Carlisle Bay

Leave aside any Caribbean stereotypes of simple, dumb fun in the sun: Carlisle Bay's signature blend of posh elegance and to-die-for hipness make this little patch of Antiguan shoreline one of the most stylish spots in the tropics. The interiors, by London designer Mary Fox Linton, bring new life to the white-on-white boutique template, and here, the formula is executed properly — and it's a look that's best suited to a sprawling split-level suite.

This may be the coolest hotel in the Caribbean; it is almost certainly the only one where you can expect to find in-suite espresso machines and a plush air-conditioned screening room, all decked out in leather. The suites are as sleek as any in the region, with the added pleasure of ocean views from each one's private terrace or balcony.

The screening room and the library will see plenty of use, but the outdoors beckons with all the traditional diversions of the Caribbean; enough tennis courts, seemingly, for a Grand Slam, and every water sport one can imagine, or at least the non-motorized ones (trust us, you won't miss the sound of Jet-Skis). The pool is the place for public relaxation, and you'll walk out of the spa wondering if you went to Thailand by mistake.

Carlisle Bay's considerable food and beverage offerings include a poolside Italian restaurant as well as Indigo on the Beach and an Asian cousin called East, and no fewer than three bars for your drinking pleasure. It's not cheap, but it is plush and stylish, and it's almost a law of physics that you can't have all three.



How to Get There

Carlisle Bay is approximately a 30 minute drive from V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU).