The Grenadines - Recommended Hotels

The Cotton House attracts most visitors to the island of Mustique, this romantic hotel consisting of just twenty guest rooms perched on a lush hilltop. The colonial-style interiors (think 'shabby chic') go perfectly with the panoramic island views, whilst general resort facilities include a spa, an infinity-edge swimming pool, an informal beach grill and elegant verandah dining.

Palm Island is a 135-acre island paradise with five beaches, a small collection of island-style homes and a luxurious all-inclusive resort. The privately-owned resort is a clever exercise in rustic elegance, with much use being made of bamboo, rattan and stone throughout both the sprawling public areas and private accommodation. Over half of the 37 guest rooms sit right on the breathtaking white sand beach that fronts the resort, the remaining set in the palm-dotted gardens just a few steps from the sands. Recreational facilities include a landscaped swimming pool, non-motorized water sports, a fitness room, daytime tennis court and massage room. And whilst rest and relaxation are definitely the order of the day here, walks along the marked nature trails (the land iguanas and panoramic ocean views make the effort worthwhile), as well as day trips to the nearby Tobago Cays add a dash of adventure to stays. The Euro-Caribbean cuisine of the beachside restaurant takes good care of the tropical evenings.

This tiny dot in the Caribbean Sea lies just a coconut's throw (or 200 yards!) from the main island of St. Vincent. Only 35-acres in size, it is a veritable profusion of tropical palms, shrubs and fruits and is where to go when you're in a Robinson Crusoe kind of mood. Its 29-cottages are set either near the beach or on the hillside (some quite high up with breathtaking views) and whilst not attaining international standards of luxury, they're extremely attractive in an 'island-style' kind of way, featuring open-air garden showers and private patios. Some beachside luxury suites even have their own private plunge pools. The daytime focal point is usually the small stretch of beach or exotic lagoon-style swimming pool, with many guests happy to swim out to the Coconut Bar for a thirst-quenching cocktail (served in fresh coconuts, of course!).

Accommodation: 29 superior/deluxe cottages and hillside/beachside luxury suites.     Meal plan: half-board. Children: welcome.

The personal creation of Haze Richardson, PSV has long ranked amongst the finest resorts in the Grenadines. Just 113-acres in size, its natural attributes include two miles of white sands and clear turquoise waters ideal for sailing, snorkelling and scuba-diving. Day sails can be organized to the Tobago Cays, whilst picnic lunch excursions to nearby Petit St. Richardson are popular options. Just 22 discreetly luxurious cottages await here, all of them built from natural materials that include terracotta flooring, purpleheart ceilings and native blue bitch stone walls. Some are notched into the hills and bluffs, but most lie just steps from the beach and, in keeping with the resort's escapist ambience, don't feature room keys, TVs or telephones. However a unique characteristic of PSV is that each cottage has its own flagpole - guests hoist the yellow flag if they want service and the red one if they don't wish to be disturbed!

Accommodation: 22 cottages. Meal plan: full-board. Children: welcome. Closed September and October.

Set right in the middle of the Grenadines, Canouan is just 5-square miles in size and blessed with the breathtaking white sand beaches that characterize this part of the archipelago. Yet what distinguishes this island from the rest is that not so very long ago it came to the attention of one of the world's most famous hotel chains, not to mention one of its favourite billionaires. Since 2003, Raffles International has managed the 5-star resort here, whilst none other than Donald Trump is involved with its elegant European-style casino and 18-hole championship golf course. At Raffles, guests can anticipate all the facilities of an international resort, including two beaches, a full-service Amrita spa, designer boutiques, one of the Caribbean's largest swimming pools, as well as four different dining venues, ranging from an informal beachfront grill to a gourmet Italian restaurant.