WHEN IT comes to the quality of a hotel, what’s under the surface counts — service, culture, food. But the way a hotel is thought out, the way it’s put together structurally and the way it simply looks, all make a world of difference, from the pure architectural design of a hotel to its bathroom appliances. We thought we’d bring you a list of the hotels in the region we like for this year when it comes to design — from Caribbean classics to avant-garde architectural innovations.

Las Esquinas — Anguilla

This relative newcomer is made up of a small group of suites connected to a North African-style courtyard. It’s a wonderful fusion of Moroccan, Mediterranean and Caribbean styles, all set to a wide-open plan that capitalizes on the views of nearby St Maarten. In short, this tiny hotel is a masterpiece, from its sleek, linear shapes to the hanging lamps.