Hotel California

Sometimes you just need a place to stay without the fuss and frills, and Hotel California does a pretty great job of that. What it lacks in designer amenities, a spa and a restaurant, it makes up for in homey, unpretentious charm. Don’t feel like dining out? There’s a full kitchen for guests with all the utensils you’ll need to blend your own date shakes, or fry up an omelette in the morning (there are also two grills outside—BBQ by the pool, anyone?). Since there are only 15 rooms (plus a 2-story townhouse with a private balcony), foot traffic through the lush courtyard, which is surrounded by towering banana palm trees and serenaded by a gurgling  fountain, is minimal. Ditto for the guest lounge, which serves coffee and fresh fruit all day.