Grace Bay Club

Frommer's Review

This supremely comfortable luxury boutique resort sets the bar for exemplary service in the TCI. One of the island's older hotels (opened in 1993), the Grace Bay Club remains one of the finest lodgings in the Caribbean by constantly reinventing and refreshing itself but staying true to its original commitment to excellence. You'll get plenty of pampering and superb food for your money -- and a whopping repeat business proves they're doing something right. It doesn't hurt that the resort sits on the largest oceanfront acreage on Grace Bay, property that more than doubled in length after the acquisition of additional footage in 2005. The hotel has accomplished the neat trick of creating two hotels in one: one, the romantic 21-suite hotel that was completely revamped and reopened in 2007 complete with its own pool and bar and restaurant (Anacaona); the other, 38 luxurious, family-friendly condos positioned within four low-density "villas," each set directly on the beach and with its own pool and restaurant (Grill Rouge). Everyone has the same fabulous Grace Bay views. There is no official line of demarcation, and if a kid wanders over to the adult pool, no sirens go off. But peace prevails.

Among the glam new touches: 100 canopied four-poster beds lining the Grace Bay beach -- a touch of decadent luxury for the very laid-back. And scheduled to open in late 2008, the Estate at Grace Bay Club features 22 custom-designed luxury residences.

The resort structures have a sun-burnished Mediterranean look and feel. Each of the villa accommodations personifies easy, comfortable elegance, with travertine-tile floors, custom-made imported furnishings, deep private patios, and magnificent oceanfront views. Each suite (except junior suites) and penthouse has its own state-of-the-art kitchen (granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances), washing machine, and dryer. The four 446-sq.-m (4,800-sq.-ft.) penthouses have spectacular views, oceanfront showers, and outdoor Jacuzzis, among other luxuries. Suites contain dining tables that can seat 12, and an increasingly popular trend, particularly during the Christmas holidays, is to hire one of the resort chefs to cook a private in-suite dinner (starting at $200/£100 per person). The on-site Spa Anani (open 9am-6pm) offers massages, facials, and other services -- it's small but its treatments are top-notch.

The hotel's main restaurant, Anacaona, is one of Provo's top restaurants (no kids 12 and under). Families can dine in the new Grill Rouge, which offers casual alfresco dining with grilled seafood, panini, salads, and a kids' menu. The beachfront Lounge, with its Hamptons-style white-cushion seating and glowing fire pit, is one of the best spots on the island to have a cocktail and watch the sunset on Grace Bay; it now serves a tapas menu. But for sheer heat, the Lounge has some serious competition: A new sister watering hole, the very sexy Infinity Bar, boasts the longest bar in the Caribbean, a sleek ribbon of black marble inset with glittering blue lights.

The Kid's Town program (kids 5-12) offers a full menu of kid-friendly eco-activities and half- or full-day excursions, including snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, and crafts; a dinnertime "camp-out" on the beach may include hot dogs and s'mores by a campfire, an astronomy lesson, and a movie and popcorn in the Kid's Town playroom.

Facilities: 2 restaurants; 2 bars; 2 outdoor pools; 2 lit tennis courts; fitness center; 465-sq.-m (5,000-sq.-ft.) spa; Jacuzzi; boating excursions; deep-sea fishing; kayaks; sailing; windsurfing; bikes; car rental; business center; Wi-Fi; boutique; room service (7am-9pm daily); massage; laundry service; afternoon tea (3:30-4:30pm).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Back to Top