Rare Caribbean Find: Siboney Beach Club, Antigua

A Place on the Sand

Suppose you decided to snag a no-fuss Caribbean crash pad for yourself and maybe a few close friends. You'd do well to seek out someplace compact and colorful and dripping with humble island charm – someplace a lot like Siboney Beach Club. Perched on inviting Dickenson Bay, just down the sand from Sandals on Antigua's northern coast, Siboney feels more like a small and neighborly apartment complex than the hotel it is. Its 12 suites make clever use of their space, with tiny but well-equipped kitchenettes tucked away behind louvered doors. Living rooms open onto a balcony or patio that looks out on a soothingly verdant courtyard, thick with palms and viney bougainvillea tendrils snaking up the three-story buildings. The hustle and flow of the capital, St. John's, is about a 10-minute drive away – close, but not too close. Siboney's owner, Tony Johnson, and his staff are ever eager to make recommendations or even book you a table. And Coconut Grove, the open-air restaurant/bar, is a beach lover's daydream. Get any closer to the water and you'll need a snorkel.

From $125 in low season ($170 high); 800-533-0234; siboneybeachclub.com