Some find the appeal of the Caribbean (soft sands, blue waters, and a gentle pace of life) is often diluted by intrusions of tackiness—from garish floral bedspreads and cheap overdevelopment to throngs of boorish tourists burnt lobster-pink by careless overindulgence.

Look around The Landing, though, and you’ll see none of these things; despite Harbour Island’s relentlessly casual dress and atmosphere, there’s an elegance to this intimate little pair of guesthouses that most island hotels can’t hope to match. The interiors are nothing revolutionary, just a classic plantation style perfectly executed, with polished hardwood floors, white walls and colonial furnishings. Bedrooms are like something from a fashion shoot, perfectly rendered colonial island chic with antique four-poster beds and Ralph Lauren linens.

Rather than jet-ski about with coconut-shell cocktails in each hand, the Landing’s guests are most commonly sighted lounging about one of the sitting rooms or out on the veranda, enjoying the dignified quiet of the place. As for services, the Landing is purposefully minimal—rooms lack both telephones and televisions, a welcome back-to-basics gesture, gently prodding you out to the pool or the pink-sand beach.

Though the hotel has only seven rooms, it’s home to Harbour Island’s best restaurant, serving contemporary dishes made from local produce and fresh seafood, under the guidance of the Australian chef Ken Gomes. 4... more