Secret Bay is a multi-faceted love story: one between people and between the land. Truly. Its inception, a sketch by famed architect, Fruto Vivas, given as a wedding gift to his daughter and son-in-law that became the couples’ private residence and eventually blossomed into six eco-luxury villas designed so others could discover beautiful Dominica.

Now, imagine that love story literally being ripped apart on a single night that many Dominicans will tell you seemed to span two nights. The endless downpour of rain and thrashing winds that was one of the most catastrophic hurricanes on record: Maria. However, like the people of Dominica, love is resilient and unconquerable. And so, Secret Bay began to rebuild.

As some of the first guests to stay at Secret Bay after their year long closure, we were fortunate to experience the re-birth of its love story.

How do you convey a feeling? That’s really what the Secret Bay experience is about: how it makes you feel. It’s an experience with a unique intimacy that extends through every aspect: how you are welcomed, how you are cared for, the pleasure from the food and excitement of new flavors, the comfort and intimacy of the villas, the soothing envelopment of nature.

Secret Bay comprises just six villas that dot rugged cliffs over the Caribbean Sea. Although they are each a little different in layout and size, they all contain the same elements that make the villas so special. No one could describe them better than Mr. Vivas, “For me they are all the same: structures linked to the landscape, liberated from the ground, with a design that embraces the cultural patterns of the island.”

“Bowers of Bliss”

Our villa, Ylang Ylang II, was essentially a 1600 sq. ft. tree house for grown-ups. Upon entering through the villa’s private gate, a long pathway leads you through lush, fragrant foliage, past your outdoor shower, to the first of two balconies. This balcony has a barbecue and a perfectly positioned, cushy hammock.

The second balcony is on the main floor. This large, open air area has a sitting area, a dining area and a full modern kitchen, all facing the surrounding trees and ocean.

For us, the kitchen was a big part of what made these villas so special. They come pre-stocked, based on the pre-arrival form we completed, and had everything we needed. We could cook our own snacks and meals (if we wanted) and make our own drinks and enjoy it all without ever leaving the villa and interrupting our state of serenity.

The bedroom opens up to this area through floor-to-ceiling, folding glass doors. The bedroom has a king bed and a shower and separate soaking tub. There is also a television (that we never turned on).

From the bedroom, a glass door leads you to a private sundeck and the most lovely private plunge pool.

Although designed to help you connect with nature, each villa comes with a few modern luxuries intended to help the Secret Bay team better serve you, provide you with the conveniences of home and reduce impact on the environment. You are provided an iPhone so you can call your villa attendant or anyone in the office in case you need anything. Each villa also has a Sonos speaker so you can enjoy the music of your choice, an Apple T.V. and a Kindle that is pre-loaded with the newspaper of your choice.

The element that makes the villas the most special: a villa attendant. And for us, that was Jess. Jess greeted us in our villa upon arrival, showed us the villa amenities and made us any reservations we needed. The next morning, she came to the villa and cooked us the breakfast of our choice.

On our second evening, Jess delivered dinner to our villa and set up a lovely dining experience for us. She took complete care of us – from cooking our meals to cleaning up the villa each day and after every meal. She patiently answered my husband’s 464 questions about Secret Bay, hurricane Maria and Dominica. Jess had an aura of calm about her that filled a room whenever she entered. She was delightful.

Before arriving, we completed a pre-arrival form where we selected items to be stocked in our villa…snacks, beer, wine, sunscreen, the newspaper of our choice. There were a lot of local items to choose from that we were really excited about trying. However, the team at Secret Bay will do whatever it takes to make sure that you have everything that you want and need.

Introducing Zing Zing

“You’ve Seen my Descent Now Watch Me Rising”- Rumi

After hurricane Maria, Secret Bay’s founder stood inside a villa, Zing Zing, that had its roof ripped off during the hurricane. There, beneath an open sky, he came up with the concept for the property’s first dine-in restaurant. And, as with the rest of the property, the restaurant is unique in so many ways.

Zing Zing is a small, open air restaurant that is simple, yet elegant. It features an open kitchen and the dining tables overlook the sea. The meals are at the chef’s whim and guests are in for a treat from start to finish.

Have you ever sat down for dinner and had the chef greet you with a glass of champagne and then describe to you, with great affection, the meal he and his team prepared for the evening? And, with each dish, tells you it’s story: why he chose it, where it came from, why its ingredients are special?

The ingredients at Zing Zing are as fresh as they come. If they are not from the gardens on the property or the sea right in front of you, they are from elsewhere on the island and they are what’s available on that day. And the flavors and dishes are phenomenal! 

Through locally sourced everything and a dedication to Dominican tradition, Chef Grant’s kitchen connects guests with the earth and to Dominica.

Dining In

If you prefer, you can have all of your meals in your villa. Your villa attendant will make you just about anything you can imagine for breakfast and will bring you lunch and dinner from Chef Grant’s kitchen. All you have to do is choose your protein (or vegetable) and the rest is taken care of. The in-villa dining experience is lovely and the food is delicious.

Secret Bay Hideaway

The property is connected by pathways and engulfed by trees, flowers, lemongrass, bay leaves, multiple types of citrus and avocados. The lush vegetation and the large areas on which each villa sits create a very private setting.

There are two beaches: Tibay and Secret. One accessible from the main property and one accessible by a kayak you can pick up from the water sports bungalow on property.

From the deck perched over Secret Beach you can enjoy the sunset. A new yoga pavilion and Gommier spa overlook the river and, of course, beautiful Zing Zing has sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea.

With only six villas, you are ensured privacy everywhere on property.

Secret Bay is a remarkable place that is an extension of a remarkable island. It is good for the soul. A place where you can truly relax because of, not only the environment at Secret Bay, but how you are so cared for by the Secret Bay team. Do something good for you: reconnect with yourself, with someone special. Get lost at Secret Bay.

Discover more of Secret Bay here.

Visit my Instagram highlights for behind the scenes and a tour of Ylang Ylang II here.

The Nature Island: A Note About Dominica

The first thing you should know about Dominica is that it is not the Dominican Republic.

Dominica is wild, raw, beautiful and still quite undiscovered. It is the most lush place I have ever visited. There are waterfalls, lakes, rivers, mountains, rainforests, hot springs and, of course, beaches. We seemed to have each place we visited to ourselves. It is mountainous: if you are not going up, you are going down. The people are kind, open and resilient. Their glasses are half-full. And, they love their island, appreciate what they have and they work hard to preserve it.

The media coverage of Hurricane Maria in America was mostly about its impact on Puerto Rico. To hear Dominican’s stories of that night is incredible. Nothing on that island wasn’t touched by Maria. But, Dominica is ready for you! Go. Be adventurous. Explore. Give your mind, body and soul a breather. Connect with the land.

Visit my Instagram highlights from Dominica here.

• Stay a while. Allow yourself enough time to explore the island and enough time to enjoy your villa and the property.
• Secret Bay has some great adventure packages and guides. Have them create an adventure and exploration itinerary for you.
• Zing Zing is a must. For now, it is only open on certain nights, so make sure you book a reservation. You can read more about Chef Grant here.
• Get on their email list. You are not bombarded. They share some great blog posts and any special offers.
• Try the local items when you select your pre-stock options. And definitely select the granola. They’re famous for it.
• Be sure to kayak to secret beach.
• If you plan on renting a car, know that Dominicans drive on the left side of the road. Roads can also be narrow and winding with some tight turns.
• The island can be a bit pricey.
• Do not be surprised if you see someone bathing in the river. It’s the nature island!

My skepticism met it’s match at the BodyHoliday in St. Lucia.

BodyHoliday is unlike any other resort. It’s a special place evidenced by the fact that they have a 70% return rate. It’s why people stay for ten days on average. It’s why it is hugely popular with solo travelers who instantly seem to find their tribe while there. It’s why it is not uncommon to see staff dining with guests. It’s why BodyHoliday’s guests are the happiest, friendliest resort guests I have ever encountered.

Passing through the property feels like what I imagine walking through Utopia would feel like. A warm ocean breeze, perfectly turquoise Caribbean Sea, the gentle rustle of palm trees and a lot of really happy people. And how could they not be happy? They have an endless number of options to be active (or not), they have their choice of fantastic food and drink, they get to enjoy a spa treatment DAILY, and they are around like-minded people all sharing a slice of paradise.

I want to describe the brilliant concept before I tell you about my stay. Typically, I write about the property in detail, and not that this property is undeserving (especially after it’s expansive renovations), but I will mostly write about BodyHoliday’s unique concept and the fantastic activities and amenities that create your overall experience.

“Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind”

The BodyHoliday is an all-inclusive wellness retreat. It has invested heavily in top of the line everything: therapists, trainers, equipment, facilities, food and beverage, and recent sweeping renovations (that follow sweeping renovations in 2015). As another guest said, “they do not cut any corners here.” On average, you have a choice of approximately 40 daily classes/activities in which to participate. They range from a morning run, a beachfront workout, archery, sailing, meditation, yoga or, nothing at all. The majority of these are included in your stay. The other major perk included in your stay is a 50-minute spa treatment per day, per guest. This is the ultimate in wellness.

My Custom Designed BodyHoliday Experience

There are many experiences to be had at BodyHoliday: anti-aging, mindfulness and fitness to name a few. I’m going to tell you about my experience that was custom designed by the team at BodyHoliday. Initially, this was supposed to be a recovery program intended to repair my body after competing in what was supposed to be my fifth Ironman. However, I couldn’t compete in that Ironman due to a knee injury. The one silver lining in that let down is that my body was fresh and I was able to enjoy a few more activities and do a few things I had never done before. The plan they created for me was based on a pre-arrival form I completed a week before our stay. Once my husband and I arrived on property, we were handed an agenda that outlined all our activities and treatments for the week.

The Quad

On our first morning, I participated in a “quadrathlon” with three other guests. This was an epic adventure of mountain biking, running, rappelling and kayaking. Our group met first thing in the morning where Tevin, our fearless leader (and professional volleyball player), fit us on our mountain bikes and led us to the trails.

I spend a lot of time on my triathlon bike. I haven’t been on a mountain bike since 2010 when my husband “surprised” me by signing us up for a 104-mile mountain bike race. On this lovely Caribbean morning, you would have thought this was my first time on a bike. I grazed a cactus, ran into a bush, rode my brakes on every downhill and dropped my chain. It was embarrassing. Everyone else was phenomenal and the course was gorgeous, leaving the Caribbean side for the Atlantic, climbing and descending, cruising across empty beaches and then ending at Pigeon Island, where we started our run.

Our run was a quick 4k that started with an out-and-back and ended with a steep uphill to our rappelling/abseiling spot.

At the top of the hill, a car was waiting for us where we could leave our bags and grab a cold bottle of water. We were outfitted in our rappelling gear, instructed how to move our feet and handle the rope, and one by one we rapelled down the 100 foot cliff as guides at the top and bottom assisted and guided us. This was a first for all of us! We climbed back up the hill and walked down to the beach on the other side where our kayaks were waiting.

I was expecting your typical beach resort plastic leisure kayak. That was not the case. These were light, aerodynamic kayaks meant to zip through the ocean water. We received instructions on how to operate them, waited for our fearless leader (Tevin) and off we went. It was a windy afternoon which made for some chop, (super fun) swells and more adventure to add to our tales. The program said the kayak portion is around 3k. My inability to hold a direct line made for some bonus distance before I eventually arrived at our finish on BodyHoliday’s beach.

The quadrathlon was the perfect mix of fun and adventure. I was pleasantly surprised by how challenging and rewarding it was. The four of us who did it ranged in athletic ability and we all finished with a smile on our faces, a sense of accomplishment and a fresh chilled coconut.

I had just enough time to have lunch at the deli with Eddie and a shower before heading over to the spa for the first treatment of our stay. Tendel, BodyHoliday’s “healing guru” gave me a true deep tissue massage that was much needed after the quadrathlon and the long travel day the day before.

The next day was busy and started with a personal training session in the morning. Julian, Commonwealth Gold Medalist and Caribbean middle weight Body Building Champion, immediately noticed my jagged gait from my knee injury, so we focused on exercises to help me heal, correct my knee issues and get stronger. I loved the movements and exercises we did! And we did something else that was interesting and that has stuck with me: we worked on my posture.

After my training session, I had a hydrating facial that was also very needed after traveling. I was scheduled for a brightening scrub, but was a little sun-burnt, so we changed it on the spot. After my facial, I made my way down to the beach area to read a bit, swim in the warm Caribbean Sea and have lunch before heading to my next massage. I told you, it was busy.

This day’s massage was (another) new experience for me. The 75-minute treatment was a four hand, Synchronized Abhyanga that started with a foot cleansing in the Ayurvedic Temple. From there, I moved into a beautiful treatment room where my synchronized massage began. This massage technique has been around for 2000 years and includes a combination of specialized herbal oils and has an abundance of health benefits. You are placed in four different positions, coated in warm oil, and massaged with synchronized, purposeful movements.

I struggle with insomnia. However, between full, active days, soothing body treatments, clean food and the healing properties of the sea, I slept like never before while at BodyHoliday.

Spaces & Places

The property is huge. There are 155 rooms and several villas tucked into the hillside. There are three pools, five restaurants and a “deli” where you can order healthy snacks, fresh juice and smoothies.

The beach is what Caribbean dreams are made of. There are water hammocks, beach hammocks, and enough sun loungers for every guest. The loungers come with a little red flag to call for help (cocktails & snacks) in an “emergency”.

Wellness Center

The wellness center is the hub of the property and has a certain buzz about it as people are coming and going to their treatments and classes. Tucked into the hillside, it features 33 treatment rooms, a pool, a group fitness room, the Ayurvedic Temple and a state-of-the-art gym with equipment that rivals the best gyms in San Diego. No other resort gym comes close.

Room

Some rooms were part of the most recent renovation and others were renovated in 2015. We stayed in a luxury ocean front suite. It had a king size bed, a balcony overlooking the water and a large, modern bathroom that featured a huge soaking tub.

It was the perfect retreat at the end of the day and the prime location for our champagne sunsets.

“Food is your body’s fuel, but it’s also your body’s pleasure” – BodyHoliday

There are five restaurants and three bars on property equipped with a culinary team of chefs, mixologists and sommeliers. And, all are experienced in handling dietary needs and requests.

• Cariblue, the main restaurant has a little bit of everything for lunch and dinner.
• Cariblue Windows is where you can find the expansive breakfast buffet and, on certain evenings, features themed dinners. We enjoyed the French themed dinner and it was my favorite meal of our stay.
• We also enjoyed the deli for a light lunch and several smoothie offerings.

• The Clubhouse offers a great lunch buffet, casual dinner and seemed to be the gathering spot for sunset and pre-dinner cocktails.
• On our last evening, we dined at Tao, which has been voted by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as one of the world’s 60 Hottest Tables and is an annual AAA Diamond Award winner since March 2007. Both deserving recognitions.
• We were unable to dine at I-Tal, but it looks like a beautiful dining experience. Guests select ingredients from the organic garden and prepare clean, Rastafarian meals with the resort’s chefs.

I could write an entire separate post on BodyHoliday’s restaurants and have no doubt that the selection and quality of food and wine play their part in guests wanting to stay as long as they do and return as often as they do.

There is also a nice selection of evening entertainment, with the Piano Bar being the most popular of them all. I’d go as far as to say the Piano Bar is legendary. We could never stay up quite late enough (past 8:00) to enjoy it but always heard about the sing-alongs (and solos) the next day.

As people who steer clear of all things all-inclusive, we left BodyHoliday completely perplexed by how much we enjoyed it and our desire to return. I now understand why a woman we met was there for her tenth year in a row. Or, why there is gentleman who spends thirty days at a time there. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway to reconnect with your partner, a celebratory girl’s trip or a solo wellness retreat, BodyHoliday is the perfect spot for you.

Have questions about our stay? Comment below or send me a message.

You can discover more about BodyHoliday here.

• You need (deserve) a minimum of five days here. 
• Work with their team to prepare a custom plan before your stay.
• Certain activities/experiences require advance booking, so be sure to reserve your spot!
• Upon arrival, your agenda will tell you where to go, what treatment room you are in and who you are with. You can go directly to that treatment room.
• Chat with BodyHoliday “regulars” they’ll show you the ropes.
• Try all of the restaurants.