Mustique

Tiny, exclusive Mustique often feels like an extended dinner party, a feeling that is enhanced if you choose to stay—as most regulars do—in a villa, where you'll be pampered by your own cook and butler. There are about 100 private villas on Mustique's secluded 1,400 acres, and 73 of them are available for rent—Mick Jagger's Villa Mustique among them. Houses vary roughly from two to nine bedrooms, come in architectural styles ranging from Balinese to Moroccan to French Plantation, and offer amenities such as fitness rooms and direct beach access. The Mustique Company owns the island and acts as a villa rental outfit (784-488-8000; www.mustique-island.com). Rentals start at about $5,000 per week and quickly rise to $150,000-a-week heights. Nine villas were added to the rental programme in 2009, including a two-bedroom beach villa called Sapphire, and a seven-bedroom villa, called Opium, that sits on a cliff top.

Among the most lore-laden villas on offer is Les Jolies Eaux, the celebrated property that was given as a wedding gift to Britain's Princess Margaret by island "founder" Colin Tennant in the 1960s. Designed by Oliver Messel—responsible for numerous properties on Mustique and on other Caribbean islands—the house no longer belongs to the royal family. It was renovated in 2004 and expanded to include five bedrooms (each with private porch), a media room, and a sizable dining area. Its location on a secluded peninsula with both Atlantic and Caribbean views is unmatched.

Another prime villa is Hibiscus, perched 250 feet above Macaroni Beach, with five bedrooms, infinity pool, a pair of gazebos, and numerous sundecks. The last word in barefoot luxury, though, may be Yemanja, a tastefully understated eight-bedroom complex that, according to longtime Mustique resident Tommy Hilfiger, has the best views on the island. Still, these properties are just the tip of the rental iceberg. Check out the useful Mustique Island website (www.mustique-island.com) to find the option that best suits your needs.