A labor of love built by a husband-and-wife team over the course of several decades, this is a local landmark with which you might fall in love—and you won't be alone. Everything is top-notch, from the food to the facilities, and the all-inclusive rate encompasses activities that usually carry an extra charge—most notably, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and water-skiing. Service is a priority, and the founder of the property (recently passed away; however his wife still lives on

A labor of love built by a husband-and-wife team over the course of several decades, this is a local landmark with which you might fall in love—and you won't be alone. Everything is top-notch, from the food to the facilities, and the all-inclusive rate encompasses activities that usually carry an extra charge—most notably, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and water-skiing. Service is a priority, and the founder of the property (recently passed away; however his wife still lives on the island) made a habit of hiring locals from the nearby village, and then sending them to school in Europe or the United States. Thus, the chef trained under Alain Ducasse, while the sommeliers studied in France. Management likes to note that "the guests' return rate is about the same as the staff's."

The property sits on a bluff, and actually got its name from the effect the breaking waves create—when looking from above, the owner thought they resembled the bottom of a lace curtain. Every one of the 72 guestrooms and suites has an ocean view, as well as a private balcony or deck. The oceanfront is more of a hangout spot than the swimming pool. And of the two beaches on the property, Surf Beach is the hub of activity. All the ocean expeditions depart from here, plus it's also where you pick up snorkels, non-motorized watercraft, and other gear. The beach bar is also on Surf Beach, where beach butler service is available. Up the peninsula a bit is Calm Beach; many of the private patios and decks look out onto this stretch of sand, and guests usually drop by for an al fresco lunch or to nap undisturbed in a hammock.

When it comes to ambience, Curtain Bluff is a bit genteel, with traditional activities like daily afternoon tea and a weekly "welcome reception" at the original owners' house. (The widow co-hosts with the general manager.) The dress code for dinner in the main dining room is only now relaxing to "resort casual" after many decades of jacket-and-tie standards. However, for the forty- to fifty-somethings who frequent the place, this adds to the special-occasion feel of the place. You can water-ski and play tennis by day, enjoy French-Caribbean cuisine with a fine wine from the 25,000-bottle cellar (largest in the Caribbean, and yes, these wines carry an extra charge), and then go to the terrace right outside and dance—not in a "disco," not to DJ music, but to a real live band. Imagine.

Lena Katz is the author of the Travel Temptations series, published by Globe Pequot, including the recently published SUN: California and SIP: California guides.