A Little Bit of the Mediterranean at SANDALS Grande Antigua
 

Bold and sophisticated, our spectacular new all-suite 5-star addition is situated on a west-facing hilltop overlooking the sea. This magnificent enclave showcases epic Mediterranean grandeur in a world of pleasures.

The New 5-Star All-Suites
Magnificent oceanview suites inspired by European elegance
The Eastern Caribbean’s largest Pool

As big as an ocean, this impressive new pool features a majestic tower for viewing sunsets, a colonnaded swim-up bar, and chic pool-side cabanas for lounging in intimate luxury.
 

October 6, 2007
SANDALS RESORTS MEDITERRANEAN VILLAGE OPENING FEBRUARY 2007
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: GRAND DESIGN AT SANDALS GRANDE ANTIGUA RESORT & SPA’S NEW MEDITERRANEAN VILLAGE

~Home Improvement Trend Inspires Hotel Designers at New $70 Million Mediterranean Village~

Miami, FL (September 5, 2006) – According to Chairman and Founder of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, guests of Sandals Resorts are more discriminating and more sophisticated than ever before when it comes to good design and home décor.  With a myriad of readily available magazines and do-it-yourself television programs, consumers are accustomed to granite countertops, Jacuzzi tubs and lushly landscaped swimming pools at home.  So when they arrive at destination resorts, guests expect to find amenities and an aesthetic that go beyond that which they enjoy in their everyday lives.

The look and feel of the new Mediterranean Village at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, a 180-suite expansion to the resort’s existing Caribbean Village worth an estimated $70 million, was developed with these design-savvy customers in mind.

“This expansion project is not simply about getting bigger, it’s about getting better; incorporating all we have learned over the last twenty five years to bring an enhanced experience to our guests,” says Stewart.  “It’s the wow factor.  The entire design of the new Mediterranean Village was intended to showcase even more luxury and to exceed the expectations of even the most inspired home decorator.”

From the Caribbean: A Step into the Mediterranean
From the moment guests arrive at the new Mediterranean Village, opening in February 2007, they will sense the grandeur and sophistication of this impressive undertaking.  The Caribbean sun enlivens the Village, bringing a warm glow to buildings wrapped in stucco plaster and covered with terra cotta tiled roofs.  Strolling through the piazza area, senses are awakened to fountains bringing a peaceful murmur, custom murals that decorate the walls, and delicate Italian millwork that dazzles the eyes, while the delicious scent of fresh-baked, brick-oven pizza wafts through the air.  Flowers spill from pots as if they and these buildings have been welcoming guests for centuries.

The journey continues as guests enter the open air lobby where the rich, Mediterranean style is showcased with hand painted, vaulted ceilings complete with custom made Scavo glass chandeliers and imported cream-colored marble flooring with inlaid mosaic accents.  A welcoming front desk adorned with honey onyx, marble, and mahogany wainscoting with marble plaque inserts, invites guests to continue on to explore the romance of the Mediterranean Village.

Following a private check-in, guests are escorted to their suites which are located in Western-facing buildings set on a gently sloping hilltop.  The elevation ensures every guest has a spectacular ocean view, including a glimpse of the island of Nevis in the distance.  Suites continue the rich Mediterranean design theme with luxury accents such as full height marble columns, Italian tile flooring, and hand-turned mahogany furniture with leather trunks set against a neutral palette of lush textures and fabrics from as far away as Turkey, Italy and India. The suites also offer modern complements such as plasma screen televisions and in-suite bars stocked with premium brand spirits.

“The neutral palette lends an air of refinement and modernism to the traditional décor style,” said Franklyn Eaton, Sandals Grande Antigua general manager.  “It is the perfect background for a variety of textures, such as silk and cashmere that invite touch.  After all, Sandals is a resort company focused on romance.”

According to Eaton, this emphasis on designing for couples was important in creating interiors for the bathrooms.   “At Sandals, baths are extensions of the living areas and at the Mediterranean Village, we’ve paid special attention to ensure that the most utilitarian room in the suite is also the most lavish.”  Baths feature Italian Giallo marble, custom mahogany his and her vanities, domed hand-painted ceilings, custom wall mosaics, the latest Kohler Purist bath and shower fixtures and Jacuzzi tubs for two with separate shower area that includes an overhead rain shower.  And for those guests staying at the Village’s top room category, the Luxury Ocean Villa One-Bedroom Suite, they will be treated to a romantic, outdoor wonderland with a private plunge pool and cascading waterfall wall.  The top suites also feature custom-made mahogany bars and plasma televisions in the living areas.

The new pool was no exception when it came to incorporating all things luxury into the design of the new development.  It is the largest freshwater pool in the Eastern Caribbean, featuring a Signature Sandals pool tower - ideal for viewing picture-perfect sunsets - and swim-up bar.  Old World design meets Contemporary with the inclusion of chic poolside cabanas to provide a sanctuary for couples, complete with plasma televisions and wireless Internet access.

In order to heighten the romance between vacationing couples and help deliver the deepest state of relaxation, the existing Red Lane® Spa facility was expanded to 6,500 sq. ft. to include two, couples sanctuary rooms complete with large Jacuzzi tubs and two, couples treatment rooms where guests can receive side-by-side spa treatments amidst a sea of scented candles.  The newly-expanded spa will also include six single treatment rooms as well as a larger lounge area and locker room facilities.

A brand new, 3,200 sq. ft. shopping village rounds out the vacation experience. Quaint buildings, reminiscent of those found surrounding a historic piazza, flow together so guests can wander from shop to shop with ease.  The flooring includes cool white and beige porcelain tiles, while concealed light fixtures give the illusion of floating ceilings.  Iron fixtures, along with dark mahogany wood accents, create the feel of a traditional European storefront. And, to complete the theme, the Village will boast a one-of-a-kind art gallery featuring works from both local and international artists.

And for the ultimate celebration of romance, a brand-new wedding gazebo was created for those who want to say “I do” in paradise.  The traditional white gazebo allows for trade winds to gently blow through, while a cool reflecting pool creates the perfect serene backdrop to celebrate that special day.

“Mediterranean design is the perfect choice for a grand resort like this,” said Eaton.  “Imagine a rich background that evokes the pleasures and pastimes of this great region born from the sea - that of fine dining, fine wine.  It’s about creating a place that feels as if time’s stood still so that the couples who enjoy the Mediterranean Village have the truest luxury - all the time in the world.”

Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa
Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa is located on the longest stretch of Antigua’s most spectacular and celebrated beach, Dickenson Bay and just 15 minutes from Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport.  Voted “the world’s most romantic resort” ten years in a row at the annual World Travel Awards, Sandals Grande Antigua is also proud to be Green Globe Certified since 2001.  Sandals Grande Antigua also received the prestigious Five Star Diamond Award in 2003 from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.

In February 2007, Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa will grow to 373 rooms as it adds a new, all-suite Mediterranean Village to the resort’s existing Caribbean Village.  The Mediterranean Village will feature 180 luxurious suites, a palatial lobby with private check-in services, the largest freshwater pool in the Eastern Caribbean, chic poolside cabanas with wireless internet access and plasma screen TVs, plus new state-of-the-art meeting and banquet space and an expanded Red Lane® Spa.
 

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