9 Best Hotels in 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.

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.

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.

The venerable Frangipani, once a sea captain's home and also the birthplace of the late James "Son" Mitchell, former prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is especially known for its welcoming waterfront bar and restaurant. Luxurious garden and deluxe hillside units, built of local stone and hardwoods, rise on a gentle hillside filled with fragrant frangipani trees. These rooms have tile floors, louvered windows and doors, canopy beds, spacious private baths, and verandahs with spectacular sunset views of the harbor. Two deluxe hillside rooms have air-conditioning. Five rooms in the historic house (less than half the price of the garden rooms) have painted-wood walls and floors, grass rugs, and plain furniture; they share a bayfront terrace at the front and a cold-water bath at the end of the hall (Room 3 is closest to the bath).

Overlooking Admiralty Bay, Gingerbread's six breezy waterfront suites—each suitable for up to three guests—are large and modern, with bedroom alcoves, adjoining salons, and full kitchens (but no air-conditioning). Lower-level rooms have twin beds and large bayfront porches; upper-level rooms have king-size four-poster beds and verandahs. Decorated and furnished in a sophisticated tropical style, suites have Italian tile floors, and natural wood and rattan furniture throughout. En suite bathrooms are large and modern, too.

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.

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.