A friend of HotelChatter is bugging us about the US Airways sale that's currently on until March 5. "Come on," the FoHC told us last night. "We gotta get some sun." It may be true, and Antigua does have killer rays to soak up. But where would we stay for under $600?
The Dian Bay Resort & Spa might fit the bill. There are 34 ocean view rooms to choose from at Dian Bay, all of which come with smallish terraces. The beach directly in front of the property doesn't offer much, but, hey, that's what water taxis are for. The hotel ferries guests across the bay to another sandy strip when sunbathing duty calls.
So what's the catch? Might be this:
The resort's remote location makes it difficult to get to dining spots on the island, unless you rent a car for your stay or take a taxi, which, although easy to arrange, can get expensive after a few trips.
True, but you can't beat rates that start under $200. Use the money you save to tip those cabbies!
[Ed. Note: This is the Bad Rate in our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature. This rate was valid on January 23, 2007 and is subject to change. Enjoy.]
There's a little secret in the lodging industry that when a hotel announces the completion of some multi-million dollar renovation, you'll soon be paying for that fancy new "Balinese-inspired spa" whether you use it or not. Apparently guests of the renovated Westin Rio Mar in Puerto Rico will really be paying for it--to the tune of $509 per night.
If you thought an escape to Puerto Rico would be a way to get a Caribbean deal without getting a passport, well, let's say you'd be better off going to a Westin in Florida than the one here. We thought something must be amiss when we saw rates of $429 for a "resort view" room and $499 for an "ocean view" room in March on a popular hotel booking site--no meals included. It was just a shade less than the rate for the island's Ritz-Carlton.
So we visited the hotel's own site to look for a package. The best we could do there was this screen shot: a tad less for the bad view rooms, but $509 for the ones with a glimpse of sea. Apparently the rooms look good enough to eat though. "Recalling the golden glow of beautifully tanned skin, the rooms' color palette includes a blend of chili, cinnamon and mahogany, with accent shades of olive and amber."
You don't get much out of this package besides breakfast, but at least the taxes and resort fee are folded into the room rate (as the latter should be anyway). So unless you can surf around and find a better nightly rate elsewhere, this is probably the best you're going to be able to do at the Westin. Add in another $450 to $700 each for a flight and you may be better off hitting Miami or the Keys instead--or finally getting your butt in gear to apply for a passport!
[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which is better worth your hard-earned benjamins. The screenshot here was taken on January 23, 2007 and rates are subject to change.]
Today is the day when Americans can't re-enter the U.S. without a passport, so Puerto Rico has been spending a lot of money and manpower to get the word out that they are a Caribbean alternative for procrastinators. Since it's a U.S. territory, no passport required.
Whether it's this new demand or just rate inflation, the hotel prices there are no bargain, and on par with or above most resort areas in the U.S. itself. (See today's Bad Rate for a sampling.) One exception is the secluded and laid-back Villa Montana, near the town of Aguadilla, in the northwest Porta del Sol area of the main island. This low-rise resort on a 3-mile stretch of empty beach stands in stark contrast to the sea of standard concrete high-rises so prevalent on the island. It presents a more traditional Caribbean face, with 35 acres of tropical vegetation and verandahs meant for swinging in a hammock.
It's also half the price of the standard international chains, despite a little fame brought by a 2006 photo spread in Elle. High season rates are running $220 to $340 for a one-bedroom unit--the latter a suite. Spend in the range of today's Bad Rate and you get a 2-bedroom suite with two baths, a full kitchen, a laundry room, TV with DVD player, and a CD stereo. This is also one of the most eco-friendly resorts in Puerto Rico, working hard to follow sustainable tourism practices and maintaining an organic kitchen--complete with their own garden.
For those looking for a place just like they'd find in their home city, Villa Montana probably won't be the best choice. For a true Caribbean getaway where you can forget about home for a while, however, this is a Good Rate.
Just over three years old, Antigua's Carlisle Bay is one of those relaxing luxury hotels that not too many people ever complain about. And this week a Guardian reviewer in the UK found cause to pretty much rave about it:
It manages to pull off the difficult trick of being fabulously cool and completely unintimidating. Though you won't find much in the way of folkloric evenings, pirate hats, steel bands or umbrellas in the cocktails, you will find gorgeous split-level rooms in cool greys - all designed to give a jaw-dropping view over the ocean from your bed - giant bathrooms and walk-in showers, nine tennis courts, a good gym and spa, and of course great food, tending towards a sort of Pacific fusion thingy.
The Carlisle Bay's website likes to go on about the hotel's "wow factors", including the private cinema, extensive library collection and the new "Cool Kids Club". We think if you can lie in bed and look over the ocean, you really don't need anything else. Maybe some occasional room service deliveries of Pacific fusion thingy food.
If you're shopping around for a baby this Christmas season and would rather do it the old-fashioned way than the Madonna Malawi adoption way, consider jaunting off to the Caribbean as a conception destination.
Hotels are catering more and more to those looking to find a pink plus sign in the confines of their very own hotel. Maybe they're honeymooners, maybe they're five years into marriage. Point is, if you want a place escape the sounds and stress of your city life to help you procreate, why not the Caribbean.
Jumby Bay Resort made ZoomandGo.com's list of top places to make a baby which we brought to you some time ago. Jumby Bay boasts 300 acres in Antigua, many of them being white sand beaches. Think hammocks, perfumed air, and cocktails and babies are sure to follow. And although there is plenty to do at this place and on the island, you shouldn't need leave. Forget the tennis courts, snorkeling excursions, and island hopping tours. One couple who recently stayed claims "there was never reason to leave the room." Ah-ha! It's practically instant-baby.
If all the love making tires you out, another couple recommends hitting the bar for the Jumby's specialty drink, the "Cool Me Off."
After that, return to room and repeat and often as necessary.
