ISLAND LIFE

Five idyllic Caribbean boltholes to dream of now and jet off to later…

BELMOND CAP JULUCA ANGUILLA

If you’ve been dreaming of soft sands, swaying palm-trees and turquoise waters, then the newly opened Belmond Cap Juluca might just be the place to escape to. Here, you’ll find chic beachfront sanctuaries dotted along Anguilla’s pristine shores and a choice of four restaurants, including Pimms, serving up Caribbean classics such as jerk chicken with grilled corn and the freshest catch (think lobster, crayfish and red snapper), and Cip’s by Cipriani, which offers Italian flavours from the hotel’s sister property in Venice. The island also benefits from a surrounding coral reef, populated by rainbow-hued fish, rays and turtles. annie lewis

Belmond Cap Juluca (www.belmond.com), from about £925 a room a night.

ROSEWOOD LITTLE DIX BAY VIRGIN GORDA

Spread across 500 acres of coastline and hills on Virgin Gorda in the

British Virgin Islands, Rosewood Little Dix Bay is back, and better than ever, after sustaining substantial damage during Hurricane Irma

in 2017. There is something for everyone here – enjoy heavenly treatments such as the Drift Away massage in the cliffside spa, sip a nightcap in the aptly named Rum Room, stocked with 107 different labels from around the world, or simply relax on the beautiful crescent beach. More energetic guests can opt for a game of tennis or work-out

in the state-of-the-art fitness centre. lucy halfhead Rosewood Little Dix Bay (www.rosewoodhotels.com),

from about £1,100 a room a night.

COBBLERS COVE

BARBADOS

The powder-pink façade of Cobblers Cove has charmed many guests since

the former plantation house was converted to a hotel in 1968. Today, it’s run by a husband-and-wife team, Hugh and Sam Godsal, who have brought a touch of whimsy to the west coast of Barbados. After leaving Cambridge University, Sam studied for a fashion MA at Central Saint Martins, and her flair for interior design can be seen in the stylish fixtures and locally printed linens that fill the 40 spacious suites, and the new

candy-striped beach umbrellas down by the sleek swimming pool. lh Cobblers Cove (www.cobblerscove.com), from about £315 a room a night B&B.

EDEN ROCK ST BARTHS

Established in the 1950s by the Dutch-French aviator Rémy de Haenen, Eden Rock St Barths has lured some of the most glamorous travellers – from Greta Garbo to Lee Radziwill – to its sybaritic shores. Reopened after an extensive refurbishment by the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the 37 red-roofed villas have all been adorned with artworks procured from the New York Academy of Art. End each day in glorious style with a magical culinary experience masterminded by the award-winning Alsatian chef

Jean-Georges Vongerichten. al Eden Rock St Barths (www.oetker collection .com), from about £1,610 a room a night.

BEQUIA BEACH HOTEL ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Located on its namesake island – a seven-square-mile paradise in St Vincent and the Grenadines – Bequia Beach Hotel has built up a

legion of loyal fans who love its laid-back ambience and setting on

Friendship Bay. Recent updates include plunge pools in the two-bedroom cottages, a well-stocked

wine cellar and a show-stopping saltwater infinity-pool with a hardwood deck and sunloungers overlooking the sea. For ultimate seclusion, you can now book one of three elegant private villas that

each come with butler service, a gym and a media-room. lh Bequia Beach Hotel (www.bequiabeachhotel.com),

from about £225 a room a night B&B.