The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
The best new openings in the Caribbean
BARBADOS Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle Resort & Spa
Soft-opened last month, this 422-room, all-inclusive beach resort on the southeast coast gets its name from an opulent mansion built here in 1820 by an unscrupulous planter, Samuel Hall Lord, who’s said to have amassed his wealth by causing shipwrecks. Six years in the making, it is a major addition to the Barbados hotel scene and when fully open early next year it will feature the largest ballroom on the island. Amenities on the 29-acre property include four restaurants, six pools, a luxurious spa with seven treatment rooms, children’s activities and tennis and pickleball courts.
Doubles from £492 per night all-inclusive (0800 028 4244; wyndhamhotels.com)
ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines
Easily reached on Virgin Atlantic flights from
London Heathrow, St Vincent is a mountainous and scenic island that rewards exploration but has suffered from a limited choice of places to stay. All this will change on March 27 when Sandals will unveil its 18th resort in the Caribbean; a 301-room, couples-only all-inclusive set on a 50-acre beachfront site. A star attraction will be two-storey Vincy overwater villas with a rooftop outdoor lounge, along with spa cabanas, crescentshaped pools and a choice of 16 places to eat and drink. Doubles from £666 per night all-inclusive based on a minimum three-night stay (0800 597 0002; sandals. co.uk). Includes transfers
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Long Bay Beach Resort
Set beside a mile-long white sand beach on Tortola, the largest island in the BVIs, this easygoing resort recently opened four new villas, all with a private plunge pool and space for four guests. Tennis and pickleball courts have been added and a resort pool, swim-up bar, spa and gym are due later this month. Hillside studios sleeping two are also available while the 1748 restaurant serves dishes ranging from Thai green curry to lobster tail. When it’s time to explore, the capital, Road Town, is just a 20-minute drive away. Doubles from £574 per night room only (00 1 284 345 3773; longbay.com)
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Asa Wright Nature Centre
Birdwatching is a prime reason to visit this renowned rainforest ecolodge in Trinidad’s Northern Range which has been part of a conservation trust since 1967. More than 200 species have been recorded here including the brightly plumed white-necked jacobin and green honeycreeper. Now upgraded in a £11 million makeover, the centre’s 29 rooms have a subdued contemporary style, while meals are served in an attractive main house with a verandah ideal for spotting hummingbirds. There’s a pool and walking trails, while tours led by expert naturalists can be arranged. Doubles from £565 per night full board (00 1 868 675 5364; hadcoexperiences.com)
CAYMAN ISLANDS Vida Ocean Adventure Lodge
Sporty adventures are the main draw at this new boutique beach hotel on the northwest tip of Grand Cayman island. Owned by a professional kitesurfer, Vida offers plenty of outdoor fun from cycling in the adjacent Barker’s National Park to kayaking, diving and secluded coastal walks. The 18 apartmentstyle rooms range from studios to three-bedroom units and there’s also a pool, hot tub and yoga deck. Organic cookery classes are available at the Nourish eatery which offers restorative dishes from a tuna poke bowl to jerk chicken empanadas. Doubles from £950 per night room only (00 1 345
516 8432; vidacayman.com)