Harbour Island: Where to Stay: Boutique: Rock House

Rock House

In a multimillion-dollar renovation, designer Wallace Tutt transformed this former private house on a coral bluff into a breezy boutique hotel, with nine guest rooms, a gym, and cabanas encircling the pool. Meals are taken at the dining room’s massive wooden table, which seats sixteen guests and is formally laid with a candelabra and silver, or on the covered terrace offering prime harbor vistas. For those who prefer to be on the beach, a special oceanfront cottage, La Samana, can also be rented through Rock House. And within three years, Rock House guests will have access to a Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course on nearby Rock Island. Rooms from $380 during high season; a minimum three-night stay is required.

Who it’s right for: Couples who yearn to inhabit the pages of design magazines; every aspect has been considered.

Who it’s wrong for: Families (children under the age of 18 are not allowed) and those who crave instant access to the sea. The hotel is on the harbor side of the island, so getting to the beach entails a ten-minute walk or a golf-cart ride.