations a couple weeks prior to arrival.
Similarly, book any spa treatments a few weeks in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. At Dune Spa, treatments are inspired by natural elements like sand and sea and include offerings such as the “Long Bay Spa Ritual” and “Twilight Ceremony,” which combine local ingredients and techniques for a deeply relaxing experience. The Shore Club is also the only hotel in the Caribbean to offer a LING Neolifting facial. This non-invasive facelift reduces wrinkles, improves skin tone and elasticity, contours the facial oval and defines the cheekbones. There is also a fitness center, tennis courts and a lap pool wellness-inclined guests can make use of.
Off-property, the hotel’s concierge team can book guests snorkeling or diving excursions to the coral reefs off Providenciales, horseback riding experiences along Long Bay Beach, boat charters to uninhabited cays and more.
Kamalame Cay, located on a 96-acre private island off Andros in the Bahamas, has just added a new villa to its collection. Named Buttonwood, the new beachfront villa is situated on one of the highest points of the Cay and offers wraparound terraces with panoramic ocean views, island chic-inspired interiors and more. We’re told that it has quickly become a guest favorite.
Buttonwood can accommodate up to eight guests (including a maximum of six adults) in four bedrooms. There’s 1,800 square feet of living and dining space alone, making it the perfect gathering place—not to mention an additional 2,500 square feet of terraces overlooking Blanket Sound.
In all, Kamalame Cay offers 19 seaside accommodations, including beach cottages and bungalows and 16 multi-bedroom villas that offer between one and four bedrooms; they range in size from 1,100 to 6,000 square feet. Note that the 1,100-square-foot Rock House cottage, which can accommodate two adults and two children, is the only villa with a private pool. All villas, however, offer direct beach access and plenty of privacy.
Villa guests can also avail themselves of such services as a private chef, yoga instructors or personal trainers as well as in-villa spa treatments. Note: While formal butler service is not provided, guests in the Private Villa Collection receive dedicated concierge service and optional enhancements such as a breakfast cook and evening cocktail service.
Tip: Kamalame Cay is welcoming of pets, regardless of which accommodation you book.
The busiest times are November through April, with peak demand during the holiday season. It is recommended to book six to 12 months in advance for these periods. Travel advisors can contact [email protected] for all booking inquiries.
For the ultimate arrival, book your clients a seaplane arrival, which can literally take guests right to the front door of their villa, with check-in completed in the accommodation.
More about getting to the private island resort: Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau is the primary international gateway, which is approximately 15 minutes by seaplane charter to Kamalame or fixed wing to Fresh Creek Airport on Andros Island. From there, a short private boat transfer can bring guests to Kamalame Cay. Fresh Creek Airport can also accommodate private jets.
As well, VIP clients enjoy expedited customs clearance and personalized meet-and-greet services.
One property highlight is the overwater spa—touted as the only one in the Caribbean. Centered on custom treatments and the finest marine-based ingredients, the resort’s certified organic OSEA products are rich in bioavailable seaweed, infused with essential oils, and are free of synthetic parabens and sulfates. The Vitamin Sea Brightening Facial is one of the most popular treatments; it combines biodynamic seaweed and Vitamin C to even out your complexion and deliver a beautiful glow. Gentle resurfacing with a probiotic infusion whisks away dry, damaged skin, while a brightening mask, nourishing serum and custom moisturizer stimulate collagen, combat discoloration and lock in hydration.
A massage accompanied by the sounds of the water below sounds like the perfect form of relaxation to us. Spa treatments can be booked in the comfort of your room if that’s what you prefer. Treatments should be booked several weeks prior to arrival.
On the dining side, the Ocean-to-Table Lunch, part of the Chef’s Table Series, is highly recommended. As the name suggests, meals comprise fresh seafood and locally sourced produce. Private beach dinners curated by the resort’s chefs are also a highlight. VIP clients can also book private dining experiences on the beach or in their villa; just book a couple weeks in advance.
If you’re looking to take advantage of your private island location, exploring the Andros Barrier Reef, deep-sea fishing and visiting blue holes are among the most popular excursions. The concierge team can also book seaplane tours, wellness retreats, yacht charters for dolphin-spotting, sunset cruises and more. For a cultural experience, visit one of the nearby Andros settlements.
The resort operates seasonally, closing from late August to early November.
The third option for celeb clients is Belle Mont Sanctuary Resort, located on St. Kitts. The resort is a collection of 40 individual and private accommodations, including Luxury Cottages, two-, three- and four-bedroom Luxury Villas, and even a four-bedroom Farmhouse set within an organic farm.
This last accommodation is the no-doubter for VIPs. The Farmhouse & Four Bedroom Villa & Pool—Belle Mont’s signature villa—comprises four separate cottages, hosting up to eight guests, all within a short stroll of the central family and gathering villa. The open-floor plan of the living and dining area, complete with a TV lounge, creates a warm and inviting space for shared moments without feeling crowded. The expansive terrace leads to a spacious sun deck and the villa’s signature 100-foot overflowing pool, offering views of the Caribbean Sea.
As with all accommodations, the bathrooms have deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.
Good to know: Due to the property’s layout, many of the units offer near-total seclusion, so guests can enjoy their vacation in comfort if they choose to remain separate from other travelers.
Space fills up fast around Easter and the winter holidays. Book as early as six to eight months prior to secure the accommodation of your choice.
Belle Mont Sanctuary Resort tells us it can arrange a number of VIP services for guests, including a private airport terminal arrival, luxury transfers, yoga and sound bath experiences, in-room therapy sessions, private dining either in your villa or a chosen location on site, cooking demonstrations and more.
Top Tip: Be sure to book the KayanJet experience. During a previous visit to St. Kitts, we enjoyed this tarmac-to-terminal meet-and-greet service. Once off the plane, guests are greeted by their concierge and transported to a private terminal via luxury vehicle, where assistance with immigration, customs and baggage formalities await. We were served a drink and hot food and simply relaxed in the lounge space while all of our processes were taken care of. This service can be used whether guests fly commercial or private into Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on St. Kitts. (From here, it is a 45-minute drive to the resort.)
On property—which is open year-round—guests can engage with dedicated Kittitian Hill personnel during the visit. Enrichment opportunities abound with cooking classes and workshops and guests are even encouraged to forage from the surrounding farmland. Should your clients rather be pampered than work a bit for their meal, consider a private dining experience at The Lookout, which is one of the private spaces of the restaurant. We hear it’s especially popular for guests celebrating anniversaries or other milestones, as well as for proposals.
Be sure to recommend the spicy fish fritters, flame-grilled spiny lobster, roasted provision and wild mushroom risotto, and the tamarind-ginger chicken.
Guests can alternatively partake in a Chef’s Table Dinner, where the resort’s chef creates a menu suited to the fresh ingredients of the day and season.
For an offsite foodie experience, the destination offers its Kittitian RumMaster program. Guests will visit the Caribbean’s oldest rum distillery where they will tour the site and learn about the rum-making process. After, they will have the chance to blend their own bottle of rum. A second stop brings guests to the home of Hibiscus Spirits, where they will learn how to craft spiced rum, getting the chance to tinker with various infusions. Best yet, those who complete the experience will become certified “RumMasters.”
If wellness is more your guests’ speed, the spa treatments on property incorporate indigenous ingredients and methods. That said, if they’d like to tap into their creativity, they can also create their own body scrub to take home.
Tip: The Relaxing Wellbeing Treatment is a guest favorite. This treatment focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. This massage concentrates on releasing toxins, deeply held tension and pain in the body with light to medium finger pressure and slow firm strokes, all targeting the muscle tissues.
Hiking Mount Liamuiga is another option for active travelers. The dormant volcano is the island’s highest mountain and offers challenging rainforest hikes to an impressive volcanic crater. At the top, the view is nothing short of spectacular.
On the water, the resort can arrange catamaran cruises, diving and snorkeling, paddleboarding, kite surfing and more.
Errington Fyfield ([email protected]) is the general manager. Floyd Douglas ([email protected]), front office manager, is the best contact for bookings.
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