92.89% SANDY LANE

Barbados

After its US$400-million refurb in 2000, this super-flash Palladian-style beach resort reopened with every luxury imaginable.

ROOMS The 112 rooms and suites average 900sq ft (there's also a private, five-bedroom villa).

FOOD The new chef at L'Acajou restaurant, which serves gastronomic French cuisine, is British-born Dean Butler, who trained at Mosimann in London and moved to Barbados from Dubai's Burj al Arab.

SERVICE

FACILITIES There are three golf courses, a beautiful spa, tennis club, enormous swimming pool and children's Treehouse club.

COST Doubles from US$1,045

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