2 Best Hotels in Montserrat

This secluded mountainside retreat offers remarkable value, individually decorated accommodations, splendid views, utter tranquility, and exquisite grounds—not to mention fascinating, self-sufficient owners who believe in respecting nature and supporting local culture. David and Clover Lea, who laughingly call themselves \"well-done, but grown up hippies,\" built the villas themselves using recycled or indigenous materials wherever possible (even the soaps are homemade). Each unit offers creative touches such as trompe l'oeil window frames, hand-painted tiles, and wraparound verandahs. Mango Cottage is nearest the 17-foot oval pool; the cozy Sweet & Simple efficiency has a microwave,TV, and fridge. Reasonably priced catering is available, using fixings from the permaculture garden and fresh eggs from the family's chickens. You can pluck your own breakfast from the extravagant fruit trees.

Rented to island hoteliers by the family of music producer Sir George Martin, this 1950s villa brims with history, including items that nod to the island's fabled AIR Studios (where Sting, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney recorded) and guest rooms that are each named for a Beatles tune and are furnished with antiques. Three rooms have access to the wraparound porch; the other three have air-conditioning. The 5 acres of lush grounds offer spectacular views of the steaming Soufrière. A Montserrat Who's Who gathers in the restaurant, where bountiful British breakfasts feature fresh seasonal juices and homemade preserves.