Goldeneye

If this looks like the type of place James Bond might have retired to, it's probably because his creator Ian Fleming used to live here. Goldeneye's lush grounds, waterfront villas and pristine beach could well have been the setting for 007's cinematic escapades.

Goldeneye features eight exquisite villas, including Fleming's former abode (spectacular decor highlighted by Balinese fabrics), sprinkled across expansive grounds on a quaint cove. Additional waterfront cottages, built of wood and stone and painted in autumnal colors, have ceiling fans, a kitchen, a TV room and pampering yet discreet stewards. There's a communal entertainment room where 007 movies are shown, but the coup de grâce is the hotel's secluded, private island with its own beach and water sports. Organized excursions, a tennis court and swimming pool almost seem a trifle banal after that.