7 Best Hotels in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Mustique's only full-service resort allows travelers to enjoy the sun-kissed glam and idyllic beaches of this famous island in an intimate, island-chic setting that also shelters those-in-the-know and the rich and famous (at least those without their own villas). Oceanfront rooms and suites with private walkways lead to the beach, a quartet of elegant ocean-view suites, and three cottages. All units have dressing areas, French doors that open onto a private verandah, bathrooms with marble fittings, and a pillow menu with 11 selections. Full unpacking and pressing services upon arrival are included in the rates, as is a weekly sunset cruise. The beachfront spa offers body treatments and salon services, and has a fitness center on the ground floor. Enjoy breakfast and delicious dinners—locally sourced seafood, fettuccine or spaghetti with crab, lobster risotto, bouillabaisse, or perhaps rack of lamb or a filet mignon—at the Veranda Restaurant, which wraps around the Great Room in the main building (a repurposed 18th-century cotton warehouse), and casual lunches either poolside or at the Beach Café (and Ice Cream Parlour). The chef will also pack a picnic for you to take to the beach.

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.

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.

With an ideal location on pretty Friendship Bay, this stunning boutique property is a great choice for a relaxing beach getaway or family vacation. Large "classic rooms," some family suites that accommodate four, and a penthouse suite with a Jacuzzi and the ultimate sea view are set back on the hillside and surround a second pool; 14 beachfront suites are also near the main pool. All rooms have unique decor, evoking a 1930s-style adventure-travel vibe (period wicker furnishings, antique travel posters, leather trunks, four-poster beds). Nearby, six gingerbread-style, self-catering cottages, painted in Caribbean colors, offer either one or two bedrooms; three have a kitchenette and private plunge pool. A four-bedroom Presidential villa has a private infinity pool. The Blue Tropic Restaurant, open only in the high season, features Italian cuisine in a cozy, romantic setting; Batagelle, the main restaurant open year-round, is a more casual beach bar with live music and entertainment. VIP air transfers from either St. Lucia or Barbados can be arranged on the resort's own Bequia Air charter service.

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.

Except for Cotton House and Firefly, Mustique is an island of privately owned villas—more than 85 of them; rentals can be arranged through Mustique Villa Rentals. Each villa is unique, with two to nine bedrooms. Rentals include a full staff (with a cook), laundry service, and a vehicle or two. Houses range from "rustic" (albeit with en suite bathrooms for every bedroom, phones, pools, and other amenities) to extravagant, expansive mansions with a resident butler. All are elegant and immaculately maintained. Weekly rentals run from $11,500 for a two-bedroom villa in the off-season to $80,000 for a palatial seven-bedroom villa in winter.

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.