Hidden Island Guide: 5 Great Under the Radar Escapes for Luxury Travelers

Itineraries

Under the radar and up-and-coming Caribbean escapes for those who have been there and done that

This season, more than any before, people crave rest, relaxation, and a good “week at the beach.” With regulations and rollbacks on openings for many of our favorite European escapes, and concern for some about spending time indoors, beach destinations are consistently among the top choices booked for clients in 2021 and into 2022.

While we love our regular rotation, we sometimes crave destinations where we won’t see all of our friends and families.

Most of these island escapes offer direct or easy access, and of course, the peace of mind that comes from fully-stocked resort amenities and services.

Skip St. Barth’s for … Grenada

Located south of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and slightly west of Barbados, Grenada and its six smaller sub islands is actually closer to Venezuela than it is to the United States. But thankfully, it’s a direct hop from JFK.

The island offers a number of hotel options, including the boutique chic Spice Island Resort and Calabash Luxury Hotel. But it suffered from a lack of true luxury for years. That is, until Silversands Grenada made its entrance in late 2018. The Leading Hotels of the World property is the brainchild of Egyptian telecom magnate, Naguib Sawiris and design team AW2, which lists resorts like Six Senses Con Dao and Marrakech’s Amanjena on their CV.

The sleekly modern resort doesn’t sacrifice luxury for charm, offering ample island flair in its 43 suites and 9 beachfront villas, which blend the best of indoor and outdoor living; most rooms offer private terraces and panoramic ocean views. The newness of the property pays off with high-tech touches, like a Tesla Model X house car and a dedicated app for rooms that let guests control everything from temperature and lighting as well as order up extra pillows or in-room dining. Speaking of food, Silversands specializes in locally-sourced cuisine, offering both a fine dining and an Asian-inspired restaurant on property.

Spend your days by the 339-foot infinity pool, the longest in the Caribbean, or on the island’s best beach—Grand Anse—which is conveniently located in front of the property, at the full-service spa, or exploring the island’s rich heritage. Golf is just a few minutes’ drive away.

Grenada, known as the “Spice Island,” has long been famous for its production of (you guessed it) spices, like Nutmeg and Mace. It also boasts cultural attractions in the form of Carriacou, a sister island famous since the 1700s for its sloops, or sailboats, and the Belmont Estate, known for chocolate making, and the unique Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, the perfect spot to enjoy a snorkel.

A 48-hour quarantine is currently still in place, even for vaccinated travelers, so this is ideal only for longer stays.

Getting Here: Grenada is one of the easier off-the-grid escapes, boasting daily direct flights on Jet Blue from JFK, with connections from other East Coast spots.

Bypass Bermuda’s Pink Sand for … Canouan

Skip the pink sands of Bermuda for another similarly insta-worthy beach, that of the new Mandarin Oriental Canouan, which was briefly known as the Pink Sands Club before it re-opened in 2018 under the Hong Kong based brand’s name.

Some may know the island, just off the coast of Mustique, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and 120 miles from Barbados, as a luxe destination—nicknamed a spot where the “billionaires go to escape the millionaires.” It has a rich history; the resort site formerly boasted a Trump-branded casino and has been managed previously by names like Rosewood and Raffles. But the current project, a 26-room resort made up entirely of one-and two-bedroom suites, plus 13 larger villas, is a complete re-envisioning of the prior iterations.

Visitors may find the property a bit reminiscent of its Barbadian sister Sandy Lane; the properties share Italian developer Antonio Saladino, as well as a penchant for pink umbrellas.

Tech-forward rooms are controlled by tablet, a modern touch. Two-room suites are perfect for families with older children or couples sharing a friendly getaway. The resort is small, but offers mighty amenities, including a nine-room spa set into the hillside, and a fitness center complete with Pilates equipment. Enjoy two fine dining restaurants (one international, one Asian), and a Hamptons-style bar, Turtles, as well as a pool lounge offering Peruvian Nikkei fare.

Spend your days poolside, snorkeling the island’s active coral reef, or on the par-72, Jim Fazio-designed golf course.

Canouan is tiny, just five square miles, but there’s no shortage of excitement at this tiny spot. Aman is rumored to be in talks about opening a resort on the island. A 120-slip marina at Sandy Lane Yacht Club and Residences was recently opened, and Soho House also has a fairly new location on the island.

The resort still has a short quarantine in place, even for vaccinated travelers. But if you can shelter in place in paradise for a few days (or we can book you an estate with a pool) it’s an ideal escape.

Getting Here: Hop on the resort’s Citation jet from a nearby island, and perhaps combine with a visit to Mustique, Grenada or St. Lucia?

Skip August in the Hamptons for … a Family Getaway to Mustique

Want to know a party trick? Ask someone what Princess Margaret, Tommy Hilfiger, Shania Twain and Mick Jagger have in common. It’s simple – all made Mustique their preferred vacation home destination. Yet another St. Vincent and the Grenadines island, this 2.2-square-mile haven is a billionaire’s playground that lets vacationers play for the cool rental rate of $15,000 and up per week.

The well-known island has flown under the radar with the misconception that it’s reserved strictly for royalty, billionaires and celebrities, when in fact, it’s a safe and welcoming paradise perfect for families craving a low-key getaway.

The hardest part? Choosing your preferred villa out of the 75 options in the rental pool. Each comes staffed with its own team, complete with housekeepers, chefs and more. We love a few, like the Lavender Hill Cottage, tucked into the hills above L’Anescoy Bay, which is perfect for a couple. The two-bedroom boasts a private yoga studio and beautiful views of the northern part of the island. Hummingbird is a Rockstar option for families, friends, or girlfriend/guys getaways, boasting sleek modern style designed by Italian architect Paolo Piva, 7 king bedrooms, a chef, 3 housekeepers, a gardener and a butler, 2 large swimming pools, 8 acres of private, lush gardens and insane sunset views. Zinnia is our pick for a multi-generational getaway, offering timeless colonial elegance and traditional gingerbread design, four bedrooms, two pools, and a staff of six.

There’s only one non-villa option on the island, the chic Cotton House Hotel, a former 18th century cotton warehouse turned luxury hotel. It offers 15 suites and cottages plus “the Residence,” its version of the presidential suite.

The place to gather on the island is Basil’s Bar, which was recently re-designed by the famous Phillipe Stark, but still boasts the same potent rum punches and casual attitude that has drawn guests for decades.

Days are usually spent by your private pool, in the Cotton House Spa, or taking in one of the island’s more active pursuits. Golf and tennis are popular, as is the island’s equestrian program. Hiking and watersports are also available, and a robust children’s program makes this one of the easier island escapes to go luxe with little ones in tow.

Getting Here: Mustique has its own fleet of 18-seater Twin Otter aircrafts that run daily from St Lucia, and during high season additional connecting flights are available from Barbados on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Of course, a private jet isn’t out of the question, either.

Bequia … Your Boho Island Alternative to the BVIs

Bequia, pronounced beck-way, didn’t have electricity until the 1960s and didn’t even boast formal roads until the 80s… but this boho-luxe island has long drawn low-key travelers that crave an escape from it all.

Bequia Beach Hotel is one many haven’t heard of, but it’s more than a decade old. Inspired by the neighboring island of Mustique, the resort offers two pools, three restaurants and full- or half-board plans for its 58 rooms, cottages and beachfront suites. Quiet and relaxation are the hallmarks of the island. The clear waters of the Grenadines are ideal for sailing and water sports, and the small but well-appointed spa is an excellent pre-nap activity.

Newer additions include villas in the Friendship Bay Estate. One of which boasts four-bedrooms, perfect for families thanks to its private pool. There’s also a new 114-foot Italian-built superyacht, Star of the Sea, available for charter for up to 12 overnight and featuring extras like a top-floor Jacuzzi, saloon of rich mahogany, and a lounge stocked with everything from the latest gaming to an extensive film collection. It’s also available as a day or sunset cruise.

Getting Here: Take a one-stop flight from New York and other East Coast locals, hop a charter from Barbados, and try out the “we’ll take care of the air” package for week+ stays, which covers the costs of roundtrip flights to and from Barbados or St. Lucia.

Kamalame Cay … Your Bahamas Alternative

Just off the Andros Great Barrier Reef in the Bahamas (the world’s third longest barrier reef) sits a 97-acre island best known for its bone fishing, powdery white sand, a serious “shoes optional” policy… and its legendary boozy lunch parties.

Kamalame Cay is an enforced digital detox (the island boasts barely any Wi-Fi) and a grown-over-time collection of casual beach cottages and suites. Stylish owners David and Michael King-Hew offer up authentic island hospitality in a warm and welcoming environment, and a penchant for inviting friends to visit from all over the world. As a result, boldfaced names keep popping up for visits, like Serena Williams, who spent her honeymoon here, Nicole Kidman, and the late David Rockefeller, for whom the island’s Rock House is named, are among the guest list, although the boldfaced names go on and on.

It’s easy to spend days exclusively by the beach, fishing, scuba-ing with gear from the on-island dive shop or enjoying a leisurely kayak. Tennis and bikes are also available for those who prefer on-land activity, as well as a chic overwater spa featuring organic OSEA products. Relax in the afternoon with a ‘Samson Special,’ a strong rum cocktail from the island’s bartender of the same name.

Need something a bit more indulgent? Plan your visit around one of the monthly lunches, a multi-course feast, complete with multi-course meals, DJs, and of course, plenty of free-flowing rosé. Pack your most stylish bikini and tunics – barefoot guests may be, but they trend towards the stylish city dweller and tech-exec types, many of whom fly in or yacht in just for the day.

Getting Here: It’s a 15-minute helicopter or private seaplane ride from Nassau, or a direct flight on Le Air; charters and ferries are also available from neighboring islands or Miami.

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