Fodor's Expert Review Ti Kaye Resort and Spa

Rustic elegance is not an oxymoron at this upscale adults-only cottage community that spills down a hillside above fabulous Anse Cochon beach. Negotiating 1½ miles of pockmarked winding dirt road is required to access Ti Kaye from the main road; but when you arrive, all of that is forgotten. Honeymooners, divers, and couples looking for a quiet escape all love it. Gingerbread-style cottages (ti kaye is Creole for "little cottage"), surrounded by lush greenery and furnished with handcrafted furniture, have unparalleled ocean views from their private verandahs—each equipped with a double hammock. Each room has a secluded garden shower, a huge walk-in closet, and wooden louvers in doors and windows to catch the breeze; some have private plunge pools. Take the self-operated tram or negotiate the 166 steps down the cliff to the beach, which is part of the National Marine Reserve and one of the best snorkeling sites in Saint Lucia. Island Divers, a full-service dive shop, is on-site. Free guided snorkel tours are among the amenities, along with use of kayaks, paddleboards, and "water hammocks" (floats). Kai Manje (Creole for "house of eating"), perched on a breezy terrace, serves fabulous food—which is a good thing, since the location is so remote. Lunch is available at Ti Manje beach bar, and twice-weekly wine tastings are held in the award-winning wine cellar. The icing on the cake: Kai Koko spa offers divine treatments using locally formulated products.