The privacy of a luxury villa paired with the services of a full-service resort is a special kind of heaven for a romantic or family vacation, and it’s a marriage of service and amenities that you’ll find at some of the top resorts in the Caribbean, including:
The Shore Club, Turks and Caicos There are no more spectacular resort villas than those at the Shore Club Long Bay, the leading resort in Turks and Caicos. A resort’s Estate Villas are set on 850 feet of beachfront on Long Bay; each villa has 8,800 square feet of living space, with either four, five or six-bedroom configurations. The decor is marvelous; each comes with its own private butler and dedicated housekeeper and, of course, its own private pool.
La Samanna, St. Martin
The three- and four-bedroom Pool Villas at La Samanna include private terraces, fully-equipped kitchens, rain showers, infinity pools, and access to 24-hour villa host service, daily gourmet breakfast, food and beverage stocking services, and full use of all resort amenities, including yoga, pilates, and beach bootcamp classes. Sweetening the pot is chauffeured golf cart transportation around the resort and a private wine tasting session.
Four Seasons Resort, Nevis
The Private Retreats at Four Seasons Resort Nevis are located in a private enclave of six “neighborhoods” on Pinney’s Beach. Villa guests get the services of dedicated resort ambassadors, pre-arrival provisioning services, private pools and kitchens, in-home fitness facilities, and full access to all resort services and amenities.
Palm Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
This private island resort in the Grenadines has a pair of private villas that include all-inclusive access to all resort amenities including meals, drinks, tips, snorkeling, kayaking, and boat tours. The beachfront Sea Feathers Villa has three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, patio, and includes the use of a golf cart to get around the island. You get the golf cart with the Southern Cross Villa, too, but this two-bedroom villa is set atop a bluff with long ocean views from its three decks, one of which has a 10×20-foot infinity edge pool.
Jumby Bay, Antigua
The 14 villas at this luxury all-inclusive resort in Antigua includes in the price of a stay a la carte dining at the resort’s seven bars and restaurants, rum tastings and cooking classes, watersports, boat trips, a Kids Club, fitness facilities and tennis courts. Jumby Bay also has one of the best spas in Antigua. Villas range from two to four bedrooms, and the resort also has 22 private residences that also offer the option of all-inclusive dining or butler and chef services.
Ambergris Cay, Turks & Caicos
Guests who fly into this private island resort off of Providenciales can settle into one of 10 gorgeous beachfront villas with individual pools and enjoy all-inclusive dining and activities. The island has a restaurant serving three meals daily, but many guests opt to dine in their suites; likewise, cocktails or even a bottle of local rum can be delivered on demand. Villas include golf carts for exploring the largely undeveloped island and an impressive lineup of activities, from bone fishing trips to sandbar picnics, daily spa treatments, guided nature walks, and sports from tennis to snorkeling and kayaking.
Calabash Cove, St. Lucia
This small, low-key all-inclusive resort features local cuisine at the Windsong Restaurant, beach picnics, a fitness center and spa, and room service and a stocked bar in rooms and villas. The latter include nine Bali-inspired waterfront cottages with plunge pools, jacuzzis, outdoor rain showers, and outdoor hammocks.
Windjammer Landing, St. Lucia
A lot of private villas can arrange for butler service or private chefs, but guests staying in the one-, two-, three-, or four-bedroom villas at the Windjammer Landing resort can sign up for an all-inclusive package that includes dining at five on-site restaurants, unlimited drinks, and access to amenities such as motorized and non-motorized water sports and on-land activities. For a small fee, meals also can be delivered to your villa — a nice option when rooms are perched on a steep hillside and you might rather relax by your private plunge pool and enjoy the view rather than taking a shuttle down to dinner.
Eden Rock, St. Barths
St. Barths may be one of the few Caribbean destinations where more visitors stay in villas than in hotels, and this legendary St. Barths resort has a collection of more than 150 villas across the island. Butler and chef services are available, of course, but booking an Eden Roc villa also includes concierge and maid service, breakfast and newspapers delivered to villas, and access to the facilities at the resort, including picnics arranged by beach butlers and spa access.