Four Seasons Resort Lana'i

Four Seasons Resort Lana'i doesn’t feel particularly tropical. For one thing, the majority of the guests are fully dressed—for horseback riding, tennis or golf. Surrounding you are evergreens—no palm trees—and rolling green lawns. Inside is done in English country house style complete with chintz sofas, Laura Ashley curtains and stone fireplaces, with Chinese antiques lending a colonial touch. Gentlemen must wear a jacket at afternoon tea. It’s all very civilized, like a Ralph Lauren advertisement but without the woolen sweaters.

Like Strawberry Hill in Jamaica, this is a resort for people too cool or too jaded to go to Hawaii for the beach. It is also perfect for those of Hawaii’s inhabitants who are sick of the white sand and blue skies, and want a change of scenery without a ten-hour flight. This is Hawaii’s answer to Aspen’s Little Nell, a label-conscious mountain resort, so be sure to bring your Burberry khakis and your Michael Kors tees. But unlike most mountain resorts, the weather is warmly, seductively Hawaiian—and the golf courses are more remarkable than many of those in cooler climates, set among red cliffs with a par 8 hole that will make your jaw drop when your ball drops 226 feet. Above all, this place is very Lanai. Formerly called Pineapple Island (98% once belonged to the Dole family), it was thought to be cursed, and has only recently been inhabited. Lanai is therefore Hawaii’s most exclusive spot, isolated, lush, secret, and very, very expensive, for people who cannot stand being surrounded by pink-skinned tourists wearing ‘I Love Waikiki’ baseball caps.

Be aware that while the hotel provides you with a shuttle from the airport, you’re better off renting a car. This gives you more flexibility to explore what is a genuinely beautiful island. Moreover, if you are sick of the mountains, Four Seasons Resort Lana'i offers you free access to the beaches of its sister resort Manele. A bit of golf, a bit of hiking, a bit of time by the fireplace—just to feel superior—and then escape to the shore to get your dose of conventional, but often necessary Hawaiian seaside sun.