Landmark hotels of the Caribbean

ST. BARTS’ VILLAS

Slideshow   Caribbean way of life From chic to rustic, expensive to affordable, tourists looking for some sun and sand can find what they're looking for in the Caribbean. more photos

St. Barts is not about big hotels, but it is about big names: Celebs, that is, the kind who grace the cover of People magazine. Where do they stay on the island? In one of many private villas available for rent. It’s the way to go on this tiny island that has been spared mega-resort development, thanks to local restrictions. Book a modest one-bedroom cottage and cook for yourself (grocery stores are easy to find) or live large in a sprawling mansion and hire a chef. Find beachfront spots in St. Jean, Lorient, Cul de Sac, and Flamands, but many of the villas are set on the hillside, so you’ll want to rent a car. No matter where you end up, you’ll be living like the locals, who blend French chic with American casual style. Rates: approximately $2,000 to $45,000 per week. See www.stbarth.com or www.st-barths.com for a list of rental villas.

NEVIS’ MONTPELIER PLANTATION INN

Admiral Horatio Nelson married Frances Nisbet at this historic property in 1787, when it was a working sugar plantation. Today, just a bit of the sugar used in Montpelier’s kitchens is harvested on the 30-acre estate. Perched 750 feet above the sea, the 17 newly restored guest rooms have views of the ocean and lush countryside.

Courtesy of Kurá Hulanda

The Botanical Gardens of Nevis, on the grounds of the original plantation, are just a five-minute walk from the inn, or you can play a round of golf among the ruins at the nearby Robert Trent Jones II course at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. To roam farther afield, take a guided mountain-biking tour of the island. Routes follow the island’s old plantation roads and trails. Rates: $260 to $650 per night, including full English breakfast and afternoon tea. If you ship your luggage ahead via FedEx, Montpelier will unpack, press, and put away your clothes for you. Contact: 869-469-3462, www.montpeliernevis.com.

ST. JOHN’S CANEEL BAY

The late Laurance Rockefeller had the vision to preserve this jewel of the USVI in the mid-1950s. He created Caneel Bay on seven secluded white sand beaches (two are designated “quiet;” kids are more than welcome at the other five), while preserving 5,000 acres of St. John as the Virgin Islands National Park. The minute you enter the manicured grounds of Caneel Bay, it becomes clear that this is a luxurious place—and utterly without glitz.

The sense of escape is complete: You’d never believe that there are 166 guest rooms on the 170-acre property, which seems even bigger because it’s tucked within the park. Many rooms open right onto charming white-sand coves, where the warm clear water makes for great snorkeling and swimming. Kids—heck, adults, too—love to explore the sugar-mill ruins on the property. This is a casual place, and the only dressing up you’ll have to do is for dinner at Turtle Bay Estate House. It’s a small price to pay for complete relaxation all day long. Rates: $325 to $1,150. Contact: 340-776-6111, www.caneelbay.com.  

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