Viceroy Anguilla hotel.
Viceroy Anguilla
Barnes Bay, Anguilla; viceroyanguilla.com; 166 rooms from $750 (U.S.). No eco-rating.
Viceroy Anguilla is a design-driven village of luxe suites and villas on a Caribbean island free of all-inclusive developments. No surprise it's a celebrity haven.
Design: Interior designer Kelly Wearstler has touched every part of the property with stand-out elements set against minimalist lines. The 14-hectare property has a water-treatment plant, cycling grey water to irrigate flora and fauna.
Amenities: Almost all the rooms, suites and villas have at least one private pool. The fitness centre offers many classes, including yoga on the bluff overlooking the ocean. Loaner bikes are peppered across the property and there is a marked bike tour route and two-kilometre jogging trail. The basketball court is popular with holidaying NBA players who can't seem to take a break. And the oceanfront spa was named to Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List in 2011.
Rooms: The Viceroy has many four- and five-bedroom villas. The kitchen includes a professional gas stove and indoor grill, 24-bottle wine fridge and an outdoor cooking area. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to a spacious terrace view of the ocean, a saline infinity pool and Jacuzzi.
Service: The people of Anguilla are known for their genuine hospitality, and 95 per cent of the staff here are locals. Each villa comes with a butler (all graduates of the International Institute of Modern Butlers).
Food: Cobà, the resort's signature restaurant (and one of five places to eat on property), offers European cuisine with views of the startlingly turquoise ocean.
Verdict: Viceroy is a place to see and be seen in a stunning oceanfront setting
Special to The Globe and Mail