St. Regis Princeville, Kauai

Prying eyes on the beach? No, the only creatures that could peer into our suite at The St. Regis, Princeville, were the endangered shearwater birds circling above the sea. It did take us awhile to figure out how to operate the privacy screen, however, as easy as a flick of a bathroom switch. The liquid-crystal shower windows at the most talked about hotel on the island of Kauai cleverly turn from clear to opaque in an instant – depending on whether you want to look at killer ocean views while lathering up with French Remede bath amenities or you prefer privacy. Boasting an enviable location at the northern tip of “the garden island”, the hotel is perched atop lush emerald cliffs overlooking beautiful Hanalei Bay. The former Princeville Resort opened in October, 2009, following an extensive multi-million dollar remodeling.

From the moment you arrive under the porte cochere, you’re met with a refined sense of elegance, this being a St. Regis after all. The open lobby features a Zen-like pool, coconut palm wood floors and a cascading 4,200-piece Murano glass chandelier. Further beyond, a lobby bar with enormous windows frames stunning ocean views and leads to a lanai – very popular at sunset. Visitors come from all over the world with cameras to sip champagne here, nibble on pupus and photograph the magical sunsets that cast golden rays over the sea and Makana Mountain (the famous island of Bali Hai in the movie, South Pacific).

The 252 guest rooms and suites cascade down the cliff – from the 9^th floor, lobby elevators whisk you down to your room. Book one of the 41 junior suites (especially favored by honeymooners), a full 820 square feet of luxurious space to spread out in. Custom furnishings, cushiony carpeting, touch control lighting, marble baths and not one but two TV’s (one that pops up from a polished wood credenza at the foot of the bed), give a sense of unbridled comfort. Suites come with butler service too, which includes unpacking and packing of your bags, complimentary pressing and delivery of French-pressed morning coffee with the day’s newspaper. Really all that’s lacking are private lanais. But you can open the oversized windows and curl up on the window seat to revel in those splendid views.

Or better still, make your way down to the beach, a famously golden curve of soft sand, lapped by gentle waves. It’s a very civilized sunning scene. Your only problem will be making a decision whether to recline on a chaise lounge on the sand under a lime green parasol or on the manicured lawn?

For dinner, the Kauai Grill is the resort’s signature restaurant, featuring the artfully presented cuisine of renowned chef Jean Georges Vongerichten. Splurge on the five-course tasting menu to fully appreciate his culinary prowess – beginning with an appetizer of roasted lobster with potato gnocchi and ending with a white chocolate Pavlova with basil syrup.

Two 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. are within tee-off distance (well, almost) and native Hawaiian healing treatments at the St. Regis spa will soothe any sore muscles. A stay here lacks for nothing except perhaps getting a chance to say a few words to Pierce Brosnan as he’s biking along the shore.