Escape To These New Luxury Villas At The Caribbean’s Best-Kept-Secret

23.12.2023 - 20:59 / forbes.com / Mick Jagger

Ask people to name the places they’ve visited in the Caribbean and Bequia isn’t the first name you’ll hear. That’s an advantage — especially when you want all the beaches, beauty and local charm of an island vacation without feeling like you’re surrounded by more tourists than sand. And for the ultimate escape look no further than the newly opened Grenadine Villas overlooking Friendship Bay Beach, from the island’s top resort Bequia Beach Hotel.

Bequia means “Island of the clouds” in the Arawak language of the original settlers. It is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and due south of the country’s main island St. Vincent. Only seven square miles, and with a population just slightly over 5000, it has beautiful beaches on both its Atlantic and Caribbean Sea coasts and a lush green hilly interior. While the nearby island of Mustique is more well-known for its celebrity homeowners and guests — such as Mick Jagger, Tommy Hilfiger and the late David Bowie — Bequia’s more laid-back charm is satisfied with its picturesque Princess Margaret Beach, named after the Queen’s sister who came for a visit from that other star-studded island.

Bequia Beach Hotel opened in 2009 after Swedish entrepreneur Bengt Mortstedt had visited the island a few times. He first bought a closed Bed & Breakfast then began buying other adjoining properties to create the current resort. Starting from its original ten rooms, the property now boasts 60 rooms on ten acres along with cottages and estate villas. And what’s more fun than having your own resort? Having your own airline. Guests staying at the resort can arrange to fly on ‘Bequia Air,’ a 9-seat King Air B200 than can bring you the island from Barbados or St. Lucia.

The Grenadine Villas are the newest edition to the Bequia Beach Hotel family, located up in the hills a short drive from the main hotel. Villa ONE and Coral Hill opened in 2022 and The Rock (no relation to the movie star) will open in Spring 2024.

With six bedrooms and over 7,000 sq.ft. in size Villa ONE is the largest of the two, with stunning views of Friendship Bay as well as nearby islands Petit Nevis and Isle a Quatre. The design is modern and comfortable, with large indoor and outdoor spaces providing luxury without feeling ostentatious. It’s a perfect retreat for a large family — with a long sun deck running beside its own infinity pool, as well as featuring an outdoor jacuzzi and gym suite. There are indoor and outdoor dining areas and chefs are available to cater a special dinner, which is a great opportunity to take advantage of the villa’s wine cellar. The indoors areas are fully air conditioned if you want to escape the heat and a private butler and housekeeping staff are there to take care of any