This winter the latest place to play in St. Lucia is Calabash Cove, a new boutique hotel resort set to open in December 2008. The resort offers three types of suites as well as nine teak and mahogany Water's Edge cottages, shown above, which have plunge pools, outdoor rain showers and hammocks as well as TV/DVD/hi-fi systems, refrigerators and coffee/tea makers, large patios and Jacuzzis. The suit offerings include the "Swim Up" suites which have private Jacuzzis and ar located just steps from Sweetwaters--the resort's designer pool with a 40-foot infinity edge, mahogany loungers and tropical refreshments provided by pool butlers. The swim-up suites afford private access directly from the patio of your room. Calabash Cove will also have a spa, fitness studio and full-service beauty salon as well as the Windsong Restaurant and C Bar. Rates at Calabash Cove range from $295-$895 per night and include the resort's island breakfast buffet. The entire resort can also be rented out for destination weddings for up to 52 guests for $50,000 per day.

When it comes to real estate, where haven't Russia's wealthy elite ended up? A mystery Russian billionaire recently scooped up the world's most expensive house on the French Riviera. We've seen them move in to the Plaza in New York, snatch up historic homes in London and pick up ski real estate in Colorado. The Moscow Times says that the next big flood of Russian real estate investment may be headed to the turquoise waters and white sands of the Caribbean. The lure is two-fold, part of it is the natural charm of an idyllic tropical paradise and part of it is the potential property tax breaks that make the homes both pleasure and a smart investment.

While Russian billionaires have long had Caribbean homes, now there is a move by multimillionaires to get their own piece of tropical paradise, buying in to the many developments springing up practically everywhere there is an untended beach. Projects such as Isla Moin in Costa Rica, Costa Blanca in the Dominican Republic and Vita Tower in Panama, which were in many cases originally designed for the American wealthy, have begin to sell toward Russian investors. The Moscow Times also reported last April that Florida real estate projects were also seeking out Russian buyers. The current weakness of the U.S. dollar is also spurring on Russian investors who are finding they can get some great deals.

Since it first opened in 1961, Barbados' luxurious Sandy Lane has played host to a never-ending stream of royalty, socialites and movie stars. Arguably the Caribbean's plushest resort, Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, David Niven, Jackie Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and Queen Elizabeth all took sojourns there in years past, while the list of current habitués is no less impressive, including Tiger Woods who tied the knot there in 2004.

The ne plus ultra in exclusivity, luxury, privacy and white glove service is embodied by the palatial neo-Palladian-style main building of cream coral stone set in a grove of mahogany trees on a beautiful stretch of beach in the middle of Barbados' "platinum coast." A chauffered limousine (a Bentley for high-rollers) picks you up at the airport and you're greeted at the front desk with cold towels and fruit punch, a preview of coming attractions, so to speak.

Sandy Lane was rebuilt in 2001, and it's currently in the midst of a multimillion dollar makeover including upgrades to rooms, the spa, restaurants and public spaces. When it re-opens on October 3, in addition to 16,000-sq.-ft. of new marble, one of the biggest improvements will be an open plan, multi-cultural, all-day dining facility featuring a residential-style kitchen in the manner of a Caribbean Palladian conservatory, with a wine store, beach bar, sushi bar, lobster and live seafood tank, a fresh herb garden and a wood burning oven.



The resort's 112 rooms average 900 square feet and feature marble floors and bathrooms, mahogany plantation furniture, private verandahs, plasma TVs and all the bells and whistles. The property features two Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf courses, nine championship tennis courts, a 47,000 square foot spa, a John Frieda salon, shops galore (Joan Collins still owes money in one of them) and seven bars and restaurants to choose from. On the beach, attendants will fetch you drinks, clean your sunglasses and even spritz you with Evian water should you so desire.

In addition to the main accommodations, there's also a five bedroom villa that sleeps 14 with a private pool, butler, housekeeper, chef and 24-hr. security guard for $25,000 a night during the holiday season. But if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.

Ah, the Cayman Islands, January 16-19, 2009, with top food and liquor to boot. The Cayman Cookout is just what you'll want come frosty winter. The "cookout" is the Caribbean's premier food, wine and rum festival, and is hosted by Eric Ripert, known for Le Bernadin. A weekend of events, tastings, demonstrations and wine seminars from Ripert and his friends, including wine expert Anthony Giglio, fill four delicious days. The cookout is set in the the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, home of Ripert's acclaimed restaurant Blue.

The gorgeous Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos has unveiled plans for The Estate, a collection of 22 "custom-designed ultra-elegant residences" set to debut in November. The luxury resort is building the deluxe dwellings on its prime parcel of 11 oceanfront acres just steps from the beach. Each 4500-sq.-ft. unit will have four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a steam shower, a library/media room and wraparound terraces; floor plans are customizable. The Estate development also includes a multi-tiered oceanfront pool, luxury cabanas and a Personal Concierge program. Prices range from $2.8 million to $5 million-plus for a penthouse.

The luxe all-suite resort is also home to the "longest bar in the Caribbean", which stretches 90 feet across the Grace Bay Club beach with its cabanas and spa tents. Constructed of black marble, the infinity design "creates the illusion that the entire structure is floating above the Caribbean sand and extending indefinitely into the ocean." We're getting thirsty just thinking about it.

Check out the gallery below for more pix and renderings of the Estate project.

Prince Charles has said before that he's committed to the environment and to reducing his personal carbon footprint on the world, and for his latest trip it seems he's keeping to that promise. Next month he and his wife Camila are planning to sail around the Caribbean on the Leander, a 246 ft luxury yacht, for an 11 day trip that sounds like a mix of business and pleasure. The voyage will have them skipping around to several different locations and officials say that sailing in the yacht will result in reduced costs and reduced carbon emissions compared to having the couple fly each step instead.

The yacht, with huge richly decorated rooms and features like a sauna and hot tub, looks like a vacation in and of itself! And it is available for private charter -- if you've got the dough.

In February 2005, I wrote about the plans for the Ritz-Carlton's Molasses Reef on West Caicos in the Turks and Caicos islands. Three years later and the project is steaming toward a December 2008 completion date. The resort is on the 11-square-mile island of West Caicos, located on the western end of the Turks & Caicos Islands archipelago. Phase I of the development includes around 30 Ritz-Carlton branded Island Villas which are more than 85% sold out.The Island Villas start at $2.4 million with two- to three-bedroom and penthouse floor plans available. Phase II will include 45 more Villas and 10 four-bedroom Ocean Cottages, single-family residences managed and serviced by The Ritz-Carlton which have private swimming pools, and a beachfront location. Prices start at $6.5 million for the cottages.

All Molasses Reef property owners will have access to the concierge services and amenities available at the 125-room Ritz-Carlton resort, including on-site concierge, a fitness room with private trainers, pre-arrival butler service, 24-hour in-residence dining, complimentary cart shuttles to Molasses Reef resort facilities, and priority reservations at the Molasses Reef Spa. The resort will also have three restaurants and a full-service spa and is also expected to open at the end of this year.

When it comes to remote vacation homes ease of management can be almost as important as location. That's one of the major selling features for the Sundowner on Nevis, an idyllic Caribbean island. The Sundowner is part of the Four Seasons Nevis where all homes come with security systems, provisioning services for food, and routine maintenance of the homes. The home is prepared for your arrival and locked up when you leave. You also get access to the resort's championship golf course, clay or hard tennis courts, a full range of watersports, the fitness center, and the full-service spa. The home has five bedrooms (each with walk-in closets and refrigerators), large living room and a kitchen.

The home sits on 1.19 acres in the hills for views of the ocean and St. Kitts in the distance and, a bit closer the 13th hole of the award-winning Robert Trent Jones II golf course. There is an infinity pool with a large terrace and there is a bar downstairs for poolside entertaining. The home also has a wraparound terrace. The decor doesn't seem to quite match the home's pricetag and the kitchen is a bit less than fabulous but you aren't there to cook, you are there to soak up the sun. This home is listed at $4.5 million.

The latest Caribbean island to get a marina big enough to accommodate today's megayachts will be St. Kitts. A new 2,500-acre resort development with a marina that can berth up to 300 feet in length will be installed at Christophe Harbor. The development is being created by developer Kiawah Development Partners, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and will include a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, a pair of five-star hotels (an Auberge resort and a Mandarin Oriental), retail and restaurants and residence opportunities. The marina will pamper yacht owners with laundry, wi-fi, access to a heliport, in-slip services and access to the hotels' amenities. There will also be harborside condominiums for sale. The developers promise that the eco-friendly design of marina will preserve the shoreline, water and coral reefs of the area. The development should be completed in 2010.

The latest spot to relax on in the Caribbean is the Verandah Resort & Spa on the island of Antigua. The resort, which opened last week, sprawls over 30 acres (only 12 of which have been built on). The resort overlooks Dian Bay and has hiking trails and is bordered by Devil's Bridge National Park. There are two beaches and the resort has the island's largest free-form swimming pool, a kid's club with its own pool and restaurant, a fitness center and a mini-cinema, a spa and several restaurants and bars.The 200 suites each have verandahs with sea views and include flat-screen TVs, king-size beds, Internet access, and aoaking bathtubs built for two. Now through December 20th the suites are being offered at an introductory savings of 50 percent, with nightly all-inclusive double rates starting at $243.

For your Friday fantasy we are whisking you off to the Terres Basses area of St. Martin in the West French Indies. This four-bedroom villa set amidst lush grounds, has been for rent for rates starting at $3,500 (a week). Of course, for a vacation villa one of the most important areas is the pool. Villa Alexandra has an infinity edge pool overlooking the lagoon that is surrounded by a large terrace with shady and sunny lounging spots. Inside, the decor is classic island villa, high-pitched white ceilings, French doors to let in the afternoon breezes and low maintenance tile floors. The grounds also include a four-story building that has four apartments which can be rented out. It is listed at 2.95 million euros. After the jump, step one, ditch the rental furniture.

Fancy a trip to Aruba? Hate commercial flying and been frustrated in the past with lack of accommodations for your private jet? I'm more of a wannabe than an expert when it comes to globetrotting and travel, so in this case I'm not sure if I'm surprised that Aruba has lacked a terminal just for private jets or not. Being the romantic island getaway that it is I would have thought it would be a priority, but then it is a tropical island and they don't generally follow the normal rules and expectations ever anyway.

But none of that really matters now, as Aruba has finally opened a terminal for private jets -- apparently in a specific effort to attract more upscale patrons. It even has separate customs and immigration so travelers can get through faster and bypass the main terminal altogether.

A new place to wile away the winter months has been created in Anguilla. Sheriton Estates is opening three luxury villas this winter for rentals. The 10 acre gated enclave is home to three villas Harmony, Infinity and Mystique-which have ocean views. The villas are luxurious, Mystique is 21,000 square feet and has five suites with two bridges that connect to the main living area. The villa has three pools, a full gym and the lavish detail of infinity edge bathtubs. Harmony and Infinity are each seven bedrooms and 14,000 square feet with two pools each. Guests can be delivered to the island on a seven-seat Cessna Citation II jet and personal chef and concierge services are available. A weekly stay at Mystique during the winter months costs over $50,000.

Picture this: sunshine, white sandy beaches and beautiful music floating across the water. This idyllic scene takes place at the third annual Turks & Caicos Music and Cultural Festival on Providenciales July 31 to August 7, 2006. It's a perfect excuse to head to the Caribbean during months when most people are headed to other climates and see acts such as Ludacris, Fantasia and Steel Pulse.  The Palms Resort offers a package to lure festival guests that starts at $300 per room per night and includes a seventh night for free when you stay for six. The Palms has luxury suites with balconies or terraces and a sparkling  $1.8 million infinity pool which is a great place to chill out away from the festival.

Though the construction of the behemoth Project Genesis cruise liner casts a slightly shadow on the glory of its launch, the current world's largest cruise ship is complete and the ship is en route to its new owners, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., in Florida. Freedom of the Seas can hold a total of 4,000 passengers - 1,000 more than its closest rival - and can entertain them with pools, an ice skating rink and the largest ship-bound rock climbing wall. To see all that the ship has to offer or to making bookings on one of its upcoming Caribbean cruises, take a look at its website, where you can take a virtual tour of the ship. The ship's first passenger voyage with Royal Caribbean is scheduled for June 4.

[Image The Star]