Barefoot in paradise

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12 MAY 2004
Ti Kaye Village, St Lucia
This hillside getaway with 33 gingerbread-style rooms and cottages, all with four-poster beds and double hammocks, has recently bagged a former chef from the world-famous Sandy Lane resort on Barbados for its renowned restaurant Kai Manje, which translates as "house of food". And for more flavour of the Caribbean, the hotel arranges visits to the local fish-fry on the beach every Friday evening.

Diving enthusiasts can take the plunge in the secluded Anse Cochon Bay with its crystal clear waters and silver sands, which lies below the hotel and is reached down a wooden staircase. Guests can hire jeeps to explore the island’s volcanoes and rainforest, but the accent here is on pampered relaxation.

Lone Star, Barbados
There’s no room for indifference at this Caribbean retreat – people either love it or hate it. “Restaurant with rooms”, say its detractors; “the Ivy of the Caribbean”, say aficionados. The boutique-style hotel was converted from a garage and has only four suites, but it has been making waves ever since it opened in 1997. The sumptuous ocean-front suites feature local Bajan furniture and the world-famous restaurant boasts clientele as diverse as Kylie Minogue and Michael Winner.