United States
California
Courtesy of Shutters on the Beach
Shutters on the Beach
Although it only opened in 1993, Shutters on the Beach calls to mind a grand resort hotel of the 1920s. Each one of its nearly 200 rooms have shuttered doors that open onto private balconies but guests who want to have a view of the ocean will have to pay more. The hotel has become a favorite romantic getaway for the Hollywood crowd, and is the only luxury beachfront hotel in Los Angeles.
Shutters on the Beach
One Pico Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405
Phone: (310) 458-0030
Fax: (310) 458-4589
Hawaii
Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
There are many incredible beaches and superb resorts in Hawaii, but for service, food, location and ambiance, nothing beats the Four Seasons resort on Maui. The island boasts gorgeous weather year round and its white sand beaches and clear blue water make for great scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing or just world-class goofing off.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
3900 Wailea Alanui
Wailea, Maui, Hawaii 96753
Phone: (808) 874-8000
Fax: (808) 874-6449
Rhode Island
Courtesy of Weekapaug Inn
Weekapaug Inn
Around the turn of the 19th century dozens of grand seaside resorts dotted the most fashionable coastal villages of the East Coast from Nova Scotia down to Florida. Few of them remain and most of those that do now must pursue the lucrative conference business in order to remain solvent. Fortunately, the Weekapaug Inn, just a few miles outside of Watch Hill, has remained true to its original conception. Still family-run, it's open only from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Rooms are spartan but clean. There's no telephone. Children are welcome--the more the merrier. There's no bar or any fancy spa services, but there is a lovely beach, terrific food and a cookout every Thursday night.
Weekapaug Inn
25 Spray Rock Road
Weekapaug, Rhode Island 02891
Phone: (401) 322-0301
Fax: (401) 322-1016
West Indies
Courtesy of K Club
K Club
This very chic and relatively new resort is owned by the fashion designer Krizia (hence the "K" in the name) and was intended to be a getaway primarily for wealthy Europeans--and some Americans--who want to relax on what is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. She succeeded. Each white bungalow has a view of the ocean and a private porch from which to enjoy it. The Mediterranean-influenced food is first-rate--as is the scuba diving, windsurfing and deep-sea fishing. But since it opened, this 230-acre resort has made no bones that it is not for everybody. One may only reach it via private plane. Nor are children allowed, and its prices make it one of the most expensive on our list.
K Club
Barbuda-Antigua, West Indies
Phone: (268) 460-0300
Fax: (268) 460-0305
U.S. Virgin Islands
Courtesy of Caneel Bay
Caneel Bay
Like Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands, Caneel Bay is the brainchild of Laurence Rockefeller, who set out to try to preserve the natural beauty of the Virgin Islands through developing resorts that would protect the land and employ the locals. Set on 171 acres of the Virgin Islands National Park, Caneel Bay boasts seven beaches and clear blue water that is perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving and windsurfing. On dry land, there is also tennis, hiking and fine dining. Families are welcome and the resorts offer excellent children's programs.
Caneel Bay
P.O. Box 720
Cruz Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 00831
Phone: (340) 776-6111
Fax: (340) 693-8280
Tunisia
Courtesy of the Residence
The Residence--Tunis
With its wide, warm beaches and the waves of the Mediterranean gently lapping the shore, the beaches of northern Africa are like nowhere else in the world. With its exotic mixture of Spanish and Moorish architecture, The Residence is a dramatic resort offering all the amenities and refinements of a modern luxury hotel. Located on the Côtes de Carthage, the site of the ancient city from which Hannibal launched his attack on Rome, this area of Tunisia is famous for its light, natural beauty as well as for its proximity to many local historical points of interest.
The Residence--Tunis
Route de Raoued
Zone Touristique de Gammarth
P.O. Box 697-2070 La Marsa
Les Côtes de Carthage, Tunisia
Phone: 216 1 910 101
Fax: 216 1 910 144
Thailand
Courtesy of Amanpuri
Amanpuri
Phuket is one of the greatest beaches in the world, and the Amanpuri is its finest resort. Barefoot, smiling staff greet you on arrival and usher you to your own private bungalow decorated in traditional Thai style, with beautiful fabrics and woodwork, and a deck with views of the silent blue surf. The name Amanpuri means peace, and the name is appropriate. Everything is done to make life as relaxed and peaceful as possible for guests. From the spa to the beach to the restaurants, the staff seem truly dedicated to making your stay here as comfortable as possible. Amanpuri
Pansea Beach, Cherngtalay
Phuket 83110, Thailand
Phone: 66 76 324 333, 02 287 0226 Bangkok reservations; in the U.S. dial (800) 447-7462
Fax: 76 324 100
Spain
Courtesy of The Marbella Club
The Marbella Club
The Marbella Club is not a misnomer. Although anyone who can afford it (and that's a pretty limited group) can stay here, it's clear from the moment you arrive that many of the people here seem more comfortable than just regular guests. That's because the resort has been drawing wealthy Europeans and their families for decades. Many actually grew up coming here for holidays throughout the year. This, plus the lush tropical gardens that surround and fill the resort and hide it from the outside world, gives it an unmistakable and well-deserved air of exclusivity. Besides the beach, there is a new 18-hole golf course, a Thalassotherapy spa, fine dining, a great poolside bar, paddle tennis and, at night, some of the best discos and nightclubs in Spain. The only drawback to the place is that making a left turn out of the club's entrance, which fronts onto a busy motorway, requires skill, patience and split-second timing.
Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa
Bulevar Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n
29600 Marbella (Malaga), Spain
Phone: 34 95 282 2211
Fax: 34 95 282 9884
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Courtesy of Cotton House
Cotton House
The Cotton House is the only hotel on the island of Mustique, one of the most beautiful and exclusive islands in the Caribbean. And with only 15 rooms and 4 suites, it is quite a small hotel indeed. That's because most people who come here own their own homes, and the hotel is for the most part intended for friends of friends. Formerly the property of Lord Glenconner, Mustique evolved since the 1960s as a haven for English aristocrats and their families. Today it has become slightly more democratic, as it allows in commoners like David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger. Getting a room at the Cotton House, a former 18th-century warehouse, is not impossible, if you book early enough, but it helps to know someone. But once you come down, it is easy to make friends and it's a place you'll want to return for the rest of your life--if you can afford to.
Cotton House
P.O. Box 349
Mustique, St. Vincent
Phone: (784) 456-7777
Fax: (784) 456-5887
New Caledonia
Courtesy of Le Meridien Ile des Pins
Le Méridien Ile des Pins
If they have heard of New Caledonia at all, most people associate it with headhunting aborigines and French naval maneuvers. But that is part of its charm, this French protectorate in the middle of the Coral Sea (nearly halfway between Australia and Fiji), is still one of the most untouched and naturally beautiful places in the world. The resort is set within 4.5 hectares of coconut groves in Oro Bay, a lagoon protected by a coral reef barrier. The tone of the resort is a combination of French (emphasis on water sports, good food and topless sunbathing) and Melanesian (emphasis on friendliness). And don't worry about headhunting: These days the locals don't want to scare off the lucrative tourist trade. Le Méridien Ile des Pins
B.P. 175, 98832 VAO
Ile des Pins, New Caledonia
Phone: (687) 46 15 15
Fax: (687) 46 15 16
Mexico
Courtesy of Las Ventanas al Paraiso
Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Las Ventanas has been considered one of the finest resorts in Mexico, if not the Americas, for years. Located in Baja, it is, unsurprisingly, very popular with Americans from the West Coast. Strolling down the beach at night, the sound of English being spoken is so common that for a moment you forget you're in Mexico. But then all you need to do is to look out over the water, smell the air and hear the surf, and you remember where you are. Among the many attractions of the resort are its large rooms, all with Jacuzzi and a view, and an attentive and discreet staff that is always happy to help. The resort also offers tennis, golf, a spa, fine dining and deep-sea fishing.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso
Km 19.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur 23400, Mexico
Phone: 52 114 40300; from the U.S. (888) 525-0483
Fax: 52 114 40255; from the U.S. (310) 824-1218
