95.76% SANDY LANE

Barbados Barbados

Super-flash Palladian-style beach resort in cream coral stone. Original 1961 hotel given US$400-million millennial refurb; now replete with every luxury from three golf courses to heated bathroom mirrors.

ROOMS 112 rooms and suites, averaging 900sq ft. In-room amenities include wide-screen plasma TVs, multi-spray showers, and parabolic speakers on private verandahs

FOOD Three restaurants (L'Acajou for gastronomic French) and four bars

SERVICE Staff-to-guest ratio of 3 to 1; private butlers; high levels of security

FACILITIES Watersports; tennis; kids' club

COST Doubles from US$880

St James, Barbados, West Indies (00 1 246 444 2000; fax: 444 2222; www.sandylane.com)