Apr 1, 2008
By Thom
Friday
Thom quizzes me on our 90-minute flight from Miami to Providenciales to visit the stunning new Amanyara, one of the Aman brand's 18 small luxury resorts worldwide. "Any guess on what the marketing slogan used to be for the Turks and Caicos Islands?" he asks. I've already seen the gorgeous images of Amanyara on their website, so I have a rough idea of what it should be.
"Endless beaches, chic resorts and lots of sun?"
"Close," he says. "But wrong. It used to be 'Where on Earth are the Turks and Caicos?' but they've since replaced it with 'Get Lost.'" He pays attention to these sorts of things.
On the quick 25-minute trip from the airport to Amanyara, I muse that both marketing slogans are spot on--even veteran Caribbean beach hands seem to forget about this British Crown Colony that hangs like a sand-swept apostrophe off the end of the Bahamas. Only eight of the 40 islands are inhabited, and for the celebrities and Sports Illustrated swimsuit photographers and models who come down for the powder-white beaches on "Provo"--as the main island is locally known--that's just fine.
For a resort on an island seemingly so far off the beaten path, Amanyara ("peaceful place") is about as luxuriously indulgent as they come. With 40 identically-beautiful glass and timber pavilions strung like jewels along a series of tranquil reflecting pools, this Aman resort made a big splash with discerning travelers when it opened in 2006. For those who really want to get away, the resort also has a number of private three-, four- and five-bedroom villas, each situated on a landscaped acre, and each with its own infinity pool.
We've been fortunate enough to find ourselves in Pavilion 115--one of the ocean pavilions--which overlooks a gentle, sandy cove bookended by ironshore.
That relaxation is the goal here is evident from the moment we stepped foot inside our retreat: There are two plush daybeds right off the entrance terrace. The pavilion itself is a stylized work of architecture--large sliding glass doors that invite in the trade winds, and three sculpted terraces with gorgeous views. And of course, there are all the modern amenities you could want: flat screen TV and DVD player (surround sound, of course), sunning mats, and a bathroom with a free-standing tub and a rain shower. With 1,200 feet of elegance, I feel like we've arrived in a temple.
Saturday
A buttery morning light awoke us instead of an alarm clock, and we were able to get in a round of tennis on one of the two HAR-TRU-- clay courts before the air got warm. While I relaxed with a complimentary yoga class at the Beach Club, Thom went snorkeling off the crescent beach. I suspect we both managed to sneak in so much activity because those daybeds looked so inviting?which is exactly where we spent the rest of the day.
After a late, spicy lunch of jerk chicken at The Restaurant--a wonderfully relaxing dining area split between an open-air deck and an air-conditioned area perfect for whale watching during the winter season, I booked one of the signature Aman Thai massages for the pavilion while Thom managed to get invited by another guest to go golfing at the nearby Provo Golf Club--an 18-hole championship course designed by Karl Litten and rated among the top ten in the Caribbean.
Sunday
The morning light here is the softest I've seen anywhere; it must be the diffused reflections off the amber sands, the turquoise sea, and of course the China-blue sky. We spent the morning enjoying the sundeck and then made our way down to the Beach Club for a country-club lunch of sandwiches and lemonade.
Most of the day passed just as the resort's name promises. By late afternoon we found ourselves at the wonderfully designed bar. After ordering two sundowners we retired to one of the nearby overstuffed lounging daybeds.
"It's not a bad slogan," Thom announced as we waited for our drinks, "'Get Lost.'"
The cocktails arrived; I took a sip and felt the coolness wash down, a nice complement to the sun-warmed cotton. I took in our relaxing surroundings and imagined the Turks and Caicos and Amanyara suddenly becoming too "unlost," and us never being able to get another reservation at Amanyara because it would be booked out forever.
"I can think of a better slogan," I said. "The Turks and Caicos--the best the South Pacific has to offer."
"A little misleading, being that we're in the Caribbean, don't you think?" Thom asked.
"Exactly," I said, slipped my sunglasses down and settled back on the bed.
"Endless beaches, chic resorts and lots of sun?"
"Close," he says. "But wrong. It used to be 'Where on Earth are the Turks and Caicos?' but they've since replaced it with 'Get Lost.'" He pays attention to these sorts of things.
On the quick 25-minute trip from the airport to Amanyara, I muse that both marketing slogans are spot on--even veteran Caribbean beach hands seem to forget about this British Crown Colony that hangs like a sand-swept apostrophe off the end of the Bahamas. Only eight of the 40 islands are inhabited, and for the celebrities and Sports Illustrated swimsuit photographers and models who come down for the powder-white beaches on "Provo"--as the main island is locally known--that's just fine.
For a resort on an island seemingly so far off the beaten path, Amanyara ("peaceful place") is about as luxuriously indulgent as they come. With 40 identically-beautiful glass and timber pavilions strung like jewels along a series of tranquil reflecting pools, this Aman resort made a big splash with discerning travelers when it opened in 2006. For those who really want to get away, the resort also has a number of private three-, four- and five-bedroom villas, each situated on a landscaped acre, and each with its own infinity pool.
We've been fortunate enough to find ourselves in Pavilion 115--one of the ocean pavilions--which overlooks a gentle, sandy cove bookended by ironshore.
That relaxation is the goal here is evident from the moment we stepped foot inside our retreat: There are two plush daybeds right off the entrance terrace. The pavilion itself is a stylized work of architecture--large sliding glass doors that invite in the trade winds, and three sculpted terraces with gorgeous views. And of course, there are all the modern amenities you could want: flat screen TV and DVD player (surround sound, of course), sunning mats, and a bathroom with a free-standing tub and a rain shower. With 1,200 feet of elegance, I feel like we've arrived in a temple.
Saturday
A buttery morning light awoke us instead of an alarm clock, and we were able to get in a round of tennis on one of the two HAR-TRU-- clay courts before the air got warm. While I relaxed with a complimentary yoga class at the Beach Club, Thom went snorkeling off the crescent beach. I suspect we both managed to sneak in so much activity because those daybeds looked so inviting?which is exactly where we spent the rest of the day.
After a late, spicy lunch of jerk chicken at The Restaurant--a wonderfully relaxing dining area split between an open-air deck and an air-conditioned area perfect for whale watching during the winter season, I booked one of the signature Aman Thai massages for the pavilion while Thom managed to get invited by another guest to go golfing at the nearby Provo Golf Club--an 18-hole championship course designed by Karl Litten and rated among the top ten in the Caribbean.
Sunday
The morning light here is the softest I've seen anywhere; it must be the diffused reflections off the amber sands, the turquoise sea, and of course the China-blue sky. We spent the morning enjoying the sundeck and then made our way down to the Beach Club for a country-club lunch of sandwiches and lemonade.
Most of the day passed just as the resort's name promises. By late afternoon we found ourselves at the wonderfully designed bar. After ordering two sundowners we retired to one of the nearby overstuffed lounging daybeds.
"It's not a bad slogan," Thom announced as we waited for our drinks, "'Get Lost.'"
The cocktails arrived; I took a sip and felt the coolness wash down, a nice complement to the sun-warmed cotton. I took in our relaxing surroundings and imagined the Turks and Caicos and Amanyara suddenly becoming too "unlost," and us never being able to get another reservation at Amanyara because it would be booked out forever.
"I can think of a better slogan," I said. "The Turks and Caicos--the best the South Pacific has to offer."
"A little misleading, being that we're in the Caribbean, don't you think?" Thom asked.
"Exactly," I said, slipped my sunglasses down and settled back on the bed.