Janie-
If you are that loaded, hopefully you do something useful with your money too, like give to a charity of some kind.

I can understand wanting a luxurious vacation, but to truly say you want the MOST expensive vacation...that is kind of pretentious!

maybe K-Club on Barbuda

didnt mean any harm, just looking for somethign nice. Lets re=phrase "most expensive" with "Nicest, prettiest" Ok...anyone out there with suggestions for the nicest & prettiest resort, please post! Thanks!

I agree, that's not the best way to ask for help.

But, to answer your question, I think the Four Seasons Nevis usually ranks right up there.

Come one people, she said expensive. How about Necker island? At $15,000 minimum daily rate, a staff at your beack and call, and totally gorgeous (from the photos, I can't afford that!!!), it definitely qualifies.

Sorry for the atrocious spelling - let's try that again.

Come on people, she said expensive. How about Necker island? At $15,000 minimum daily rate, a staff at your beck and call, and totally gorgeous (from the photos, I can't afford that!!!), it definitely qualifies.

Janie-sorry I should not have been so hard on you!

I understand you wanting a clean upscale place in the caribbean, especially since alot of the islands do not have the same standard as us!

I prefer Aruba, because it is somewhat Americanized and still has the island feel to it, though others will definitely disagree. What I mean is the resorts are beautifully landscaped.

I like the Hyatt, Marriott and Raddison in Aruba. All are beautifully landscaped with wonderful swimming pools. And very very clean!

Janie -

When you post on a forum such as this, you need to be a bit more specific with respect to your wants and desires for a vacation. There are all sorts of luxury resorts - and different opinions of what makes a luxury resort. For instance - I would bet that some of the AI (All-Inclusive) resorts such as Beaches or Sandals tout themselves as luxurious, but the folks at the Four Seasons Nevis or Parrot Cay or Cap Juluca would take issue with that.

Talk about your desires in realistic fashion - total budget, top beach, general location in caribbean, accessibility, kids/no kids, seclusion, activity, etc. The more detail the better.

most expensive/luxurious often go hand in hand but you also have to look at the variety of accomodations within the luxury resorts. Sure Necker and many of the private islands will set you back a pretty penny but doubt you are thinking along those lines. Maybe Sandy Lane with your own butler for 2 $1,000 bills a nite will get you luxurious but there are others too. Four Seasons ranks up there, Cap Juluca, Malliouhana (both on Anguilla), Jumby Bay or Curtain Bluff on Antigua , Nisbet on Nevis, Carl Gustaf or Hotel LeToiny on St. Barts. Am sure there are others that get the 5 star status and deserve it (Meridian Club and Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos are wonderful but not for spas, glitter and luxury but are elegant in their own way). Petit St. Vincent in the Grenadines. Jamaica Inn. Horned Dorsset but not familiar with that property personally. These island also have most of the really fabulous resorts with many of the busy well-traveled ones offering more modest accomodations (someone suggested Aruba but there is no true luxury resorts there). All of the above might "fit" but it depends how you define luxurious and excellent location.

Just returned from wedding/honeymoon
on St. John, USVI. Caneel Bay resort
is lovely, very upscale but if you
want real luxury. Rent a villa on
St. John, you have every price range
available. Gorgeous gorgeous island.
A villa is definitely the way to go.
Hire a private chef to come to your
villa like we did. It was the most
romantic evening. Fabulous food.

If you want more info, please don't
hesitate to drop me an email.

When researching the internet, I did
see an upscale resort on the island
of Mystique. Mick Jagger also rents
out his house on that tiny island.
Check it out. Again, a villa on
St. John is fabulous.

Nancy

Nancy-

What private villa did you stay at? Also, you said you hired a private chef? Just curious, for all of your meals or dinner only? And how much was he?

One more question, where did you book your villa through? And do they have any villas on the water?

Lots of questions, thanks in advance

You want the best, and one of the most expensive? Check out Musha Cay for $20,000 per day!!
Copy this link:
http://bahamas.wheretostay.com/property/1406.html

Now that place is nice....but out of my league.

Will you take me here?

http://www.telescopeproperties.com/carenage.htm

Found this the other day, but out of my price range. Looks awesome!
http://www.psvresort.com/

psv is not luxurious. Nice spot, casual, private but not a real luxury vacation. Try Cap Juluca, Sandy Lane,
Four Seasons, St. Barts, Cuisinart and any Ritz Carlton.

What about K Club on Barbuda or Jumby Bay in Antigua

Ritz Carlton, St.Thomas.

is there a thread that you've missed, Nancy? Yes many villas are appointed very nicely and are luxurious but short on the pampering and personal service. Nice for saving a few bucks though and doing the catering, cooking and cleaning yourself unless you head to one of the islands that feature fully-staffed villas. Also few villas on St. John are beachfront (those that are are lovely) but who wants to sit in the hills, dip in a "pool/hot tub" and drive to the beaches. That's not luxury by my definition. If you insist on St. John, Caneel Bay is very upscale, just lovely, but lacks the glitz that many think makes luxury. But has wonderful beaches on the property. Cotton House, Mustique!!

Think that the owners of PSV and the many fans would be surprised to find out that it isn't luxurious. Private, true and wonderfully comfortable cottages where privacy is paramount. Lunch delivered on the beach. Your own private little hammock area on the beach. It all depends on how you define luxury - the glitz, glamour and new jazzed up high maintainace manicured places with marble bathrooms or the truely traditional resorts that feature personal service, very comfortable luxurious accomodations but not the marble, gold fixtures and all the rest. Biras Creek, Guana Island and Peter Island all come to mind.

Welcome back, KarenW--Err, I mean, Lv2Trvl!!

Susan stated, and I quote: "If you are that loaded, hopefully you do something useful with your money too, like give to a charity of some kind." Actually, Susan, it's really NONE of your damn business WHAT Janie does with her money!! Take your liberal pretentiousness to some other board!!! (Yes, it is YOU who is the pretentious one!)

FYI - KarenW and LvTrvl are NOT the same person!!! If you have read a lot of KarenW's post, first of all you'll have noticed the "cute" spellin ("enuff", "nite", LOL, etc.), secondly you'll know that she didn't like PSV all that much!

Anything all inclusive is not luxurious.
By no means, are any Sandals or Beaches properties in the same class as a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons resort. Based on Janie's original request, if she decides to do one of those all inclusive, She would be very disappointed. I have stayed at both Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons properties in the Caribbean and would not even think of staying at an all inclusive place like Sandals or Beaches. Alot of what Janie is asking for in her email is what I look for when I go away. There is no comparison between the two.

Susan,
We rented Villa Argonauta. Unbelievable
views. Gorgeous to say the least.
We hired Chef Shay Mulcare. roomservice@stjohnchef.com. He has cooked for Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer,
REM, and many others. The nicest
guy. Food to die for. It was $65 per person dessert included. He was
so fabulous, I hired him for our last
night there. The other nights we
went out to a restaurant called Asolare
beautiful. The chef though, we think
and also our guest was even better.

For the villa: lime-cocunut.com
Lisa Durgen was the property manager.
I think they do have only a couple of
villas on the beach in the Peter Bay
Gatehouse estate area. You will have
to ask them about it. We loved our's
cause the view was to die for. Only
15 min. drive to all the Northshore
beaches.

If you stay at Caneel Bay resort, you
can get rooms on the beach. We went
over there. Very lovely. But snobby
as hell. We didn't like the idea of
walking outside our bedroom and having
a lot of people right by your doorstep
on the beach.

We were sooooooooo glad we didn't stay
at Caneel. I'm telling you, Villa
is the way to go. Honest opinion.

Drop me an email and any questions,
I will be most happy to answer for you.

I worked so hard for months to find
the right island, villa, etc for my
second wedding. It was a fantasy
wedding and trip. Our guests also
agreed and they have travelled to
numerous island in the Caribbean.

Nancy

Oh, pleezzzzzzzzzzzzzze to the one
above who wrote that comment about me.

I am helping out people with advice just
as people had done for me when I was
on here inquiring. You certainly have
a problem. Don't you???? Obviously,
people on here do not have a problem with my honest opinion. I have
gotten numerous emails for my advice.

A and Scott are right. Necker Island and Musha Cay. I was fortunate enough to visit Musha (through a connection) and it is heaven. It's a minimum of $15,000 per night depending on how many people are in your party.
Janie,
Musha's for sale if you're interested in your own little slice of Caribbean heaven.

don't be so touchy nancy. doesn't matter how many email you, you've given bad advice on Caneel. With the way the rooms are set up, you don't walk out on the beaches and find a lot of people on them other than Caneel Beach which is the public beach and you are unfortunate to stay on it. It's what people want and enjoy and some just don't like the idea of playing house when on vacation. They want the luxury of pampering and service. Nothing wrong with either way but don't criticize something until you have done it.

I wasn't criticizing. It was our
opinion and our guests opinion after
touring Caneel. It is a
beautiful resort. But again, we thought
for the same money a luxury a villa
is better. Plenty of space, private. It
wasn't about money, it was about privacy and advice I got from many
who have done both that the villa is
the way to go.

What work. None at a villa. Big deal
you throw a couple of dishes in a
dishwasher if you want to cook out.
Wow, that's really hard work. Most
times people eat out. We chose not
to most timesbecause of the romantic atmosphere and peace and quiet.
Restaurants are a dime a dozen, people
do that all the time. How many
times can one go to a beautiful island
rent a fabulous villa with sunsets
to die for and just be the two of you.
That's a vacation in our opinion.

I don't think sipping Pina coladas,
grilling a steak on a beautiful
deck, and enjoying this meal with
the most exquisite sunsets without
a bunch of people in a restaurant
sitting beside Then swimming at night in your own private pool is really "roughing"
it.

Maybe you should try it sometime.
Then you can comment.




You couldn't have been a little more
classy in your firt email. Anyway,
you have your opinion, we have ours.

Others will decide on their own.

I have done it and will continue to do it but when I want pampering and service, I go to a resort. No need to get snippy since I just pointed out that you characterized Caneel incorrectly. A villa can and is a great alternative and for those who do mind (and there are those who do) cleaning up, cooking, making beds and housekeeping chores (including wash if you want) and don't want to do it, there is an option and a delightful one at that! I happen to enjoy being waited on and pampered for a bit - the rest of the year I do the rest! And there are those people who think that going to the Caribbean means being on a beach and not schlepping off to beaches. Each to their own!
BTW, that "first email" wass't mine so don't kick the wrong messenger

Ladies, ladies please. Enough with the catiness.

Some options. Round Hill Bay in Jamaica. If its good enough for Ralph Lauren, it must be worth it.

If you want to rent a private villa on a fairly secluded and private island, try Mustique. If you go in the high season you can hang with Mick and David Bowie at Basil's. A maid and chef comes with the upwards of $15,000 you'll spend.

I agree with the man who said wrote
Ladies ladies please. This is
so trivial.

I just felt that someone was getting all over my case
because we enjoyed a villa. I didn't
feel as though I was putting Caneel
Bay down. If you read a lot of posts,
so do other people say the same thing.
Not worth the money. Probelms they
had with their bills, lack of service
overpriced restaurants.

The main thing we loved was all that
room and privacy. I've always stayed
at resorts and this was our first time
renting a villa. Guess, I was so
excited, I wanted to share our
beautiful experience. That's all!!!

So, let's call a truce. We didn't
feel we had any cleaning to speak of
a cup or a dish put away in the dishwaher or throw some beach towels
in the washer. No work at all! Anyway, I felt like a princess in a villa, you feel like one at a resort.

As long as were princesses..eh!!!!
Well, got to go cook dinner now. smile

By the way, do you have a name?
Have a great night.
nancy

I found this website useful, www.besthotelsresorts.com.

recently returned from 3 weeks at Les Alize in Anguilla, it is a private resort, on the beach, wonderfully relaxing

depends on what you mean as luxurious.. if you want flash go to Sandy Lane, Bardados,

to ourselves, peace and quiet and anonymity is first priority and we found than on Anguilla

try www.caribbeanway.com for more details

Susan mentioned Marriott in Aruba as "luxurious". It's not! It is crying out for refurbishment! And, new mattresses!!!

The Radisson in Aruba is also not luxurious! Come on now! In fact, it's a step above tourist class, maybe.

For an absolutely breathtaking beach/ocean with divine cuisine and the most lush island--see East Winds Inn, St. Lucia at eastwinds.com--oceanfront suites will run about $600-$900 night/all inclusive.

Try the Half Moon Bay in Montego Bay. It is beautiful and you can get several different accommodations that share a pool with only one or two other guests. Some of the suites have butler service. This resort also has a golf course. You can look them up on the web.

If money no object, and you don't mind glitz, Atlantis in Bahamas is the place to go. INCREDIBLE grounds, etc., food expensive but good, lots to see and do.

Try luxurylink.com for suggestions. They have auctions as well as discounted packages for luxury properites including private island resorts, private villas with full staff, etc.

Does anyone have more info on the East Winds Inn in St. Lucia. It looks like our kind of place. What is the beach like? Does the sun rise or set on this side of the island? Thanks.

Do not go to Atlantis!! It is the exact opposite of luxury!!

Agree with Lorraine. Atlantis is tacky, tacky, tacky. Ranks right up there with the Sandals chain for "luxury" only white trash could appreciate. Don't get me wrong, it's a fabulous spot for a family when you want to entertain the kiddies, but think Disneyworld in the caribbean. Same thing with Beaches. These places are geared toward the mass market vacationer who wants to feel like they are splurging.

Anyone looking for true luxury (which goes along with privacy, restraint, service and low key elegance), would be sorely disappointed at those resorts.

The suggestions of Necker Island, Musha Cay are good ones, but less expensive and still luxurious are the Jamaica Inn, Pink Sands in the Bahamas, 4 Seasons Nevis or, my personal favorite, renting a private villa. Nothing beats it for luxury.

One man's treasure is another man's trash, so it is said.
Certainly true when it comes to Caribbean resorts.

(When people write questions like the original poster, he/she needs to define what they deem luxury to be....preferably by giving examples of places they've been or seen which fit their notion of luxury).

The all inclusives in Jamaica are not well-travelled people's idea of luxury.

Caneel Bay is not what I define as luxury. It's rather basic as regards accommodations. But the grounds are very nice, very secluded, wonderful beaches and the restaurant is certainly among the better ones on the island. But this is no Four Seasons resort. People are paying for the privacy and exclusivity.

Luxury: Grand Cayman: nothing.
Anguilla: Malliouhana and Cap Juluca qualify.
Nevis: Four Seasons (but not quite as spectacular as some polls might lead you to believe).
Turks/Caicos: Grace Bay
St. Martin: nothing.
Bermuda (not in the Caribbean): nothing.
Aruba: nothing. (Whoever said the Marriott and Radisson qualified is comparing to Holiday Inns. Hyatt is good but certainly not great).
Jamaica: nothing.
I haven't been to PR, St. Barth's or St. Lucia.

TTFW: Only "White Trash" could appreciate Atlantis? That's the most ridiculous statement I have ever read!

I'll back you up TTFW. I saw two women get into a fist fight over a lounge chair at Atlantis. The water rides and animal parks don't exactly draw the classiest clientele.

To Max,
I have to disagree with you about luxury on Grand Cayman. Get away from the 7MB area and check out the villas on the north side and east end of the island. If that's not luxury, nothing is!!

Sandy, I don't equate size with luxury. That's something I should have defined I suppose. Luxury in my book means high quality furniture, nice fabrics, nice drapes and moldings, nice lights (not track lights and cheap floor lamps), a quality mattress, a luxury bath including walk in shower without cheap plastic door with modular/cheap chrome finish, etc etc.
I scoured the condo ads to try to find something luxury, but could only finda good size to dollar ratio. Maybe I just didn't stumble across the right condo, but I sifted thru at least 100 different web sites. They all look like dime-a-dozen apartments to me.

So Max, you're not going for the atmosphere of the island, just a well built house???!!! Stay home, build a house & enjoy! Or better yet, if you are that picky about moldings etc, then why don't you build your own villa on an island?

It IS possible to have the best of all worlds on vacation: luxury hotel, great food, beautiful grounds, great service, beautiful beach/mountains or whatever environment is desired.
I do NOT buy the concept that since there are no true luxury accommodations on Grand Cayman that this is OK, an unavoidable issue, and that a vacation there can be as good as anywhere else (for me and my family) regardless of hotel/condo status.
Other destinations manage to pull it off, so can Cayman. Ritz Carlton keeps pushing their GC resort back on the calendar, but should solve this dilemma.

Why do you think the Four Seasons puts so many $$$ into their resorts? Why don't they just hire Holiday Inn's architects and put the Four Seasons name on the building? Because there are plenty of people willing to pay extra to have a near perfect vacation.

It's a cop out to imply that since luxury doesn't exist on Cayman that that's just the way things should be and people should just accept this. If there is money to be made due to demand, someone is going to go after it. Ritz clearly believes this is the case in Cayman.

OK I think we are talking apples & oranges. I like luxury, & I am not talking specifically GC that for me is too americanized. I do not like 4 Seasons hotels & yes I have stayed at them, unless it is a big city location. I vacation primarily at private islands that generally do cost more but may not even have the nice drapes you talk about (generally there are no drapes as there are no other guests near enough to see!). I look for exclusivity & privacy & would call just being there a "luxury". So we all have different definitions.

My fave is Little Dix Bay Resort in Virgin Gorda. It is first class all the way!

O.K. you can't afford Musha Cay or Necker Island so here are my suggestions:
Kaitichie Villa on on Virgin Gorda, Little Dix Bay, Biras Creek, Peter Island Resort, La Samanna, Cap Juluca, Malliouhana, CoveCastle, CuisinArt, Grace Bay, Guanahani, Sandy Lane, Parrot Cay and Ocean Club.
Atlantis? Gimme a break!

Richard is right on the money. I would add Le Toiny and Isle De France on St Barths and Pink Sands.
Altamer villa in ANguilla is also incredible.

Expensive....Well it would be if you get money but for me it is. So if you don't have much money this is expensive.

Parrot cay--- private, tranquil, island of the stars and celebrities in Turks and Caicos ...Umm only $3500/nite.

On while you are here you can have your own private island.
I have a 205 acres private island for only 15mil.

or I can get you anything above 5 mil

email me and we will talk

Sorry - too lazy to read through all the postings right now but I remembered this question from a few weeks ago. .. thought the wording of the question was a bit pompous, but hey, if you can afford it - and it certainly made me remember your question!

I just got back from Anguilla and learned about Altamer (www.altamer.com). I thought Cap Juluca was expensive, but it makes Cap's prices look like those of a Holiday Inn (2 weeks at xmas only costs you $144K!). .. If you can afford it, you might want to check it out. I certainly can't afford the lodging, but we could afford to dine at the restaurant which was fabulous!

Rumor on the island was that Courtney Cox was staying there last week. She was spotted at Scilly Cay one day for lunch.

My sister lives in Grand Cayman and she says the North Side has a lot of mosquitos.

Courtney and her husband actually honeymooned at Cap Juluca. But guess what? I couldn't care LESS!!!

I once stayed in the room next door to Courteney Cox and David Arequette at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas.
Does that make me the coolest, or what??!!

don't forget it is the wealthy that fuel the economy! if they don't spend, we all suffer.

Sandy Lane is a glorfied dump. Rooms look nothing better that a std. marriott. Dead give away for a luxury resort is the marble baths with seperate shower stalls.

What ever are you yammering about 'oh pulease'?
Sandy Lane DOES have separate showers/tubs and is one of the nicest accommodations in the Caribbean.
Are you referring to the pre-teardown Sandy Lane?

The most expensive and pampering places in the Caribbean are private island rentals where you rent the whole island and its staff. There are two that all other are compared to. They are:

Necker Island
http://bvi.wheretostay.com/property/1360.html
Musha Cay
http://bahamas.wheretostay.com/property/1406.html

Both get booked well in advance and demand is higher than you would imagine. One is open for this New Years though because of a recent opening.

Both are very expensive but include everything and have staffs of about 30. If you want the best, you want one of these.

Thom

Don't forget Tryall and Round Hill in Jamaica- both offer ultra-high-end luxury villas with private staff. Rub elbows with the chic and famous.

www.tryallclub.com
www.roundhilljamaica.com

Sounds like you want something nicer and more exclusive than just a hotel suite.

How about Tahiti, Bora Bora or the Fiji Islands.

Last time I checked, Tahiti and Bora Bora were still in the Pacific.
The question regards Caribbean resorts.

(And to answer your question, there are no resorts in Bora Bora or Tahiti which are on a level of luxury with the best in the Caribbean and Hawaii. Nice, yes; exotic, yes. But not luxury in the classical sense of the word).

My husband and I went to St. Martin and stayed at La Samanna this past May and thought it was great. The resort was very private and was not crowded (approx. 80 rooms/suites/villas). There weren't very many people on the beach, which was really beautiful and secluded. We were upgraded to a one bedroom suite with a roof-top terrace--great for watching the sunsets and drinking wine in the evening. The pool area is very pretty, the breakfast buffet included with the room was delicious-- We didn't feel the need to leave the resort -- it was great and I would highly recommend staying there.

By far the Ritz Carlton or Sugar Bay Hotel on St. Thomas is the most luxurious you will ever need

Julia,
I think that you make an overstatement when you say that the Ritz on St. Thomas is all the luxury you'll ever need.
It all depends on your level of luxury and what one is accustomed to.
I thought that Jumby Bay, Cap Juluca, Grace Bay and Four Seasons in Nevis were better resorts that the Ritz on St. Thomas.
I'm sure that anyone who has been fortunate to go to Necker Island and Musha Cay will disagree with me and rightly so.