The Caribbean has seen a flurry of fresh properties as the region bounces back from consecutive years of hurricanes. Blossom Green and Fleur Rollet-Manus have traversed the islands to bring you the addresses worth checking out, before checking in.
As far as hidden private island retreats go, this, on an undeveloped archipelago in the northern Caribbean, is paradise found. Perched amid teal waters and 400ha of wild beauty, it has a 1.6km-long beach, banana plantation and beautifully manicured grounds. It hits the mark for privacy and evokes a sense of glamour – all white, lots of light, no messing – while still being homely. Clandestine corners, hidden coves and a heavenly infinity pool are all accounted for. It’s a tough call when it comes to our favourite rooms, but the beach villas just clinch it, sitting amid the dunes in a scene that wouldn’t look out of place in New England.
BEST FOR: Romance and privacy
THE DETAIL: 61 suites, villas and beach houses, from £617
Just launched on the south-west coast of the Spice Island of Grenada, sublime Silversands packs a punch. It’s the newest on our list and the property is the first to be built on this golden stretch of Grand Anse Beach in 25 years. A bona fide design hotel, its cool Japanese-leaning style, sharp lines, an abundance of blonde wood and brilliant white offer a change from the colonial properties elsewhere on the island, while its cabana-flanked 100m pool that leads out to sea forms the focal point of any stay. There’s plenty to do nearby – think rugged national parks, waterfalls and vibrant reefs – while the dining room features a menu paired with small-batch local rums – just the thing to enjoy over those emblematic Caribbean sunsets.
BEST FOR: Modern design enthusiasts with a hankering for outdoor adventure
THE DETAIL: 43 suites, from £590
Floating amid a dense emerald thicket on Mexico’s chic Riviera Maya, Chablé sets the bar when it comes to striking a balance between luxury and nature. It puts local culture front and centre, with open-sided thatched casitas creeping up the hillside in a swathe of rustic-luxe. Each has its own private grounds and features xucun stone, marble and plenty of glass, alongside a traditional Mayan colour scheme, spacious living area, hammock and outdoor shower. Below, a slinky pool and 200m of celestial- white sand invite with the promise of lazy days. Local ancestral rituals abound at the truly enormous spa. Elsewhere, one of the country’s top chefs, Jorge Vallejo, is behind the fine culinary offering , which takes its cue from what’s yielded from the land and ocean surrounding, with true Mexican flavours. If you don’t leave this place feeling thoroughly revived, we’ll eat our sombrero.
BEST FOR: Authentic Mexi-Carib cuisine
THE DETAIL: 70 casitas with private pools, from £454
The plushest address on Paradise Island received a root-and-branch makeover in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, re-emerging as an entirely new resort. Its 8km stretch of Colgate-white sand is a draw, while the sultry Martini Bar and swanky restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jean-George Vongerichten will nourish the epicure. In a change of pace for the Caribbean, it’s flanked by Parisian gardens (tended by 200 gardeners, no less). We love the luxe courtyards, while elsewhere you’ll find three pools, tennis courts, a Balinese spa and a golf club.
BEST FOR: A fresh look at trad Caribbean style
THE DETAIL: 108 suites, villas and cottages, from £845.
Last year, Sandals added the most luxurious property yet to its dreamy roster of award-winning all-inclusive resorts. Set next door to its original Barbados base, guests here can dip in and out of the facilities both afford. Its huge and varied range of activities (from diving and waterskiing to yoga and ten-pin bowling), room categories (17), restaurants (17) and bars (12) offer something for nearly every type of traveller and have earned its spot on our hotlist. Expect vibrant island design across the rooms – we are digging the infinity pools on the balcony.
BEST FOR: Super-high-quality all-inclusive
THE DETAIL: 222 suites, 7 nights from £5,300pp
Bravely brushing the sand from its eyes after 2017’s Hurricane Maria, the completion of 5,665ha Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton is testament to the progress the island has made. The 114 rooms here stand out for their Balinese design flair, many featuring plunge pools. Once a plantation, this remote outcrop begs to be explored. An open-air spa hovers amid a canopy of treetops, while the coastline is made for kitesurfing and sailing. Follow the 18km forested Rockefeller Nature Trail, where over 300,000 new plant species have been planted, until you reach Positivo Sandbar: the waterfront restaurant debuts an omakase and ceviche bar that shouldn’t be missed.
BEST FOR: Adrenaline-hungry activity-seekers
THE DETAIL: 114 rooms, from £651
This new Dominican Republic hotspot is the rural Caribbean at its best. Àni lets you rule over your own 1.6ha clifftop estate on a craggy peninsula on the rugged north coast, picking from two modern multi-suite villas (opt for Amber if travelling with kids; it boasts a water slide that’ll keep them entertained). Inside, sleek wooden interiors are offset by local travertine tiles, which exaggerate the Tiffany-blue sea visible from the sumptuous beds. The huge suites are framed by lush tropical gardens that encourage alfresco living with outdoor showers, private beaches and terraces. Fusing the amenities of five-star resorts with the freedom of a private abode, gourmet meals are whipped up by an expert culinary team and mixologists are on hand to concoct Brugal-spiked cocktails until 1am.
BEST FOR: Multi-generational getaways
THE DETAIL: 2 villas, from £3,398
Having lived on the island for over 30 years, Geoffrey and Keenie Fieger settled upon Anguilla’s most idyllic coastal stretch as the base for their superbly appointed West Indies mansion. After a decade in the making, the property boasts an exquisite Haitian art collection (one of the largest in the Caribbean), traditional antiques, handmade beds and the
Q Wine Cellar — which is stocked with over 1,600 of Geoffrey’s best bins. We love the hotel’s classic, sophisticated styling, while its Lilliputian size makes a tranquil change to the Caribbean’s big-brand resorts. Each of the nine suites sports vaulted cedar ceilings, marble Roman soaking tubs and a view of sparkling Long Island Bay. The food is equally well curated. Julians, a French bistro where seafood is delivered straight to the door, is superb. Order the zesty crayfish fritters as the sun melts into the sea or else enlist local fisherman Calvin to take you over to Sandy Island by boat for the fiery ribs smothered in a secret sauce and expertly chargrilled in an oil drum. Expect it to cost you £8 and a swig of rum.
BEST FOR: Gourmet travellers seeking seclusion
THE DETAIL: 9 rooms, from £505
The knockout, new-look Rosewood Bermuda perches proudly atop 97ha of candyfloss-coloured beaches and marbled turquoise and sapphire waters. Its recent facelift combined with its perfect location has catapulted it straight to the top of the island’s best-equipped hideaways. The beachside resort exudes charm with fine linens and polished marble, while splashes of whimsical colour brighten up rooms. Large balconies offer eye-rubbingly beautiful Castle Harbour views, making for a dreamy morning coffee perch. The hotel’s biggest draw, beside residing on the largest private beach in Bermuda, is the epic 18-hole Tucker’s Point Golf Course, redesigned by Roger Rulewich. From here, you’re also in easy reach of the sherbet-hued town of St George, which holds a rich history and Unesco status. Afterwards, downtime at the spa comes highly recommended. Arranged around a central pool, its sun-dappled cabanas are hard to leave after a luxurious treatment based around ingredients plucked from the surrounding garden. You’ll find Bermudian cuisine is at the fore in the four restaurants, while a dedicated rum bar with hundreds of pours is on hand to help guests get to grips with the local tipple.
BEST FOR: Golf lovers
THE DETAIL: 92 rooms, from £410
There are few things better than kicking back under a canopy of swaying palms, and this gem, which sits pretty on the island of Nevis, is the ideal place. Start days in your private garden, whose centrepiece is a copper plunge pool. A stroll along one of the hushed walkways brings you to the warm ocean below. In a land of extravagant top-end resorts, it was Paradise Beach’s modern take on chic villa holidaying that piqued our interest and earned it a top spot on our list. Each villa champions modern Caribbean design with rich accents and colonial notes – think plantation chairs, greenery and dark wood. A kitchen and barbecue is ideal for self-catering.
BEST FOR: Groups of friends
THE DETAIL: 12 beach houses and villas, from £2,152
A breezy slip of rugged coastline, South Caicos is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets. This is the first major hotel to open here, on a frontier island seemingly held in time. Swathed in mangroves, overseen by flamingos and surrounded by reefs, it’s a great pick for those who love the outdoors. The open-air design of the Ridgetop villas makes for 360-degree views of the ocean on the sandbank-like peninsula. Expect plenty of freshly caught seafood in the Great House restaurant, and authentic local recipes.
BEST FOR: An old-school Caribbean experience
THE DETAIL: 17 suites and villas, from £470
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