The Coral Reef Club bills itself as 'elegantly casual', and judging by the clientele, at least in season, they have succeeded in attracting this standard. Family run by the delightful O'Hara family, the to-ings and fro-ings are watched over by the formidable Cynthia O'Hara who observes the scene from a table just inside the airy beach-side restaurant.

Accommodations are spacious, and well placed amongst masses of abundant foliage, so even those rooms without seaviews get the feeling of living right in the heart of nature - though birds pecking at your room service (or even your lunch) before you have had a chance to taste it may be a step too far for some.

This hotel is by no means cheap, but given the controversial revamp of neighbouring Sandy Lane, it's now the best place to stay on the island for those who like their luxury mixed with a low-key vibe. It's also incredibly 'social' - at least in season - and you will find yourself rubbing shoulders with leaders of industry and the finance world from the UK, with blackberries vibrating in tandem and deals being discussed in tropical shorts.

Two delightful and secluded pools provide relief from the breezy beach, where a slighty rocky underwater foreshore sometimes making wading in a challenge.

Written by  James Dunford Wood.

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