St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Mustique, in the Grenadines between Bequia and Canouan, was bought by aristocrat Colin Tennant in 1958 and transformed into a paradise of dream villas beloved by rock stars and royalty.

Cotton House occupies the site of a former sugar mill and cotton warehouse, with most guests arriving via charter flights from Barbados or St Lucia.

At the heart of the hotel is the elegant Grand Salon, remodelled by Parisian designer Tristan Auer – plan your dates to catch the fabulous free cocktail party held on the wooden terraces every Tuesday night, which is attended by almost every islander.

Cotton House has its own swimming pool, while the beach and water sports/dive shop are just steps away. Sun loungers and snorkels are complimentary, but there is a charge for other activities. The gym, boutique and spa with four treatment rooms are in a separate building across the lawn. Sugar Mill has a small history museum and floodlit tennis courts nearby. Around the island are gorgeous beaches (picnic areas need to be booked in advance), walking trails, a library, a few shops, bars and an equestrian centre.

Spread across six separate buildings, the choice of cottages, rooms and suites is limited, but all are decorated in light and uplifting colours and feature four-poster beds and verandas. The three entry-level cottages are sweet and romantic – both these and the sea view rooms are ideal for couples. The Family and Duplex suites are suitable for families and friends, while the Residence is a very private two-bedroom hideaway with a pool.

All meals are served al fresco in the Veranda Restaurant, overlooking the lawn and sea – if the birds get annoying, there are water pistols available. Breakfast is leisurely, with pleasant Caribbean dishes. For lunch and on Tuesday nights, Beach Café offers casual dining, including sushi, burgers and pizza.

Situated on a picturesque island that’s rarely heard of, Canouan retains its authenticity with minimal development, quiet crowds and a healthy turtle population – after all, “Canouan” means “turtle island” in Caribbean. Mandarin Oriental adds its signature touch to the island, creating a boutique-sized hideaway with butler service, fine dining and an infinity pool perfectly accented by pink umbrellas in a stylish nod to the hotel’s former existence as the Pink Sands Club.

The suites at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan are some of the most spacious, starting at a luxurious 120 square metres. The service at Canouan is second to none. From a welcome drink in a coconut with your name carved into it to a cube of frozen aloe vera left in your room after a long day on the beach, the staff go above and beyond to ensure you have an unforgettable stay.

A seaside getaway just got more luxurious with oceanfront treatment villas built into the resort’s mountainside. Debuting in 2022, two overwater villas take spa treatments to the next level with private balconies, steam showers, and glass floors overlooking turquoise waters that lull you to sleep.

This luxury resort offers guests the chance to see the Caribbean’s largest living coral reef, making snorkeling excursions a must.

For those who enjoy adventure on land, choose a self-guided e-bike tour of the resort’s 1,200 acres or hike up Mount Royal for stunning views from the island’s highest peak. Either way, be sure to end your day with a swim at one of the resort’s five white-sand beaches.

It’s hard to fault the location of this pristine private island resort. While it’s a bit of a hassle to get to – typically a flight to Barbados, then a flight to Union Island and a 30-minute transfer on one of the island’s private boats – it’s worth it if you’re looking for privacy. The Tobago Cays, where you can sail, snorkel and swim with turtles, are just 11km away, and the resort can easily arrange a boat trip to this beautiful spot.

You can tailor your stay here to suit your needs, whether it’s a romantic getaway for two or a relaxing family getaway. Privacy is key, and you’ll only see other guests at dinner, although even here interaction is rare. In keeping with this, there are few public areas. The main restaurant and reception have a hilltop feel, while the beach restaurant and private hammocks are more in keeping with a relaxed seaside location.

The staff are friendly and unobtrusive, and their manners reflect their surroundings – relaxed at the beach restaurant, a little more formal at the main restaurant. The spa, unusually for the Caribbean, has a Balinese feel thanks to its hilltop location, bamboo design and talented therapists.

There are walks on land (best done on cool mornings), but most of the action takes place by the water. Snorkeling with the local team is highly recommended, as is a short trip to a nearby sandy island for a picnic and snorkeling break for some solitude. You can spend the day in one of the private hammocks on the western end of the island and hardly see another soul all day.

The rooms here are truly made for lingering. While no two of the 21 cottages and villas are alike, each one has walls made entirely of sliding glass doors.

Raise a red flag outside for privacy or drop your request in the letterbox, raise a yellow flag and one of the butlers will ensure it is carried out. In keeping with the spirit of the resort, there is no Wi-Fi in the rooms, only a small area near the reception.

There are two restaurants. The main restaurant, on the hill, has a more formal atmosphere and is known as the resort’s fine dining restaurant.

The beach restaurant has a more casual, barefoot atmosphere, where you can dig your toes into the sand as you tuck into more informal dishes. Breakfast is served in the main restaurant.

The tiny island of Bequia is one of the Caribbean’s unspoiled gems. The Bequia Beach Hotel sits just behind Friendship Bay Beach, an arc of soft golden sand lined with palm trees and sea grapes, with a cluster of fishing boats at one end. It’s the only beachfront hotel; other properties in the area are mostly private homes. Spectacular sea views sweep across the offshore islands, with the outline of Mustique visible in the distance.

The hotel sits on 10 acres of attractive grounds, including lawns dotted with palm trees and beautiful almond trees. The retro-chic style is complemented by eye-catching 1950s posters of Miami, Cuba.

Bengt Mortstedt, a Swedish expat, owns and runs the Bequia Beach Hotel with thoughtfulness and practicality. His staff is eager to please. Evening turndown service is available in the bedrooms.

The hotel has the most extensive facilities of any hotel on the island. It operates its own flight between Barbados, St Lucia and Bequia on a sleek nine-seater jet, timing the flight to coincide with transatlantic arrivals and departures in Barbados and St Lucia. There are two large swimming pools, a nice little spa with two treatment rooms, a sauna and a gym, and free yoga three times a week on a platform behind the beach. Water sports include paddleboards, kayaks and snorkelling gear. There are also free bicycles.

The hotel has 56 high-quality rooms. The most affordable are the very decent Classic Rooms, located on the hillside at the rear of the hotel, with a balcony or terrace overlooking the pool and the sea in the distance. Most rooms are classed as suites, with large terraces, elegant wicker furniture and large bathrooms with rain showers. The Beachfront Suites make up the lion’s share of the accommodations and are located in blocks just a few metres from the sand.

Bagatelle, the main restaurant, is a smart-casual outdoor spot just above the beach. Breakfast is a pleasant buffet. Lunch and dinner include mouth-watering Caribbean-European dishes. Five minutes away and under the same ownership is Jack’s Beach Bar. The chicest beach bar on Bequia, it sits under large white canvas awnings overlooking yacht-filled Admiralty Bay.

Although the hotel is only a five-minute drive from the runway (the word “airport” seems a bit too cumbersome), it is on the quiet side of the island. Once inside, you may as well be in another world. There is a small secluded beach with lounge chairs and cabanas, and a short dock from which to launch a boat or go fishing.

The hotel’s small public pool is next to the bar, and the fact that it is limited to eight people at a time is a testament to the intimacy of the hotel. Cushioned lounge chairs and roped-off decks give the public space a slightly nautical feel.

The service is incredibly friendly and casual, but always attentive and professional. There are private cabanas on the beachfront, as well as a couple of kayaks and a paddleboard available for use most days. The hotel is happy to arrange boat or taxi tours of the island (both highly recommended), and while there is no spa, treatments can be arranged in the privacy of your room.

Spacious, modern and beautifully decorated, the bedrooms are hard to fault. The bathrooms are large with rain showers, the beds are huge and comfortable and there are more towels than you could use in a week. Following the design of the public areas, all the rooms are incredibly modern, with artwork adding plenty of colour. The outdoor space is also impressive, with plenty of seating, including sun loungers, on the private terrace. Opt for a pool villa and you’ll never want to leave your room.