Finding keyless Caribbean hotels
By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor
A hotel room with no key? What?! At first thought, relaxing in a room you can’t lock from the outside seems practically impossible. But consider this: If you’ve tucked away all your money and irreplaceables in the safe (as you should), what else of real value is there for someone to steal while you’re away? In my case, that’d be a couple of damp swimsuits, flips-flops, and some trashy magazines. Hardly worth it, right? If you feel the same, check out these resorts where you can join the keyless culture and experience the ultimate carefree getaway.
Bitter End Yacht Club, British Virgin Islands The penultimate BVI resort before open Atlantic waters, the Bitter End offers a sweet stay for sailors and would-be sailors in the yachting capital of the Caribbean. And since the hotel and marina village is accessible only by boat, guests feel safe and secure in their rooms, key or no key.
Cap Juluca, Anguilla What’s the point of having a key to a room you hardly spend any time in anyway? You’ll probably ask yourself this question as you while away the hours on the ivory sands of Maunday’s Bay, where this hotel has pride of place. Your likely answer: None whatsoever.
Curtain Bluff, Antigua This much-loved all-inclusive has such a carefully cultivated homey feel that the absence of a room key feels perfectly natural. (Although keys are supplied on request.)
Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Antigua Two miles from Antigua, this private-island all-inclusive resort guarantees service and seclusion with no crowds, no room keys, no problem.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands None of the rooms, suites and villas at this Virgin Gorda retreat founded by Laurence Rockefeller have keys. And if that’s good enough for a Rockefeller, who are we to judge?
Petit St Vincent, St Vincent and the Grenadines The idyllic fantasy world created by management of this 115-acre private-island resort is only enhanced by the fact that there are no keys to any of the 22 cliff-side and beachfront cottages.