Bequia Beach Hotel Hotel

Friendship Beach, Bequia, St Vincent & the Grenadines

For a touch of the real Caribbean, look no further than the sleepy island of Bequia, which is just a short flight from Barbados. Relatively undiscovered, calm, lazy days here are guaranteed. The hotel skirts the white sands and coral reefs of Friendship Beach on the east coast, where tropical gardens and lush green hillsides frame it to perfection. Spread across 3ha with a village vibe, it’s almost like stepping back in time. Public areas are filled with antiques picked up along Swedish owner Bengt Mortstedt’s extensive travels. Expect towers of old suitcases, a reception desk crafted out of a hot air balloon basket and retro Kerne Erickson artwork. Rooms are quirky and comfortable, ranging from beachfront suites to private pool villas, where views of Mustique (just 14km north-west) come as standard. There are two pools where you can lounge about by day, before trying the fresh seafood at beachfront restaurant Bagatelle for dinner and the rum cocktails at the Blue Tropic bar afterwards. The capital, Port Elizabeth, is close by and offers a few choice restaurants and boutiques, as well as a number of charter options for sailors. It’s a quaint scene, but in the best possible way. Doubles from £173