CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla has one of the largest and most spectacular resort spas in the Caribbean. (And yes, it's owned by the same tycoon who makes the famous food processor and cookware line.)
Most spas in the Caribbean are simple affairs -- a place to get a massage while you're at the beach. But CuisinArt's Venus Spa, which went through a major expansion in 2008, is now a state-of-the-art resort spa. It has 15 treatment rooms, including a VIP/couples suite, a Men's Club Room, and a spectacular "Healing Waters Pool" for aqua reflexology and aqua massage (a less intimate adaptation of watsu)
One-Minute Walk to the Beach
I went down shortly after the opening to check it out. I flew into nearby St. Maarten (there's a direct flight from JFK) and caught a boat over to Anguilla. It took a while to get through customs, but the wait was worth it.
First, this small luxury resort with a white-washed Mediterranean look has an INCREDIBLE location. It's right on the beach, with sugary white sand and spectacular views of the volcanic mountains of nearby St. Maarten. And 80 of the 93 rooms face directly onto the beach, which is wide open and uncrowded. At night, I flung my doors open and went to sleep to the sound of the waves gently rolling in.
The beach, in fact, is the star attraction. I showed up at 3 PM one day, just in time for sorbet and biscotti! One of the staff took me out for a sail in a Hobie Cat (at least I think that's what it's called.) I walked up and down the beach, in the morning, in the late afternoon, at night. I lay on a beach chair. I swam. I relaxed. I watched the foamy water wash over my feet. I admired the mountains of St. Maarten. This was just about as good as a spa treatment!
One night I lay in a beach chair and looked at the brilliant moon reflected on the water and it was just magic. Two minutes later I was in my room. So the place itself has a very intimate feel -- no riding around in carts! If you love beaches, this is one of the very best.
Hydroponic Farm Grows For The Kitchen AND Spa
And if you care about the quality of your food, CuisinArt Resort & Spa cares too. It grows its own lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and herbs in a hydroponic farm so it can get the freshest, highest quality produce to accompany local fish and other specialties. The farm even sends over fresh herbs, cucumber, and aloe for some of the body treatments treatments at the spa.
The spa has all the amenities you would expect from a major resort spa -- spacious locker areas have great steam rooms (called hammams), fancy showers, a state-of-the-art fitness center, free exercise classes, including total body conditioning and boot camp workout, and a 2nd floor relaxation lounge with an excellent view.
I had a wonderful craniosacral therapy treatment from Nicky Connor, the spa's lead therapist. I was feeling a bit overstimulated and out of sorts from the travel, and this gentle treatment put me back in my body and made me feel myself again. I asked for him again for the Anguillan massage, a free-style massage where he used whatever techniques my body needed that day, including some warm pariffin on my feet. And I enjoyed a terrific pedicure, complete with steam towels, by Ishelyn.
There were a few disappointments. The gorgeous "Healing Waters Pool" uses salt water and European-style ozone technology, but local regulations require small amounts of chlorine. I'm sensitive to it, so had to cut the Aqua Reflexology short. And the therapist for my Exotic Essence Aromatherapy Massage used a lot of pressure but not much finesse.
Cooking Classes & Wine Seminars
I heard some women saying how much fun it was to play with the resident tennis pro. And foodies can take special cooking classes and wine seminars, or dine at Santorini, the resort's fine dining restaurant.
If you're a spa person, Venus Spa offers a higher level spa experience than most Caribbean resorts. But beyond that, just being in such a beautiful place feels like 24-hour spa experience.
CuisinArt Resort & Spa At A Glance:
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations, meals and treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
