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.

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.