The Caribbean and Mexico are prime locales for villa rentals, offering stunning sea views, beach and pool access and the services of a staff. Many are large enough to accommodate a multigen family reunion, a small wedding party, a corporate retreat or a group of friends simply looking for a little R 'n' R in their own space.
Ani Private Resorts is among the many companies offering villa rentals in the region, but it believes it offers something truly unique, billing itself as "the world's first private resort collection." Ani currently is offering just four exclusive retreats, or resorts -- in Anguilla, the Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- with a fifth villa resort (a second location in Anguilla) scheduled to join the collection in 2024. At Ani, guests are assured that their group will be the only one booked at the resort during the duration of their stay.
Ani Private Resorts and its nonprofit Ani Art Academies were founded in 2010 by philanthropist and arts patron Tim Reynolds. The company name is derived from the Swahili word andjani, which means the path or journey ahead, according to Henny Frazer, Ani's chief marketing officer.
"Each resort is designed to host a single group of guests at a time with a minimum of six rooms booked for five nights," Frazer said. "No resort is larger than 15 suites. The ratio of staff to guests is more than one to one. All staff are locals who know the area well and who speak with the guests before arrival to help tailor every detail of their stay."
Ani's Anguilla property overlooks Little Bay on the island's northwest coast. Photo Credit: Ani Private Resorts
"Each villa is located away from tourist areas and offers the services of a five-star resort, including a general manager, operations manager, executive chef and culinary team, hosts and housekeepers," she added.
The four private resorts are newbuilds, beginning with the Anguilla property, which opened in 2010 on the north coast of the island overlooking Little Bay.
All Ani resorts except Anguilla are all-inclusive; Ani Anguilla features half board (two meals a day) "because that island has such fine restaurants, we want our guests to be able to venture out and sample them," said Frazer, adding, "Guests have the option of full board for an additional $75 per day."
Related: A sunny and bright forecast for Anguilla
Two villas housing oceanview suites and guestrooms sit atop a bluff in Anguilla and can accommodate up to a group of 20.
Ani Dominican Republic opened in 2017 on a private peninsula on the island's north coast between Samana and Cabarete and features Villa Larimar and Villa Amber, accommodating up to 28 guests with a team of more than 30 staff to fine-tune every aspect of the stay.
Outside the Caribbean, Ani Sri Lanka is located on that island's south coast overlooking the Indian Ocean. It has two infinity pools and two salas -- large modern areas with upstairs and downstairs living and dining spaces -- and room for up to 30 guests.
Ani Thailand boasts lush gardens and views of Phang Nga Bay. It welcomes groups up to 20.
Postcard From Asia: Greetings from Thailand!
Amenities at all include pools, beach access, a small gym and spa, an event and entertainment pavilion, several dining venues, watersports, kids' and wellness activities and curated excursions, high-speed WiFi, complimentary babysitting, daily laundry service and roundtrip airport transfers for the group. All offer accommodations with wheelchair accessibilty.
Depending upon the resort, guest privileges include a beach barbecue, biking, movies by moonlight and a sunset cruise. Anguilla also offers cooking classes and a DJ for one evening; there's rum tasting, folklore dancing and cigar-rolling in the D.R. In Thailand, there's a Thai dance show, batik painting and fire jugglers and in Sri Lanka, tuk tuk tours of local villages.
The Ani Art Academy in Anguilla is geared to locals with tuition paid for by the resort collection. An Art Academy can be found at each of the company's four resorts. Photo Credit: Ani Private Resorts
All guests at the four resorts can visit the nearby Ani Art Academies, which offer aspiring artists instruction to hone their skills through a four-year art education program. Revenues from the Ani properties cover all tuition costs for the students; all proceeds from the sale of their artwork goes directly back to them.
"Our inclusions are extraordinary," Frazer said. "Our founder believes that the power of togetherness has no price list. Our standards and goals are to always do everything and more to make our guests happy."
Summer rates start at $13,000 per villa, per group for five nights: winter rates from $27,000 in Anguilla, $32,000 in the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka and $17,000 in Thailand. The festive (holiday) season already is booked for this year.
The rates do not include a 10% service charge and local taxes. Tipping is at the discretion of the guests.
Commission is 10%; bookings through travel advisors account for 60% to 70% of business, with the Caribbean properties "very strong," according to Frazer.
"We have a global sales agency, we participate in webinars and trade shows all over, and our relationships with the industry are very solid," she said.
View post:
Ani offers luxury villas in the Caribbean, Thailand and Sri Lanka - Travel Weekly
- Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise ships leave from Baltimore for the first time since the collapse of the Key Bridge - Yahoo! Voices - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Man with seizure on Royal Caribbean cruise had to pay $2500 bill during evacuation - The Independent - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Tropical threat may arise in Caribbean days after hurricane season begins - AOL - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- What you need to know about record-breaking heat in the Atlantic Yale Climate Connections - Yale Climate Connections - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- 13 Best Jack Sparrow Quotes in 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' Ranked - Collider - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- 8 Reasons Why Margot Robbie's Pirates Of The Caribbean Spinoff Is More Exciting Than POTC 6 - Screen Rant - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- PAHO urges countries to strengthen dengue prevention in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean - Pan American Health Organization - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Ride SURPRISED Us in Magic Kingdom See WHY! - AllEars.Net - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- US issues severe 'Do not travel' warning for this Caribbean country - New York Post - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- EU Commissioner Urpilainen Meets With Caribbean Counterparts At SIDS Conference in Antigua & Barbuda - EEAS - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Sailing the Seas of Success - FX Empire - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Sharp Dragon Expands Towards Africa and The Caribbean - Check Point Research - Check Point Research - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Heres What It's Like to Travel on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas - Remezcla - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Gwinnettdailypost.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- American company tells Mexico president that his $385m offer to buy its Caribbean property for ecotourism ... - Fortune - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Caribbean foods and culture highlighted at International Food Festival in Mount Vernon - News 12 Westchester - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- 7 Hidden Gem Islands In The Caribbean Perfect For Retirement - TheTravel - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - mycouriertribune.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Caribbean Heritage Month events hosted by PGParks & Recs - WUSA9.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Secrets of sargassum: Scientists advance knowledge of seaweed causing chaos in the Caribbean and West Africa - Phys.org - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Rockdale Newton Citizen - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Icon of the Seas: Exploring private islands, swim up bars and Broadway shows on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship - HELLO! - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Napoleon Northwest Signal - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Ben Bouldin to head of Royal Caribbean in China - - Cruise Adviser - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Lenoir News-Topic - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed clogging up Caribbean 'could be used to produce sustainable goods' - Islander News.com - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - The Elkhart Truth - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - Herald Palladium - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Seaweed plaguing the Caribbean could become eco-friendly products - The Bryan Times - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Pirates Of The Caribbean Changed Completely Because Of Johnny Depp - Giant Freakin Robot - May 29th, 2024 [May 29th, 2024]
- Johnny Depp's Potential Return In Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot Addressed By Producer - Screen Rant - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Johnny Depp Will Return as Jack Sparrow if Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Gets His Way - MovieWeb - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Virgin Voyages Expands Caribbean Summer Season Pass - Cruise Industry News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Interested in Bringing Johnny Depp Back, "We'll See What Happens" - ComicBook.com - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Johnny Depp Spotted on Disney Set, 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6' Confirmed - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Can the circular economy help the Caribbean win its war against waste? - Mongabay.com - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Heat Stress Is Hitting Caribbean Reefs Earlier Than Ever This Year - The New York Times - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- CTO says Caribbean Week in NYC 'set to sparkle' Caribbean Life - Caribbean Life - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Researchers propose building US-Caribbean 'super grid' to offset solar energy losses during tropical storms: 'Need to ... - The Cool Down - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Banyan Tree is making its first foray into the Caribbean market. - Breaking Travel News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean Hot in 2024 Tourism Surge - Travel And Tour World - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Afro Caribbean Cultural Center on the move - Waterbury Republican American - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Pirates of the Caribbean franchise without Jack Sparrow? Read on - Deccan Chronicle - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Investing in gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean for a better world - Comisin Econmica para Amrica Latina y el Caribe - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Pirates of the Caribbean Producer Confirms Two New Movies Are Now in Development - MovieWeb - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Patricia Affonso-Dass: Leading The Way In Caribbean Hospitality - Travel And Tour World - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- I hope you like Pirates of the Caribbean, because both a reboot and that thought-to-be-dead Margot Robbie movie are ... - VG247 - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean communicators and health promoters participate in PAHO-led workshop on Risk Communications and ... - Pan American Health Organization - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- American Airlines Boosts Service to Caribbean Destinations for Winter Travel - Business Traveler USA - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Disney Still Really Wants to Make That Margot Robbie Pirates of the Caribbean Movie, Jerry Bruckheimer Says - IGN - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Bubba-Doo's takes on the Caribbean Part 2 Baptist News Global - Baptist News Global - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Cruise ops returning to Baltimore after temporary move to Norfolk - 13newsnow.com WVEC - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- New Pirates of the Caribbean movies unlikely to feature Johnny Depp as lead - Business Insider India - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Tourism's contribution to Caribbean GDP expected to rise | News - Breaking Travel News - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War' Adds New Tacticians with Its 7th Anniversary Update TouchArcade - Touch Arcade - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum Awards ELM-Solar Island Energy Project as Microgrid of the Year - Microgrid Knowledge - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Unveils Bold Rebranding, Ushering In New Era For Caribbean Hospitality - Travel And Tour World - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Icon of the Seas by Wilson Butler Architects and Royal Caribbean is the world's largest cruise ship - The Architect's Newspaper - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Lrssen superyacht Lady Lara in the Caribbean - SuperYacht Times - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- Climate Crisis Costs: Caribbean Nations Demand Global Financial System Reforms - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting - May 21st, 2024 [May 21st, 2024]
- New satellite imagery reveals expanse of oil spill in Caribbean - Fox Weather - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Oil spill off Trinidad and Tobago blackens Caribbean beaches - The Washington Post - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Passenger dies aboard 9-month Royal Caribbean cruise around the world - NBC News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Group Signs with Chantiers For Next Oasis Class Ship - Cruise Industry News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay new adult-only area: review - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Tourists Warned To Protect Their Passports As Thefts In The Mexican Caribbean On The Rise - The Cancun Sun - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Antigua: Elderly man charged with second homicide of 2024 | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- With Jamaica and Bahamas under travel advisories, which Caribbean islands are safe to book your next vacation? - SILive.com - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Gives Unprecedented Choice on Ultimate World Cruise - Cruise Hive - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Disney's Extensive Pirates of the Caribbean Change Officially Closes Attraction - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas: What it's like to stay on the largest cruise ship in the world - CNA: Breaking News, Singapore News, World and... - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- At Grenada's Spice Island Beach Resort, the Art of the Luxury All-Inclusive - Caribbean Journal - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Director Malaury Eloi-Paisley on Her Debut Documentary 'L'Homme Vertige,' and the Unvarnished Reality of ... - Yahoo Entertainment - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- See Royal Caribbean's newest giant cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Preparing for Development of the Blue Economy in the U.S. Caribbean - NOAA Fisheries - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 16 February 2024 - Haiti - ReliefWeb - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Europe and Latin America & the Caribbean step up cooperation on cybersecurity - EEAS - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Confirms 9-Month Cruise Will Not Go Through Red Sea and Suez Canal Due to Middle East Unrest - PEOPLE - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Where is Death in Paradise set? The Caribbean island behind the BBC show - The Independent - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Trinidad and Tobago: overturned barge leaks oil into Caribbean Sea video report - The Guardian - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]