A Caribbean vacation has always carried a certain cinematic quality — sunlight shining on turquoise water, whitewashed verandas, cocktails accompanied by the sound of steel drums and surf. But what gives the region its enduring allure isn’t just its beauty; it’s the way it redefines time. For those of us accustomed to structure and speed, the surrender to warmth and ease can feel radical.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you should make the easiest, most obvious choice when planning a Caribbean holiday. The region’s islands are full of untrammeled corners that reward curiosity. In the past year or so, the following noteworthy hotels have launched — or reopened after extensive makeovers — in less expected spots. They are new builds and relics brought back to life; they have large villas set on jungle slopes and bungalows in hidden coves. All have under 100 rooms — some comprise just a dozen — and offer access to the beach.

The Potlatch Club, the Bahamas

In the 1960s and ’70s, Potlatch hosted everyone from Greta Garbo to Paul and Linda McCartney. (Paul even composed Beatles lyrics on the hotel stationery.) By the time the current owners discovered the site in 2016, it was an overgrown ruin. But after several years of rebuilding, the Potlatch Club has been reborn. The resort spans 12 acres on the Atlantic side of the quiet island of Eleuthera, but has just 11 accommodations, including suites, cottages and ocean-view villas. Working with the local designer Amanda Lindroth, the owners retained several of the original buildings — such as the clubhouse with its whitewashed arches and a century-old checkerboard floor — while adding new structures and airy Caribbean style. Inside, the décor includes coral-stone floors, teak and rattan furnishings and pastel accents. The restaurant, Fig Tree, is shaded by an old banyan and serves dishes such as calamari with garlic aioli and peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin. Despite Potlatch’s tiny capacity, there’s a small, decadent spa on site. From $775 a night, potlatchclub.com.

Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada

The Six Senses brand is known for its focus on wellness and sustainability; in 2024, it brought this ethos to the Caribbean for the first time. While many — if not most — Grenadian resorts are located around the largest island’s Grand Anse Beach, La Sagesse is in a private cove in its southeastern corner. The resort’s 56 rooms and 15 villas all have pools and terraces; they’re also intentionally low to the ground — no higher than the surrounding palms — and the buildings incorporate local stone and timber to blend into the landscape. Interiors are done in a simple modern style, with wood furniture and blue details. La Sagesse shines in its environmental stewardship and guest activities. The resort relies on solar power to heat water, the landscape has been planted with native trees and grasses, and an in-house water bottling system reduces single-use plastic. The spa, inspired by a Caribbean fishing village, uses local nutmeg and cocoa in treatments. Among the many excursions: waterfall hikes and tours of women-run farms. From about $700 a night, sixsenses.com.

Hermitage Bay, Antigua

Set on a cove on Antigua’s west coast, Hermitage Bay reopened in November 2024 after a $30 million renovation. The property’s 30 stand-alone bungalows are laid out so you can choose between beachfront action and hillside seclusion. All the structures have been redesigned with a focus on brightness and indoor-outdoor living: Wood, woven wallcoverings and pale linens decorate the guest rooms, which have broad terraces overlooking the sea. (Many now also have plunge pools.) The updates extend to the public spaces, among them a new beach club and the palapa-roofed Tree Bar, which serves classic Caribbean cocktails like rum punch. The Garden Spa, located on a ridge above the bay, offers open-air treatment rooms and daily yoga sessions, and a refreshed culinary program leans on the resort’s organic garden and local seafood catch. The overall result is an all-inclusive that feels more grounded than glossy. From about $1,400 a night, hermitagebay.com.

Montpelier Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis

A perennial favorite for travelers who like a relaxed escape, this petite, family-owned hotel in the foothills of Nevis Peak just reopened after a substantial redesign. It’s built from the stone remnants of an old sugar plantation, and surrounded by 60 acres of gardens. The 18 accommodations — including a two-bedroom villa with a plunge pool — have been reimagined by the Los Angeles-based designer Liz Wilson, who added bright banana-leaf patterned wallpaper and wavy-edged mirrors. Though it’s not on the water, the hotel’s beach club and open-air bar were recently redone as well and are a 15-minute drive away. Guests can also play pickleball or tennis on the newly resurfaced court, explore hiking and biking trails, ride on horseback through local villages or visit the nearby golf course. Montpelier has its own restaurant, the Terrace, as well as a private dining option in the tower-like former sugar mill. From $285 a night, montpeliernevis.com.

Peter Island Resort, British Virgin Islands

Peter Island, a private island on the southern edge of the British Virgin Islands, reopened at the end of 2024 after a seven-year closure following Hurricane Irma. Its only resort’s 52 rooms and villas, nearly all set along Deadman’s Beach, have expanded terraces, glass doors that look out to sea views, and hand-finished stucco walls. Two villas — one with 5,000 square feet of living space, the other with 22,000 — come with private pools. The marina has been transformed into a modern yacht club capable of docking ships up to 200 feet, and is equipped with a pool, pickleball and bocce courts, a bar and grill, and a boutique. A 10,000-square-foot spa anchors the wellness program, offering seven treatment rooms, an oceanfront hydrotherapy pool and yoga classes. Despite all the amenities, the setting is the star here. Peter Island has five beaches that are easily accessible to guests, and only 300 of the island’s 1,800 acres have been developed. From about $1,000 a night, peterisland.com.