9 Best Hotels in St. Vincent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Guests choose Beachcombers for its comfortable beachfront rooms, friendly service, and lively atmosphere both day and night. In 1990, Cheryl Hornsey opened a six-room bed-and-breakfast in her family home overlooking the sea at Villa Beach; today, that little inn has morphed into a delightful 48-room hotel with a pool, restaurant, and popular bar. Rooms are in the original family home and in brightly colored (orange and yellow) three-story buildings. Half the guest rooms overlook the sea; the others face the garden's frenzy of flowers. All are tidy and comfortable, with either patios or balconies with lovely views. Each of the two enormous penthouse suites has a kitchenette, an elegantly furnished sitting-dining room, a modern bath with a whirlpool tub, and a large private balcony with a view of the Grenadines. On Saturday evenings, you'll usually find a live band and dancing on the pool deck adjacent to the restaurant and bar.

Whether you arrive by yacht, plan to charter a yacht for a sail through the Grenadines, or just like to be in a marina environment, Blue Lagoon is the place for you. Rooms—which all have a bright, colorful, contemporary look—overlook the marina, the sea beyond, Bequia in the distance, and Mustique on a clear day. Sailors come ashore for an overnight or two on land or a meal at the Loft Restaurant & Bar, light meals and fresh baked goods at Café Soleil, or a refreshing drink at Flowt Beach Bar. Guests also enjoy the garden pool and a small beach. And because it's an active marina, there's an on-site charter operator, dockmaster, laundry, grocery store, and sailmaker.

Especially favored by business travelers, rooms in this historic mansion are also perfect for vacationers who want modern comforts in an elegant setting but don't require planned activities or beachfront resort features. This stylish boutique inn is wedged into a residential hillside neighborhood (five minutes by taxi from downtown Kingstown and the Botanical Gardens) on the site of the island's oldest guesthouse (1765) and the home of its first British administrator. Although far from any beach, the hotel does have a large pool, gym, spa, and broad verandahs with sweeping views of the city and the harbor. Rooms are also large, with 1930s-style brown-wicker bureaus that contrast with the light-color walls. The European-style service is friendly, efficient, and low-key. Table d'hôte (prix-fixe) lunch and dinner are available in the Sapodilla Room, the air-conditioned restaurant on the ground level; breakfast is served on the terrace.

Guests are made to feel right at home at Hotel Alexandrina, because it actually is—and has been for years—home to the owners, who offer a private, relaxing atmosphere for their visitors and where nothing is too much to ask. What had been a hillside farm back in the day now is broad lawn and gardens that surround a group of architecturally interesting, two- and three-story residential structures—bright white with orange tile roofs and a breezy balcony or porch for each room. Ruth Stevens, who was raised in the cozy cottage on this property, and her husband, Beresford, returned to their native St. Vincent in 2007 after 40 years raising their family in New York City. Choose a standard or deluxe room, one- or two-bedroom garden apartment with full kitchen, mini-suite, one- or two-bedroom penthouse suite, or the two-bedroom cottage. All units are roomy and comfortably furnished, and each is unique. Enjoy the pool, stroll the property, or simply enjoy the expansive views of the valley and, in the distance, the sea.

This small, pleasant hotel on the Villa Beach waterfront, opposite Young Island, has large rooms with either a balcony or terrace facing the water or overlooking the small pool. Opt for room 105, if it's available, for the waterfront view and wraparound balcony. The French Verandah restaurant serves breakfast and lunch with a picturesque waterside view or dinner by candlelight. Other restaurants are nearby, or you can catch the Young Island ferry to take you to dinner at the resort just across the channel. Although the beach in front of the hotel itself is narrow to nonexistent, depending on the tide and time of year, Mariners guests can use Young Island's white-sand beach. The hotel will also arrange scuba diving, sport fishing, boat charters, and other activities.

Painted bright yellow with white gingerbread trim, the waterfront porches and balconies at Paradise Beach Hotel offer a million-dollar view of Young Island, the activity along Villa Beach, and an amazing sunset every evening. Rooms are small but bright and simply but comfortably furnished; each has a flat-screen TV and a large, modern bathroom (shower only). Locals and guests alike frequent the bar and restaurant, perhaps attracted by the thought of choosing dinner from the live lobster pool. Walk along the waterfront and absorb the local atmosphere, chat with a fisherman, or get a bite to eat or a cool drink at a neighboring restaurant. Owners Kim and Earl Halbich also operate Fantasea Tours; its tour boats depart from the dock just steps from the hotel's alfresco bar and dining deck. The hotel's full-service spa has a long menu of massages and other types of pampering—a welcome treat after a day touring on land or on sea.

Perched high on a hillside overlooking Villa Beach and Young Island, every one of these self-contained apartments has a mesmerizing view of the Grenadines—particularly at sunset—from its patio or terrace. Rooms are large and comfortably furnished; kitchenettes (in all but three rooms) have a fridge, electric kettle, microwave, and dishes. The restaurant and snack bar serve a continental or full breakfast. For those who choose to dine out for other meals, several restaurants are within walking distance—or a short taxi ride. Tennis courts and a gym are nearby, and it's a three-minute walk to the beach. Public transportation is accessible at the end of the drive, as well. Owner Janet Woods, a former director of tourism for the country, is uniquely qualified to arrange personalized sightseeing tours, diving expeditions, or shopping trips for her guests.

Down a long, steep driveway off the main road, this lemon-yellow, low-rise, family-owned hotel faces a narrow curve of Villa beachfront. The hotel also surrounds a small pool and gigantic—and prolific—mango tree (help yourself from January through July). All rooms are large, with a patio or balcony. Opt for a room with a water view; otherwise, amble over to the poolside bar for a glimpse of the gorgeous sunsets. The restaurant has a small but varied menu with fresh local fish and lobster (in season); service is friendly and efficient. Local businesspeople frequent the restaurant and use the conference facilities, although the hotel caters primarily to vacationers.

St. Vincent's only true resort (so far) is actually 200 yards offshore on its own private 35-acre island, ringed by powder-soft beaches, and offering 29 airy, hillside cottages and a pool, spa, tennis court, and superb alfresco restaurant. Access is via a private ferry from Villa Beach, a two-minute "voyage." Rooms and suites have bamboo and rattan furniture; walls of stone and glass have louvered windows surrounding the sitting areas. Each cottage has a terrace, bathroom with garden shower, and water views despite being hidden in lush tropical vegetation. There are also two beachfront cottage suites and three on the hillside, each with separate sitting rooms and private plunge pools; the top-of-the-hill Duvernette Suite has its own infinity pool and a furnished sundeck. Swim up to the floating Coconut Bar, 30 feet offshore, for a refreshing thirst-quencher; then dine on fresh Continental-Caribbean fare either on the terrace or in a private thatch-roof gazebo. There's also a small open-air spa, plenty of hammocks, a tennis court, a lagoon pool, and a water-sports center for your amusement. Sail-away packages include two nights touring the Grenadines on a 46-foot crewed catamaran.