Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection

The grande dame of Anguilla ... may have the most beautiful situation in the Caribbean. Add to that thoughtful landscaping, a fine beach (with surprisingly good off-the-beach snorkeling), a world-class spa, solid new hands-on management, and owner Leon Roydon's collecting passions on display: colorful Haitian art and arguably the Caribbean's finest wine cellar.

Perched on a craggy cliff jutting between Meads Bay and Turtle Cove Beach, Malliouhana has views of the glittering aquamarine sea that will hypnotize guests from the moment they arrive to its chic porte cochere. The bright, cerulean open-air lobby with mirrored mosaic-tile flooring tumbles out to a deck where tiered infinity pools are punctuated by ruffled yellow umbrellas, and a cliffside restaurant serves fresh seafood and farm-to-table fare that could just as easily be at home on the Côte d'Azur.

Anguilla is a very Anglo island; and Malliouhana was, for decades, one of its most staunchly traditional hotels. So it was a surprise when quintessentially Californian Auberge Resorts took it over; but what a difference a fresh perspective makes, with lemon yellow and ice-blue walls, vibrant striped cotton dhurries on the floors, and ornate glass sconces that have breathed new life into this Caribbean classic.