THE ISLAND COTTAGE
What: A Stone's Throw Away Bed & Breakfast
Where: Nassau, Bahamas

The pitch: With Atlantis Resort towering over Paradise Island, it seems nearly impossible to get away from worldly worries on Nassau (not to mention blatant commercialism and marauding children). But there's still a bit of old-school Bahamian hospitality left at A Stone's Throw, a ten-room estate set high on a hill above New Providence's Gambier Village, 20 minutes from Paradise Island. Outfitted with traditional Bahamian wood floors and ceilings, shuttered windows, and wraparound verandas on three floors, it has the feel of an informal summer house: Breakfast is served till 10 a.m., but if (and when) you oversleep, the chef will gladly whip something up and serve it poolside. That informality extends to the honor bar, where guests help themselves to cocktails noon till night. A no-children-under-16 policy ensures a welcome calm, and guests tend to spread out in the common areas, reading and quietly taking in the panoramic views of Lake Killarney and the surrounding pine forests, not to mention the visible coral reefs that protect the area's beaches. Speaking of sand, Orange Hill Beach is a three-minute walk, or opt for the ten-minute trek to the more remote "Love Beach" with a picnic basket for two (prepped by that friendly chef).

The details: The rooms are pleasantly understated, with colonial-style furniture, full bookshelves, and L'Occitane products. Although the two top-floor suites are the most private and spacious, the less expensive Ocean-View Rooms (No. 8 and 9) are the jewels, with antique teak daybeds draped in white flowing curtains situated on ocean-view verandas.

The killer app: We love a property with its priorities in order: Besides the bench located under the pool's waterfall, our favorite spot is the tiny spa. It has a surprisingly sophisticated menu, including a Hawaiian lomi lomi massage and Japanese facials to help you get your relax on.
–Cathay Che

A Stone's Throw Away
Tel: 242 327 7030
E-mail: info@astonesthrowaway.com
Doubles from $175