Relax and Reconnect at the CuisinArt Resort in Aguilla

by Devorah Ben-David

The tranquil island of Anguilla, located in the British West Indies, is blessed with some of the most beautiful, powder-fine white coral beaches in the Caribbean. Among the most prized is the unspoiled two-mile stretch of sandy beach at Rendezvous Bay, the site of a new, elegant beachfront resort dedicated to artistry and superb cuisine. 

CuisinArt Resort & Spa is the place to visit when you want to totally relax and reconnect with yourself (or significant other). This private island getaway is ideal for intimate weddings, anniversary celebrations or just to pamper yourself -- because you've earned it! It's one of the world's most beautiful tropical oasis. 

CuisinArt is also a botanical oasis; home to over 37,000 plants and 150 species of exotic trees, flowers and shrubs. Beyond the superbly designed negative-edge swimming pool is a lush landscape where you can stroll amid the palm trees or passageways dotted with Tamarind, mango, banana, avocado and other orchard trees. The sensuous orchid solarium and rare plant house harmonize with the resort's restful ambiance. 

Inspired by the Greek architecture of Mykonos, this stylish $50 million resort is designed to optimize tradewind breezes, as it sits gracefully at the edge of the turquoise-blue Caribbean Sea. The combination of whitewashed villas, modern lines and Yale blue domes are also reminiscent of Israeli architecture. The 93-room hotel features huge Italian marble bathrooms, with deep, Jacuzzi-style bathtubs, and ribbons of Italian fabric that add charm to each 900-plus square foot suite.

A day at CuisinArt begins with a complimentary European breakfast, served on your private beachfront patio, providing an inspirational view of the mountainous Dutch island of St. Maarten. You can plan your day by reading CuisinArt's activities letter or plot your 20-minute boat excursion to "shop 'til you drop" on the bustling, duty-free island of St. Maarten.

If you've always wanted to sail a sunfish, windsurf or kayak, CuisinArt offers lessons for all levels of water sports. You can also opt for a sunset yoga class, taught by top-notch fitness experts or enhance your culinary skills by taking a cooking class from one of CuisinArt's world class chefs. The possibilities for rejuvenating body, mind and spirit are endless. 

CuisinArt Resort & Spa holds the honor of being the first hotel in the world to do large-scale hydroponics farming. This process, known for producing crops of superior taste, appearance and nutrition, enables the hotel to harvest fresh, pollutant-and-pesticide-free produce for its restaurants. The 18,000 square greenhouse grows a variety of nutrient-rich fresh-picked vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. 

But to truly bring home a piece of the CuisinArt mentality with you, you must experience the resort's 6,000-square-foot spa facility. Overlooking the breadth of the resort, the three-story Venus spa features two outdoor and three indoor treatment rooms and offers an impressive array of treatments. Among them: reflexology and hot stone therapy.

In the Venus Spa facility there is also a 1,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center packed with the latest in weight and cardiovascular equipment. Calorie-conscious visitors can stay in shape while looking out at a beautiful tropical garden and socializing with other like-minded guests. 

But the crowing floor in the Venus spa is the Art Gallery, which features a diverse collection of original works from Anguillian and Italian artists, and the bougainvillea-draped Hydroponics Café, which serves a sumptuous vegetarian lunch. 

For most Type A personalities, it's easy to forget what your body feels like when you're relaxed. But those who stay at this nurturing resort experience an added benefit: they begin to look for other ways to get their life in balance. In essence, it's nearly impossible not to take a bit of the healthy CuisinArt mentality home with you. It's one travel destination you must visit in your lifetime. 

For more information on the CuisinArt Resort & Spa, visit www.cuisinartresort.com