Anguilla

From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

Upping the chic quotient on laid-back Anguilla, the Viceroy Hotel Group's first island outpost is as sleek as a gin martini. The main building, a highlight of this 35-acre resort, mixes modernist planes and angles, an allée of towering palms stretching toward the sea, and a sumptuous array of natural materials—juxtapositions of marbled stone slabs, whorls of exotic woods, matte sheets of metal, sinuous and spherical ceramic objets. The 166 rooms, done in a pale palette, feel comfortable and are artfully arranged. Distressed mirrors provide a surface for sconces, the furniture is low-slung (dark leather in public areas, soft beiges in rooms), chairs are of woven jute and bent wood, and lots of driftwood is displayed. It's evident that much thought has been given to framing vistas that are either open or through glass, including the centerpiece dark-granite infinity pool, beside which you can enjoy cocktails while gazing out onto the sea. The waterfront villas are steps from the broad, soft-sand beach of Barnes Bay; swimming, however, is easier at the resort's other beach, on Meads Bay. Many finishing touches were still being worked on at the time of our visit, but even in the early weeks the friendly, attractive staff were eager to please. —2010 Hot List

Which room to book: Each spacious Rooftop Studio suite comes with a plunge pool and a private terrace for sunbathing au naturel.

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