Unpretentious, gorgeous and charming are all words we’d use to describe the Grenadinian getaway that is the Bequia Beach Hotel, offering up a unique and homely flavour to the ultimate Caribbean holiday.
From the minute we arrived at the Bequia Beach Hotel, we knew that this wasn’t going to be any ordinary stay. The reception is somewhat of a time-capsule: an airy lounge to welcome guests with latticed woodwork and teakwood floors, complete with old-world travel paraphernalia and plenty of kitsch. There’s something nostalgic about the place, a far cry from the raked, white-pebbled firepits of contemporary beachside hotels you see these days – it’s enchantingly personal here – as if you’re returning home to family.
The reception opens up to four hectares of landscaped gardens, full of tropical plants, colourful flowers and fruit trees (some slung with inviting hammocks) which leads to a crescent of sandy beach and the eye-popping Caribbean sea. Pastel-coloured cabanas line the main pool at the Bequia Beach Hotel, where guests spend most of their days soaking in the sun. We preferred the ‘hidden’ pool, attached to a suite block further uphill. It can be booked privately by a group and affords a beautiful vista over the garden to the sea.
Our suite – housed in an ocean-facing block – is decorated in island style, with a bamboo four-poster bed, a muslin mosquito net and, eccentrically, a loud zebra-print sideboard. The real magic, though, comes when we threw open the sliding doors to let the sea air and sounds of the crashing waves in.
This Basecamp review is an extract from a longer feature article, first published in print. To read the full article, click here.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Insider | BQU | GMT -4 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Head to the more contemporary Jack’s Beach Bar – an island hotspot – owned by the same owners of the Bequia Beach Hotel. It’s just a short drive from the hotel and serves cocktails and delicious food, to a soundtrack of chill-out music and daily sunset vistas. |
Facilities wise, the spa is housed in a repurposed suite and offers adequate treatments with experienced therapists, but falls a bit short on atmosphere. The Italian restaurant, positioned as the ‘fine dining’ alternative is average, we much preferred the food and ambience in the hotel’s main restaurant.
We didn’t miss the opportunity to take a short trip over to Mustique for the afternoon, aboard the Bequia Beach Hotel’s 35-metre superyacht, Star of the Sea. The Italian-built Benetti can also take guests further afield to Tobago Cays, Mayreau and other islands and up to 12 live-aboard guests can be accommodated in the six ensuite staterooms should you want to cruise the Caribbean in style.
Photography courtesy of Bequia Beach Hotel
At OutThere, we believe in boundless travel. But we understand that some destinations can pose challenges to travellers that complicate visiting them. We advise all visitors to inform themselves about local legislation and customs, and to work with a trusted travel provider in order to ensure a safe and pleasant holiday.
