There’s just something different about a small hotel. Maybe it’s the intimate service you get, or the way the design vision of the owner seems to manifest itself better in the decor. Maybe it’s the little quirks, or the warm, honest service. Small hotels are just a special way to experience the Caribbean.
Our latest look at some of our favorite small hotels in the Caribbean is a trip around the region, from larger islands like Barbados and Aruba to off-the-radar spots like Little Cayman and Harbour Island.
Here are 15 small hotels we think you’ll love for your next trip to the Caribbean.
Valentines Harbour Island is one of the most charming islands in all of the Caribbean, a Bahamian outpost that expertly blends the casual and the chic. And one of the island’s best places to stay is Valentines, a wonderfully-designed boutique with historic-inspired architecture and a marina, too.
French Coco Martinique’s newest boutique hotel is a hillside getaway above the beach town of Tartane with a sleek collection of 17 suites and superb cuisine.
Southern Cross Club We love the tiny island of Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands for its anything-goes, barefoot vibe, and the Southern Cross Club is one of just a handful of hotels. We love it for its colorful, direct-on-the-beach bungalows, half of which have outdoor showers.
Manoah Boutique Hotel The latest boutique hotel to open its doors on Anguilla, The Manoah has 25 spacious ocean-view rooms all set on the spectacular Shoal Bay East, a white-sand paradise that stretches for two miles.
Sugar Mill Set across from the water on Apple Bay in Tortola, this is a throwback to the great Caribbean inns of yesteryear, with an excellent on-site restaurant (one that’s among the hottest tables on the island) and a charming collection of cottages gathered around a 400-year-old sugar mill.
Rollezz Villas Beach Resort Set on what’s almost certainly one of the Caribbean’s best beaches, Old Bight Beach, this lovely, family-run Cat Island boutique has four well-appointed villas, all smack on the sand.
Belle Mont Farm St. Kitts’ top luxury retreat (at least until the Park Hyatt opens later this year), this boutique is set in the green, quiet northwestern portion of the island. The focus here is on sustainability, highlighted by produce grown at its on-site organic farm.
The House This Platinum Coast standout in Barbados is a hip, always energetic retreat with lovely rooms, a daily champagne breakfast and one of the island’s best restaurants, Daphne’s.
Ocean Z A modern, crisp addition to Aruba’s accommodations, this high-design boutique has cleverly-designed rooms, a superb pool area and very, very good food.
Le Shambala Somehow tucked away in the heart of always-happening Grand Case, this St. Martin boutique has just five suites, all with a Zen ambience (and some with plunge pools) and a remarkable on-site eatery.
Copper and Lumber Hotel Looking for a different kind of Caribbean getaway? Head to this Antigua boutique in the heart of the Nelson’s Dockyard UNESCO World Heritage Site, lovingly restored and boasting some of the area’s best food.
Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel St. John has a personality all its own, and there’s no better way to experience Love City than by staying in the heart of Cruz Bay (above). It’s warm, simple and friendly and, even better, the hotel is solar-powered, too.
Ti Kaye Still a bit of a secret in St. Lucia, this adults-only getaway above Anse Cochon has sweeping ocean views, a surprisingly broad wine list and a lovely, locally-inspired spa.
Casas XVI We simply love the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, and if you haven’t yet been, it’s time to go. And while there are a number of great boutique spots in the old city, we’re partial to this design-centric spot in the heart of an old 16th century property.
O:live Boutique Hotel
Easily the most beautifully designed hotel in Puerto Rico, this tiny boutique on a side street in the hip Condado neighborhood is effortlessly cool, with a world-class steakhouse on the first floor and an impossibly hip rooftop bar at the top. It’s one of San Juan’s places to see and be seen.