"Why we love it: A sleek property with the perfect combination of comfort and upscale amenities Highlights: - Gorgeous views of Dominica’s northern coast - An emphasis on adventure travel - Smart design that incorporates local art and products The Review: At Wanderlust Caribbean Boutique Hotel, five tropical-themed condos overlook Hodges Bay on Dominica’s rugged northern coast, near the village of Calibishie. Each room features a private oceanfront balcony for taking in the views, complete with a sunbed, hammock, and small table crafted from wood from the surrounding forest. Also included are a kitchen and sitting area, plus a spacious bathroom with a powerful shower. Expect tropical hardwood accents, plus bright pops of local art reflecting the ocean and island life. Two of the condos have air conditioning, and all boast fans and louvered windows with mosquito screens. Amenities like free Wi-Fi, high-quality linens, and in-room dining plush up the experience, while details like refrigerators, board games, DVDs, and Dominican coffee make guests feel at home. After a rebranding, Wanderlust now focuses on pampering adventure travelers. Owners Tom and Sharie Decherd—longtime Dominican residents—offer guided tours, but are also content to let guests do their own thing. Within walking distance, you can swim at four pristine beaches, explore red volcanic cliffs, kayak a river, and hike in a rainforest. Other area highlights include a fishing village, art gallery, and chocolate factory.Back at the hotel, savor the stunning coastal vistas, along with delicious food, in the terrace cafe and rooftop bar. If you’re a Pirates of the Caribbean fan, be sure to look for Treasure Island just offshore. Note: Unsuitable for guests with disabilities, the hotel welcomes children aged 12 and above."

"Why we love it: A friendly haven on Dominica’s northwest coast that caters to outdoor enthusiasts Highlights: - A short stroll to the beach and hiking trails - Access to outdoor activities like horseback riding and river boat tours - Comfort in the form of AC, laundry service, and free Wi-Fi The Review: Divers and tourists adore this northern nook, which presides over a hill near some of Dominica’s best descents and attractions. In under 10 minutes, guests can walk to either the beach or segment 11 of the Waitukubuli National Trail. Other activities the hotel can help arrange include birdwatching, horseback riding, and river boat tours. Also on offer is a shuttle service around Picard that will even pick up travelers from Douglas-Charles Airport 45 minutes away. Overlooking the ocean, The Champs boasts some classic tropical details, like balcony latticework and brightly colored umbrellas beside a turquoise pool, fringed by fruit trees and a flowering garden. Mainly, though, it serves comfort, including air-conditioning, laundry service, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, private patios or balconies, safety deposit boxes, and in-room tea and coffee-makers, plus grace notes like wine glasses and electrical outlets near the nightstands. Adventure travelers and guests flying long-haul especially prize the hot tub—not to mention extras like yoga classes, massage sessions, watersports, and even karaoke. The made-to-order breakfast remains a hit, as does on-site Restaurant The Champs, which serves everything from Tex-Mex cuisine and design-your-own pizzas to seafood dishes, Caribbean fare, and legendary Dutch coffee and apple pie."

"Secret Bay Why we love it: A stunning eco-resort where style meets sustainability Highlights: - Villas attendants who double as adventure concierges - A treehouse-style spa - A reputation for balancing nature and luxury The Review: An award-winning boutique resort, Secret Bay serves exquisite style, service, and seclusion just a 10-minute drive from Portsmouth on Dominica’s northwestern coast. The luxury property has no communal spaces, beyond the decks, beaches, a riverside yoga pavilion, and the Zing Zing restaurant. Instead, guests retreat to six elegant villas and bungalows, fully stocked with their choice of goodies. Conceptualized by Venezuelan architect Fruto Vivas, villas fuse high design, local craftsmanship, and sustainably sourced materials like Guyanese hardwood. Guests can look forward to plunge pools, gourmet kitchens, pillow hammocks, and furniture carved from red cedar, along with high-tech touches like Apple TVs and Sonos Bluetooth speakers. Committed to sustainability, owner Gregor Nassief helped site Secret Bay’s villas to preserve the rainforest and oversaw construction of the entire resort without any heavy machinery. The property also plants vetiver to strengthen its cliff location and has applied to create a marine reserve in the waters below, where parrotfish flit among the coral. Explore them with the complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, snorkeling gear, dry bags, and GoPros on offer, or head to the treehouse-style spa, which gazes down on the cove and offers treatments like massages with custom-blended local oils. Guests can also opt to create their own culinary masterpieces or have the chef’s choice delivered by their attendant, who also serves as their housekeeper and adventure concierge. Over the next few years, Secret Bay will slowly expand to 50 villas, hidden among the neighboring 27-acre valley and ridge. In the meantime, swim to the resort’s waterline cave or paddle a kayak to the soft, golden Secret Bay beach. Though open to the public, like all Dominica's coast, the beach sees very few visitors, meaning you might very well be the only one there."

"Pagua Bay House Oceanfront Cabanas Why we love it: A beachside oasis where stylish design meets natural beauty Highlights: - Amenities like hammocks, private patios, and outdoor soaking tubs - Lush grounds with a poolside grill - Friendly owners who will help plan your stay The Review: Set on a sugar-white beach just 10 minutes from Douglas-Charles Airport, this elegant property offers four cabanas and two suites, all positioned for bay views and cooling winds. Hardwood gleams throughout, punctuated by rich colors and textures. Expect refined touches like hammocks, private patios, and outdoor soaking tubs, as well as bathrooms with oversized showers and magnificent slab counters.Complete with sweeping Atlantic views and sleek industrial fixtures, the open-air restaurant focuses on farm-to-table fare, offering everything from handmade jams and baked goods to infused island rums. Vegetarians can look forward to dishes like coconut curry and dasheen (taro) puffs with aioli, while omnivores should try the shrimp fritters, ginger-glazed mahi-mahi, and slow-roasted local pork, which comes folded into a delectable sandwich. While prices here are on the steeper side forDominica, the hotel’s style, elegance, and personalized service make it worth the splurge. Owners Rick and Alicia will happily help with itineraries and arrangements, as well as loan beach chairs, snorkeling gear, and equipment for river tubing. For excitement closer to your room, there’s a cornhole set on the lawn and some of the country’s most legendary rum punch. Non-guests are welcome at the pool and restaurant for a minimum spend of US$20."

"The Tamarind Tree Hotel Why we love it: A small inn with great value and an eco-friendly attitude Highlights: - Warm, welcoming hosts, one of whom is a certified tour guide - Voluntourism packages to help restore the Waitukubuli Trail - A prime location near two top beaches The Review: The Tamarind Tree Hotel sits atop a 100-foot coastal cliff, surveying the Caribbean Sea, the Bay of Salisbury, and Dominica’s highest peak, Morne Diablotin. A relaxed, intimate hotel, it showcases the Swiss hospitality of owners Annette and Stefan Peyer Loerner, who moved toDominicamore than two decades ago. The affordable rooms are on the simpler side, but the hospitality is exquisite. For more space, reserve a two-story bungalow, which sleeps six people and comes with a kitchen, living room, and deck overlooking the ocean. Bright pops of color enliven the decor, but don’t expect to park the kids in front of the TV. The hotel doesn’t have any, however rooms do come with fans, air conditioning, and a refrigerator. When you’re ready to venture out, the property is just a three-minute stroll from Macoucherie beach and seven minutes from Salisbury beach, home to the popular East Carib Dive. If you’d rather stay closer to home, there’s a swimming pool on-site, though it’s open to non-guests for a small fee. Renowned for its environmentally friendly practices, Tamarind Tree installed solar panels after Hurricane Maria and now runs off renewable energy. The property also offers voluntourism packages to help restore theWaitukubuli Trail, the Caribbean’s first long-distance hiking path. Guests can help remove debris, hack down vines, and trim bushes.Additionally, Tamarind Tree features half-board plans at its restaurant, a pleasant octagonal building with flagstones and Pepto-Bismol pink walls. The menu is an international mosaic, ranging from bruschetta and falafel to German bread, Angus steaks, and banana splits, not to mention local Kubuli beer on draft. Don’t miss the showstopper Creole breakfasts, featuring cocoa tea, fried plantains, sautéed saltfish, and titiwi accra , a spicy fish cake."

"Why we love it: A peaceful eco-lodge on Dominica’s “wild” southeast coast Highlights: - A “barefoot luxury” vibe - Proximity to the beach - Villas surrounded by a working fruit plantation The Review: An agritourism pioneer, Citrus Creek blends hospitality with a tropical fruit plantation on Dominica’s rugged east coast. In building the resort, owner Hervé “RV” Nizard repurposed parts of his 20-acre farm in Taberi, adding a dozen self-catering cottages and villas. Ranging from one to three bedrooms, the accommodations include a safari tent and a stone tree house. Focused on nature, Citrus Creek trades TVs for rainforest hikes and a swimming pool for plunges in a pristine river. The property also lacks air-conditioning, but shade trees and prevailing winds keep it comfortable year-round and help maintain a “barefoot luxury” vibe. Each room has a kitchen, stocked with breakfast goodies like tea, coffee, bread, butter, jam, and honey. For those who would rather dine out, a cafe offers half-board plans and operates every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or later with reservations). Take your dinner on the veranda overlooking the river, choosing among French-Caribbean delicacies like onion pie, caramel pork, grilled lionfish, and smoked marlin quiche. Other on-site perks include a tour desk, car rentals, and, soon, a pier set within the jungle that will be equipped to welcome sailboats."

"Why we love it: A kitted-out heritage hotel presiding over the capital Highlights: - A historic seaside property - On-site dive shop and kids’ club - Hot tubs and an infinity pool cantilevered over the ocean The Review: Charming elements remain from Fort Young Hotel’s past as a military fortification, like bronze canons and thick stone walls. Set on a cliff south of Roseau, the heritage property also has 72 modern rooms, all with air conditioning and balconies—most with sea views. Some spaces are massive, such as the oceanfront suites, which each contain a kitchenette, dressing room, two bathrooms, a whirlpool tub, and a dining area that can seat eight. On-site restaurant options range from a mellow seaside bar to The Palisades (one of Dominica’s more gourmet experiences), while amenities include a dive shop and kids’ club. On the wellness front, the hotel offers a 24-7 gym with floor-to-ceiling windows and Caribbean Sea vistas. Outside sprawl two sundecks, along with an infinity pool and jacuzzies—hot and cold—cantilevered over the ocean. The spa renovations will wrap up in 2019, but guests can still enjoy massages in their rooms or on their balconies. The hotel is also just a short stroll from Roseau’s center, ferry port, botanic gardens, and Saturday markets, not to mention the cathedral and theDominicaMuseum. Note: cruise ships dock nearby and can obliterate the water views while in port. Also, post-hurricane renovations will be underway through autumn 2019 and may add some noise during business hours."