In order to narrow down the many remaining choices, we demanded several attributes, including lovely architec-ture, pleasing rooms and a fine beach on the property. Most have lounge chairs or chaise longues, tables and umbrellas as well as attendants to bring towels, cold drinks and snacks. Usually there is a beach hut with snorkeling equipment, windsurf and sail boards, floating mats and other beach gear. Architecture favors open-air lobbies and restaurants, roofed but exposed to the trade winds on open sides, where guests are welcomed with a traditional rum punch or nonalcoholic fruit juice. Service everywhere is warm and friendly, though not as sharp as in U.S. hotels.
Rooms are generally large and comfortable, with open-air terraces, verandas or balconies.
Not all rooms come equipped with televisions and telephones. Until recently, cooling systems consisted of louvered windows and ceiling fans. For longtime visitors to the Caribbean, a lack of air-conditioning was part of the charm. But standards are changing, not least because the Caribbean is becoming a year-round destination. Only about half of the resorts in this report have put televisions in the rooms.