Sue Bryant takes a tour of the idyllic islands
The first thing that strikes me about St Barths is the sense of tranquillity. We stop the car, high above Anse de Toiny, and gaze down across an endless expanse of golden sand. Down at Le Toiny, I imagine guests at the boho-chic beach club ordering ice-cold rosé to go with their grilled mahi-mahi.
We drive over to St Jean beach, to the legendary Eden Rock hotel. The beach club is packed, butlers buzzing up and down with rum punches. On beautiful Anguilla, the striking CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa channels the dazzling white architecture of the Cyclades. And two Anguilla legends, Belmond Cap Juluca and the chic, family-friendly Malliouhana, tempt guests with Peruvian tapas at Cap Juluca’s Maundays Lounge, and rum tastings at Malliouhana’s Sunset Bar.
The smart Quintessence, meanwhile, has just nine suites served by round-the-clock butlers, while there’s a spa, yoga pavilion and a mile of white sand beach. Over in nearby St Martin, the chic Belmond La Samanna is a luxurious oasis on a stretch of platinum-coloured sand complete with gym, tennis courts and two restaurants. Barbuda has The Barbuda Belle, with just eight rooms, a toes-in-the-sand restaurant and spa. Polished wood four-posters with gauzy drapes and just a few steps from each room to the beach give the place a dreamy, castaway feel.
For a back-to-nature escape, check out Secret Bay on Dominica. Six luxurious villas and tree houses, built from sustainable materials and each with a private plunge pool, perch on a jungly bluff, framed by two exquisite beaches.
On sleepy Nevis, the Four Seasons Resort has 189 rooms and suites and 50 villas, so ideal for families, set in a beautiful location with views across the water to St Kitts.
Over on Grenada, the slick Silversands is located on the two-mile stretch of beach. The star attraction is a 100-metre infinity pool, where the shimmering blue of the pool melts into the turquoise Caribbean. Heavenly.
