Mustique
Grenadine Islands


The Experience

Cotton House is a compound of 11 separate buildings on 13 acres that flow seamlessly into the rest of the island. It was designed by the late British theatrical designer Oliver Messel, who drew on his flair for elegance, understated and stated. Today, the centerpiece is the Great Room inside an 18th-century warehouse. It’s a study in interpreted British Colonial rule, with a massive brass-edged traveler’s trunk as a centerpiece, scattered sofas, sink-into chairs and groupings of fresh flowers. Of course, celebrities have been coming here for ages, but don’t look too hard; they often stick to their very private properties.

The Rooms

Decor in all the rooms, suites and cottages is white and light, from bedspreads to filmy curtains and mosquito netting. The clapboard buildings, all with wide verandas, are on gentle hills overlooking the Caribbean, and there are footpaths leading to the nutmeg sands. Rooms run somewhat small, however, and some just offer partial ocean views, so upgrade to get your own personal full-on view of the water. The two duplex suites overlooking the ocean have king-size beds done in voile netting, and the three poolside cottages with sunken baths are even more romantic.

The Service

Perhaps the most outstanding collective feature among the staff is their unfailing politeness. And it shows right from the start: Arriving guests are met at the private airport where connecting flights arrive from St. Vincent and offered complimentary unpacking and pressing service.

The Highlights

All those names of fame who own the super-villas stay hidden in their palm-shaded privacy, and rarely roam to the Cotton House Great Room. Where they are apt to roam is to Basil’s Bar, a wood deck on bamboo stilts precariously hung over the ocean for sipping and supping and a casual dance on the deck. Basil’s is the traditional island hangout, and owner Basil Charles is the font of all knowledge. Savvy visitors always drop in at Firefly, a mini guesthouse with four bedrooms that’s booked a year in advance, to chat up visiting rock stars at the very friendly bar and dining room. But it’s not all about celebrity here: have a picnic basket packed and head off to discover the seven gorgeous island beaches.

--Sandra Hart

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