Before we get into the meat of this review, let’s talk about the name, shall we? BodyHoliday (or The BodyHoliday as the sign at the resort’s entrance reads – it appears at one point a Facebook-style rebrand took place). It’s not great, is it? Bearing in mind the hotel’s proximity to both the romantically-named Pigeon Island and the whimsical-sounding Rodney Bay, surely they could have come up with something a little less, well, keyword-y?

In fairness, the resort really does do what it says on the tin, but, just like the aforementioned beleaguered social media platform, it all seems a bit too SEO-friendly, doesn’t it? Which, when you consider the hotel opened in 1988, just five years after the internet came into being and long before our lives became dominated by opaque algorithms, is actually rather impressive. But then BodyHoliday has always been something of an innovator.

Founded by the British Barnard family, who still own and run the resort alongside adults-only sister hotel StolenTime under the SunSwept Resorts umbrella, BodyHoliday was something of a pioneer in the wellness holiday space. In the late ‘80s, when the exercise industry was dominated by Jane Fonda videos and veganism was the sole preserve of hemp-wearing hippies, convincing monied Brits to swap their two weeks of Caribbean luxury for daily yoga and sunrise jogs was quite the gamble.

And yet, nearly four decades on, the hotel’s guestbook is dominated by visitors on their 10^th, 15^th, even 20^th visit. So what keeps them coming back? Simply put, BodyHoliday doesn’t ask you to give up your two weeks in the sun. This is not a wellness retreat in the European, calorie-restricted, daily-colonics style of Vivamayr or Lanserhof. That kind of strict retreat is on offer courtesy of the hotel’s on-site doctor, should you want it, but the general vibe is far more DIY. Fancy starting your day with a 10k hike and a green juice before taking a tennis lesson and trying your hand at wind surfing? Knock yourself out. Alternatively, if you wake up knowing that all you really want is to park yourself on a sun lounger and work your way through the cocktail menu, that’s okay too. There’s no judgment here.

Inevitably, for most guests, their stay is something in the middle. The hotel’s fitness programme, overseen by the wittily named (and wildly enthusiastic) BodyGuard team, is a core part of BodyHoliday’s all-inclusive offering and makes great use of the resort’s expansive grounds and facilities. There are roughly 40 classes to choose from each day, spanning yoga, Pilates, spin and HIIT to introductory scuba diving lessons, archery, tai chi, golf and water sports.

The Wellness Centre

Susannah Taylor and Chloe Hodgson

The BodyGuards won’t go easy on you, but, if you’re in need of some R&R after a particularly intense aquacise class (I’m not joking), every guest is treated to a complimentary daily spa treatment at the hotel’s vast wellness centre. There are a range of signature massages, facials and scrubs on offer, alongside a series of uplifting Ayurvedic treatments administered according to your own personal ‘dosha’ courtesy of the hotel’s Pivatra Ayurvedic pavilion.

I have it on good authority from a BodyHoliday lifer who rolls out her yoga mat next to me that treatments change often enough that you’re unlikely to get bored – which hints at another reason the resort remains a hit with regulars: it doesn’t rest on its laurels. In recent years, BodyHoliday has added three private villas sleeping up to ten guests to its accommodation offering, as well as partnering with international athletes, most recently 100m Olympic gold medallist and local legend Julien Alfred, for specialised retreats and bootcamps.

I’m visiting to experience the latest in the series: BodyHoliday’s debut Reconnection Retreat. For this, the hotel has enlisted the help of renowned Pilates instructor Chloe Hodgson (usually found teaching classes at Bamford and Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, as well as on her own digital platform) and wellness guru Susannah Taylor (former beauty editor and founder of Get The Gloss). Together the pair have devised an immersive but lightly-structured programme that allows guests to benefit from their teachings and experience while still enjoying everything the resort has to offer.

Mornings begin with a sunrise walk, swim or mindful practice led by Taylor before we hit the Pilates studio to feel the burn during one of Hodgson’s signature classes. Late afternoon, we reconvene for sound healing sessions, breathwork classes and talks on managing the pressures of modern life, which one imagines most people have come here to escape. Moments to implement what we’ve learnt are plentiful and I quickly find myself using Hodgson’s Pilates breathing techniques during other workout classes and eschewing my usual podcasts to tune into the sounds of the sea while sunbathing. (Even while writing this review I’ve popped some Bertioli water meadow balm on my temples and done a quick round of SAS-style ‘box breathing’ to improve my focus. I’ll let you be the judge as to its effects…)

In between, there are plenty of opportunities for indulgence. The dining options at BodyHoliday are vast, with six restaurants and two bars to choose from. If you’re determined to come home fitter, happier and more productive, head to the all-day wellness cafe where salads, wraps and bento boxes are served alongside nourishing smoothies and juices. At the hotel’s main restaurant, Cariblue, as well as its oceanfront eatery, Pavilion, you’ll find a daily changing buffet of local specialties, DIY salads, grilled fish and meat, international favourites and plenty of desserts. (Yes, you can have sugar here, they even serve afternoon tea with champagne. Like I said, no judgment.)

The I-TAL restaurant

For special occasions, make a reservation at Tao, BodyHoliday’s fine-dining Asian restaurant, where fresh sushi, lobster, Thai curries and gyoza are served against a dramatic backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. For something completely unique, the I-TAL experience is a meal you’ll be talking about for years to come.

Offering just 10 covers at lunch and dinner, this tiny shack-style restaurant takes its cues from the Rastafarian ideal of ‘vitality’, serving plant-based dishes for which every ingredient, from the fruits and vegetables down to the herbs and cooking oil, has been sourced from the hotel’s dedicated organic garden. Menus change daily depending on what is ripe and in season and, ahead of their meal, guests are invited to tour the garden and discover more about the Rastafarian way of life before helping to prepare one of the dishes themselves. London may be fit to burst with Michelin-starred restaurants but I promise you won’t find anything like this in the capital.

For the work-hard, play-hard crowd, a rotating roster of local DJs, bands and musicians are on hand to bring the party from sundowners right through to the small hours. But be warned: in a sea of refreshed, rejuvenated faces, it’s not hard to spot those who stayed up until 1am singing karaoke at the Piano Bar at the breakfast buffet. Which, actually, rather neatly sums up the BodyHoliday experience.

They say life is all about balance and, at BodyHoliday, they’ve got it just right.

Rooms from $714 per night on an all-inclusive basis, visit thebodyholiday.com

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