The Amanyara, Turks and Caicos

Before I stayed at my first Aman resort, I knew that the hotels had a dedicated base of ‘Aman junkies’ who were nothing short of obsessed with the brand – but I didn’t entirely understand why. After all, there are a lot of luxury boutique hotels out there specializing in minimalist, stark architecture. But after a few heavenly days spent at the Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos, I know exactly why people will travel to the ends of the earth for the Aman experience.

After landing on the main island of Providenciales, my family was picked up in one of the hotel’s signature white Land Rovers (the Caribbean is perhaps the only location where you can get away with having a white car). The car was stocked with the requisite chilled towels and ice cold bottles of water, but an unexpected touch was a discreet leather folder with a small selection of CDs to choose from. I went with Bob Marley to get into the island vibe. And the hotel was also mindful of its smallest guests; the car seat I had requested for my toddler was properly installed and facing the right direction – this sounds like a given, but you wouldn’t believe how many hotels forget car seats and haven’t a clue how to install them.

The resort itself is located deep within a 5,000 acre nature reserve on the northwest corner of the island, reached after a long and bumpy dirt road lined with scrubby bushes and cacti. Once you do reach the hotel, it manages to be both discreet and stunning at the same time. The hotel is built around a series of open air pavilions and pools so that everything seems to float, while the 40 stand-alone pavilions and enormous villas are nearly hidden behind dense foliage for maximum privacy.

While we were being greeted, plied with tropical drinks and shown around the property, I didn’t even notice that our luggage was quietly taken away – until we got to our room and saw it waiting for us. And that is one of the many things I came to love about the Aman experience. The service is practically flawless and so unobtrusive it makes you think there is a team of little elves working behind the scenes to make it all run smoothly - and there probably is.

Our room was one of the pavilions dotted around the property, which was built from a simple glass and wood A-frame structure. Glass walls on three sides offer views of the sea, and there’s also an outdoor terrace with day beds that was perfect for lounging or enjoying dinner. The open plan bathroom had a deep soaking tub as well as a separate shower stall tiled in a dark stone.

As if the design wasn’t stunning enough, then I fell in love with all the thoughtful amenities. The Amanyara offers complimentary soft drinks and snacks (how annoying is it when a resort in the middle of nowhere charges you $5 for a tiny bottle of water?) as well as phone calls. I was also impressed that the resort went above and beyond preparing the room for my son- in addition to the crib with a stuffed dolphin, there was also an Amanyara bib, wipes, changing mat, baby bathtub and a full line of organic shampoo and baby body lotion. I was half expecting one of the Amanyara elves to even come by and change a few diapers. Special kudos also go out to hotel’s babysitters – while we were out to dinner, our babysitter kept vigil like an armed guard next to my son's crib and - I swear- probably didn't move an inch until we came back.

The main areas follow the same pared down design aesthetic as the guest rooms. There’s a 50 meter black volcanic infinity pool lined with a series of platforms and pavilions that stand out against the sky like a piece of sculpture. The dining area, bar and library fan out from the pool and can be reached by stone walkways over the water. Speaking of the dining room, the food at the Amanyara, which blended Asian and Caribbean flavors, was superb. At breakfast guests can tuck into a cooked breakfast or nibble their way through a buffet of fresh fruit, yogurt and banana bread. For lunch and dinner, there’s a nice blend of healthy and indulgent food, ranging from steamed fish to the Amanyara’s version of a conch salad.

And even though this is a 5-star resort, nobody dressed up too much for dinner or felt that they had anything to prove, fashion-wise, which was a nice change (I’ve stayed at fancy French beach hotels where ties are required at lunch, which completely defeats the point of a beach vacation). Flip flops and Tivas were the footwear of choice rather than Manolos, and it was perfectly acceptable to wear shorts to dinner. I was surprised that the resort was so laid back as I had expected a flashier kind of crowd, but the Amanyara’s guests – like the design ethos- seem to value discretion and restraint above all.

Most guests will be spending their days at the resort’s perfect stretch of beach. The seamless service was evident there as well; when I came back from a swim, my bottles of water had been refreshed, without me having to say a word. The Caribbean water is crystal clear although there is a bit of a current- in case you’re feeling nervous, just put on a pair of fins and you’ll be fine. Those not happy to flop on a sun lounge can snorkel, dive, take out a Hobie Cat, kayak or even ask the resort to charter a yacht.

In fact, guests could ask the staff to procure just about anything, and their wish will be fulfilled- quietly of course- which is part of the reason that once you’ve experienced an Aman, you’ll keep wanting to coming back for more.

Summer rates start at $1200.