Coco Kreole St. Lucia

Hotel Information: Styled like a plantation house converted to a country inn, this St. Lucia hotel offers moderately priced lodging and a tranquil ambience for travelers seeking poolside relaxation and walking-distance access to Rodney Bay Village's many restaurants. Guests enjoy full access to all facilities at an adjacent 83-room partner hotel.

Insider tip: Locals and visitors gather at various spots on Friday nights for outdoor music and food. Many St. Lucians rank the fish fry at Anse La Reye, a central-coast town 25.5 (16 mi) south of the hotel, as the island's best, perhaps because food stalls serve lobster.

Coco Kreole offers 20 guestrooms in a two-story yellow building (no elevator) styled like a Caribbean plantation house. Courtside rooms overlook the parking lot while poolside rooms have a pool view.

Decor includes yellow walls, white fretwork, crown molding, pale tile floors, and brightly colored fabrics. Small bathrooms contain stall showers without tubs or shower/tub combinations.

Compact refrigerators contain complimentary bottled water (on arrival only). Telephones are cordless. Televisions with U.S./international channels, CD players, and VCRs (rental videos available) are supplied. Wireless Internet access is complimentary.