If a hushed vacation is what you're after—one without raucous families, young children, and party-going 20-somethings—you’ve found your Valhalla. Cambridge is the oldest and most celebrated cottage colony on the island, featuring four private beaches. That makes it possible to suntan without seeing another soul, which may be why celebrities, and politicians have long made this adults-only retreat their pick (Bill and Hillary Clinton are among those bold names). It’s also entirely kid-free: children under 12 aren’t accepted as guests.

On a peninsula overlooking Mangrove Bay in Somerset, the colony’s 12 hectares (30 acres) of semitropical gardens and green lawns occupy the entire western tip of the island. The colony centers on an old sea captain’s house that over the years grew into a compound of lounges, bars, dining rooms, and drawing rooms that give the feeling of a conservative country estate. Most notable restaurants here are Breezes, the resort's open-air beachfront eatery and Tamarisk, an elegant indoor dining room that features live entertainment nightly.  The onsite Ocean Spa is newly renovated and quite swank; the property also has two tennis courts and a multilevel infinity pool.


As for rooms, they are capacious and decked out in a luxe version of island style, with exposed Bermuda cedar beams, fireplaces, and endless views of the water from private balconies or patios. Suites feature full living rooms with antiques, oversized bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, and a separate dressing area. The resort is approximately a one-hour taxi ride from the airport, so plan your arrival and departure accordingly.