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. <BR><BR>Anyone looking for true luxury (which goes along with privacy, restraint, service and low key elegance), would be sorely disappointed at those resorts.<BR><BR>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.<BR>Certainly true when it comes to Caribbean resorts.<BR><BR>(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).<BR><BR>The all inclusives in Jamaica are not well-travelled people's idea of luxury.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>Luxury: Grand Cayman: nothing.<BR>Anguilla: Malliouhana and Cap Juluca qualify.<BR>Nevis: Four Seasons (but not quite as spectacular as some polls might lead you to believe).<BR>Turks/Caicos: Grace Bay<BR>St. Martin: nothing.<BR>Bermuda (not in the Caribbean): nothing.<BR>Aruba: nothing. (Whoever said the Marriott and Radisson qualified is comparing to Holiday Inns. Hyatt is good but certainly not great).<BR>Jamaica: nothing.<BR>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,<BR>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.<BR>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.<BR>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.<BR>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR>

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:<BR>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.<BR>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.<BR>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.<BR><BR>Parrot cay--- private, tranquil, island of the stars and celebrities in Turks and Caicos ...Umm only $3500/nite.<BR><BR>On while you are here you can have your own private island.<BR>I have a 205 acres private island for only 15mil.<BR><BR>or I can get you anything above 5 mil<BR><BR>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! <BR><BR>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!<BR><BR>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.<BR>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. <BR>

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'?<BR>Sandy Lane DOES have separate showers/tubs and is one of the nicest accommodations in the Caribbean.<BR>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:<BR><BR>Necker Island<BR>http://bvi.wheretostay.com/property/1360.html<BR> Musha Cay<BR>http://bahamas.wheretostay.com/property/1406.html<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>Both are very expensive but include everything and have staffs of about 30. If you want the best, you want one of these.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>www.tryallclub.com<BR>www.roundhill jamaica.com<BR><BR>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.<BR>The question regards Caribbean resorts.<BR><BR>(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,<BR>I think that you make an overstatement when you say that the Ritz on St. Thomas is all the luxury you'll ever need.<BR>It all depends on your level of luxury and what one is accustomed to. <BR>I thought that Jumby Bay, Cap Juluca, Grace Bay and Four Seasons in Nevis were better resorts that the Ritz on St. Thomas.<BR>I'm sure that anyone who has been fortunate to go to Necker Island and Musha Cay will disagree with me and rightly so. <BR>

I agree with Vince.<BR>You'll never know the real max luxury if you're like the 99.99% who never stay at one of the super-luxe $25,000/week places.<BR>Not that this is necessary to have a good time!<BR>It's all about your perspective.