Jamaica Smart Splurges

In the heart of the Jamaican bush on the island’s northeast coast, Geejam Hotel, the newest Island Outpost property, started life as a recording studio for the likes of Björk, No Doubt and Gwen Stefani, and Gorillaz. Music is still in its blood. Three musically named cabins—Ska, Mento, and Rocksteady—come with unique touches like steam rooms and verandas with Jacuzzis; there’s also a fabulous suite and a three-bedroom villa. It may be tempting not to leave the premises: The seven units, with Philippe Starck furniture and cutting-edge amenities like Apple iTVs, provide the ultimate in organic elegance. Geejam draws all manner of celebrities: Sharon Stone celebrated her 50th birthday here; Grace Jones raved about her stay. Recording packages are available for guests, so you too can book time on the mike in the state-of-the-art music studio. The Bushbar restaurant, framed by a pair of ancient fi g trees, is known for its unusual Jamaican-Japanese fusion dishes. In the surrounding area—Jamaica’s most pristine—you can visit Port Antonio, once home to Ian Fleming and a prime tourist spot. It’s now a laid-back hub with a hopping central market and a charming boardwalk. Also nearby are some of the island’s best beaches and the Rio Grande, known for its fantastic rafting.

This fabled Jamaican jewel - comprised of an 18th century "great house" and 27 posh villas sprinkled over a golden-shored, lushly landscaped peninsula, west of Montego Bay - brings a sublime sense of style to the island's tempting tourist trifecta of sun, surf, and sand, pleasantly devoid of the tacky all-inclusive elements so common to other Caribbean resorts. An understated elegance and sense of timeless glamour permeates the mood here, a fitting reflection of Ralph Lauren's brand identity and his own hand on the place. The iconic American designer - known for selling designs that exude transformation and escape - has owned one of the villas as a vacation home here for over two decades (and bought a second one in 1996), and is only one of many celebrity style icons (Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy among them) who have used the Round Hill Hotel as their private haven. Opened in the early 1950s as a club of private villas that instantly attracted celebrities and VIPs, the resort continues to draw discerning visitors in search of laidback luxury more than 50 years later, in no small part due to the $6 million redesign of the Pineapple House in 2004, under Lauren's direction. The 36 oceanfront suites are drenched in soothing white, from the walls to stone floors to many of the furnishings (the latter are from Ralph Lauren's Home Collection); the four-poster bamboo beds are draped in white netting and bedding. Splashes of tropical colors accent the crisp palette, as do brass and chrome finishings. Lauren's handiwork can also be observed in the resort's stylish Main Bar.

Okay, it's expensive but Jamaica's most extraordinary resort includes the opportunity to relax in the villa where Ian Fleming penned all of his James Bond thrillers, complete with your own private beach and zero-entry swimming pool. Enveloped by nature, as Fleming wished, each of the five villas has an entertainment bungalow equipped with queen-size day beds, panoramic flat-screen TVs, and well-stocked bars. All meals are included, and water sports/snorkel gear are provided by the discreet staff. Perhaps the best pastime, however, is to marvel at your surroundings and crack a book, say Fleming's Dr. No. Note: GoldenEye will reopen later in 2010 with 11 new cottages and a beachfront restaurant. Transfers from the airport can be arranged for a fee.

Check out Kingston's new scene from the plush vantage of Strawberry Hill. Nestled high in the Blue Mountains, which rise from the northern edge of Kingston, the hotel began as an 18th-century coffee plantation deeded by the British royal family to Horace Walpole, the renowned novelist and earl. Acquired by Blackwell in 1972, it has since developed a reputation as a place to go for rest and relaxation; it's known for an emphasis on healthy living and a stellar spa (Strawberry Hill Living) that specializes in Ayurvedic healing. Bob Marley recovered here after being shot in 1976; recent guests include Bono, Kate Moss, and Prince Charles. It's situated on 48 acres and surrounded by a lush coffee plantation (don't miss the Blue Mountain brew) and botanical gardens with 350 species of plants and flowers. The resort fosters an environment in which it's easy to feel a sense of rejuvenation. The 12 airy Georgian-style cottages feature details such as four-poster beds, hand-carved fretwork, and louvered windows. A 60-foot negative-edge pool highlights a stunning panorama of Kingston below. This mountaintop oasis also encompasses an acclaimed restaurant that serves nouvelle Jamaican cuisine and has a cozy fireside bar (nights can get chilly). Guided tour options include bird watching, mountain biking, and visits to coffee estates and nature trails around the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.

A loving commitment to local ingredients and classic technique along with gorgeous tropical...more