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In 1997, an influx of cash ($350 million to be exact) by Irish investors Dermot Desmond and J.P. McManus Partners helped the Lane maintain its status as the island’s premier as well as its priciest address. In the early twentieth century the hotel was mostly a playground for British royalty while today A-list guests include princes and Queens as well as celebs like Simon Cowell, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, Donatella Versace, Cindy Crawford and Tiger Woods (who rented the entire place for his 2004 wedding). In high season, expect the rooms to be booked—mostly by business moguls who are less recognizable but whose pockets are just as deep.

So what makes Sandy Lane so special? For one thing, the once-criticized service is now so good it’s practically over-the-top. A chauffeured Bentley is available for airport pickups, while valets are at the resort to unpack your luggage and even bring you fresh water while you sunbathe. The scenery is also pretty grand. There’s a relatively uncrowded swath of beach, and well-landscaped tropical gardens surround the main coral limestone building. Inside, dark mahogany and redwood furnishings complement the cream palette as marble floors, limestone verandas and elegant curtains complete the overall luxe air.

But it’s the extra facilities that really set Sandy Lane apart. The hotel boasts three golf courses: the Tom Fazio–designed Country Club, the nine-hole Old Nine and the Green Monkey, also designed by Fazio and generally considered the best on the island. l’Acajou, the most formal of Sandy Lane’s four restaurants, always lands top culinary talent, including current culinary director Grant MacPherson, a finalist in the 1993 Culinary Olympics and a frequent cook at the James Beard Foundation, while the eleven-suite spa at the Lane is the only one of its kind on Barbados. Rooms, which average 900 square feet, are some of the largest and most technologically advanced in the Caribbean; amenities include fully stocked wet bars, motion sensors (to inform maids that you’re in the room), remote-controlled blackout shades, Internet access and large plasma TVs. A John Frieda hair salon and a collection of boutiques, including the Gatsby, which carries brands like La Perla and Moschino, leave high-maintenance guests wanting for nothing. Rooms from $1,000/night.

Most Lavish Accommodation: The 7,300+-square-foot, five-bedroom Sandy Lane Villa, which comes with its own chef, housekeeper and nighttime security guard.

For Families: Sandy Lane pulls off an unusual feat by being one of the most glamorous and one of the most child-friendly hotels on Barbados. An extensive Kids Club, called the Treehouse Club, is available for children ages three through twelve, and teenagers can participate in organized-sports clinics and enjoy a teen-only lounge. Note: The Luxury Dolphin Suites, Luxury Orchid Suites, and Penthouse Suites are all two-bedroom accommodations, though many rooms can connect to form larger, four-bedroom units.

TIP: If the hotel is full, a number of villa rental companies like Wimco rent homes located on the Sandy Lane Estates. These homes are not affiliated with the resort—you’ll have to wait for reservations at l’Acajou, the Green Monkey and the spa like the rest of the public—but they do have cabanas on the Sandy Lane beach. See also: Villas to Get