In-the-know celebrities scorn Barbados’s flashy west coast in favour of the palm-tree-studded grounds of the island’s oldest hotel. Built in 1887, the 16-hectare resort’s historic cobbled quarters artfully incorporate modern amenities; a spa pool with coastal views sits in the stone-walled carriage house, while a pink-sand beach is reached by a glass-fronted lift.

Have your tender drop you on the beach at sunset and sink into the powder-soft grains (the yacht can moor a 40-minute drive away in Bridgetown’s port), then head to one of the hotel’s five eateries for dinner. Try the local delicacy of crispy flying fish at the resort’s sea-breeze-scented, cliffside restaurant L’Azure, or spiced crab maki topped with fish roe at Zen, its Japanese restaurant. The only acceptable way to finish the night is with a sweet but strong rum punch at the suitably old-school Bar 1887.

It’s difficult to imagine a more quintessentially Caribbean escape than Marigot Bay, where every suite looks out on to the lush, palm-covered peak across the water and isolated beaches flanked by sugar canes are just a short kayak paddle away. The resort has undergone a major renovation in recent years: inside the chalet-style villas you’ll find cool white linens punctuated with pops of coral or sea blue, botanical prints on the walls and sculptures that reference the island’s abundant flora and fauna.

Three on-site restaurants make the most of St Lucian produce, from breadfruit tacos with freshly caught mahi mahi, to mangos, avocado and soursop picked from nearby trees. For a bespoke menu, there’s a secluded tree house, which comes with a private chef who’ll prepare everything from fine-dining dishes to his family’s fried chicken. Or, for additional local flavour, you can visit the local Anse La Raye fish fry. Back at the hotel’s many bars you’ll find a good-spirited crowd sharing stories from the day’s adventures and sipping rum cocktails that pack a punch. A good job, then, that your yacht will be just a few tipsy footsteps away at the resort’s marina.

Flanked by flourishing rainforest on one side and a palm-tree-lined beach on the other, this Caribbean institution is based in one of Antigua’s most beautiful bays. Its understated style combines colonial touches with minimalist sophistication; dark grey tones and neutral marble are interspersed with plantation shutters and flashes of colour. Its laid-back vibe is contagious and guests – who are greeted with a walkway over a lily pond – quickly swap stilettos for flip-flops and espressos for rum punch.

Relaxation is aided by thoughtful touches rather than in-your-face service: chilled water coolers are placed twice-daily by the cream beachside sun loungers and a wash bowl topped with fuchsia petals is left by your door so that you can rinse the sand off your tootsies. It’s been a firm favourite with snowbirds since it opened in 2003 and its modern jetty and calm anchorage mean that it is on the up with the superyacht set. Less than five nautical miles from English Harbour, its four restaurants, floodlit tennis courts and cavernous spa offer plenty to tempt you ashore.

Sitting at the southern end of the three-kilometre curve of golden sand that is Grenada’s Grand Anse Beach, Spice Island Beach Resort is a gleaming white example of Grenadian hospitality. The property is run impeccably by Sir Royston Hopkin and his family and exudes old-school luxury: porters in gleaming gold buttons and pith helmets greet you upon arrival, staff address you by your surname and “elegant casual” dress is required for dinner.

The low-lying resort, which was rebuilt after Hurricane Ivan struck in 2004, is undergoing a rolling revamp to ensure it keeps up to date with Grenada’s luxury tourism boom. Its traditional interior colour palette is being modernised to include brighter blues and lighter woods to complement its spectacular views of the gently shelving beach and cerulean waters beyond. This picturesque location is also handily located just a short drive, or quick tender spin, from the Camper & Nicholsons Marina – making it the perfect stop-off before or after an exploration of the unspoilt Grenadine chain by boat.

Set on a small peninsula on Antigua’s southern coastline, where the turbulent waters of the Atlantic meet the gentle Caribbean Sea, Curtain Bluff’s destiny was secured when Sir Howard Hulford flew over the site in 1957. With a personality as flamboyant as his colourful shirts, he and his wife Chelle set about creating Antigua’s first luxury resort. Howard died nearly a decade ago but Chelle continues his legacy, still hosting weekly guest cocktail parties on their huge wraparound patio with views across to Montserrat and Guadeloupe.

It is this personal connection that allows the term “all-inclusive” to take on a new meaning, with its fiercely loyal staff more akin to a superyacht crew. The resort’s two palm-lined beaches are less than 30 minutes from English Harbour but, with two fine dining restaurants, a tennis centre, water sports, scuba diving tours, a kids’ club, gym and yoga studio at your fingertips (and at no extra cost), you’re unlikely to find a reason to return to your yacht.

Nestled between St Lucia’s iconic Piton mountains, this former plantation has been transformed into an uber-luxurious Viceroy Resort, claiming what might be the best view in the Caribbean. The picturesque bay was once the stomping ground of the late eccentric Lord Glenconner, who once owned Mustique, and his pet elephant Bupa which he acquired from Dublin Zoo. Today, Hollywood stars and rock legends roam the resort’s 100-plus acres, where the lush vegetation is peppered with tropical flowers.

Anchor in the deep bay and tender in to the resort’s jetty, which juts out from a powdery white beach. A dapper staff member will call a multicolored tuk-tuk to whisk you up the hill to visit either the sprawling spa, which is set alongside a waterfall (no need for music during your treatment), or the chic white and charcoal Cane Bar, where a “rum-melier” will help you select your perfect local libation.

For ultimate seclusion, book in to one of the two new treacle-colored Beachfront Collection residences. The four bedroom properties have large decks and infinity pools that offer views out to Petit Piton and the superyachts bobbing beneath.

The emerald islands and glittering turquoise seas of the Grenadines have been a celebrity bolthole for decades, and Canouan is the jewel in this Caribbean crown. Located at the northern end of the island, strung along the blindingly white Godahl Beach, lie the 26 colonial-style suites and six four-bedroom Lagoon Villas of the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan. Cruise into the island’s recently-opened Sandy Lane Yacht Club & Residences (which can accommodate yachts up to 90 metres) or arrive via jet on the private runway, before being whisked away to the palm tree scattered resort. Recently acquired by Mandarin Oriental, the chain’s first foray into the Caribbean, the property combines old school charm with state of the art technology – use your in-room iPad to set the temperature or order a rum cocktail. Ideal for golf lovers such as Eddie Jordan, guests can play on the Jim Fazio-designed golf course. Its verdant green fairways are lined with tropical flower boarders and all 18 holes provide spectacular ocean views. And the sport doesn’t need to end there with three flood-lit tennis courts, a mountain cycling circuit and guided hikes to Mount Royal, the highest point on the island.

Picture the scene: the honeymooning actress Marilyn Monroe giggles over a cocktail on the terrace as her new husband, Arthur Miller, pulls her up for a dance while Sir Winston Churchill, easel tucked under his arm, strolls back from the private bluff where he has spent the afternoon painting the Caribbean Sea. Such romance and relaxation are what this 52 room, family owned boutique hotel on Jamaica’s Ocho Rios north coast has specialised in for six decades. Everything here, from the pristine beach to the no clocks policy, and from the impeccable service to the slow hum of the ceiling fan in the library, is designed to help visitors switch off.

For the ultimate R&R, moor at Ocho Rios pier, only two miles away, and take a private transfer to the property. Follow hand-painted signs past bougainvillea and ackee trees to the Indonesian-styled Ocean Spa and relax in an open air room right at the water’s edge, letting the experienced hands of a masseuse release the strains of your body as the susurration of the waves eases your mind. And, as you float back to the terrace bar for a reviving Planter’s Punch, you’ll understand why this low key hotel has been a favourite of the world’s elite for so long.

As it is spread across 7,000 acres, including lush tropical gardens and three championship golf courses, it is no surprise that you are presented with a map and personal golf cart when you arrive at this legendary Caribbean resort.

Join the fleet of professional boats that are drawn to the sportfish hub of Casa de Campo Marina. The surrounding waters are famous for blue marlin and are also packed with other billfish and pelagic species such as mahi mahi, wahoo and tuna. After a hard day on the water retreat to the classically designed Casa Magnífica – one of 64 private villas on offer – and enjoy the butler service and a private pool overlooking the Teeth of the Dog golf course and the sparkling Caribbean sea beyond.

Perched on sculpted limestone cliffs, this exclusive boutique retreat overlooks the crystalline waters of Governor’s Harbour. The 270 acre property is easily accessible thanks to its marina, featuring two slips for yachts of up to 54.8 metres. It expanded its collection of one and two bedroom colonial-style villas from four to 12 earlier this year, with views along its pristine beachfront under shaded verandas. Lounge poolside with a cocktail at sunset, or dine on fresh cuisine at Eleuthera’s famed 1648 Island Restaurant – don’t miss the surf and turf burger or the mango mahi mahi.

Aman goes another kind of green with the luxury hotel group’s first property with a golf course. Opened just over a year ago, Amanera on the Dominican Republic’s lush north coast offers gracious accommodations to accompany the Robert Trent Jones-designed Playa Grande. But tee off with care, this 370-acre course has the most oceanside holes in the Western Hemisphere — though the views may be worth losing a ball, or two. Amanera also has a limited number of villas for sale.

First discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, this isolated private island with its beaches lined with palm trees and rolling grasslands exudes old-school Antiguan charm. Anchor in the bay’s glass-calm waters and tender to the resort’s jetty where you will be met with an iced rum punch and warm Caribbean service. The island offers the simple life: keys aren’t required, a herd of Blackhead Persian sheep roams free and the best method of transport is bicycle. The relaxed atmosphere is counterbalanced by sophisticated dining options including the newly refurbished Estate House – try the lobster tail with Armagnac flambé and finish with the chocolate soufflé. For ultimate seclusion, rent the island’s newest private house, Pure Turquoise, which has seven picturesque white cottage bedrooms dotted around its landscaped gardens, a vast infinity pool and a croquet lawn so pristine it would rival any British stately home.

Low-lying limestone islands fringed with beaches so white and water so blue you will want the colours permanently imprinted on your retina, the Turks & Caicos are getting the attention they deserve.

The early resort developers got some of the best spots and this includes Grace Bay on Providenciales, where the Grace Bay Club occupies roughly 11 acres. Most recently renovated in 2015, this spa resort has something for everyone. The infinity bar and cosy fire pits get high points, but visitors rave about the personal attention and, of course, the fine-sand beach, one of our picks for world’s best.

If you’re seeking solid ground with superyacht-level service, consider this private island in the Exuma chain of the Bahamas. After all, it was developed by an experienced yacht owner, and four villas accommodate parties of up to 28 people.

Miss the water? A fleet of boats is available for fishing, diving and sailing, while onshore amenities range from a nine-hole golf course to a 12-seat movie theatre. Power comes from the wind and sun, which means no noisy generators, and the marina is capable of handling yachts up to 54.8 metres with a feature seldom found in the Bahamas, 3.9 metre depth — it's the perfect destination to feel at one with nature in the Bahamas.

Built along winding lagoons and a mile-long arc of pristine beach, the Rosewood Mayakoba takes its eco responsibilities seriously. The hotel was recently awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certification, but that’s not to say there’s any shortage of indulgence on offer. Moor out or drop your yacht at nearby Puerto Aventuras Marina, which can take boats up to 45 metres, and jump in a chopper to the hotel.

When you’re not chilling in one of the two-person hammocks in the new family-friendly Beachside Lagoonview Suites, you can kick back in the Sense Spa, built on a sacred water well of the ancient Mayans, or join the kids on a boat Eco Tour with a biologist who will explain the awe-inspiring flora and fauna.