The Caribbean’s newest private island resort
Calivigny Island is the Caribbean’s newest private island resort. Certainly the most luxurious habitation in the region, this hidden gem of an island, which can only be rented in its entirety, lies just off the southern shore of Grenada.
But Calivigny does not merely offer a super-luxurious, 10-suite villa-by-the-sea – it is also the ultimate Caribbean experience that combines relaxed beach-side living with elegant superyacht cruising, sport fishing and water sports.
The island with its own superyacht
The island also comes with Atmosphere, a fully-crewed 53 metre sailing yacht that can be chartered in parallel with the island. Docked right outside the Beach House complex, her six cabins not only increase the island’s guest count to 32, but also give the opportunity for members of the party to really explore Grenada and nearby islands such as St Vincent and the Grenadines in hedonistic comfort.
Boats to boot
Atmosphere‘s charter, like that of Spherefish, an 86ft sport fisherman, comes as an extra on top of the island’s rental, but included in the price is Lady Laurie, a 44ft picnic boat – a water-jet propelled, carbon-fibre hulled speedster ideal for day excursions to the main island – a Shadow Marine aluminium landing craft highly suited to diving expeditions arranged through the local diving school, and a 27ft Boston Whaler as a safety boat and general runabout, as well as a couple of powerful jet-skis.
Villa accommodation and facilities
The island’s villa is a sympathetic blend of a French colonial villa and a Balinese beach house, built with the most luxurious materials imported from all over the world. Constructed under the supervision of a troupe of travelling artisans from France, the sprawling 10,000 square-metre villa boasts Italian marble, greenheart hardwood from Guiana, French fabrics, Venetian glass and American furniture by Oscar de la Renta.
The island currently offers a palatial master suite of 125-square metres incorporating a private sitting room, bedroom and bathroom of giant proportions; five magnificent VIP suites with private sitting rooms, studies and bathrooms with huge spa baths; and four further smaller suites. All of these are air-conditioned and together provide accommodation for 20 guests, but four smaller en-suite rooms are available for personal staff or children and their nannies, taking the owner’s party to a total of 26.
Mouth-watering meals are prepared by the island’s two chefs – Italian Giovanni Boscardo who for the last 10 years has prepared gourmet food in the classic Italian and French style for the island’s owner, and Indonesian Esha Lenggna who prepares the most delectable Japanese and Asian cuisine.
For those seeking to stay trim despite the indulgence, there is a superbly equipped gymnasium, which opens to the main terrace. Out on the palm tree-studded acreage of marble that fronts the villa is a vast free-form swimming pool as well as a shady pagoda for dining and lounging and an array of chaises longues and parasols, where the only disturbance is the lapping of waves on the adjacent golden-sand beach.
Toys and technology for work and play
Top quality audio visual entertainment comes from massive flat screen televisions, an abundance of iPod docks, and a Wii and Playstation for the kids, a huge high-resolution projection system for open-air movies, a Yamaha grand piano with a computer-controlled Autoklavier system that offers piano concerts – even if you do not have a talented pianist in your group – in the huge circular lounge that luxuriates beneath a vast wood-lined dome, and an American pool table in the games room.
The island has reliable high speed broadband (ADSL) with multiple Wi-Fi routers that support Skype conferencing, and three international telephone lines.
Getting there
Calivigny is just 20 minutes – 10 in a car and 10 by sea – from Grenada’s international airport where arriving guests will be royally welcomed as well as being spared the tedious customs and immigration lines that take the edge off most Caribbean arrivals. Once on the island, it is no overstatement to say that the superb staff of 26 will take care of all the needs of every guest by night or day.
Rates
The island can accommodate up to 20 guests and weekly rates start from €385,000, a fee that includes food to gourmet standards and all normal drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, but excludes costly items such as fine wines and luxury foodstuffs such as caviar.
The 53m sailing yacht Atmosphere can be added to the package for an additional charge of €200,000 per week.
This magnificent development, equally perfect as the ultimate holiday for family and friends or as a relaxed and secure venue for special business meetings, must be experienced to be believed. It is a very special destination.