nytraveler

We did look for something similar a couple of years ago but life intervened and we never got as far as actually planning the trip. We're now trying for Feb - if we can get a week together. We want deluxe relaxation in the caribbean - a resort with restaurants and full services - but offering villas with private pools. I remember last time there didn't seem to be much. We definitely do not want a private villa - need full hotel services. And we definitely want a villa in the resort with a private pool (skinnydipping a goal).

If anyone has stayed a place like this and can provide a personal reco it would be much appreciated. Budget is open.

sharona

My first thought is Cap Juluca on Anguilla. Definitely deluxe accommodations and some rooms/suites have private pools. If memory serves there are three restaurants on-site and a few more within a 10 minute or so drive. CJ is on a stunning beach and Anguilla offers great dining choices.

http://www.capjuluca.com/rooms-rates.php

blamona

Do you have a budget, you will find very high end resorts that have villas with private plunge pools, but it will cost you.

St. Barth has a couple of them. Veranda in Turks and Caicos has some villas with private pools, but even better is Parrot Cay. Jumby Bay in Antigua has some

I have a feeling, could be wrong, but what your looking for is completely out of your price range in the Caribbean. Wth a budget we can tell you how realistic.

qwovadis

www.jademountain.com my fav for this St Lucia

there are some cheaper alternatives years ago

Pavillionsandpools.com St Thomas

not great but great price points

Not in Carib but also nice

www.casaquecanta.com Mexico very romantic upscale

luxurylink.com has some other options...

www.pinksandsresort.com prob best beach for this villas/pools

Harbor Island prettiest small upscale out island for me.

VERY picturesque...


Happy Hunting!

qwovadis

For me in the past nice pool/villa St John

www.caneeltrailside.com

Hotels nearby come in at a better pricepoint.

vrbo.com St John is awesome around caneelbay.com

Anguilla flat hot snooty expensive for what you get

I am a fan of hilly green mountians with my beautiful beaches.

St Barts has a lot of super expensive stuff too if

you like to stargaze...

Callaloo

The Horned Dorset Primavera, in Rincon, Puerto Rico, has private plunge pools with every villa and suite. The "standard" suites (there are no "rooms" per se) are 1400 square feet and beautifully decked out. This is easily the loveliest resort in Puerto Rico, and one of the nicest in the Caribbean. Full service, with a very elegant restaurant on site, and a slightly more casual one as well. Trip report here: http://islandtime.homestead.com/Rincon.html

Ottley's Plantation on St. Kitts has some cottages with private plunge pools, but they are not as sheltered as one might wish for skinny dipping (not least because of all the nosy and busy green vervet monkeys)... Another trip report: http://islandtime.homestead.com/NevisSKB2010.html

Though I haven't stayed at either of these, other places to consider are Ladera on St. Lucia and the Spice Island Inn on Grenada.

nytraveler

We are only going for a week and really need some time to relax in ideal circumstances - so the budget is open. We don;t want to spend enough to rent a whole island - but other than that the budget isn't a worry. (Don't want to spend $50,000 - but do realize this will be expensive.

Thanks for the info - we will start investigating these options.

Tom_Costello

Have you looked at the La Cure website yet? They have villas that you may be interested in.

KVR

Sandals on various Islands have the plunge pools.

Ladera in St. Lucia also, but the rooms only have 3 walls. Some people would have an issue, but not me.

The Las Brias resort in Acapulco, MX, but the Island tends to be iffy with crime.

The only issue with plunge pools are they are not heated, so if they don't get full sun 24/7 they are cold. Not worth the money IMHO. February, you may be pushing good warm weather depending on the destination.

If willing to spend that kind of money. I would look for a nice secluded destination whih good service and food and forgo plunge pools. They are not as great as they look.

The best destination I've ever found with plunge pools are the Ceasars resorts in the Pocono Mountains, PA. Indoor and warm. A little cheesy though. But, I liked it.

The Pavillion and Pools in St. Thomas, I don't think they are lux as you stated you wanted.

Key West, FL. We stayed at the Simonton and they had pool side rooms. They are shared with the complex though and February, you are pushing good weather. Several types of hotels like that in that area.

What recommednations did you get when you where researching before?

Weadles

What about One and Only Palmilla in Los Cabos? We were guests there on a corporate retreat several years ago, and still rave about the hotel. Although we stayed in lesser accommodations, they offer one-bedroom beachfront jr. "pool casitas" which come with a private infinity pool, and a personal butler. Of course since these rooms are on site, you have access to all the services of the hotel. We spent many mornings eating a ridiculously bountiful breakfast and watching grey whales frolic in the sea just beyond our huge terrace.

nytraveler

So far have not found anything.

And we aren't looking for plunge pools - but a real pool where we can swim. (And we prefer cold water - are used to the north atlantic.) Perhaps what we want doesn't exist except as a private residence which we definitely don't want.

Perhaps we'll have to check the T&L web site for travel agents that specialize in the caribbean. (Haven;t used an agent for years - but they may know of something in this case.)

blamona

No resort is going to have a private pool for 1 room, not happening. Even the private plunge pools are going to be costly, no resort has a normal pool for private use.

Actually can't think of anywhere in the world this would happen, your only hope is a private villa, and since you don't want that, you'll have to tell us other things to help you.

Good luck!

nytraveler

We're not looking for a room we're looking for a villa attached to a resort, and a private pool with the villa. And frankly, cost isn't an issue for this trip. But the only places I look at don;t really have private villas - they seem to be suites in a shared villa. Perhaps the answer is to rent out the 2 or 3 suites that make up the villa to ensure privacy.'

I think we'll talk to a couple of upscale travel agents and see what they have. If not, perhaps we will have to rent a staffed villa - but really do want a resort with several restaurants and bars and a top notch concierge.

Thanks anyway for the suggestions.

KVR

Another thought would be The Springs Resort in Costa Rica. Though the description says plunge pools, the look big.

http://springscostarica.com/guest_accomodations.php

Try looking at these site and see if anything fits:

http://honeymoons.about.com/cs/activ...ivatepools.htm

http://www.thekunja.com/

http://phuket.anantara.com/

http://www.capjuluca.com/oceanfront-...pool-suite.php

http://reservethaihotels.net/917/6-s...villa-resorts/

blamona

With all my travels, the resorts that have private villas that have private pools are mostly plunge pools.

HOWEVER, Parrot Cay, the owners home, or Bruce Willis home or Donna Karen's home can be rented out. The are separated from the main resort and have decent size (not plunge) pools. they are fully staffed, and have all the amenities of Parrot Cay (which has terrific service) I didn't bring these up because you said you didn't want a villa. The spa at Parrot Cay is out of this world, and there are 2 restaurants. Breakfast is included. Excellent workout room, and yoga pavillions. Service on the beach. Top notch service. Nice long beach, shallow with secluded sections. Private island, so no one boating by can stop and hang out. Excursions are at additional cost, but have several to choose from.

The owners home is up a hill but easy walk to the main restaurants and beach, but you can also get a golf cart to get around.

There is no town, and only the Parrot Cay shop, you have to boat back to Provo if you need multiple restaurants and shops and people watching.

Might be what you're looking for.

Jumby Bay some of the houses in the rental pool with the resort has some pools, but if I remember correctly, they were smallish pools.

Guana Island in the Virgin Islands is a fully staffed villa, but it's the only thing on the island-has a huge pool.

There are some private islands in Bahamas, especially Exumas, with full pools and fully staffed, usually around $300,000 for the week.

Necker Island would have been great option ($30,000 nightly) and gorgeous and fully staffed, but recently burned. (Kate Winslet saved the owners mother during it!)

Most of your criteria is a contradiction, you won't find bars in places that are so private. The one's I've named do have bars, but only a couple of restaurants, and tend to make up the whole island.

The resorts with villas with private pools usually are plunge pools. It's not cost affective in Caribbean, already an expensive destination, to offer privacy with full amenities.

I do think Parrot Cay is the closest you'll find, and keep in mind it's a private island. Your post come across as you want both, privacy and action, and you're going to have to compromise.

brennynp

Some of the villas at the Westin St John have private pools, I believe.

blamona

Cap jaluca in Anguilla has private pools in their luxury 2 or more bedroom villas. The pools are not plunge, but don't look big either.

Round Hill is a villa resort, they have all sizes of villas with private pools, but again, decorated by Ralph Lauren for example, you'll pay for it.

Since you don't give a budget, "no budget" is hard to determine. It really would help.

sharona

You should take a look at Half Moon Bay in Jamaica. Their private villas each have swimming pools and they are within a large resort.

http://halfmoon.rockresorts.com/gues...yal-villas.asp

Another option might be Moon Dance Villas in Negril. They are right on the beach and each has its own swimming pool.

http://www.moondanceresorts.com/villas/

I haven't stayed at either of these properties and can't personally recommend them.

Weadles

I don' think from your description that you'd be happy at MoonDance Villas. It's not very private, and as far as I know, although they are staffed, there are no hotel-type services. However, I did think about TRYALL in Jamaica. It's a compound of private villas, some/most with pools, attached to a hotel-type resort with a small white-sand beach and golf. TRYALL is about halfway between Montego Bay and Negril, so if you have a car and/or get really ambitious, it's easy to make a day trip particularly to Negril with a private transfer.

sharona

Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barts.

http://www.st-barths.com/hotel-le-toiny/en/home.html