A luxury villa experience at posh Altamer Resort

by Tom Wuckovich

Vacations are all about choices. Where to go, what to see, where to eat, where to stay are just a few of the questions vacationers have to deal with when it comes time for that annual or semi-annual pilgrimage to paradise.

Luxurious private villa

There are few things I haven’t experienced over the years when I’ve been fortunate enough to get away—for work or for play. One event that has eluded me over the course of my travels is sampling a stay in a private, secluded villa that would be like a home away from home, except on a more grandiose scale. The opportunity for such an adventure recently presented itself, and true to my quest for all things different, I accepted an invitation to be a guest at Altamer Resort on the English-leaning Caribbean island of Anguilla.

There are three villas at Altamer to choose from: the smallest is 10,000 square feet, the next at 12,000 square feet, and the African Sapphire Villa, ideal for those who are vacationing with friends—as I was— one or two families vacationing together, or other larger groups, and who are looking for spacious, un-crowded accommodations. African Sapphire nicely fit the bill. This vast, yet intimate villa is a handicapped accessible 14,000-square foot palace with eight bedrooms, two master suites and two guest rooms that convert to a third suite. Each of the eight bedrooms contains an en-suite bathroom. The lavishly appointed villa opened in October 2004.

My three companions and I were escorted to Altamer by Chris Irish, the butler and chief of all things related to Altamer. During the short drive to the villa, he promised an invigorating experience. He’s not one for hyperbole!

Themed bedrooms decorated with inspired art and artifacts.

As we entered the main room through the impressive foyer, we were amazed at the sheer size and spaciousness. Altamer is the largest of three villas on property and each interior is themed. Ours was decorated and richly appointed with art and artifacts from Africa. The first floor housed a dining room with a glass-topped table that seated 18, kitchen, theater room, and common area where you could simply mingle with friends and guests. The entire back wall was a series of glass doors that provided us with luscious views of the pool, gardens and Caribbean Sea. (CONTINUE...)