"Rainbows appear frequently on Anguilla, more so than anywhere else in the West Indies, which is why locals call it Rainbow City. So it comes as no surprise that Linda and Charles Hickox called their hotel Cap Juluca, named after the rainbow spirit of the indigenous Arawak people (who actually did find gold in these parts). It gained a loyal following throughout the 1980s and ’90s; guests were seduced by the private villas dotting the shore—it’s the only place to stay on this mile-long stretch of pristine sand. When Belmond took the reins in 2017, the group knew it was on to a good thing. What it didn’t bank on was the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma just a few months later. But a top-to-toe renovation has seen the hotel restored to its former glory, and new spaces have been seamlessly integrated with the charm of the original. Greco-Moorish architecture in open-air living rooms and palm-lined terraces neatly frames views of the bay. At Maundays Club, turquoise mosaics lining the pool reflect the ocean, while the tables under the arches at Pimms restaurant are so close to the water’s edge that the red snapper could almost leap right onto the plate. And Rottet Studio’s design sees local heritage included on every surface, from the stone quarried at cliffs where petroglyphs left by the Arawaks were uncovered to the chairs that showcase traditional weaving styles. Every detail is considered here. Not exactly a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but not far off. —Catherine Martin"
