Luxury Scrub Island Resort In British Virgin Islands To Reopen Dec. 1

SCRUB ISLAND, British Virgin Islands – Situated on its own private island in the British Virgin Islands, the AAA Four-Diamond Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina is now taking reservations in advance of their (Tuesday), Dec. 1, 2020 reopening. Tucked along a rugged cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and neighboring islands, the resort has offered a serene haven for travelers since opening in 2010, providing exceptional on-island experiences and an ideal location for island-hopping exploration of the best of the BVI. The resort will once again welcome overnight guests and marina visitors, following a months-long closure of the entire Caribbean territory earlier this year due to the coronavirus. Having completed extensive preparations to safely welcome guests back, the resort has reactivated its online reservation system.

“We’ve been working diligently to comply with the travel protocols laid out by the BVI government, and to make sure the return of our guests as safe as possible so they can relax and enjoy this fabulous island retreat,” said resort General Manager Michael Schoonewagen. “Our resort guests have the entire island to themselves, with ample space to spread out and enjoy the stunning natural Caribbean beauty in complete privacy. And the marina is perfect for those who want to venture out on a wide variety of land and sea excursions that still meet health and safety measures.”

The resort offers several overnight options for guests and sailing vessels, with 52 guest accommodations, including suites with gourmet kitchens, spacious living areas and private/oversized balconies, as well as a collection of two-, three-, four- and six-bedroom villas, and a 55-slip marina with five for mega yachts up to 170 feet. Two private beaches, a waterfront infinity pool, an intimate spa, world-class dining, and on-site access to dive and sailing charters complete the overall experience on Scrub Island. A year-round tropical climate, balmy breezes and crystal-clear waters are the perfect setting to enjoy other island adventures, such as hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling and more. An on-site boutique with high-end resort wear and accessories, sundries shop with grab & go options, and full-service provisions store with gourmet foods, fresh produce, meats, seafood, beer, wine, spirits and more are all available to resort and mooring guests. In accordance with guidelines established by the British Virgins Islands government, all overnight guests at Scrub Island must adhere to a set of specific protocols and restrictions, which are outlined on the destination’s official travel website. As a member of Marriott’s prestigious Autograph Collection, the resort also follows the brand’s Commitment to Clean program, providing a safe environment for guests and staff. For reservations or more information, visit ScrubIsland.com or call (877) 890-7444.

9 Intimate, Luxurious Hideaways Fit For Royalty And Celebrities

Does the phrase “fit for Royalty” sound good to you? Or maybe these days we judge the beauty and exclusivity of a luxury getaway by the celebrities who have visited it. Here are 9 intimate, luxurious hideaways that are fit for Royalty and celebrities – some of which have already been visited by them.

1. Casa Aramara, Punta Mita, Mexico

Offering priceless seclusion, Casa Aramara is Punta Mita’s only five-star private residence. Casa Aramara is an ultra-luxurious private beach resort, set in beautiful tropical gardens, with a cost of between $15,000-$30,000 per night. Designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and built originally by Joe Francis, the media entrepreneur – this magical luxury hideaway has been in demand with the right people. It was used by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for his 37th birthday celebration on 8th June 2014, and other famous guests include Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Ashton Kutcher, Courtney Cox and Demi Moore.

2. Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives

One of the world’s most expensive, exclusive resorts, Soneva Fushi is a wild, beautiful island where you’ll need to lose your shoes and go barefoot during your stay. This is the original of the species when it comes to desert island hideaways, where you can also go snorkelling with a marine biologist.

A big favourite of Madonna’s, this resort gives you the opportunity to enjoy a luxurious hideaway, with a conscience. On top of the regular cost of your room, which can vary from about $1000-$8,000 per night, you will also pay a charge to cover your carbon footprint, of 2% extra, on top of your original bill. But the good news is that you’ll leave there with your shoes and your conscience in a better place!

3. Goldeneye Resort, Jamaica

In 1946, Ian Fleming, the James Bond author, decided to buy what was then a 15 acre piece of land with tropical overbrush, in Oracabessa, a small port town in Jamaica. Afterwards he sketched his dream villa on a blotter. Today this is the Goldeneye Resort, which was his former home, and these days is a firm favourite with the likes of Johnny Depp and Sting. The best of both worlds is to book the Fleming Villa itself, which is like an island as it’s so secluded, where you can have your own beach, pool and of course staff. However if you fancy any spa treatments, or a little bit more activity then all you have to do is wander over to the resort itself.

4. Wharekauhau Lodge, Wairarapa, New Zealand

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George, stayed in Wharekauhau Lodge in April 2014. Kate, William and George stayed in a cottage suite, in this white-washed hideaway on its little 5000 acre farm!

The price tag to stay here in this little piece of heaven on earth starts off from around £220 (€273 approx.) per person per night, based on double occupancy in the low season. In this beautiful resort, you can be at one with nature, just like the sheep that you can see wandering around the pastures.

5. The Brando, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

Fodor’s Travel featured Tetiaroa as one of the 15 Best Beaches for 2014, and amongst the awards won byThe Brando is the HEC Paris & 1.618 Sustainable Luxury Award (2013) – for the Brando’s innovation and commitment towards sustainable development. Named after the former owner, the Brando also features a scientific research centre. In this breathtakingly beautiful setting, you should find it easy to understand why Marlon Brando said: “Tetiaroa is beautiful beyond my capacity to describe. One could say that Tetiaroa is the tincture of the South Seas.”

The island is accessed by private plane, and you are most likely going to meet exotic birds, sea turtles and manta rays. The design of the resort reflects the Polynesian culture and lifestyle, and you can choose from 35 villas dotted on the white sandy beaches. This unique, carefree luxury experience costs from €1800 per day, for a one-bedroom villa, for up to 2 guests.

6. Romantic Pool Residence, Velaa Private Island Resort, Maldives

You can only access this property by boat, making this suspended luxury getaway the perfect choice for a really romantic, intimate, private escape. The Romantic Pool Residence sits above a lagoon, and has its own private gym, plus a spa treatment room.

If you do decide to venture away from your privacy, to explore the rest of the island, you’ll find plenty of activities going on. These include a semi submarine, diving, snorkelling, squash, tennis, yoga, watersports, fishing and you can even adopt a coral dome.

7. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

Owned by Sir Richard Branson, Necker Island is part of the Virgin Limited Edition Collection, and is Branson’s home and favourite hideaway. Surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches, coral reefs and turquoise waters, the island’s 74 acres are a haven for those seeking a luxurious getaway.

You’ll also find a fascinating collection of rare animals and plants, and for those guests who are interested, there are feeding times which you can attend, just let the staff know in advance. There are iguanas, soldier crabs, lemurs and flamingos amongst the diverse animal residents of the island.

Necker Island has had Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson, amongst its guests. In fact some stars rent out the whole island property, for a rack rate. There are offers for Celebration Weeks, which may suit some guests.

8. The Wakaya Club & Spa, Wakaya Island, Fiji

Privacy is highly valued here, which may be the reason that Melinda and Bill Gates spent their honeymoon at the Wakaya Club & Spa. However it could be because it’s a particularly lovely, authentic development, where environmental practices are also much valued. Fijian culture is just as important, as ecological issues and privacy. In fact part of the beauty of this development comes from the indigenous methods that have been interwoven there.

A firm favourite with Keith Richards and his family, as well as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the all-inclusive nightly rate starts from US $1,900.00.

9. Song Saa Private Island, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Hideaways Magazine voted the Song Saa as Hideaway of the Year in 2013. Condé Nast Traveller 2014 considers it to be “a spa with a soul, that sets it apart from the pack.”

This is the first private luxury island resort in Cambodia, set in a secluded seascape, which is accessed by a 35 minute boat journey from Sihanoukville. The resort is committed to keeping the natural assets of this untouched paradise in tact. This is a unique location, that offers a true tropical island private getaway. The rate for a one-bedroom villa starts from $1117 during the low season.

Contributed by Jackie de Burca, Co-owner of Catalonia Valencia. www.aluxuryblog.com

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10 Best Caribbean Resorts For The 1%

If your idea of ultra-luxury includes lavish accommodations with room to spare for your private pilot, butlers who cater to your every whim, or a studio to record a jam session after you've tanned on a white sand beach, then here are 10 Caribbean hotels for you. They will impress even the most discerning traveler.

1. Musha Cay, Bahamas  

If your desktop screensaver is a Caribbean version of Fantasy Island, then Musha Cay, owned by illusionist David Copperfield, is your escape come true. With over 500 acres and 25 sugary white sand beaches trimmed by tropical fauna, the Islands of Copperfield Bay in the Bahamas accommodate just 24 guests in five spectacular beach houses. Each is brimming with rich mahogany furnishings, wraparound decks, exotic antiques, and a private beach. After you sample the array of water activities, relax while your personal chef prepares the catch of the day pulled straight from the sea. You'll feel as if you've vanished into a dream.

2. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia  

This architectural marvel by owner/designer Nick Troubetzkoy is so mesmerizing that you might retreat to your private sanctuary and not be seen for days. Complete with an iridescent tiled infinity pool and four-poster bed draped in billowing mosquito netting, Jade Mountain's rooms, built into the mountainside, have no fourth wall so you can gaze out at picture-perfect views of the twin peaks of St. Lucia's Pitons. While your major domo butler anticipates every need, you'll be tempted to leave your sanctuary for a private dinner on the Celestial Terrace featuring Jade Mountain Club's mouthwatering organic cuisine.

3. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands 

Richard Branson's home and 74-acre private island paradise, Necker Island, will make you feel like you've jetted off to Bali instead of the British Virgin Islands. If you don't have 30 of your nearest and dearest to rent the entire island, you can still indulge at the resort's newly rebuilt al fresco-style villa, the Great House, or one of the six Bali Houses during select Celebration Weeks. After you've spent the day snorkeling on the colorful coral reefs directly offshore, head to the spa for a pampering massage by one of the on-call spa therapists. Gourmet meals, flowing champagne and breathtaking sunsets included.

4. Amanyara, Turks and Caicos  

Literally meaning "Peace Place" in Sanskrit, this visually stunning Balinese style resortis the ultimate Turks and Caicos haven. Ultra-sleek guest pavilions and villas are tucked along the turquoise shore where you can escape for romantic seclusion before venturing out for some of the Caribbean's best snorkeling and diving. VIPs find sanctuary in the sprawling five-bedroom Villa with its own private white sand beach and reflection pond to mirror all that lavishness.

5. Calivigny Island, Grenada  

When money is no object and you want total beach solitude, Calivigny Island, a private island off the coast of Grenada in the southern Caribbean is your sanctuary. It's the ultimate escape spread over 80 acres with two Balinese and French Colonial style residences and three luxury cottages for up to 50 guests. With a host of private chefs and a fleet of private boats and yachts at your disposal, it's over-the-top extravagant in every last detail.

6. Viceroy, Anguilla  

Contemporary meets Caribbean chic at this stylish resort set along Anguilla's Barnes and Meads Bay. Expansive villas and residences are luxuriantly decorated by celebrated interior designer Kelly Wearstler, complete with gourmet kitchens, spa pools, and outdoor showers. With such lavishness, you'll want to bring your entire entourage — including your nanny and pilot. At the Sunset Lounge, the chic set dip into sushi and creative cocktails while taking in the jaw-dropping sunsets. Hide away in the two-story 8,000-square-foot oceanfront spa for a Blue Tranquility massage that will leave you in an altered state.

7. Eden Rock, St. Barts  

Where do you go when extravagant just isn't enough? Check yourself into one ofEden Rock - St Barths' ultra-luxe villas such as Villa Rockstar complete with four sumptuous suites, two cottages for teenagers or staff, a sexy whisky bar, private pool and a recording studio and screening room complete with a vintage sound board used by John Lennon himself. Private butlers will ensure you and your 12 guests feel like rock stars while chefs cook up gourmet cuisine in the Italian-designed kitchen. It's the ultimate beach house within a resort.

8. Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico 

Laurance S. Rockefeller fell in love with this exclusive enclave many decades ago and today, the stylish set flocks to the sands of Dorado Beach to luxuriate in the Ritz-Carlton's new ultra-luxury eco-chic resort. With contemporary oceanfront villas and residences with private plunge pools just steps from the beach, you'll pass the hours drinking mojitos and watching the palm trees sway. It's a haven for foodies who can indulge in Spanish and Puerto Rican fare, spa mavens who want to get pampered on tree house massage platforms, and golf aficionados seeking the perfect round.

9. Sandy Lane, Barbados  

Popular with UK celebs and trendy international jet-setters, Sandy Lane is the ultimate beach and golf getaway for those who want luxury with endless Barbadian charm. Tropically styled suites and villas offer enough space you'll feel like it's your second (or maybe even third) home. Sandy Lane's three golf courses draw golf enthusiasts, highlighted by The Green Monkey, its crown jewel. This undulating course built into an old limestone quarry offers show-stopping views and an experience any golfer will appreciate. Late at night, head to the Monkey Bar for one of the bartender's award-winning cocktails. You can recover the next day at the beach on one of the eye-catching pink lounge chairs shaded by umbrellas.

10. Cotton House, Mustique, Grenadines  Contributed 

With its laid-back, old-money feel, this sugar mill turned rustic-luxury resort on Mustique has been a celebrity playground for decades. Cotton House is the only boutique hotel and spa on this tiny piece of paradise in the Grenadines, and high-profile types retreat to the hilltop Residence — a presidential suite with private pool and butler services. At the island's weekly cocktail party, hosted in the hotel's Great Room, you might find yourself hobnobbing with members of the British royal family, rock legends or famous fashion designers. Celebs also hide away in some of the island's many gorgeous villas available for rent.

Contributed byTiffany Dowd, luxury hotel expert and founder/president of Luxe Social Media for www.usatoday.com

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Travelore Tips: The Top 10 Beach Activities And Where To Do Them.

Snorkeling –  El Nido in the province of Palawan, is a quiet little community which faces the sparkling sea and is cradled by a backdrop of dark, majestic limestone cliffs.  Because it is made up of 45 islands and islets, island hopping is very popular.  Members noted that many of the areas offer some of the best opportunities for snorkeling, walking off white sand beaches in to crystal-clear waters.  VT members also had a good tip: Rocks and corals can hurt your feet so don't forget to bring and wear your best aqua shoes to avoid going home with cuts. (Snorkeling, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member Michael_baldwin)

Fossil Hunting – Lyme Regis, Dorset Coast, United Kingdom When a member first recommended fossil hunting, we were a bit skeptical, too, but travelers seeking an unusual beach activity should consider visiting Lyme Regis on the Dorset Coast, home to the World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coastline.  Visitors to the beach have found a variety of amazing fossils, including giant marine reptiles, crinoids, ammonites and even dinosaur remains.  The quantity and quality of finds over the last 200 years have made Lyme Regis popular with explorers of every age. (Fossils found on Lyme Regis, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member leics)

Seaplaning – Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays Island, Queensland, Australia  Whitehaven Beach offers some of the most crystal clear aqua waters and white sand beaches you will ever see.  And to truly experience it, VirtualTourist members recommend a seaplane adventure.  By air, you will see some of the most amazing views of Whitsunday Islands National Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.  Your plane lands in the water where you practically jump from your seat in to the ocean to enjoy the warm waters. It’s easy to understand why many VirtualTourist members consider this the most incredible adventure by air and sea.  (Seaplaning on Whitehaven Beach, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member aussirose)

Paddleboarding – Bora Bora, French Polynesia Known as a luxurious honeymoon destination, few locales offer the bright blues and calm disposition of Bora Bora’s lagoon. The flat conditions are ideal for a first-timer, and paddlers frequently spot manta rays in the lagoon, since it has visibility up to 150 feet! (Still waters of Bora Bora make it perfect for paddleboarding, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member usctin)

Scuba Diving– Sharm El Skeikh, Egypt The reefs of Sharm el Sheikh in the Red Sea are a divers’ paradise.  In addition to having relatively warm waters all year long, low rainfall and mild currents allow excellent visibility, in some places up to 150 feet.  As one of the saltiest seas in the world, a large variety of endemic species can be found here including the bright yellow Masked Butterfly fish, the Red Sea Flasher Wrasse and the Picasso Triggerfish, which lives up to its name by resembling a picture of the painter, among others. (A scuba diver in the Red Sea off of Sharm el Sheikh, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member heavens-mirror)

Swimming – Varadero Beach, Cuba Some VirtualTourist members called Varadero Beach the best beach in the Caribbean.  With its sugary-white sandy beach, turquoise clear water, and warm water temperatures year round, it’s easy to see why.  The calm waters make swimming here a favorite pastime for all levels. (Calm waters and white sandy beach of Varadero Beach, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member DonnieTravelExpert)

Sailing, British Virgin Islands If you’re looking to venture out in to the open waters by sailboat, then British Virgin Islands is for you.  With 25 jaw-dropping islands in reach, checking out new land by boat has never been more fun.  Whether you’re a first time sailor, or a seasoned captain, consistent trade winds, long, sunny days and beautiful views make BVI a sailor’s paradise.  (Sailing in BVI, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist.com member grandmaR)

Surfing, Inchydoney Island, County Cork, Ireland County Cork has some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Ireland and the beach on Inchydoney Island is no exception.  It recently received Blue Flag status by the Foundation for Environmental Education, meaning it is acknowledged for its high environment and quality standards.  VirtualTourist members noted that the endless beach and reliable tides make this a perfect place to learn to surf. (Beautiful Inchydoney Island, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist member songlines)

Catch and Release Fishing, Glover’s Reef Atoll, Belize Glover’s Reef Atoll just off of Belize is considered to be the prototypic atoll in the Caribbean and is also the best developed biologically.  It contains the greatest range of reef type and is home to a variety of sea life including three species of sea turtles, eight species of sharks and rays, more than twenty species of aggregating reef fish, and numerous species of coral.  Fishing can be enjoyed year round, but because the area is now a Marine Preserve, it’s catch and release only.  Some fish you might encounter are Bonefish, Jacks, Mutton Snappers, Yellowtails, Bonitos, Cubera Snappers, Barracudas, King Mackerel, Wahoo and Groupers and Permit. (Catch and release fishing in Belize, photo courtesy of VirtualTourist member Jefie)

Canoeing – Pemba Island, Zanzibar Pemba is a genuine, remote tropical island just off the East Coast of Africa.  While there are amazing beaches, Pemba is most noted for its unique mangrove swamps.  For a great sense of adventure, VirtualTourist members recommend hopping aboard a canoe and exploring what nature has to offer.  While floating along the endless channels, you’ll watch rivers disappear deep into the bush and spot birds and fish endemic to the area.  You’ll soon see why some say no other place in Africa can provide the same sense of adventure. (Canoeing amongst the mangroves, photo courtesy of Flickr)

Whether you want to get in the water, or do an activity on top of or near it, VirtualTourist members have recommendations for it all.  For more information, visit www.virtualtourist.com.