HOTEL OVERVIEW

Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos is the northern Caribbean's pre-eminent private island, wrapped in sweeps of sand and peaceful seas featuring the region's best spa and haute cuisine. It combines nature, 1000 unspoilt acres, including a mile-long powdered beach, with understated style and cosseting service. Think of it in simple terms: a place to rediscover those forgotten rhythms of long days, easy nights, and the salve of peace.

Interiors come in whitewash with chic teak finishing. The aesthetic is pared down but unerringly sleek, featuring four-posters wrapped in soft cottons that billow with the breeze. Simplicity matters, and the privilege of space, enriched by clean-lined furniture, open-air day beds, cavernous bathrooms and enveloping linens. The accommodation at Parrot Cay includes standalone villas on the beach, within 100ft of the sea, and hotel-style rooms on slightly raised ground (a two- to five-minute walk to the sand).

At Parrot Cay, the point is nature. The sand underfoot feels like powdered porcelain. Pale turquoise merges into Prussian blue, the shades changing as the sun alters its position. Some guests find their own stretch of beach; others prefer to relax around the resort's main swimming pool, cobalt, melting into the bright horizon. There is a water sports centre and two floodlit tennis courts, a 5000 sq ft Infinity pool, as well as trails snaking through the undeveloped back country.

The award-winning COMO Shambhala Retreat offers a range of holistic, Asian-inspired spa treatments including Relfexology and Ayurveda as well as a fully equipped gym. The library features a formidable book collection, as well as pool tables, Internet terminals, a satellite television and Playstation consoles. A hotel boutique sells a carefully edited selection of gifts as well as holiday necessities like hats and sun lotion. Parrot Cay has set a new benchmark for haute cuisine in the Caribbean. Parrot Cay's Australian chef places intelligent emphasis on sourcing ingredients, seasonal, largely organic, of the finest quality.