Have you ever paid thousands of dollars for a week in a luxury spa? One of those wonderful places where you're pampered with spa treatments and healthy food, quiet meditations, yoga and sign-ups for water aerobics and fitness classes? Admit it: we all come home a better person after one of those.

Well, try this on for size. A week at Amanoka includes all that but it lacks one significant feature: Strangers!

When you buy Amanoka for a week, you own the place. No crowds, no strangers, just the folks you rode in with.

When you come through the gate at Amanoka, it's like entering another world, your own private island of The Good Life. The feeling washes over you as soon as the gate closes behind you. The warm welcome begins and doesn't ever seem to end. The grounds, ponds, gardens and array of orchids are a private paradise. Sunset over the bay is mesmerizing. Your camera will become your best friend.

Healthy eating here has the added plus of being totally delicious. Amanoka's chef and sous chef are masters at healthy, tasty creations. Wander into their kitchen anytime. They'll share their secrets with you.

Just across the lawn are the hard-surface tennis court, high-tech gym and on-site private spa. No signing up, no waiting. All are yours alone.

The infinity-edge pool is fed by a waterfall from the whirlpool. If you thirst for more water, take the complimentary kayaks into the turquoise bay and paddle right out to the waves of the Caribbean 200 yards down the beach. When you're ready to dry off, you'll notice that the towels and robes are Italian Frette.

Amanoka is for children too. The sand is soft. Jamaican nannies are legend. Chefs cook separate kids' meals at any hour so parents can linger over late breakfasts and long candlelight dinners. Burger Night on the beach is great fun for toddlers and grandparents too. Equally memorable is Chef's Night at the Grill for steaks, ribs and chops sizzling from the coal fire. Fresh lobster is default every week. Dress code for dining: shorts, tee shirts and bare feet. Neckties, pumps and pearls are off limits.

Come for the relaxation. Come for the healthy lifestyle. Come for the transformation. And just maybe some of the best service from the sweetest staff you've ever known.

Linda Smith at Amanoka, Winter 2008

Copyright Linda Smith, Villas by Linda Smith 2008

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