A Starwood Capital Group Caribbean destination frequented by visitors from around the world is back after facing Hurricane Irma last fall. Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla, designed by Kelly Wearstler, has a total 132 residences.
“Our beachfront villas are really spectacular,” said Nick Cassini, senior vice president of marketing of IMI Worldwide Properties — a leading luxury resort marketing and sales firm and the exclusive worldwide marketer and seller for Four Seasons Private Residences Anguilla. “It’s a setting unlike anything else.”
There are 33 world-class beaches and 30 restaurants located throughout the island. Other amenities included are three tennis courts, a full-size NBA basketball court, gym, spa and three swimming pools.
Residents and guests are also invited to participate in Anguilla Stronger, a campaign that has raised more than $1.7 million and has delivered more than 240,000 pounds of food, hygiene and household supplies to local Anguillans who were affected by the hurricane. — Brielle Bryan
Images courtesy Four Seasons Resorts & Residences Anguilla
Providing high-end amenities and views of the Caribbean Sea, these four luxury developments are gaining traction among homeowners and travelers.
By Brielle Bryan
Photo courtesy of Mahogany Bay Village
Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Caye Chapel
Four Seasons Private Estates Caye Chapel
Located in the heart of Belize’s largest marine sanctuary, this private island invites guests to connect with nature while enjoying the level of personal service and luxurious amenities that Four Seasons offers. Opening in 2021, Caye Chapel will feature approximately 50 Four Seasons Private Estates, with opportunities starting at $2 million.
Erasing the line between indoor and outdoor, these exclusive lots encourage owners to take advantage of the unparalleled access to the natural environment of Belize through boat expeditions, snorkeling, paddle boarding, diving, mainland exploration and more. In addition to the private estates, the 2.5-mile island of Caye Chapel will feature a 100-room Four Seasons Resort, 35 Private Residences, a private airstrip, a Fabien Cousteau Nature and Conservation Institute, an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course, bustling Harbor and Marina village, world-class dining options and a stylish Beach Club.
The Ellysian
The Ellysian is owned by Belize’s Prime Minister’s wife, Kim Barrow, and opened in May of 2017. The boutique property is ideally located within the charming and vibrant village of Placencia, placed perfectly along Belize’s Southern Coast. Upon arrival, guests are immersed into an incomparably lush escape that is in walking distance to local artisan shops, restaurants and sites the village has to offer.
There are 12 beautiful rooms at The Ellysian, consisting of beach view studios and one-bedroom suites. The limited number of suites at The Ellysian ensures guests are afforded privacy and a higher standard of personalized service. Each suite is fitted with a private veranda, viewing either the Caribbean sea or the famous sidewalk center of the village. The boutique hotel values making a difference in the community, and as a result, it supports several charitable organizations such as the Belize Cancer Center and The Placencia Humane Society.
Photos courtesy of The Ellysian
Mahogany Bay Village
Mahogany Bay Village is a fresh and energized take on the conventional resort community. The Village is made up of Belize’s first global luxury branded resort, a collection of customizable homes, and a bustling retail marketplace. Located on the soulful island of Ambergris Caye, Mahogany Bay Village, which just opened in December, sits no more than 10 minutes from the colorful eateries and shops of the historic San Pedro Town.
Photos courtesy of Mahogany Bay Village
Dream Hotel Group
In January, the Dream Hotel Group announced the development of two new hotels in Belize: Unscripted Belize and Dream Belize. The first of the two Belize openings for the group, Unscripted Belize, will debut in late 2018 with 24 beachfront cabana accommodations that will be steps away from the Caribbean Sea. With an open-air concept, the property will also feature an outdoor restaurant and bar, an expansive pool area and two private boats for snorkeling and scuba diving.
In 2020, Dream Belize will feature 100 guestrooms and suites, 120 hotel condominiums and 40 branded residential home sites. Also included will be four vibrant dining and nightlife concepts, three pools, a luxury spa and fitness center and multiple coworking suites to round out the dynamic resort offerings.
Photo courtesy of Gensler
Hualalai’s individual communities each possess unique character and ambiance, all offering spectacular vistas and cooling tradewinds.
By Camilla McLaughlin
All photos courtesy Hualalai
An old Hawaiian saying is, “You don’t choose the island, the island chooses you.” After a recent visit to Hualalai on the island of Hawaii, I left completely smitten by the magic of the place, and in my wildest dreams I tend to think maybe I am one of the chosen.
It doesn’t take long to fall under the spell. Arrive at Hualalai and you’re greeted with a mai tai and a lei. Check-in takes place in a comfortable open-air space with the ocean shimmering under the moonlight in the distance. In a region awash with five-star properties, Hualalai is a standout, and what makes it so exceptional is passion — passion for the property paired with a reverence for the land and the Hawaiian culture that is shared by everyone who works there. It permeates every aspect of the resort from architecture to food to the Alaka‘ i Nalu, explorers of the waves. Very few places are able to orchestrate such a fine balance between authenticity, a connection to the land and a superlative guest experience.
During a recent visit, anticipation of an annual food and wine celebration with visiting celebrity chefs, was full on. An herb garden was being readied for a pop-up cooking academy. Chefs worked with David Choi, director of natural resources, to gather salt from a nearby stretch of beach. Also at the ready was a stock of oysters grown onsite in a lake fed by a subterranean aquifer and drawn through lava wells, only one of a couple sites verified by the state for this cultivation. These oysters are only available to residents and guests at the resort.
In addition to a Four Season’s resort, Hualalai includes residences ranging from villas to custom homes. Outdoor shower gardens, walls that disappear to open homes to the tradewinds, and designs that uniquely align with today’s lifestyle preferences are hallmarks, as are views of distant mountains and Maui. Almost everywhere, the ocean forms a backdrop thanks to changing elevations. Owners have extensive private amenities, including a clubhouse and restaurants. One of the resort’s two golf courses is private. Also reserved for residents is a beachfront restaurant, a prime place for dinner and sunset cocktails. Chefs at all the restaurants are masters at coaxing the best from the local bounty.
Rather than buildings, the most prominent feature here is the landscape — miles of coastline and lava rocks, an iconic signature of the island. The grounds are extensive with pathways that meander past low-slung bungalows embraced by a jungle landscape. Locals like to say the resort sits lightly on the land, and that’s only possible when development is guided by a commitment to stewardship.
With a premier location, limited inventory and no comparable offering in the Valley, it is no shock these homes are selling fast.
Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Napa Valley, which is slated to open in early 2019, will offer 20 private residences — 14 of which have already been reserved. The homes sold in only seven months, leaving only 6 residences available.
One of the most unique offerings available to residence owners will be the winery and vineyard located on the property, which will be led by renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Residence owners will have the opportunity to be involved in the winemaking process, from harvesting and fermentation to blending and bottling. In addition, the winery’s private wine room and private tasting area will be accessible exclusively to residence owners.
The residences, designed by Architect John Hill, feature spacious indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces, multiple master suites, a 2-car garage and private terraces.
Residence owners may also choose a furnishing package designed by Erin Martin Interior Design, have the option to utilize a short-term rental program or enjoy VIP access to the resort’s collection of amenities. Amenities includes a restaurant, spa, and indoor and outdoor fitness center. It is also within close proximity to the 47-mile Vine Trail.
Construction of the 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom residences has begun under the management of Bald Mountain Development. Pricing for homes begins at $3.5 million.
Photos courtesy of Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Napa Valley