R.Obert De Niro is well known for method acting to the brink of insanity.To understand the character of his role as psychopath Max Cady Cape FearFor example, he had his teeth cleaned by a dentist (he spent $20,000 to fix them after the shoot). He is also a perfectionist in the hospitality business. At his hotel in New York, Greenwich, he handcrafted every brick to one of 20 specifications to create exactly the crumbling patina he had in mind. Now his laser focus is on Antigua’s twin sister and neighbor, the Caribbean island of Barbuda.
Until now, Barbuda’s claim to fame was that it was Princess Diana’s favorite retreat. Access Beach’s golden crescent in the ’90s put the island on the radar enough to be renamed Powder Fine Stretch’s Princess Diana Beach in 2011. Six years later, disaster struck when Hurricane Irma tore the island apart.
Now De Niro is part of a trailblazer aiming to turn Barbuda into the hottest place in the Caribbean.
Nobu Barbuda — De Niro’s newest restaurant and beach club (noburestaurants.com), opening in November — occupies a prime location on Princess Diana Beach, where sophisticated Zen style brings urban sophistication to the West Indies. I have. It’s entirely possible that Antigua regulars Giorgio Armani, Oprah his Winfrey and Lionel his Messi will come to the next cabana and treat themselves to Nobu’s signature dishes like miso black cod and bar boudin his lobster. I have.
The restaurant is the first salvo of Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez’s 10-year master plan to transform Barbuda into an “enhanced St. Bart’s.” His blueprints also include luxury resorts such as the Nobu Beach Inn, a boutique hotel, wellness retreat and organic farm next to restaurants.
Barbuda’s enduring attraction is its natural assets, so if you’re not into star spots, birdwatching is always a treat. Here you’ll find the world’s largest colony of frigatebirds, the Red Arrow display’s Bird Answer, and a reef ring where you can check out turtles, rays, and other casts. finding nemoIt also has some of the most beautiful palm-fringed pink and white beaches in the area, including one called 11 Mile Beach (you can guess why).
Antigua is more developed, but less attractive. It has beaches so spectacular that St. Lucians honeymoon, exceptional sailing and minimal crime. It’s the Caribbean island closest to Britain and as a result always popular with British families and silver-haired winter sun warriors. Digital Nomads — Due to Antigua’s relatively good pandemic (recording 145 deaths and restrictions being lifted very quickly), it’s firmly on the map of millennials as a nice place to sit in lockdown and settled.
Seafood Platter at Nobu on Barbuda
This young market has sparked an exponential growth in Airbnb listings. Last year he increased by 50%, making the island more affordable for travelers. The presence of self-catering operators has encouraged the chef to open restaurants outside his all-inclusive resorts, which are traditional staples of Antiguan’s tourism industry.
One of the best restaurants is the Asian-style Lokuni on Nonsuch Bay. Gaze down at eagle rays floating in turquoise waters, or look up at Silvio Berlusconi’s palatial mansion while eating delicious truffle-coated dumplings. (Mains from £17; rokuni-antigua.com).
● The most luxurious villa in Antigua
Best hotel in Antigua
For something more authentic, dishes such as black pineapple marinated pork and West Indian fish curry are rave reviews at the new Fox House, a Creole farm-to-table experience at St Mary’s (mains from £17 ; thefox houseantigua.com). .
Antigua is also capitalizing on the global trend for luxury holiday villas. Construction is underway at Pearnes Point, a lush west coast peninsula with pristine beaches and coral reefs. Homes such as the Rothschild banking dynasty and the Thomson family, billionaire owners of Thomson Reuters news agency, cost £18 million and snapped the plot (peanspoint.com).
The hotel scene is also exciting. International brand Nikki Beach, known for its state-of-the-art beach facilities in Saint-Tropez and Marbella, is building resorts, while high-profile chains such as One&Only scout his sites.
On the other hand, upgrades of existing properties are also progressing. Next month, Tamarind Hills, which straddles two of Antigua’s best beaches, Darkwood and Ffryes, unveils 46 one-bedroom villas with whitewashed minimalist moodboards. It contrasts with his existing 57 rooms, which feature colorful Caribbean décor. It also adds a contemporary seaside restaurant and a pool with a swim-up bar.
Tamarind Hills in Antigua
fin partners
For De Niro, choosing this corner for his first Caribbean hotel was a simple one. It’s a wonderful spot like no other. The place and people are special. “
Susan Darcy was a guest of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Board (visitantigua barbuda.com). Room-only doubles from £335 (tamarind hills.com). Travel between Antigua and Barbuda by ferry takes him 90 minutes and the return trip costs him £87 per person (barbuda express.com).fly to antigua
Castries of Saint Lucia
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What’s New in the Caribbean?
Saint Lucia
Hideaway for adults only
A 50-minute lesson in the art of Swedish massage is just one of the many ways couples can enrich their relationship at the new adults-only StolenTime by Rendezvous resort. Located by two miles of beach near Castries, this 100-room property focuses on reconnecting experiences, from date nights and wine tastings to guidance on how to really switch off. increase. Expect water sports, diving, tennis, archery, cooking classes and mixology competitions.
detail From £2,499 per person for 7 nights all inclusive including flights and transfers departing 13 Nov (tropicalsky.co.uk)
yacht adventure
For the first time in two years, VentureSail Holidays is offering full winter Caribbean voyages on luxury sailing yachts and tall vessels. Her two-masted Ketch Chronos, which left Soufrière shortly after Christmas, with 13 ensuite doubles her cabin, made her eight-day voyage south to Carriac, Bequia and Tobago Cayes. stop. No sailing experience required. Just a desire for adventure.
detail A 7 night full board luxury New Year sailing itinerary from £2,670 per person, including most meals, departing 28th December (venturesailholidays.com).fly to saint lucia
Kayaking the East Coast
Beyond popular beach resorts is Praslin Bay on St. Lucia’s less developed east coast. Kayak on the Bay is a new company offering small boat tours, kayaking, hiking and optional beach barbecues. Surrounded by mangroves and with two miles of sandbars, it’s a great place for birdwatching and learning about seaweed farms. Red seaweed is harvested for health and food uses.
detail 3-hour boat trip from £26 per person (book on Instagram @kayakonthebay)
Tui will homeport the Marrera Discovery and Marrera Explorer 2 in Barbados.
barbados
set sail now
Tui will homeport two cruise ships, Marella Discovery and Marella Explorer 2, in Barbados this winter. In addition to time in Barbados, the cruise makes port calls in the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and the Grenadines. Departures are from 20 November to 13 April, with charter flights available from Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and other regional airports.
detail 7-night Caribbean Dreams itineraries from £1,362 including flights departing 26 January 2023 (tui.co.uk)
go underground
Harrison’s Cave is a dramatic two-mile natural attraction in the heart of this limestone island. Best seen on a 1-hour underground tram tour. To add to the fun, there is a new eco-adventure park. Highlights include a 100-foot aerial zip line and 14 test gully challenge courses (6 year old minimum). Both took him 4 hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off. For the daring, there are nature trails and rum tastings.
detail Combined experience £120pp (chukka.com)
wasps are from barbados
Walker Reserve is a huge sand quarry on the northeast coast that is now depleted and is being transformed into an organic, self-sustaining ecosystem. The purpose is to provide the island with food and employment. Guided walking and driving tours are available if you want to explore the site. His two-hour tour to a professional beekeeper includes a jar of sweet and gooey stuff.
detail Beekeeping tours from £87 per person. Minimum of 2 guests (wired.org)
Jamaica
let’s go downtown
Planning to start or end your beach break in Kingston? While most luxury hotels in Jamaica’s capital Jamaica tend to be in the New Kingston neighborhood, the 168-room ROK Hotel, which opened in July, is part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. It was the first Caribbean venue and overlooks the waterfront in the downtown area. Guests are steps away from the National Gallery and have access to landmarks such as outdoor craft markets, reggae history, amazing street art, and Kingston City Hall.
detail B&Bs double from £200 (hilton.com).fly to kingston
spa now
Ever wondered how the herbs, plants, spices and fruits used in your spa treatments are sourced? , introduced free, therapist-led tours of its tropical gardens that show how ingredients such as papaya, pineapple, lemongrass, and coffee are used to create beauty products. .
detail 7 nights B&B starting 14 November from £2,840 per person, including flights and transfers (elegantresorts.co.uk)
small is beautiful
This charismatic Island Explore small-group tour now includes a visit to Charles Town, a semi-autonomous community in Buff Bay. Here, the Maroons, descendants of freed and runaway slaves, maintain a unique culture. The trip also visits the amazing Bob His Marley Museum in Kingston and includes forest hikes, his river rafting and an insight into the Rastafarian lifestyle.
detail 9 nights B&B from £1,860 per person starting 31st October (explore.co.uk).fly to kingston
grenada
flight club
British Airways will increase its flights from Gatwick to Spice Isle to three times a week from 30 October. New luxury resorts from top names Silver Sands and Six Senses are just a stone’s throw away, so bag a newly designed two-bedroom penthouse and private he pool. Family owned Calabash Grenada available from 1st October.
detail 7 Nights B&B From £3,749 Per Person Departing 6 Nov Including Flight And Transfers (caribtours.co.uk)
keep it simple
Looking for a discreet place to put your hat? Simple Stays is a new collection of small government-approved hotels, cottages and apartments in their little brothers Grenada and Carriacou. Top picks are his three cottages at the lush Mount Edge Kom Cacao Plantation and Bogle’s Roundhouse. Explore the website for ideas for river trips, kayaking, hiking and chocolate tours.
detail B&Bs double from £74 at Bogles Round House and from £130 at Mount Edgecombe (simplestays.puregrenada.com)
villa thriller
Kuoni has added Grenada to its collection of Caribbean holidays. Where are you going? Try the lesser known 473 Boutique Resort. Located on a private peninsula, it offers one to three bedroom villas, two secluded beaches and a shared pool. You’ll need a car to see the rest of Grenada, but the local beaches in this southern part of the island are almost certainly deserted.
detail 7 Nights B&B From £3,499 Per Person Departing 8 March Including Flights And Transfers (kuoni.co.uk)
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