Tiny, friendly, laid-back Bequia (7 square miles; population 5,000) oozes Caribbean charm. Part of St Vincent & The Grenadines, the island is a place where locals, expats, visitors and yachties hang out together in what seems like near-perfect harmony. To immerse yourself in the easygoing daily life, you need to base yourself near the thick of things – a relative term for Bequia – and this hotel lets you do just that. Set behind a strip of white sand, it surveys the yacht-dotted anchorage of Admiralty Bay from one end of a waterside path, that leads you past a string of bars and restaurants to Port Elizabeth, Bequia's village-y capital.
Originally a plantation, then a hotel which in recent times lay closed for years, the property has been given a gorgeous, contemporary makeover. Its 24 rooms and villas now scatter expansive lawns sprinkled with lofty palms and the odd piece of classical-style statuary, with hammocks strung up between trees. Pale-blue cottages with decorative fretwork gaze out to sea, and a beachfront restaurant cooks up fresh seafood and pizzas baked in a traditional brick oven. In keeping with Bequia generally, staff couldn't be more friendly; one morning, someone appeared at our villa with a present: a juicy mango from the orchard in the grounds. Wonderful.
Highs
- A laid-back atmosphere that appeals to couples and families alike
- Port Elizabeth's cafés, bars and restaurants are within easy strolling distance, via a scenic waterside path
- Knock-out views across Admiralty Bay, one of the region's prettiest natural harbours
- Bequia's best beach (Princess Margaret Beach) is 5 minutes away on foot
- Inventive, fresh food, especially the pizzas
Lows
- Less privacy than at some other hotels on Bequia
- The beach in front of the hotel is small and gets busy on cruise-ship visit days
- The swimming pool is a little small, too
- We found the WiFi to be a little patchy
- Mozzies are present, make sure you bring some repellent or cover up in the evenings
Best time to go
Bequia's peak season runs from around mid-December to late April, when the beaches, bars and restaurants are relatively busy (though not overly so), and lots of yachts visit. The big annual events are the Music Fest (late January) and the Easter Regatta. Summer and autumn are quiet, and typically wetter and hotter. The Caribbean's hurricane season officially runs from June to early November, but the hotel is closed June-October.
Our top tips
The most popular Bequia beach hangout is De Reef, a no-frills bar/restaurant above the sands of the southern end of Lower Bay. The vibes are infectiously laid-back, the food is good (have the lobster salad), and on Sunday lunchtimes in high season there's live music. It's a lovely walk away from the hotel, via Princess Margaret Beach then over a ridge and along Lower Bay's sands.
- Boutique Hotel
- 24rooms
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Laundry service
- Watersports equipment
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
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Plantlife / flora
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- SUP
- Swimming
- Wildlife
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.
Kids Activities on site:
- Swimming pool
- Beach
- Kayaks
- Snorkelling equipment and paddleboards to borrow
Families Should Know:
The pool is not fenced
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.
Airports:
- J.F. Mitchell 3.0 km SVD
- Argyle International Airport (St Vincent) 0.0 km
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km