grace bay club

The Luxist Awards for the Best in Summer Travel

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise

Now that summer is coming to a close, it is not too early to think about making travel plans for summer 2011.

Luxist readers nominated and voted for the destinations that they believe are the best-of-breed around the world. Below, are their favorite destinations within such categories as Best Adventure Getaway, Best Beach Hotel, Best International Summer Destination, Best Luxury Family Vacation and Best Summer Cruise.

Best Adventure Getaway
The first nominee offers an unforgettable trekking experience in Bhutan while the second offers an unparalleled safari in East Africa. The third nominee is located in one of the world's finest unspoiled havens, while the fourth features elephants in their natural habitat. The final nominee, located in the Montana Rockies, is known for its outdoor sports, from fishing to horseback riding.

Amankora Resort: Trekking in Bhutan
East African Safari with Abercrombie & Kent
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savute Elephant Camp by Orient-Express
Montana's Triple Creek Ranch (Winner)

Best Beachside Hotel
The first nominee is where to go when in search of a peaceful sanctuary while the second nominee is a tropical haven with a relaxed pace. The third nominee is located in a secluded natural sanctuary while the fourth offers an award-winning beach. The last nominee offers a beachside location that is idyllic and unspoiled.

Amanpuri Resort, Phuket, Thailand
Four Seasons Resort, Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos (Winner)
The Oberoi, Mauritius

Best International Summer Destination
The first nominee is one of the world's most glamorous destinations while the second one was once the home of the Ottoman Sultans. The third nominee is the premier hot spot on the Amalfi Coast while the fourth offers chauffeured-driven tours of the Tuscan wine country. The final nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime trip from Venice to Istanbul aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains.

Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast
Kempinski's Ciragan Palace, Istanbul
San Pietro di Positano, Amalfi Coast (Winner)
Tuscany Wine Tours
Venice Simplon Orient-Express Train

Best Luxury Family Vacation
The first nominee offers a luxurious barge cruise through Burgandy while the second offers an armchair safari suitable for the whole family. The third nominee is where families go for Scottish outdoor pursuits from falconry to golf. The fourth nominee is considered to be the jewel of Maui while the final nominee is unplugged and unpretentious.

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise in Burgundy
Ebony Lodge, Singita Game Reserves
Gleneagles, Scotland
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel, Maui
Kona Village Resort, Hawaii (Winner)

Best Summer Cruise
The first nominee offers an unforgettable cruise through the fabled Far East while the second nominee is the way to experience the Greek Isles and Turkey in complete luxury. The third nominee is an expedition to see the ice bears upclose while the fourth nominee takes its passengers down the Nile in style.

Fabled Far East Cruise by The Yachts of Seabourn
Greek Isles and Turkey Cruise by Sea Cloud Cruises (Winner)
Land of the Ice Bear Cruise by Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic
Oberoi Zahra Luxury Nile Cruiser: Down the Nile in Style
Mediterreanean Luxury Cruise on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Aman Resorts, awards-main, Cunard, four seasons hotel, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, Kona Village Resort, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, Oberoi, Orient-Express, Orient-expressHotels, San Pietro di Positano, Sea Cloud, summer travel, triple creek ranch

Grace Bay Club Wins the Luxist Award for Best Beach Hotel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Located on the celebrated Grace Bay, which is well-known for its award-winning beaches, the Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos is the winner of a Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Award for Best Beach Hotel.

The 11-acre Grace Bay Club boasts 1,100 feet of beach frontage, the largest of any resort in this Caribbean resort destination. The calm, reef-protected turquoise waters are an excellent destination for sailing, and the area's shallow reefs offer great snorkeling. The scuba diving is some of the best in the Caribbean. The coral formation, rich marine life and year-round warm water combine to create a sought-after diving location. The local deep-sea fishing is celebrated in the Caribbean. Tuna, Atlantic blue marlin and sailfish are among some of the most popular catches. The resort also has a selection of heated swimming pools.

Gallery: The Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos

Tags: awards-main, Best Beach Hotel, grace bay, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, luxist-awards, Turks Caicos, winners-summer-travel

Continue reading “Grace Bay Club Wins the Luxist Award for Best Beach Hotel”

The Nominees For The Best in Summer Travel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Best Adventure Getaway
The first nominee offers an unforgettable trekking experience in Bhutan while the second offers an unparalleled safari in East Africa. The third nominee is located in one of the world's finest unspoiled havens, while the fourth features elephants in their natural habitat. The final nominee, located in the Montana Rockies, is known for its outdoor sports, from fishing to horseback riding.

Amankora Resort: Trekking in Bhutan
East African Safari with Abercrombie & Kent
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savute Elephant Camp by Orient-Express
Montana's Triple Creek Ranch

Best Beachside Hotel
The first nominee is where to go when in search of a peaceful sanctuary while the second nominee is a tropical haven with a relaxed pace. The third nominee is located in a secluded natural sanctuary while the fourth offers an award-winning beach. The last nominee offers a beachside location that is idyllic and unspoiled.

Amanpuri Resort, Phuket, Thailand
Four Seasons Resort, Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos
The Oberoi, Mauritius

Best International Summer Destination
The first nominee is one of the world's most glamorous destinations while the second one was once the home of the Ottoman Sultans. The third nominee is the premier hot spot on the Amalfi Coast while the fourth offers chauffeured-driven tours of the Tuscan wine country. The final nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime trip from Venice to Istanbul aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains.

Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast
Kempinski's Ciragan Palace, Istanbul
San Pietro di Positano, Amalfi Coast
Tuscany Wine Tours
Venice Simplon Orient-Express Train

Best Luxury Family Vacation
The first nominee offers a luxurious barge cruise through Burgandy while the second offers an armchair safari suitable for the whole family. The third nominee is where families go for Scottish outdoor pursuits from falconry to golf. The fourth nominee is considered to be the jewel of Maui while the final nominee is unplugged and unpretentious.

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise in Burgundy
Ebony Lodge, Singita Game Reserves
Gleneagles, Scotland
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel, Maui
Kona Village Resort, Hawaii

Best Summer Cruise
The first nominee offers an unforgettable cruise through the fabled Far East while the second nominee is the way to experience the Greek Isles and Turkey in complete luxury. The third nominee is an expedition to see the ice bears upclose while the fourth nominee takes its passengers down the Nile in style.

Fabled Far East Cruise by The Yachts of Seabourn
Greek Isles and Turkey Cruise by Sea Cloud Cruises
Land of the Ice Bear Cruise by Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic
Oberoi Zahra Luxury Nile Cruiser: Down the Nile in Style
Mediterreanean Luxury Cruise on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Amalfi Coast, Amanpuri, awards-main, Cunard, Ebony Lodge, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Gleneagles, Grace Bay Club, Grand Wailea, Hotel Santa Caterina, Kempinski, Kona Village, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, National Geographic, Oberoi Mauritius, Oberoi Zahra, Phinda, Queen Mary 2, San Pietro di Positano, Savute, Sea Cloud, Tuscany, Venice Simplon Orient-Express, wine tours, winners-summer-travel, Yachts of Seabourn

World's Best Beachside Hotels

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Luxist readers have nominated their favorite beachside hotels around the world. From Thailand to Costa Rica, what these hotels have in common are to-die-for beaches, in addition to luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities.

The top five beachside hotels, according to our readers, include:

Amanpuri

Opened in 1988, Amanpuri was the very first Aman resort, named for the Sanskrit word for 'peace'. Located in Phuket, Thailand, this tranquil retreat (its beach is pictured above), which is the flagship property in the Aman family, is a nominee for a Luxist Award for Best Beachside Hotel.

Located in a secluded coconut grove overlooking a sheltered bay, the resort radiates from the private crescent-shaped beach lapped by the Andaman Sea. Private villas grace the peninsula affording guests spectacular views, while other facilities include a Beach Club and lap pool, a hillside gym and spa and a number of restaurants, situated in picturesque locations around the resort. Amanpuri captures the warmth and generosity of spirit so unique to Thai culture.

Amanpuri's spectacular beach is lined with sun loungers and umbrellas. Guests can enjoy complimentary windsurfing, snorkeling, sea kayaking and body boarding, as well as Hobie cat and Laser sailing, with attendants providing qualified instruction as needed. Searay Bowriders helmed by trained crew are available for waterskiing at a nominal fee. A nearby reef is flush with fish, and complimentary fins, snorkels and masks are provided. Snorkelers can hand feed or swim among the fish. All activities are available between December and April, weather and tide permitting.

Gallery: Amanpuri Resort in Phuket, Thailand

Tags: Amanpuri, awards-main, Best Beachside Hotel, Four Seasons Resort Bali, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, luxist-awards, Oberoi Mauritius, The Oberoi Mauritius

Continue reading “World's Best Beachside Hotels”

Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos: Redefining Luxury

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Located on the celebrated Grace Bay, which is well-known for its award-winning beaches, the Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Beachside Hotel.

The 11-acre Grace Bay Club boasts 1,100 feet of beach frontage, the largest of any resort in this Caribbean resort destination. The calm, reef-protected turquoise waters are an excellent destination for sailing, and the area's shallow reefs offer great snorkeling. The scuba diving is some of the best in the Caribbean. The coral formation, rich marine life and year-round warm water combine to create a sought-after diving location. The local deep-sea fishing is celebrated in the Caribbean. Tuna, Atlantic blue marlin and sailfish are among some of the most popular catches. The resort also has a selection of heated swimming pools.

Gallery: The Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos

Tags: Awards-main, Best Beach Hotel, best beaches, Best Beachside hotel, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, Luxist-Awards, Turks Caicos

Continue reading “Grace Bay Club in the Turks and Caicos: Redefining Luxury”

What are the Characteristics of a Five Star Resort?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about what distinguishes a five star resort from the rest of the pack.

According to our experts, one of the most important features of a five star resort starts with the professionalism of its staff, the people who run the resort and work there. Of course, the quality of the accommodations and other facilities at the hotel in addition to the food are also a major part of the vacation experience, as well.

The best resorts are ones that are unique in some way, with location being a key variable. Lastly, our experts all agree--a resort that has a sense of place and reflects the culture where it is located, is of utmost importance.

"You don't want to go to a resort that stands on its own, in its own little world and doesn't reflect what is going on around it," says Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts in the Turks & Caicos.

In this video, Advani, along with Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

Tags: Adam Stewart, AdamStewart, awards-main, Ed Steiner, EdSteiner, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, GraceBayClub, GraceBayResorts, KerznerInternational, La Palmilla OneOnly, LaPalmillaOneonly, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Nikheel Advani, NikheelAdvani, OneOnly Resorts, OneonlyResorts, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, winter-travel-main, winter-travel-pedia

What's the Best Way to Research a Luxury Vacation?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the best ways to research a luxury vacation.

How important is word of mouth? Do travel agents still play a key role? How important is the Internet in the research process? Are websites, including Facebook and TripAdvisor, gaining in their importance?

Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

Tags: Adam Stewart, AdamStewart, cadillac-pedia, Ed Steiner, EdSteiner, grace bay club, Grace Bay Resorts, GraceBayClub, GraceBayResorts, kerzner international, KerznerInternational, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Nikheel Advani, NikheelAdvani, ocean club, OceanClub, oneonly palmilla, OneonlyPalmilla, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, summer-travel-pedia, winter-travel-pedia

What are the Next Hot-Spots in the Luxury Resort Scene?

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Video

Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the hot destinations of the future. Their answers may surprise you.

Adam Stewart the chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their vision with Luxist.

Tags: beaches, buenos aires, BuenosAires, grace bat resorts, grace bay club, GraceBatResorts, GraceBayClub, great exuma, GreatExuma, kerznerinternational, luxist-awards, main-pedia, montenegro, ocean club, OceanClub, oneonly palmilla, OneonlyPalmilla, royal plantation collection, RoyalPlantationCollection, sandals resorts international, SandalsResortsInternational, south africa, SouthAfrica, summer-travel-pedia, summertravel-pedia, winter-travel-pedia

Grace Bay Club Unveils Estates

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

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.

Gallery: Grace Bay Club