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| The Beach Cottage at Le Soleil d'Or on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands // Photo by Joe Pike |
We recently sat down with representatives of the luxurious Le Soleil d’Or hotel on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands, and got the latest news on what Travel Agent considers one of the best luxury hotels in the entire Caribbean.
New developments at the resort include the Lemon Bar & Restaurant, a second restaurant at the resort’s Beach Club, and a marketplace where guests and locals can take further advantage of the resort’s fresh produce.
Opening November 1 at the resort’s Beach Club, Lemon Bar & Restaurant, available for guests and locals, will be open for lunch and dinner serving casual beach fare. The Lemon Bar will also be the location of the resort’s theme nights and will feature live entertainment during select times of the year.
Also opening on November 1 will be a European-inspired food court, with a farm store featuring the daily harvest, an ice cream and gelato shop, a bakery and a charcuterie.
The resort’s Beach Club is exclusive to guests, but will be open to the public later this year. And the Mango Restaurant is currently open to the public with reservations made 24 hrs in advance.
The hotel also recently named former National Football League (NFL) player and coach, Zaven Yaralian, the property's new general manager. Most recently, Zaven was the president and general manager of the Rio Grande Golf Club in South Fork, Colorado.
As a former restaurant owner in Charleston, South Carolina, and manager of luxury five-star golf resorts and hotels in South Carolina, he quickly went to work and started using sustainable farming methods for his organic farm and produce, making the club’s restaurant one of the best in Southern Colorado and elevating the club to five-star status, in addition to doubling its revenue and membership and positioning the club as among the top 15 golf and fly fishing destinations in the world.
The hotel will also be launching a series of wellness retreats in 2017 in partnership with health experts and influencers, showcasing the resort’s farm-to-table philosophy and dedication to holistic living.
The five- to seven-night retreats will have signature workouts, nutrition menus and health-focused guided activities from a star lineup of experts who will lead, coach and train guests of Le Soleil d’Or to disconnect and reboot for a healthier lifestyle.
The hotel also recently saw the completion of a new fitness center complete with Pilates studio and modern equipment. New Pilates equipment includes Universal Reformer, Cadillac & Ladder Barrel, Wunda Chair, Electric Chair and Studio Wall Unit with High Mat.
Travel Agent had the privilege of visiting this stunning property earlier this year. The hotel consists of eight keys spread over about five miles of the island. This is not only a place to enjoy high-end accommodations and full ocean views, but is also a foodie's dream, as it may be the best farm-to-table experience we've come across in the Caribbean.
Le Soleil d'Or is divided into four categories. There is the Farm Lodge, which has three bedrooms; The Boutique Hotel, which opened earlier this year and has four bedrooms; The Beach House, which has three bedrooms; and The Beach Cottage, a single-story home with a king bed. The property also has a Beach Studio, which is an apartment located at the property’s Beach Club. The Boutique Hotel has the only rooms that can be booked individually.
The Farm Lodge, as the name indicates, is the closest category to the hotel's 20-acre farm and is home to three bedrooms, all of which come with their own cell phone to make local calls with.
The farm was basically built from scratch, as most of Le Soleil d'Or's grounds were occupied by sink holes and brush that needed to be removed.
At the farm, there is everything from eggplants to papaya to watermelons and passion fruit growing. Zucchini, cucumbers and cashews also all grow here. The farm has an olive tree, but it needs about three to four years to fully grow.
Also, guests should not be confused by the green oranges that grow here. They look and taste just like any other orange, but cannot attain that bright orange color without some cold weather, something Cayman Brac fortunately has zero of. The farm also has its own chicken coop, which produces roughly 200 eggs a day.
The Boutique Hotel, which opened earlier this year, is home to four bedrooms. Each of the rooms has its own veranda and patio.
The Beach House is a three-bedroom, two-story, 4,000 square foot home with a private pool and private beachfront. This private spot on your own stretch of beach sleeps six to 10 people and includes its own pool with pool house for al fresco dinners and late nights.
Among the accommodations, Travel Agent's favorite was The Beach Cottage. This is the perfect place for honeymooners. It is a studio apartment with a king bed, its own private swimming pool, a private, manmade beach, hammocks, a full kitchen, full ocean views and an incredible amount of privacy. The full sized refrigerator comes stocked with snacks and nonalcoholic beverages.
Visit www.lesoleildor.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest Caribbean luxury news and be sure to follow Travel Agent's Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike.