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| Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma is known for its all-inclusive nature and an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course. |
Sandals Emerald Bay
The Bahamas offers quintessential Caribbean luxury (think color: cerulean and sugar). While visiting the Bahamas, we recommend Sandals Emerald Bay for your traveling elite.
When booking your VIPs, we suggest the two-story beachfront Royal Estate. This palatial suite has its own private pool and patio, living and dining rooms, master bedroom with den, and two balconies. Other amenities include a 42-inch flat-screen plasma TV and a marble bathroom with deep soaking tub.
Nice Touch: At Sandals Emerald Bay, the top room categories offer 24-hour private butler service. We hear that these butlers will pamper VIP guests throughout their stay—from unpacking luggage, drawing scented bubble baths and serving private meals on the terrace to arranging a private boat transfer to a secluded island in the Exumas. Reach out to Manager of Concierge Services Janet Rolle (242-336-6800, ext. 6601) with questions.
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| Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma is known for its all-inclusive nature and an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course. |
After a day of beachside bronzing, we suggest booking a treatment at the 29,000-square-foot Red Lane Spa, which features 17 treatment rooms. We hear that the most requested treatment is the Tropical Bliss Massage. Luxury travel advisors should contact Spa Director Karen Birch Mauricette (kmauricette @grp.sandals.com; 242-336-6800, ext. 2442) Tip: It is best to book treatments as soon as possible to ensure availability and treatment. CSS agents may visit the Sandals and Beaches online booking engine at www.sandals.com/tas or www.beaches.com/tas. Non-CSS agents may book via the reservations department at 1-888-Sandals.
Dining options abound at Sandals Emerald Bay, but we hear that the most romantic option is a private candlelight dinner on the sand, where white-gloved waiters attend to every detail. Other special dining options can be arranged such as a vineyard dinner and a romantic candlelight escapade. Note: It is best to make dining reservations a month prior to arrival.
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| The Veranda’s four-bedroom cottage is beachfront with a plunge pool. |
Golf, anyone? Enthusiasts can take advantage of the Greg Norman-designed Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club, with six signature holes along the coast. All on-property and watersport activities are offered year round (think scuba diving, snorkeling, hydrobikes and windsurfing). The resort is also home to four pools, four whirlpools, a swim-up pool bar and a fitness center.
Luxury travel advisors can contact Director of Sales Shellie-Anne Norton ([email protected]; 242-336-6800) with questions.
The Veranda Resort
Head further south in the Caribbean Sea and stumble upon Turks & Caicos. Our all-inclusive pick here is The Veranda Resort, and we hear it is a top pick among the star-studded elite (think Cindy Crawford, tennis star Maria Sharapova and Shaquille O’Neal).
Our favorite rooms at this resort are the free-standing beach cottages. These three- and four-bedroom spaces offer the highest level of privacy. Nice Touch: The cottages come with private plunge pools, concierge and butler services, private check-in, dining service, pre-arrival provisioning of groceries, shopping and delivery throughout the stay, childcare services and more.
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| The Veranda’s four-bedroom cottage is beachfront with a plunge pool. |
We hear the two-story Sabai Spa at The Veranda is to die for, with eight treatment rooms—a mix of single and couples rooms—as well as separate, secluded private suites. Nice Touch: The spa menu includes Elemis spa services, and guests have access to his/her facilities with steam rooms, outdoor showers and relaxation areas. We hear that The Sabai Custom Massage is the most requested treatment and Girlie Joseph is known to perform it the best.
Tip: It is best to book treatments three days before arrival. To book spa treatments, luxury travel advisors can contact Spa Supervisor Girlie Joseph ([email protected]; 649-339-5050).
A bevy of palatable pleasures awaits at The Veranda. We hear that, at signature restaurant Marin, guests ought to sample the tuna tataki and conch ceviche appetizer along with the surf and turf (think tiger prawns with lemon butter, steak with peppercorn sauce, green beans and brown butter mashed potatoes). Tip: The best seat in the house at Marin is in the sky lounge. Reservations are recommended a week in advance.
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| Secrets Maroma Beach has such luxe accommodations as swim-out suites with direct pool access. |
Have clients with special requests? The Veranda can customize almost everything as per their wish. This includes boat trips, private island dinners, personalized robes and more. Every building has a dedicated personal concierge and there are personal butlers for the guests staying in one of the penthouses. Contact Head Concierge Anthony Johnson for special arrangements.
Note: For the holiday season bookings begin a year in advance. Peak season is December through April, so we recommend booking four to six months in advance. Luxury travel advisors can contact Reservations Manager Angella Tyson ([email protected]; 800-946-5757).
Secrets Maroma Beach
While technically in Mexico, Secrets Maroma Beach’s location in Riviera Cancun gives the five-star property a decidedly Caribbean feel.
Of all the luxury accommodations at this resort, the crème de la crème is the Presidential Suite, which measures an expansive 1,873 square feet. We love the pool and tropical views, four poster king bed, private furnished terrace with direct swim-out access to one of the 12 pools that flows to each private patio, full bathroom with Jacuzzi for two, 40-inch flat-screen TV and furnished balcony with a Jacuzzi for four and telescope.
For an accommodation with the best view, opt for the Preferred Club Honeymoon Suite, with a full ocean view of Maroma Beach.
Luxury travel advisors can contact Sales Manager Maria Rivas with questions or, for special requests, Director of Sales Maru Suárez.
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| An Oceanfront Room at Secrets Maroma Beach features a private terrace with Jacuzzi. |
We hear the resort serves up gourmet cuisine in six à la carte restaurants, a buffet venue, a café and a grill, all with alfresco options for dining. Their menus include everything from international fare to Pan-Asian to Italian to fresh seafood. Tip: Be sure to visit Desires Music Lounge après dining for contemporary music and late-night dancing.
Cool Touch: Want an even wider selection of dining options? Secrets Resorts & Spas offers a “dine around program” as part of its Unlimited-Luxury. Under this program, guests staying at one of the three Secrets Resorts & Spas in the Riviera Maya can dine at all three. Note: This program is only good for dinner. Guests must make arrangements through the resort concierge by 3 p.m.
A trip to the Secrets Spa by Pevonia is a must (think 19 treatment rooms spread over 13,000 square feet). We love the full menu of massages, body treatments and facials that pair up nicely with the Swiss shower, sauna and steam room. Questions should be directed to Spa Director Carla Paladino.
Included in an Unlimited-Luxury stay at Secrets Maroma Beach is the opportunity to tee off at Playa Paraiso Golf Club. Guests can enjoy a complimentary round per person per stay through December 23. Other activities include yoga, use of an infinity pool, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, tennis, cocktail classes and more.
To arrange activities and other experiences, such as a shopping trip in Cancun, travel advisors should contact Head Concierge Ivan Santos.
Getting There: Fly clients into Cancun International Airport, about a 25-minute drive to the resort.