by Shayne Benowitz / © 2015, Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

There’s a Spanish proverb that goes, “How wonderful to do nothing, and then rest.” It’s found printed on T-shirts at a humble beach shack on Anguilla’s Shoal Bay, a stretch of powder white sand and endless turquoise-teal water, once named the number one beach in the world by Travel Channel. It’s a sentiment that’s easy to settle into on this Caribbean island of 35 square miles with a population of 15,000. A British territory and northernmost of the Leeward Islands, Anguilla’s a mere three-hour flight from Miami and then 20-minute ferry from St. Martin/St. Maarten.

  Anguilla’s long been a sanctuary for celebrities and mere mortals desperate for rest and relaxation in style. Unblemished by cruise ships, the island’s slight removal from the beaten path makes just the difference. Days are spent simply gazing into the horizon while lounging by an infinity pool perched precariously atop a craggy cliff overlooking the sea. But one happily succumbs to the languorous pace that seems finely attuned to the gravitational pull of the moon’s tides and the sunset. The big questions of the day are: Beach or pool? Kindle or hardback? Lunch on my lounge chair or at the poolside cafe?

  With luxurious resorts veering towards the sublime, where you stay in Anguilla makes all the difference. These four hotels are leading the pack with aesthetically unique offerings for discerning travelers of varying tastes.

Tropical and eclectic

  Malliouhana, Anguilla’s original luxury resort, which opened in 1984, re-emerged in November 2014 after a three-year closure and 18-month restoration. The result is a dazzlingly transporting 55-room boutique hotel positioned on 25 acres of beachfront bluff. Upon arrival, the hotel’s white box façade with high-arched entryways and chic striped awnings feels more Beverly Hills than Caribbean—that is, until you see the ocean shimmering through the tiered, open air lobby.

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