Fingers crossed, but things are looking positive for transatlantic holidays next year. North America is back on the travel map after first Canada, then the United States, lifted a year-and-a-half ban on Britons visiting for anything less than “essential” reasons. The Caribbean, meanwhile, has largely been open to UK travellers for some time now. Various vaccine stipulations still apply, but for the many thousands who have been yearning to return to these three perennially popular holiday destinations since the pandemic’s onset, the situation looks a great deal brighter than it did previously.
The omicron variant is the obvious potential stumbling block – the US, for instance, has now tightened pre-departure testing rules. But borders remain open, and while it’s never safe to assume in the current climate, it could be worth taking a gamble on a city break, road trip, beach retreat or wilderness escape next year. Whatever takes your fancy, here are some of the top US and Caribbean hotels to inspire your travels.
Jade Mountain
Soufrière, St Lucia
Best for: Blow-the-budget decadence
This showstopper of a hotel is so special it’s the subject of its own TV episode (Amazing Hotels, BBC iPlayer). Design is a labour of love by husband and wife owners Nick and Karolin Troubetzkoy, and the building itself, set in 600 acres, is a work of architectural genius, built into a hillside in a setting that’s as close to an Edenic paradise as is imaginable. Rooms are all open-air, with one wall missing – ours, an end room (or ‘Galaxy Sanctuary’), was missing two – so you can look out to the Caribbean Sea and the striking Pitons (volcanic plugs) from bed, from the sunloungers, from the breakfast table and, best of all, from the large private infinity pool. The rooms are angled such that they’re completely private (which is why the hotel is popular with Hollywood stars and Royals) and sheltered from tropical rainstorms too. Ours came with yoga mats for morning stretches, a well-stocked minibar (a bento box of homemade treats is replenished every day) and wine fridge, plus it had the accolade of the world’s sexiest bathtub, big enough for three, raised on a plinth and then sunken into it, so you can see the Pitons as you soak. Our ‘majordomo’ (butler) was on call 24 hours for all of our needs (including satisfying our pudding habit – the dessert menu alone is worth the transatlantic flight) and shuttles will whisk you to the neighbouring resort of Anse Chastanet for dinner or to the resort’s two beaches – the smaller and more hidden of the two serves the best burgers on the island.
Stella loves: The Chocolate Laboratory, an air-conditioned kitchen where you can join a chocolate-making workshop and prepare your own bar with delicious toppings – coconut, salted cashews, white chocolate buttons… Sprinkle liberally!
Out and about: Head to the hotel’s private beach and hire snorkels, paddleboards and kayaks – the bay is calm and the sunloungers have waiter service, so this is the best spot to pass the days. There’s also a small plantation on the estate, with mountain bikes for hire and escorted bike tours. Plenty more excursions are available too, everything from rum-tasting to paddleboard yoga to a champagne sunset cruise (highly recommended), complete with a live saxophonist, free bar and enough romantic tunes to inspire a vow renewal on the spot (unless you’re already there on honeymoon, which many were). For a bird’s-eye view of the resort, book on to a guided hike of the Pitons – or for a less strenuous jaunt, try the equally beautiful Tet Paul nature trail.
How to book: Rooms from £807 a night, plus service charge; jademountain.com. Read the full expert review here
