ST. LUCIA

Coco Palm, Gros Islet

Opened by the former St. Lucia director of tourism, Allen Chastanet, in fall 2003, Coco Palm is a cute, 92-room self-styled boutique hotel across the road from Reduit Beach—and a refreshing antidote to the nearby cluster of giant resorts. Chastanet put a lot of thought into avoiding the typical reception/check-in routine, instead employing "hosts" responsible for tending their own block of rooms. Cable TV with VCR, AC, cordless phones, Wi-Fi, and a pool are the big-ticket extras included in the very small ticket price. The Brown Sugar bar is open all day. Both the main hotel and the less expensive Kreole annex have exuberant, splashy, island decor, with sun-bright colors, bamboo furniture, and palm-frond prints. If you're staying in a Kreole room, be sure to ask for the recently upgraded though identically priced corner rooms, with updated bathrooms and furniture.

Kreole standard rooms, $145 (plus 18% taxes and service charge)

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