Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo
Price: Doubles, $70–$139
Tucked just inside the jungle abutting a striking black sand beach, Hotel Banana Azul offers simple accommodations a mile north of hippie-chic Puerto Viejo. Each of the 12 guest rooms has a sea view, a queen bed, and hardwood floors and walls. Nearby Cahuita National Park is great for snorkeling, while surfers head south for some of the best breaks on the coast.
Book: The spacious Howler Suite—with its wraparound deck and bathtub built for two—overlooks a tropical garden and the beach (506-2750-2035; bananaazul.com).
Best for: Indecisive types who can't choose between a beach vacation and a jungle holiday.
Rental car: Required.

HONDURAS

Barefoot Cay, Roatán
Price: Bungalows, $225
Barefoot Cay is perfect for a lazy beach escape, but be sure to go snorkeling or diving so you don't miss the vivid display of reef life just off this private cay. Two beachfront luxury one-bedroom bungalows have full kitchens, bathrooms, open-air showers, and wicker furniture. The spacious two-bedroom villas offer more privacy and a large covered deck overlooking the Caribbean. Staff are attentive, and meals are served in the resort's dining room or your bungalow.
Book: The villa farthest from the pool (504-455-6235; barefootcay.com).
Best for: Romantics with an adventurous streak.
Rental car: Not required.

JAMAICA

Half Moon, Montego Bay
Price: $400–$470
This Caribbean classic on a perfect crescent west of Montego Bay retains the elegance of another era. While its expanse of palm-edged white sand is the main attraction, other enticements include lit tennis courts, two pools, a golf course, and stables. Half Moon is also among the best values in Jamaica, especially from mid-April through mid-December, when rates for double rooms drop to $250. Until then, guests who stay four nights or more get $200 taken off their final bill.
Book: A deluxe room with a private garden; some have ocean views (888-830-5974; halfmoon.com).
Best for: Families looking for a warm-weather vacation that offers something for everyone.
Rental car: Not required.

PUERTO RICO

Lazy Parrot, Rincón
Price: Doubles, $99—$165
There's nothing fancy about this quaint inn and restaurant in the hills of Rincón, near Puerto Rico's west coast. Although ten new Superior rooms have flat-screen TVs and other upgrades, the Lazy Parrot is known for simple accommodations—and as the perfect base for surfing off the town's northern beaches.
Book: A third-floor room at the back of the hotel—to avoid the noise of revelers at the bar and to take in the ocean views while being serenaded by lorikeets and lovebirds (787-823-5654; lazyparrot.com).
Best for: Outdoor adventurers who want easy access to surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.
Rental car: Required.