4 Caribbean wellness retreats for a Winter escape

By Tiffany Dowd From US News

Courtesy Regent Palms

If you’re suffering from some post-holiday blues and the chilly air is making it hard to keep your New Year’s health resolutions, it’s time to head somewhere warm. These four Caribbean resorts provide the ideal backdrop for a re-inspired winter warm-up. From stand-up paddle boarding fitness classes to Caribbean-inspired spa treatments, you’ll feel renewed and rejuvenated while staying fit and having fun under the sun.

Regent Palms

Turks & Caicos

If a spa getaway is more your style, head to Regent Palms. Situated on the main island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos and only a 90-minute flight from Miami, the resort boasts a 25,000-square-foot spa touting an impressive array of holistic treatments. Your skin will feel baby-soft after indulging in the signature Mother of Pearl Body Exfoliation, which uses locally sourced queen conch shells hand-crushed and combined with aromatherapy oils to polish the skin. If you’re looking for a full-body detox, consider the 90-minute Zareeba treatment, where you’ll inhale an infusion of freshly brewed herbs followed by a cooling wrap and body massage. When you’re not relaxing at the spa, sign up for a variety of daily fitness and yoga classes. Afterward, you won’t feel an ounce of guilt indulging in the fresh Bambarra rum butter poached King prawns at the resort’s Parallel23 restaurant. Nightly resort rates start at $850 per person; spa rates vary.

Curtain Bluff

Antigua

Courtesy Curtain Bluff

For an all-inclusive getaway that will make you feel like you’re at summer camp thanks to its endless array of all-inclusive activities (ranging from snorkeling to diving to tennis), Antigua’s Curtain Bluff is the place. The resort boasts two beaches, two restaurants and a tennis program that includes three resident pros. Tennis lovers will love the resort’s popular tennis week events (May 2 to 9, 2015), which attract the biggest names in tennis and are well-suited for beginners and pros alike. When you’re not perfecting your backhand, indulge in the spa’s Caribbean Green Coffee wrap while taking in the oceanfront views. Or, start your day by listening to the lapping waves during yoga and Pilates classes. All-inclusive, double-occupancy rates from $790 including accommodations and most activities, meals and drinks. Spa treatments and tennis lessons cost extra.

Le Guanahani & Spa

St. Barts

If complete seclusion is what you seek, splurge on a trip to Le Guanahani & Spa. This isolated resort is sprawled across 18 acres on its own peninsula on St. Barts’ northeastern shore. The six-night Blissful Spa package will set you back $4,590, but it includes a daily breakfast, three treatments at the on-site Clarins Spa and one hour of a private wellness session (think Pilates or Zumba) per person per stay. If you don’t opt in to the spa package, you’ll find plenty of other wellness options vying for your attention, including Zumba classes, stand-up paddle boarding and yoga. Plus, all wellness sessions are held on the beach, in a coconut grove or at the spa. Le Guanahani is also the only hotel on the island that offers deep-sea Atlantic fishing trips in combination with a chef-prepared dinner.

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

Anguilla

Courtesy CuisinArt Resort & Spa

For a magnificent beach, a gorgeous spa and innovative meals, head to CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa on on the western end of Anguilla. After a day of golfing on the resort’s Greg Norman-designed course or snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea, indulge in a Healing Waters Mineral Soak at the resort’s Venus Spa. The treatment uses a combination of fresh water and mineral sea salt to activate circulation, promote detoxification and relieve tension and muscle aches. Other treatments, such as the Anguillian Coconut Pineapple Scrub, draw on the island’s natural healing properties. Meanwhile, foodies will enjoy a private tour of the resort’s hydroponic farm, which supplies the ingredients for the resort’s health-focused restaurants (five in total). After yoga class, you can perfect your tan at the resort’s infinity pool (which extends from the main building to the beach bar) or on the white sand beach on Rendezvous Bay. Nightly rates start at $650.

About the author: Tiffany Dowd is the founder and president of Luxe Social Media and a global luxury hotel expert. You can follow her on Twitter @LuxeTiffany, Facebook and Instagram, connect with her on LinkedIn and add her to your circles on Google+.

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