DON’T MISS: Taking home a bottle of their signature distilled rum with which to remember your vacation.
FYI: Service can be spotty at times. I ordered ice cream from room service – after an hour wait, it was delivered melted and sans spoon. There are no televisions or hot tubs. Virgin Gorda, B.V.I.; 888-495-5555; www.rosewoodhotels.com; rates from in season start at $775 a night.

JUMBY BAY
Antigua

On Antigua’s northeast coast, there is a two-mile ocean passage that protects a 300- acre island from any local residents, cruise ship passengers or star gazers eager to share a piña colada with Hillary Swank, Pierce Brosnan or Robin Leach.

It’s calm. There are no bugs. Few birds chirp. Television is banned. Transportation is by bike or golf cart. There is no calypso band crooning awful Bob Marley covers. At night, you’re lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean lapping on a beach that’s about 20 feet outside your room.

Jumby Bay (also managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts) offers a casual but luxe lifestyle. Guests are low-profile. There are no locks on the doors. Food and alcohol are included (a rarity, and one that inspired Travel and Leisure to rate it the number one resort in 2007). This means no bill signing or constant tipping. In the hotel market, some resorts overbuild without regard to the land or culture associated with the resort and even worse get fixated on designer shower gels and gold-leafed sinks. Jumby Bay stands apart as luxury property because it focuses on making sure simple pleasures are of the highest standards.

It’s casual without restrictions. I never felt compelled to put on much more than a sundress for dinner. If I wanted to snorkel, there was always someone ready to take me out. I often found beautiful red starfish when I rode a bicycle to the three secluded white beaches.

While there is no full-service spa, a masseuse is available to knead your muscles into further relaxation. A few times, I attempted to play croquet with rules from memory that seemed vaguely logical at the time. There is no reason to leave the island, but those who require more action can take an island ferry to Antigua for casino nights, shopping and golf.

The island’s original structure, a sugar mill referred to as The Estate House, serves as the more formal of two dining options. It offers candlelit dinners with locally caught fish, steaks and fresh pasta. The Verandah restaurant serves the same fare, sometimes on a buffet and it’s a bit more casual. Many guests prefer to dine ensuite or have a private picnic lunch delivered.

There are 40 rooms and 11 suites, each with a different layout, but they all boast a canopy bed with Italian linens fit for royalty. The outdoor rain shower and bathtub was a bit of heaven, and often I had a difficult time getting out to head to the beach or meals. Another luxury was enjoying over 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

BEST ROOM: Harbour Villa 207
DON’T MISS: The picturesque sunsets looked like they were produced in Hollywood.
FYI: The resort’s air conditioning is not stateof- the-art and guests often complain about it failing during summer months. There is also no hot-tub or Jacuzzi.
Long Island, St. John’s; 888-767-3966 or 268-462- 6000; www.rosewoodhotels.com; doubles from $775, including meals, drinks, and some activities.