World-renowned wine cellars; geothermal energy systems; private beach houses. The Caribbean’s luxury hotels continue to innovate, and that’s nowhere more true than in its boutique hotels. But for some travelers, even a boutique hotel can be a bit too much.
There’s something rather gratifying about discovering that tiny, jewel-box Caribbean luxury resort, where you’ll find a higher degree of intimacy, personality and service.
We’ve curated a list of some of our favorite “tiny” luxury resorts in the Caribbean, a group of hotels, each with less than 25 rooms, where the food, service and amenities far exceed their footprint.
Secret Bay, Dominica The quintessential small luxury resort in the Caribbean. The splendid, endlessly thoughtful Secret Bay put Dominica on the map as a luxury destination when it debuted a little over a decade ago, and this small collection of meticulously designed villas continues to set the standard for what a small Caribbean hotel can be. Secret Bay promises a “six star” experience and delivers.
Sunset Reef St Kitts A new entry on the Caribbean luxury travel scene, this seven-suite resort on a cliffside in St Kitts is changing the paradigm for small luxury hotels in the region, with everything from a state-of-the-art geothermal energy system to a world-class restaurant and a focus on “luxury with a small footprint.”
Rock House, Harbour Island, The Bahamas It’s been on Harbour Island for eight decades, and the newest iteration of this Dunmore Town boutique hotel is as good as ever: the celebrated restaurant and lounge remain a draw on their own, but the 10 rooms and suites (and the hillside pool) are even better. It’s a hip, creative little hotel that manages to achieve serious hospitality without any attitude.
Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos Here, you can find the luxury of seclusion. This 12 room property (10 beachfront units and two suites right on the sand) is set on a private island in Turks and Caicos, an oasis of pure serenity and throwback-style castaway romance. The food is excellent, too, cultivating gourmet gastronomy with a local focus.
Stonefield Villa Resort, Saint Lucia Somehow, this jewel manages to fly under the radar of better-known properties in Saint Lucia. But this 17-villa property in the lovely beach town of Soufriere is a delicious retreat from the typical luxury hotel: All of the villas come with their own private pools (and stunning views), the on-site, farm-to-table restaurant, Mango Tree, is all about authenticity, and the Escape Spa offers up treatments you’d expect at a far larger resort.
Paradise Beach, Nevis There’s no more popular trend in the Caribbean right now than the villa vacation, and this Nevis hotspot is the best of both worlds: beachy villas and beach houses with the service and amenities of a luxury resort. You’ll find a total of 13 units here, ranging from two-bedroom beach houses to larger four-bedroom ocean villas, joined by a lovely beachfront eatery and the option for private chef catering, too. There’s no beachfront option on the island quite like this.
Baoase Luxury Resort, Curacao Curacao’s crown jewel is this 23-room beachfront retreat that effortlessly marries Bali-style vibes with Dutch sophistication. That ranges from some of the most beautifully-appointed suites you’ll find in the Caribbean (with the service to match) to the island’s best restaurant, Rene Klop’s breathtakingly good Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant.
Graycliff Hotel, Nassau, The Bahamas If you are a bon vivant, this is heaven. This 20-room retreat on a hillside in the old quarter of Nassau is home to the best restaurant in The Bahamas and an almost unimaginably impressive collection of wines and spirits, from the third-largest wine cellar in the world to a veritable museum of rare cognacs, rums and whiskies. That’s along with an on-site cigar factory, a chocolate factory, a heritage village and an intoxicatingly private feel.
Goldeneye, Jamaica Yes, this is where Ian Fleming created James Bond and wrote the novels — and you’ll immediately understand why he was overcome with inspiration here. The 21-room Goldeneye masterfully weaves its way into the soul of the town of Oracabessa near Ocho Rios, blending quintessential Jamaican hospitality with a mix of beach villas, beach huts and lagoon cottages, all breezy, beautiful and unique.
Barbuda Belle If you didn’t know Barbuda was a burgeoning luxury hotspot, the helicopters flying in for lunch at Nobu Barbuda are a quick giveaway. But when it comes to luxury retreats on this beach-filled paradise, the charming Barbuda Belle is the spot — just eight rooms, all with a toes-in-the-sand-chic aesthetic, accompanied by a decidedly good eatery called the Mangrove, where fresh lobster is a centerpiece of the menu (even better in a ravioli with foie gras).
Casas del XVI, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Yes, luxury travelers should consider the Dominican capital. If you haven’t noticed, the Colonial Zone of the capital, the 500-year-old oldest “city” in the Caribbean has become a wonderfully cosmopolitan destination, with art galleries, cafes, boutique hotels and a burgeoning culinary scene. That movement largely began with the debut of the Casas del XVI, a collection of artfully restored five-century-old buildings in the heart of the old city.
Bamboo Bonaire This is by no means a traditional luxury hotel: but this 13-room adults-only boutique across from the beach in Bonaire should be on your radar. While the footprint is small, there’s just about everything: a fantastic spa, a lovely pool, one of the best restaurants in the Caribbean, CHEFS, and secluded, spacious rooms (particularly the ones with their own private magnesium plunge pools).