Rooms

A fresh, contemporary style pervades all 24 rooms, suites and villas. Most of the accommodation comes in the form of pretty, single-storey, cottagey units spread over the grounds, with lovely big terraces and spacious interiors.

We stayed in one of the freestanding 1-bedroom Beach Front Villas overlooking the lawns, with planters' chairs on their boarded verandahs. Inside, each villa is wonderfully stylish, with vaulted white ceilings and a pair of bold-coloured armchairs, and handily equipped with a kitchenette. There's a large walk-in shower in the bathroom. The 2-Bedroom Villas are similarly designed and kitted out, but less well located.

The Beach Suites and more secluded Orchard Suites are in blocks adjoining each other, so are less private than the villas, but they are still very enticing. Upstairs in the original plantation house you'll find the cheapest accommodation: Main House Garden View Rooms with no private outdoor space, and Main House Sea View Rooms with private balconies and four-poster beds. Our only gripe with the rooms was that most lacked fridges or minibars, which would've been handy for keeping drinks cool in the heat.

The latest to be added are the Spa Suite and Spa Pool Suite, located next to the spa and above the Orchard Suites, which means they're close to the beach and restaurant. They both have a small kitchenette and private terrace, and the latter has its own private pool overlooking the bay.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

The bar/restaurant occupies a prime spot, its smart but casual terrace sitting directly above the beach, taking in the magical views across the bay and memorable sunsets. The food is not too elaborate, just good, simple homecooking with lots of local produce. For lunch, you might get conch fritters, various roti (a speciality throughout the Caribbean) or battered fish and chips. Dinner might be just-caught tuna steak or delicious, generous pizzas baked in a traditional brick oven, with toppings of fresh fish (grouper on our visit) or spicy jerk pork.

For breakfast, we enjoyed homebaked pastries, a different local juice each day, and classic cooked treats – the French toast with bacon, cinnamon and maple syrup was scrummy.

A number of great alternative places to eat and drink lie yards away along the waterfront walkway. The hotel recommends Laura's for local food and live music.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Go snorkelling, paddleboarding or kayaking from the beach – the hotel provides the equipment for free
  
• Or try scuba diving around the island - the hotel recommends Dive Bequia
  
• Walk around the headland trail to lovely Princess Margaret Beach, a 500m-long stretch of golden sand backed by cedar and almond trees, with a stylish beach bar/restaurant called Jack's
  
• A taxi away, Crescent Beach is Bounty-ad perfection
  
• Bequia has stunning hikes and walks, including the old smugglers' trail towards Bequia Head, on which you'll pass cinnamon and gum trees, and wild orchids growing on bare rock
  
• Visit the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary in the north of the island, where a retired fisherman nurtures baby Hawksbill turtles before releasing them into the sea
  
• Learn about Bequia's boat-building and controversial whaling traditions at the fascinating little Bequia Boat Museum, overlooking Friendship Bay
  
• Take a day trip on a boat over to glamorous Mustique or to the uninhabited Tobago Cays, where the snorkelling is world class

Kids

The hotel is not especially oriented towards families, but little ones will love the beach in front of the hotel, which is gently shelving; the sea is usually calm. There's snorkelling and watersports to keep older kids entertained. The food is child friendly (think pizzas or fish and chips), and the larger 2-bedroom villas are ideal for families. 0-5 year olds stay for free.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The spacious 2-Bedroom Villas are best, as they can sleep up to 4, and have useful kitchenettes. The other villas and the suites can hold a cot or rollaway bed.

Distances:

• Airport: 15 mins' drive (Bequia)
• Shops and restaurants: 10 mins' walk
• Hospital: 5 mins' drive

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Bequia Plantation Hotel is on the Caribbean island of Bequia, by the waterfront of Admiralty Bay, in walking distance of the capital, Port Elizabeth.

By Air:
Bequia has a little airport, JF Mitchell, which accommodates small 'hopper' flights with SVG Air from islands such as St Lucia and Barbados; arrivals and departures have to be in daylight hours. Otherwise, fly to St. Vincent Argyle airport, then taxi to the wharf for the 1-hour ferry crossing to Bequia.

From Bequia Airport:
It's a 15-minute transfer from Bequia airport to the hotel - ask the hotel to arrange a pick-up.

By Ferry:
There is a scheduled ferry service that runs back and forth from St Vincent. Ferries dock 10 minutes' walk from the hotel.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.