The best Caribbean resorts to visit by superyacht

Set on a pretty stretch of Playa Dorada on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, this beachside hideaway is the perfect place to relax after leaving your yacht at the nearby Ocean World Marina. The breezy architecture of the resort, one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, combines old-world charm with modern design: think high ceilings, whimsical art and oversized chairs and sofas in white linen.

During the day, Casa Colonial’s lush gardens are filled with the sounds of songbirds, gurgling fountains and, in the background, the rhythmic whoosh of waves. Once the sun sets, follow the lantern-lit paths to the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, Lucia. The menu incorporates fresh produce from a nearby farm and regional dishes such as goat marinated in local Brugal rum. Back in the colonial-style rooms, throw open the windows and let the sea breeze blow through the billowing cream curtains – the only sound the bell of a bobbing catamaran anchored a few metres away.

Sitting on the blindingly white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach, Rosewood’s first foray into the Bahamas has flourished since it opened its doors in 2018 following a multimillion-dollar refurbishment. It’s as grand as you would expect from the luxury hotel group, with an exterior wreathed in the greenery of tropical flower gardens, while the luxe interior is lined with shelves of books, coral sculptures and local artworks that add pops of colour to its British colonial style. 

Superyachts can dock at Albany Marina, a 30-minute drive away, and to get a taste of the surrounding cruising grounds, make the five-minute boat trip to Long Cay, Rosewood’s private island. A private butler will ensure your champagne glass is charged and waiting for you on shore while you’re snorkelling. Later, for an authentic Bahamian experience, head to Nassau waterfront’s “fish fry” and enjoy a rum flight at John Watling’s Distillery.

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.

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.