ELITE
ISLAND RESORTS:
Antigua, Palm Island, St.Kitts, St.Lucia, & Tortola
By Michelle
R. Mangio
Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist of Magical Escapes
Vacations
 When
it comes time to choose a destination for a Honeymoon, many Wedding
Couples turn their sights to the Caribbean. Though a common honeymoon
choice, there is nothing ordinary about romantic vacations in these
warm, tropical islands – especially when your getaway is planned
with a knowledgeable travel agent who can turn your honeymoon into
an unforgettable escape you’ll remember fondly for years to
come.
Elite Island Resorts, offering 8
all-inclusive resorts & villas throughout five Caribbean Destinations,
prides themselves on being able to add that extra special something
to every honeymooners stay, from little touches – like rose
petals scattered on a bed – to the big ones – gorgeous
stretches of white sand beaches, or a candlelight dinner under the
stars. They like to consider themselves the best in the Cariibea
: Best if you want a secret hideaway for just the two of you. Best
if you desire a tropical club with plenty to do. Best if you prefer
the independence of villa living, or the convenience of all-inclusiveness.
Best if you are on a slight budget, or if you prefer to indulge
yourself to a little pampering. With their eight resorts over the
islands of Antigua, St. Lucia, Tortola (British Virgin Islands),
St. Kitts, and the Grenadines (Palm Island), they believe that one
of their resorts will be best for you.
 But
how to choose which Elite Island Resort is best?
First, Elite Island has grouped its
resorts into one of three categories: Hideaways (for those looking
for relaxation & togetherness), Club Resorts (for those looking
for a little fun), and Villa Resorts (for those looking for their
own home-away-from-home in the Caribbean). Their Hideaways consist
of Galley Bay in Antigua, Dian Bay Resort & Spa in Antigua,
and Palm Island (a private island oasis) in the Grenadines. Their
Club Resorts consist of St.James Club in Antigua, Grand Pineapple
Beach in Antigua, and Sugar Bay Club in St.Kitts. Finally, for the
best Villa Resorts, look no further than Windjammer Landing in St.
Lucia and Long Bay Beach Resort in Tortola.
But let’s take a closer look
at each of these resorts, and their islands, to find the perfect
Elite Island Resort for you.
Antigua, famed for its 365 unspoilt
beaches, is home to four of the Elite Island Resorts. This tropical
island has some of the most gorgeous stretches of beaches in all
of the Caribbean – but it doesn’t stop at the beaches.
Its interior ranges from lush rainforests to arid stretches of desert,
and its easy-going lifestyle is evident with its colonial heritage,
boutique shops and cafes, and lively yachting culture.
 Galley
Bay has been named as one of the World’s Best Places to Stay,
according to readers of Conde Nest Traveler (January 2005). This
all-inclusive hideaway is perfect for the discerning travelers seeking
an exclusive, yet unpretentious escape. It rests on the edge of
a three-quarter mile beach, and offers 69 rooms in Caribbean style
rustic architecture. Choose from quaint Tahitian-inspired ‘Gauguin
Cottages’ (with their own private splash pools) among the
gardens, or well-appointed guest rooms and luxurious suites nestled
on the powdery white sands.
St. James Club is a renowned resort
set on a private peninsula of over 100 acres in Antigua’s
southeast coast. The resort offers both guest rooms (located in
the heart of the resort in ‘The Club’) and villas (‘The
Village,’ scattered over a gentle hillside to the beach, offering
luxurious accommodations in a very private setting). Four swimming
pools, six tennis courts, a fitness center, a deep-sea fishing boat,
free water sports, a casino, cocktail bars, and four restaurants
(offering buffets, candelit dinners, and Mediterranean cuisine)
are all located within the resort, offering a variety of entertainment,
live music, and activities.
 Dian
Bay Resort & Spa is an intimate hideaway overlooking one of
the Caribbean’s most scenic bays. It boasts rejuvenation in
an idyllic tropical setting, a panoramic 3-tier swimming pool, white
sand cove, and a second beach accessible by water taxi. Relaxation
is the key word here, with non-motorized water sports, nature hikes,
spa treatments, afternoon teas, cocktails in the piano bar, alfresco
waterfront dining, and evening entertainment all designed to offer
a low-key and rejuvenating ambiance.
Occidental Grand Pineapple Beach
defines Antigua informality, with comfortable rooms set either in
the gardens, right on the water’s edge, or upon the hillside
commanding amazing ocean views. This all-inclusive resort is tucked
away on 25 acres of tropical landscaping on the edge of a beautiful
bay, with stretches of white sand beaches to relax the day away
on. Swimming pools, non-motorized water sports, four tennis courts,
and a fitness center provide additional activities during the day,
and a night club allows you to dance the evening away.
St. Lucia has become famous among
honeymooners for its lush hilly interiors and rainforest, and its
gorgeous turquoise waters. Here you can find Windjammer Landing
Villa Beach Resort, close to Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay, the duty-free
shops of Castries, and the island’s 18-hole championship golf
course. This exclusive Mediterranean-style resort meanders down
a lush hillside towards the unspoilt white sands and crystalline
waters of St. Lucia’s Labrelotte Bay. It also boasts the best
of both worlds: the independent luxury of villa living combined
with the dining and recreational opportunities of a tropical resort.
Choose from stylishly appointed guest rooms or luxurious villas,
many featuring their own private plunge pools and all offering breathtaking
ocean views.
 Tortola
is the capital of the British Virgin Islands, and the perfect escape
for those who want to get away from it all – but don’t
want to travel too far to get there. Its informal atmosphere and
cultural charm make it a favorite for beachcombers and fun-seekers
alike. Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas echoes the ambiance of
the BVI, tucked away on 52 acres along the island’s finest
beach, a mile of talcum-power sand kissed by the turquoise waters
of the Caribbean Sea. This resort offers tennis courts, a fitness
center, a dive-school, a spa, a landscaped swimming pool, and several
restaurants. Guest rooms range from beach or hillside accommodations,
split-level Junior suites with Jacuzzis, and spacious two- and three-bedroom
villas, some with their own private swimming pools.
St. Kitts is an island where you
will feel as if you have stepped back in time, with its colonial
plantation homes and forts, fields of sugar canes, and charming
boutiques. Sugar Bay Club is located on a golden sand beach in Frigate
Bay, the island’s liveliest corner and close to the island’s
18-hold golf course. This resort is ideal for those seeking a budget-conscious
vacation in the tropics, with spacious rooms and cottages offering
private terraces or balconies with views of the gardens, pools,
or Atlantic Ocean. Two pools (one adult only), beach, tennis court,
fitness room, two bars, and live entertainment allow for plenty
to do, with dining an informal affair in its two restaurants.
 The
crown jewel of the Elite Island Resorts is the Palm Island Resort,
named “The World’s Leading Private Island” at
the World Travel Awards. Caribbean Travel & Life ranks it amongst
the Caribbean’s ‘most romantic resorts’. Travel
& Leisure says it is ‘one of the best places to stay in
the world’. Palm Island is a very special place – not
just a resort, but an entire island: 135-acres of tropical paradise,
offering only 37 rooms. This all-inclusive resort is perfect for
those seeking seclusion and tranquility nestled among elegance and
natural Caribbean beauty. Great care has been taken to ensure the
resort is in harmony with its untouched natural settings, and every
aspect of the resort – from the public areas to the guest
rooms – have been designed to fit into its surroundings. Half
of the guest rooms sit right on the white sand beach, with the remaining
nestled in the palm groves just steps away from the ocean. The beach
and sea are the focal point of each relaxing day, with nature trails,
water sports, and boat trips to Tobago Cays offering a dash of excitement.
Elegant evenings begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in
the alfresco bar and end with candelit dinners in the Royal Palm
restaurant.
 Elite
Island Resorts offers a variety of resorts throughout the Caribbean
to meet the needs and desires of honeymooners looking for a tropical
getaway within reach, whether you look for pampered luxury or comfortable
budget options. They also offer beautiful wedding locations throughout
their resorts, for the couples looking for a unique Destination
Wedding or an intimate setting to renew their vows. Whichever Elite
Island Resort you determine is best for you, you are sure to find
an unforgettable honeymoon experience.
Ready now to take a honeymoon at
an Elite Island Resort? Join us at the Wedding Day Sourcebook Bridal
Show on January 22, 2006 for a chance to win a 4-Night Honeymoon
at your choice of the Elite Island Resorts, courtesy of Magical
Escapes Vacations. Be sure to join us, as you must be present to
win!
About Michelle Mangio
Michelle Mangio is the owner of Magical Escapes Vacations, based
in Attleboro, MA. She is a certified Honeymoons & Destination
Weddings Specialist, with expertise in many popular honeymoon locations,
including Tahiti & the South Pacific, Australia, Aruba, Hawaii,
Cancun, and more.
About Magical Escapes Vacations
Magical Escapes Vacation is a full-service travel agency specializing
in complete destination planning for any occasion. “Don’t
just make reservations. Make experiences. Create memories. Live
your dreams.” Let Magical Escapes Vacations take the stress
and uncertainty out of vacation planning by assisting you in creating
a vacation to remember for a lifetime. Our unique personalized approach
will exceed your expectations. We treat each vacation like it was
our own, and will work with you to find the perfect getaway. So
escape away today… because everyone deserves a vacation.
For more information, contact Michelle at Magical Escapes Vacations
toll-free at 866-698-7849 or locally at 508-717-2535, by email at
michelle @ magicalescapes.com,
or online at http://www.magicalescapes.com
About Elite Island Resorts
Elite Island Resorts is the exclusive worldwide marketing agent
for eight of the Caribbean’s most spectacular resorts on four
of its most beautiful, tropical islands: Antigua, St. Lucia, St.
Kitts, Tortola and Palm Island in the Grenadines. The Elite Island
Resort collection consists of Galley Bay, St. James’s Club,
Grand Pineapple Beach, Dian Bay Resort & Spa, Windjammer Landing,
Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas, Sugar Bay Club, and Palm Island
resort. For more information visit http://www.eliteislandresorts.com.
Magical Escapes Vacations – http://www.magicalescapes.travel
Elite Island Resorts – http://www.littlepalmisland.com
(This article originally appeared in the January
2006 Edition of the Wedding
Day Sourcebook)
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