Three Of The Best Island Hotels

Live out your castaway fantasy - with mod cons and chic touches, of course - at these stylish island hideaways.

JK

WHY? This white cliff-top hideaway is Capri's hippest boutique hotel. With only 22 rooms, it's as intimate and relaxed as a luxurious, well-staffed private residence.
WHERE? A 45-minute hydrofoil ride from Naples, in the midst of a Roman settlement, overlooking the Marina Grande (harbour).
STAYING IN This handsome 19th-century villa has long been a hotel, but was recently transformed into this glamorous incarnation by Michele Bönan, the French architect responsible for the super-stylish Ferragamo-owned Lungarno hotels. Most rooms have sea views, but if you tire of gazing out at the azure blue, adjourn to the library for a flick through the coffee-table books, or head to the teak terrace and heated outdoor pool - taking in breathtaking views of the Amalfi coast and Mount Vesuvius. Lunch alfresco on the terrace at JKitchen, where the salad of buffalo mozzarella and local cherry tomatoes is the must-try dish - former guest Princess Caroline apparently took some mozzarella back to Monaco after her stay. At the end of a taxing day reading and wafting about in your kaftan like a Fifties screen siren, dress for dinner and sip Bellinis as the yachts twinkle below.

STYLE STEAL Achieve the nautical-meets-Ralph Lauren look with a blue-and-white palette, lacquered black floors, plump white couches and monochrome artworks.
OUT AND ABOUT Take the chairlift from Marina Grande up to the whitewashed town of Anacapri - at its best after the day-trippers have gone - or hop on the shuttle and browse Capri's boutiques. Pack a polka-dot one-piece and Loren shades and spend a day out at lido-restaurant La Fontelina, situated on a rocky jetty in view of the Faraglioni rocks.
MORE INFO Double rooms cost from around £624 per night (+39 081 838 4001, jkcapri.com).

BELVEDERE

WHY? To check out this David Rockwell-designed hotel that's all about sophisticated lounging against a rustic backdrop.
WHERE? In the School of Fine Arts quarter of Mykonos Town, where bougainvillea-covered white houses mix with full-throttle bars and nightclubs.
STAYING IN If you can resist the Mediterranean waves, everything you need is on hand. The rooms are a mix of traditional Greek colourways and state-of-the-art mod cons. It's airy and floaty enough for you to feel like a Greek god/dess, but with the added bonus of being able to plug in your iPod. After a day by the pool, choose between Asian or modern Greek food in the hotel's two restaurants, Matsuhisa and the new Belvedere Club. The former was set up by Nobu Matsuhisa, of Nobu restaurants fame, and serves up the same gorgeous Japanese food.
STYLE STEAL For slicker storage, try leather under-bed boxes with stitched corners, such as those at Store.

OUT AND ABOUT The winding alleyways are packed with glam boutiques, with Soho-Soho on Matogianni Street being one of the most popular - even SJP has flexed her plastic here. For seaside fun, Super Paradise Beach is partylicious, or head to unspoilt Lia, where a small taverna serves up fresh lobsters.
MORE INFO Standard double rooms cost from £357 per night (+30 228 902 5122, belvederehotel.com).

BARAZA

WHY? Endless sunshine and pristine beaches, to which the Baraza adds the perfect space for unadulterated relaxation.
WHERE? On the unspoilt east coast of Zanzibar - think talcum-powder sands, crystal sea and gently swaying palms - an island that lives up to the romantic connotations its name suggests.
STAYING IN Each villa has its own private terrace, complete with plunge pool, while the public areas offer plenty of shady nooks with bolsters, pouffes and scatter cushions. Arise from your slumber to sample menus inspired by Arabic, Indian, Persian, Asian and Swahili flavours, explore the grounds, or drop in on the spa - the essential oils, infused with local cinnamon, cloves and peppercorns (this is a spice island after all) work a particularly evocative magic. If they prompt a burst of energy, then diving, windsurfing and all kinds of aqua activities await on the beach.

STYLE STEAL Limit the beaten metallics and keep things neutral to ensure the look is more 'rock the kasbah' than 'Aladdin's cave'.
OUT AND ABOUT Head for Stone Town, the island's cultural heart, and lose yourself in bustling bazaars and winding alleyways. Snap up spices to enliven your cooking, or jump on a dhow for a cruise round the outer islands.