Sandy Lane, Barbados

What a world within a world it is. The Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados was recently transformed into the most elegant, vibrant leisure resorts imaginable. Its style is distinctly 21^st century Palladium, complemented by bleached coral stone, cool marble flooring, rich mahogany and stylish, muted earth colourways.

This Barbados hotel’s amenities are leading edge. The crescent-shaped beach, for example, is one of Barbados’s most appealing; its waters gentle and warm, its water sports free and its sea views simply spectacular.

Beyond the hotel’s beach is a lagoon-style swimming pool, tennis court, a 47,000 sq ft luxury health spa and a supervised children’s club. Plus a championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio.

The rooms and suites rank with the best in any hotel in Barbados. Spacious and exquisitely designed, with wall-mounted wide screen TVs, CD and DVD players, private bars and sun terraces with – for the most part – horizon-wide views of the sea. The perfect place to indulge in Sandy Lane’s fabled 24-hour, private dining service.

For those who prefer eating out, there are four different venues to choose from; the main Bajan Blue restaurant offers tropical buffets, and fusion dishes, whilst L’Acajou is dedicated to fine dining. Both serve up awe-inspiring sea views.

But beware; after the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados, the rest of the world may seem a trifle…ordinary.