We continue our Best of the Caribbean series with a look at the small hotel properties that make the Caribbean tick — particularly those of 50 rooms or less. While the Caribbean has superb luxury resorts and all-inclusives, it has an array of small, charming boutique properties that offer a laid-back yet luxurious experience. The CJ team looked at a range of factors in making the decision for the final 10; each stands out in at least one of these categories: ambience, quality of food, luxury, quality of service, location, romance, affordability and design, among others. Are there any small Caribbean hotels you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below.
Secret Bay – Dominica
Secret Bay is the smallest hotel on this list — with just four units comprised of a pair of large villas and two smaller bungalows. All of them have one thing in common – simply extraordinary views of the coast of Dominica (and, on most days, Guadeloupe). Secret Bay is all about the escape — when you’re here, it’s just you and the beauty of the Caribbean.
Tensing Pen – Jamaica
The Tensing Pen hotel in Negril is about wellness. It’s a tranquil property that has a very spiritual atmosphere. It’s a place to go and recharge — once you’re out on the cliffs doing yoga in view of the water, you’ll understand.
True Blue Bay Resort – Grenada
Unique among most small hotels, this property on Grenada’s True Blue Bay is great for families. The owners just know how to run a hotel — in the hands of others, it likely wouldn’t be the same. And it also places an emphasis on sustainability — when you’re here, you really feel like you’re part of Grenada.
Pavilions and Pools – St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
This hotel is about value and getting a lot for a little. A bit off the beaten path, the key to this St Thomas property is the fact that every unit has its own private pool. It’s for people who want to swim, relax and get some sun. And most units are completely fenced in, so there’s a real sense of seclusion.
Boardwalk – Aruba
The Boardwalk is about value, and about going to Aruba and having a small hotel experience on an island that is dominated by large-scale resorts. It’s a place to escape the big hotel feel and find something that feels like home. In a short time, you’ll feel like a native.
Villa Saint Pierre – Martinique
Easily the most affordable hotel on the list, the Villa Saint Pierre is located in the tiny town of Saint Pierre on Martinique’s northwest coast. For us, the selection was about two major factors: a very low price despite solid, updated rooms and its location on the water in Saint Pierre, a charming, old-fashioned French village.
Ladera – St Lucia
There’s something about St Lucia’s Pitons – the spectacular volcanic formations that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each of Ladera’s 32 suites has an “open wall,” meaning there’s nothing standing in the way between you and the green hills. Ladera is about drinking in the sense of place in a mystical kind of environment.
Casa Colonial Beach & Spa Hotel – Dominican Republic
The Casa Colonial is all about luxury. In a sea of larger, mostly all-inclusive hotels in the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata, the Casa Colonial is simply a step above the rest.
Horned Dorset Primavera – Puerto Rico
The small town of Rincon on Puerto Rico’s western coast is not just a fishing village — it’s also the surfing Mecca of Puerto Rico. That adds up to a very relaxed ambience, making the Horned Dorset Primavera an unexpected beacon of luxury, albeit at a premium.
Hope Town Harbour Lodge – Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
Like Secret Bay, Hope Town Harbour Lodge is about getting away, on its location on Elbow Cay off the coast of Marsh Harbour. With just 25 rooms but three very good restaurants, Hope Town is an island oasis. Access isn’t easy, but the hardest thing isn’t getting there — it’s leaving.
— CJ