ÀNI Villas are all-inclusive private retreats taken on an exclusive basis by a single group of guests, set in the most beautiful destinations: Sri Lanka, Anguilla, Thailand and Dominican Republic. Guests are hosted by a dedicated team offering a personalised stay and curated immersive experiences to get under the skin of local culture. Each luxury Villa includes stunning suites, exceptional sea views, swimming pools and expansive living, dining, and entertainment areas.
ANI Thailand
ANI Thailand is located on the tropical island of Koh Yao Noi, a largely uninhabited natural paradise of white sand beaches, turquoise waters, picturesque fishing villages and an abundance of wildlife, including hornbills, sea otters and green turtles. The Villa is modern and spacious with glass walls connecting you to spectacular scenery of the dramatic limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is room for up to 20 guests in two Ocean Villas with private terraces, two two-bedroom Family Villas and four Pool Suites. Indoor and outdoor living and dining areas include a sunken lounge deck, rooftop meditation area, spa treatment rooms and infinity pool with pool butler service. Guests can relax by the pool (there’s also a children’s pool with waterslide) or there is direct access to the beach.
Bespoke villa experiences include spa treatments (up to 10 per day are included), tailored dining, personal training, non-motorised watersports, guided cycling tours, movies by moonlight, Thai cooking classes and cultural entertainment.
For an additional cost, we can arrange rock climbing, scuba diving, island-hopping cruises by longtail boat or private yacht and visits to the Phuket Ethical Elephant Sanctuary.
ANI Thailand Festive Itinerary
ANI Villas create special festive itineraries for guests staying over Christmas or New Year. Here is an idea of what to expect during a seven-night festive stay over Christmas:
From the moment ANI guests arrive in Thailand, they are in excellent hands, enjoying a VIP Airport Arrival and scenic private boat ride to the island, where they are met with a traditional Thai welcome ceremony.
Each days begins with an optional sunrise activity such as water aerobics, jogging, yoga and sound healing, Muay Thai Boxing class, island cycle ride or a side-car adventure to breakfast in the rice paddy fields. A delicious buffet breakfast is always laid out at the villa to be enjoyed at guests’ leisure, and the day can be spent simply relaxing, or enjoying bespoke activities with something different on offer each day.
Spend a morning discovering the island by Tuk Tuk and meet a lady who ‘taps’ up to 350 rubber trees a day to release latex. Visit Koh Yao Noi’s small town and a local fish conservation nursery to learn about sea life conservation efforts. Try your hand at Batik painting with a group of local ladies, designing your own material with hot wax and bright colours, or learn the art of making jasmine garlands. Discover ÀNI Art Academies meeting local art students and viewing their work. Spend an afternoon learning to cook Thai cuisine with the Executive Chef. Take a traditional long tail boat trip to Batang Island to relax, swim and picnic on the beach, and visit Monkey island. Explore Phuket Old Town with a private guide to see its brightly painted, century- old Sino-Portuguese townhouses, the Thai Hua Museum, Jui Tui Shrine and Thalang Road and enjoy lunch at The Blue Elephant.
For children, activities are tailored depending on ages, including cooking classes, sandcastle building and treasure hunts.
Both the lunch menu and location changes daily: Thai fusion menu, Greek barefoot lunch, Thai Isan lunch at the Dining Sala, picnic on the beach, or for Christmas Day a special brunch with live acoustic music.
ANI Thailand is perfectly positioned for breathtaking sunsets, when cocktails are served at Bar Sala or the longtail boat bar by the sunken deck, perhaps over a game of shuffleboard. Dinner is always a unique and spectacular affair: Japanese or Chinese cuisine with special live music and dance performances, an Indian feast on the beach followed by a movie & popcorn beneath the stars, an Italian Garden Dinner with a fire-juggling display, or a fishnet beach BBQ. For a really special evening at ANI Thailand, guests will have a Thai costume fitting with make-up and headdresses, followed by a Traditional Thai dance live performance by local students, and an authentic Thai Market Dinner and floating candle blessing.
Christmas is a spoiling affair, starting with Christmas Eve cocktails and carols, a surprise visit from Santa Claus and a wine paired dinner. Brunch is served on Christmas Day with live acoustic music, then later, a sunset cruise in a traditional long boat to a secret destination, where a festive picnic is served with Champagne.
ANI Anguilla
Anguilla is a small unspoilt Caribbean island fringed with white-sand beaches and tropical waters. ANI Anguilla is a two-acre property set on a dramatic clifftop with panoramic views of Little Bay. Made up of two adjacent Villas (North and South) with their own infinity pools, ANI Anguilla sleeps up to 20 guests in 10 gorgeous suites. It is contemporary in style, with tiered terraces, rooftop decks, hot tubs, a gym, spa treatment room and tennis court.
Anguilla is the perfect destination for enjoying watersports, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and boating. At ANI Anguilla, guests can simply relax by the pool, enjoying pool butler service, personalised spa treatments, and activities such as shuffleboard, kayaking, paddle boarding and tennis lessons. There are two golf carts to take guests to Crocus Bay Beach, and there is lots to enjoy on the island, including The Valley’s colonial architecture and the Greg Norman-designed Aurora Anguilla golf course.
ANI Anguilla Festive Itinerary
ANI Villas create special festive itineraries for guests staying over Christmas or New Year. Here is an idea of what to expect during a seven-night festive stay over New Year's Eve:
Guests are truly spoilt from the moment they arrive in Anguilla, enjoying a VIP Meet and Greet service, followed by welcome drinks and unpacking service. Evening cocktails and canapés at ÀNI Anguilla are enjoyed over spectacular sunset views each evening, perhaps with Caribbean rum tasting on offer at the bar, or a mixology lesson with live local Caribbean steel drum music. Guests at ANI Anguilla are treated to superb cuisine, with lots of freshly caught fish on the menu.
Mornings can be spent enjoying private tennis lessons with the in-house tennis pro, or private yoga sessions al fresco. For those keen to add some activity beyond the pool and spa, there is plenty on offer. Discover Anguilla by Moke open-air cars to visit historic areas and the famous Arch, and try a typical local lunch at Palm Grove Restaurant at Junks Hole. Head to Rendez Vous Beach for a Caribbean Style Beach Barbeque lunch, with kayaking, paddle boarding, beach games and snorkelling. Take a private Bali Catamaran boat ride to some of Anguilla’s most beautiful beaches, with drinks and a picnic on board, or go to Sandy Island for lunch, and snorkel and swim in crystal-clear waters.
Spend a morning out fishing and then enjoy your own catch, prepared by the chef. The fantastic team at ANI Anguilla put on special cooking classes, guided mountain bike tours of the island, sunset cruise with cocktails & canapes, family basketball tournaments, karaoke evening and moonlight movies under the stars. An evening Art Viewing and Portrait Session is great fun: enjoy a glass of wine while getting your portrait done, discovering the talent of the artists of ÀNI Art Academies Anguilla. For children, Anguilla is a fabulous destination, and fun activities can be arranged, such as ‘Young Chef’ cookie making classes or face painting.
For New Year’s Eve, a local band performance kicks off the party, followed by a special dinner and dancing with a local DJ, and a midnight Fireworks display to celebrate the New Year.
ANI Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic boasts a verdant coastline with gorgeous beaches lapped by warm Caribbean waters. ANI Dominican Republic enjoys a stunning location, set amidst 4 acres of gardens on a private peninsula with sweeping Atlantic Ocean views. It sleeps up to 28 guests in contemporary suites within east-facing Villa Larimar and west-facing Villa Amber (this villa has a man-made beach and path to the sea). The contemporary villas are very spacious, with expansive dining areas, poolside terraces, living pavilions and an events pavilion right on the ocean where feasts can be enjoyed with an amazing view.
Guests are looked after by a dedicated team of over 30 staff, including pool butler service and private chef. Meals are special and unique, from breakfasts overlooking La Piscina Natural to starlit dinners, and guests will enjoy a range of cuisines, including local specialties such as grilled lobster or sancocho stew. Beach BBQs are taken to the next level, with beautiful lounge areas setup on the sand and a pop-up canopy for shade, as well as paddle boards and kayaks at guests disposal for exploring the coastline.
Days are spent relaxing and enjoying a laid-back beach lifestyle. There are a range of activities to choose from, including cooking classes, PT, spa treatments, tennis, mountain biking tours, guided walks in local villages, guided explorations of Puerto Plata’s UNESCO protected historical centre, rum tastings, lessons in cigar rolling, mixology sessions and al fresco movie nights. ÀNI Art Academies is a non-profit organization that welcomes guest to visit and purchase works by local artists.
ANI Dominican Republic is wonderful for families, with 8 hours of complimentary baby sitting included per day, and a number of activities on offer, such as cooking, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, face painting, kids swimming pool with waterslide, mini-soccer, kite flying and much more.
At an additional cost we can arrange some spectacular experiences to explore Dominican Republic further, including beach trips, sunset cruises, kitesurfing lessons, whale-watching cruises etc. We can also organise private shows, including folklore dances, fire-dances, live music and fireworks displays.
Every time I explore a new destination, whether it’s on an adventure holiday in Peru or a luxury beach escape in the Indian Ocean, I return home full of excitement to share the amazing sights I have seen. Through my own experiences I have developed a love of helping others experience the great wonders of the world; truly getting under the skin of the extraordinary destinations that are at your fingertips. Getting the details right, from which hotel is perfectly located for exploring away from the crowds, to which local guide is most knowledgeable on history or culture or art, is of paramount importance to me. I am constantly seeking out new and exciting experiences and exploring off the beaten track to ensure my clients are receiving the best and most honest first-hand advice.
Take a look at my travel diaries for food for thought on your next trip...