Introduction
Assignments for upscale magazines send me in search of accommodations for readers who can afford the best. Yet today's travel advertising and websites focus only on the cheapest vacation, the guaranteed best price, the biggest savings. When even five-star hotels advertise cheapness above all, it's time for a book like this one.
Some of you never have to ask the price. Others are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, honeymoon, birthday or business conference. You're looking for value even if it comes at a very high dollar cost.
The perfect paradise you choose for a romantic escape may be different from the resort you choose for golf, a girlfriend getaway or a family vacation. We provide choices, not chances nor cheapness.
What's Your Perfect Paradise? Choices were difficult, even agonizing. We looked for variety, high quality and earnest service in resorts that have, for one or more reasons, that "certain something". At the same time we decided against listing private villas. The Caribbean has many mansions and even entire islands that are fully staffed to please every guest whim, yet they don't provide the resort ambience that many of us look for in a vacation.
We plead guilty to omitting many worthy resorts. We also beg your indulgence if our listings don't measure up today to the promise we saw in them at press time. Most hotels and resorts are constantly changing for better or worse. This is especially true in the Caribbean.
We also admit to a certain bias in favor of chain hotels and resorts for two reasons. First, such names as Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Rosewood and Hyatt Regency stand for consistency. Second, many people today collect guest loyalty points in business travel, then redeem them for a Caribbean dream vacation.
We trust you'll do last-minute, firsthand research. However our effort here is to steer you to a perfect paradise you might not have discovered, or rediscovered, otherwise.
(Signed) Janet Groene
janetgroene@yahoo.com
About Our Pricing and Rating Systems
It's difficult to create pricing guidelines for resorts that have a dozen or more categories for rooms, suites, condos, cottages and estate homes. There are also various meal plans, platinum all- inclusive options, and as many as six or eight price structures for different seasons. Some of our resorts' suites or homes go for $12,000 and up per night in high season and may require a minimum booking of a week or more. As a general guideline only, consider that a double room in high season starts at:
$= $200 or less
$$- $200 to $300
$$$= $300 to $400
$$$$-$400 and above
Our Open Road LuxScore ratings reflect the author's own observations and preferences, so please take them only as a guideline. They reflect total points for:
*Worth the Money
*Service
*Architecture, Grounds, Ambience
*On-Site Cuisine
* Overall Experience
