Laptops and Flip flops

Recharge with a Caribbean business retreat or conference at one of Island Outpost's distinctive properties. Escape from hustle and noise into an "unplugged meeting", where your body is pampered and your mind is free to soar.

A secret, serene retreat at Strawberry Hill, Jamaica

Perched high in the Blue Mountains, twelve airy cottages, designed by Ann Hodges, cluster beside the Caribbean's only Aveda Concept Spa, located at the resort.

Wood-shingled and gracious, the architecture reflects the original nineteenth-century buildings that once stood here with cooling louvers, ceiling fans, fretwork and gables. Hammocks and rockers stand on the verandahs. Hardwood floors and mahogany furniture - handcrafted on the premises - complete the genteel ambiance. The mountaintop serenity encourages bursts of creativity, making this sophisticated retreat a well-kept secret among planners.

Appropriately, sessions are fueled with the local coffee blend, Jamaican Blue Mountain, famous for its strong, smooth character.

A formal meeting room welcome clients, while smaller groups workshop in the High House or the intimate library. After work, guests enjoy the 60-foot negative-edge swimming pool, nature trails, birdwatching expeditions and mountain biking. A sauna and plunge pool enhance this complex, which contains one of the top 40 spas worldwide.

Funky fun at Jake's, Jamaica

Unleash out-of-the-box thinking at this bohemian boutique hotel. Fifteen dramatic cottages commune with the garden, sea and sky, near a secluded fishing village.

Jake's is run by the Henzell family, also responsible for Jimmy Cliff's The Harder They Come, the hippest Caribbean film of all time. Sally, its set designer, unfurled her talents here: wild purples, pinks, yellows and terracottas brighten the landscape. Moroccan domes and arches bloom. Decks skim the waves. Shells, beads and colored glass glitter brightly from walls. As travel writing legend Tim Cahill pointed out in Islands magazine, "just about everything is funky."

Let the local color, creativity and authenticity infuse meetings in the Pelican Bar - or more daringly, aboard the fishing boat Jack Sprat. Perfect for think tanks, this hotel insulates guests from distraction: no telephones and TVs clutter the cottages, but Jake's boasts a world beat music library, yoga meditation room and, for those who can't entirely unplug, complimentary internet service.

Martinis and meetings at Goldeneye, Jamaica

Shake and stir up new ideas in the splendor of James Bond's birthplace. Dashing 007 originated at this 15-acre seaside hideaway, which blossomed around the home of Ian Fleming, who wrote 13 spy novels here. The author delighted in the landscape's richness and praised "the blazing sunshine, natural beauty and the most healthy life I could live."

Today, Fleming's retreat is a boutique resort laced with beaches, tropical forest, caves and secluded nooks. Intimate and informal, this idyll - four villas on a sea bluff, one overlooking a cove - attracts celebrities and other lovers of luxury. Fleming once mused: "Would these books have ever been written if I had not been living in the gorgeous vacuum of a Jamaican holiday? I doubt it." This popular author found great inspiration here - and now guests can too.

Conferences and meetings can overspill into two spectacular properties nearby: Firefly, the hilltop retreat built by the arch-entertainer Noel Coward, and Bolt House, a six-bedroom secluded villa in the tropical fruit groves above Port Maria.

Seaside inspiration at the Caves, Jamaica

Ten hand-crafted cottages nestle into this verdant landscape, crowned by a petite Aveda spa. At the Caves, the volcanic cliff is honeycombed with grottoes: one packed with cushions for a bohemian banquet, another harboring a bubbling hot tub, some are just portals into the crystal-clear sea below, populated by dolphins, parrot fish and sea turtles. High end corporate groups can set their eyes on renting the entire resort - the ideal corporate retreat!

Small wonder The Caves was named the best hotel in the Caribbean by Trip Advisor, a leading travel search site. The exclusive magazine Robb Report also celebrated this resort among the "World's 10 Great Escapes" in March 2004: "Outside, turquoise water laps languidly against rocky cliffs, recalling the Caribbean before high tech hotels vanquished the landscape and personal watercraft disturbed the calm."

Experience über luxury at GeeJam

Geejam, an ‘über luxury’ insider escape, is located in San San, close to Port Antonio, in the parish of Portland, on the pristine shores of north-east Jamaica. While blending all the creature comforts of home, it’s very much a portal into authentic Jamaican culture. Nestled in the heart of the bush, this Island Outpost property’s newly appointed seven double rooms, consist of three deluxe cabins, one suite, and a self-contained three-bedroom villa. Also included are a state of the art Recording Studio, Healing Spa, Swimming Pool, Gym and Bushbar, forming an exclusive universe within the natural beauty of the grounds.

Located on six acres of lush San San Estate, the property extends from the foothills of the John Crow and Blue Mountain chains to the Caribbean waterfront, thereby connecting a palette of greens to vibrant hues of blue and turquoise. Within immediate proximity is Frenchman’s Cove -- voted by Condé Nast as one of the world’s top five beaches -- and the equally enchanting Blue Lagoon, Geejam sits tall amongst several other stunning beaches.

Shed the business suit at Pink Sands, Bahamas

Pink Sands embraces tranquility and privacy: the perfect atmosphere to unbutton brainstorming sessions. This beachfront estate stands beside its namesake, the glamorous and legendary three-mile strip of pink sands. Twenty-five pastel cottages - designed by 60s style maven Barbara Hulanicki - mix Indian, Moroccan and Balinese elements into a giddy new cocktail.

Lush tropical vegetation twines across this 20-acre haven: coconut palms, hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine and ground orchids flourish here. The area is even designated as an official bird sanctuary. At the day's end, unwind with drinks and snacks - like conch salad - in the Blue Bar overlooking the gin-clear ocean.

Cool escape for A-listers and trendsetters, Bahamas

Adjacent to the hip Love Beach in Nassau, Compass Point is a celebration of bold imagination, as reflected in the brighter designs of its signature architecture. The property's 18 huts sit at water's edge, each overlooking the turquoise-colored sea. Huts are comprised of two-story cottages and single cabanas glowing with vivid Junkanoo colors. Interior décor is all about comfort, with natural wood floors, white-washed walls and island accents. Amenities include flat screen televisions, CD players & CD libraries, DVD players, wireless Internet and Aveda hair & skincare products.

Compass Point integrates a dramatically redesigned restaurant with expanded seating, where bright colors of yellow and orange with red accents perpetuate a feel of sunrise and sunset. The bar scene has a few new players here as well. Guests sip on their favorite island concoction while sitting outside at the 30-foot Ocean Bar, or give cheers to friends inside at the cozy Alcove Bar. A novel lounge area off the main dining room makes the perfect spot for intimate conversations.

For more information about planning your retreat email: sales@islandoutpost.com or call 1.800.OUTPOST (United States and Canada), 0800.OUTPOST 1 (in the UK) and 1.876.960.8134 for all other countries.