ONE of the island's top hotels has been given a glowing report by a British newspaper.

The Elbow Beach Hotel was featured in the pages of the popular tabloid Daily Mail, which gave the resort top ratings in a number of categories.

"The resort, set in 50 lush acres sloping down to a pink sand beach on Bermuda's south coast is the height of laid-back luxury," the article gushed.

"It's dominated by a 90-year-old, canary yellow building with bedrooms, restaurants and the bar ? which rocks when the locals descend at weekends."

The resort's spa facilities were the focus of the feature, which appeared in the newspaper's 'Beauty Style' section.

"Don't worry about having to make spa-chat with your fellow guests ? there's no communal relaxation area," the article read.

"Instead, treatment rooms are self-contained with armchairs, showers, vast granite baths and ? best of all ? a daybed on a private balcony to relax post-treatment, with only birdsong and views of the azure sea to distract you."

The spa received "excellent" ratings in three categories ? staff attentiveness, range of treatments and pampering ? while other activities were regarded as "good".

"He can hire scuba kit and swim to wreck just beyond the reef, perfect his swing at one of Bermuda's many golf courses or hire a bike and explore the island," the article told its female-based readership.

The hotel was given a rating of "good" for value for money and top marks for "the wow factor".