Twin otter aircraft, crystal blue waters, a reef just off the beach and over-water spa villas, one could be forgiven for thinking that the opulent Pink Sands Club was located in the Maldives, instead of its prime location on the tiny island of Canouan in St Vincent & The Grenadines.
Before reading the rest of my blog, why not check out the Pink Sands Club video
Pink Sands Club is the newest (and final) incarnation of what have been a number of luxury hotels on this beautiful gem of an island, only a 40-minute hopper flight from Barbados. A combination of just 26 suites and villas, the resort is described as a place where ‘billionaires come to escape millionaires’ and offers its guests a choice of 4 restaurants and two bars along with three beaches, a championship golf course and a spa with over-water treatment rooms.
One of the first things I noticed when I had the opportunity to visit in December was the sheer size of the property. Set in over 300 acres of land, the resort offers 26 suites and villas catering to around 60 guests. With the spacious lobby, grand restaurants and over-sized suites (the smallest suite starts at 120m2 and occupies a prime beachfront location). All suites are beautifully furnished in the finest marble and fabrics possible and it is easy to think you are visiting someone’s palatial home in the Italian Lakes or on the French Riviera. Coupled with a staff ratio of around 5 staff per guest, it is clear that this resort has analysed every aspect of its offering to ensure that guests in the resort feel looked after and comfortable, but most of all like they are the only people on the island.
It is hard to choose one particular highlight of my stay, as every aspect was so well thought out and this is something the resort is keen to promote to potential guests. The in-house concierge team are contactable before you arrive and happy to plan as much or as little as you wish to ensure your holiday is as personal and individual as possible. From pre-booking spa treatments, arranging dinner reservations, or suggesting cocktails at the 13th hole (a spot that has the most amazing island views and the perfect place to watch one of the finest sunsets in the western hemisphere!) to chartering one of the resorts many yachts/catamarans, the concierge team will take care of it all.
The spa is very Balinese in style but has several unique elements which I have never seen before. Two over-water spa villas give guests a chance to glimpse the abundant sea life through their glass flooring. The other treatment rooms are dotted up on the hillside and reached by either a winding staircase or via the funicular railway that whisks you silently to your cabin whilst giving you stunning ocean views, meaning it is the perfect way to unwind both before and after your treatment.
One of the most important parts of any holiday is the dining and Pink Sands Club did not disappoint. From the breakfast held daily at the Lagoon Café (when you are there say hi to Jennifer, Feiona and Dhannescia, these girls really are fantastic and so friendly) with choices ranging from cereals to freshly cooked dishes, such as a full English (no truck stop cafe style here!) to smoked salmon and scrambled eggs – the choices are endless. My top suggestion would be to wash it down with the five finger juice (starfruit to you and I) which was deliciously refreshing.
Lunch can be a casual affair with salads and sandwiches being served from the pool bar (hot dishes also available) or taking a golf buggy over to nearby Shell Beach which offers a beach bar/club atmosphere with more traditional Caribbean cuisine and the obligatory catch of the day – Mahi Mahi and Red Snapper were on the menu during our stay.
Dinner can alternative between the Lagoon Café you frequent at breakfast, to the twin restaurants Romeo & Juliet, both with their own unique cuisine and style. Juliet is the fine dining restaurant and is dominated by a grand colonial style bar which is often full with patrons listening to the resident hotel singer (by night she is Diana Ross but by day, works in construction on the property!). The food here is very refined, including foie gras and Beef Wellington, I loved the atmosphere in Juliet and the whole ambience transports you back to a bygone era. The sister restaurant, Romeo offers more fusion fare and open-kitchen cooking, allowing you to watch the teams create the delicacies as they are served to you. Our evening here consisted of shared plates of scrumptious sushi and desert platters. As a big fan of sushi I was really impressed with the quality and choice available, the Unagi was amazing and the tempura soft shell crab were by far my stand-out dishes.
Overall, there is no one word to describe my experience at Pink Sands Club, it was truly one of the most beautiful resorts I have every stayed in and the service, dining, facilities and atmosphere rival any true luxury destination in the world.
If this has piqued your interest feel free to give me a call on 0208 891 0166 or email me on [email protected] and I would be more than happy to give you all the information you need and have you on your way to paradise.