Caribbean's Secret Islands

Don't want other people stepping on your pedicured toes? We've got an exclusive collection of islands that will leave your footprints in the sand untouched. Secluded and sweet on comforts, this is the Caribbean at its most romantic.

French Kisses: Terre de Haut

Francophiles, rejoice! The petite French isle of Terre de Haut, seven miles off the shore of Guadeloupe, has few residents and even fewer cars. Zip around on rental scooters while visiting the island's various beaches, such as Anse Crawen, the famous nude beach whose nudisme interdit (nudity prohibited) signs are obviously ignored. Dine on just-caught fish, prepared Creole-style, at an open-air seafront café in Bourg, the island's only town. Nibble on tourment d'amour (agony of love), achingly sweet little coconut tarts traditionally baked by young island girls. Saturday night, dance at Cha-Cha, a party that's held once a week at the local cemetery (no joke!), which is transformed into an open-air disco. You might even become conversant in French by the time you leave—in fact, you'll have to, because very few islanders speak even a little bit of English.

Hotel Bois Joli is the most visitor-friendly inn on the island. Unlike other hillside hotels, this one's smack at the water's edge. For optimum romance, decline one of the 24 standard rooms and nab one of the eight hibiscus-pink-and-white beachfront bungalows, two of which have small kitchenettes. All eight of these gingerbread-trimmed cottages have air-conditioning, phones and private patios facing Pain de Sucre Bay. Sweet! For more information call 011-590-99-50-38.

For more information about visiting Terre de Haut, call the French West Indies Tourism Office at 212-838-7800.