A resort which struggled to stay afloat after opening last year has been named one of the 15 best waterfront inns off the coast of America in a US magazine.

Coastal Living cites 9 Beaches ? which opened in April 2005 ? as one of its top six favourite Atlantic Coast resorts in its October edition.

The magazine says of the Sandys hotel: "The hypnotic sounds of water surround you. You seem to be floating yet solidly anchored at the same time.

"Standing on stilts over the blue-green Atlantic, six of the 84 cabanas at 9 Beaches provide this ethereal experience."

9 Beaches, at Daniel's Head Park, Somerset, markets itself as Bermuda's only "ultra-casual resort" and its cabanas are actually canvas-sided mini cottages on stilts.

The hotel struggled to find its feet in its first few months, with staff laid off and low occupancy rates.

But new general manager Mark Steenge said earlier this year that bookings were booming and that it had significantly more guests in May and June than in the same period last year.

Other Atlantic Coast resorts to get a mention in Coastal Living included the Embassy Suites Hotel in New York and the Lago Mar Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The feature also named the magazine's favourite Pacific and Gulf Coast resorts.