By Abby Barrett, Abby Away Travel
In July 2023, Millennials in Travel hosted the ultimate barefoot escape at two of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean on a FAM in partnership with Belmond at Cap Juluca in Anguilla and La Samanna in St. Martin. A group of seven advisors started their journey on the island of St. Martin, where we received a VIP greeting at the airport and were then escorted over to the dreamy Caribbean oasis, La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel. Only a few minutes drive from the airport, La Samanna, is perfectly located on a cliffside where breathtaking, panoramic ocean views greet you at every turn.
After welcome cocktails and an introduction to the team at La Samanna, we settled into our rooms, which were all steps away from the ocean. Every room was bright and airy with nautical touches that made you feel right at home by the beach. Before dinner, we toured the property seeing some of the rooms and suites along with the villas. Following the tour, we were then treated to a welcome dinner at their beachside restaurant, La Spiaggia, where we indulged in some delicious Italian fare.
Every morning, we had the option to participate in complimentary wellness activities, such as Yoga and Pilates. Our second day was primarily spent enjoying all the amenities at the resort and their beautiful sparkling beach. The group had a private cabana for the day, which was very relaxing and a ton of fun for everyone. Along with the cabana amenities, we had access to the non-motorized watersports, such as snorkeling and paddleboarding. Some of the advisors also used this time to indulge in a treatment over at the spa.
After a day of beachside bliss, we were escorted to a special evening experience at La Cave, the property’s on-site wine cellar. We indulged in various cheeses while the resort’s sommelier guided us through a tasting of various wines in a candlelit cave. Our evening ended with a farewell dinner at L’Oursin, which offered scrumptious French bites in a bistro setting overlooking the sea.
After ending our time at La Samanna, we were driven to the ferry terminal, where we embarked on a short boat ride over to the neighboring island of Anguilla. Once we arrived at Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, we were warmly greeted with fresh coconut water and introduced to the lovely team at the property. We were then escorted by golf cart to our beautiful, spacious, and Moroccan-designed terrace rooms. After a late lunch, we then had the afternoon to relax and enjoy beautiful Maundays Bay, which is known for being one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. We all agreed that the island and Cap Juluca felt very secluded and private, and it is the perfect place for those seeking a more exclusive island escape.
That evening we were treated to a special cultural experience, a sunset drum circle. This was a first for most of us, and we were led by an island local and musician who showed us how to channel our rhythm and connect as a group. It was a very entertaining and memorable experience. We then had “Dining under the Stars,” where we were treated to a private chef’s dinner at the Events Pavilion, which is a prime spot for sunset viewing at the resort.
We again had the option of partaking in various wellness activities in the mornings, such as a sunrise Bootcamp and Yoga class. For our final day at Cap Juluca, we started off the morning with a site visit of this spectacular property and grounds. Then, it was time for a thrilling boat excursion over to Prickly Pear Island. Along the way, we stopped at various places to swim and snorkel and ended with a BBQ lunch at Prickly Pear. We all agreed it was a day we would never forget. The excursion to Prickly Pear is a must for anyone coming to Anguilla as it allows you to discover the island from the water.
To kick off our last night on the FAM, we had the opportunity to witness and participate in an exclusive experience only offered to guests at Cap Juluca, a Champagne Saboring ritual. Every evening around sunset, the team demonstrates and allows guests to sabor champagne bottles and whatever bottles are sabored are ultimately enjoyed by the guests. After some exciting saboring and delectable refreshments, we then ended the night enjoying cocktails and Peruvian dishes at their signature restaurant, Uchu. It was the perfect farewell and ending to a wonderful FAM.
Both of these destinations are such hidden gems in the Caribbean and one great advantage is they can easily be paired together for a multi-island itinerary. Both offer one-of-a-kind, five-star experiences, exclusivity, exceptional service, unparalleled beaches, and are the epitome of barefoot luxury. Our group is counting down the days until our toes are back in paradise at these two special hideaways.