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Caribbean Hideaways
The Most Romantic Resorts, Inns, Hotels and Spas

Know before you go

By Judy Colbert

The key to finding a great guidebook is finding an author who thinks the way you do. If luxury is your choice, then a hiking guide probably isn’t.

Assuming romantic resorts, inns, hotels and spas are your desire, then Ian Keown’s book probably will fit your needs perfectly, as well as a candlelit dinner, secluded beach, and ideal massage would. His Caribbean book highlights his nearly 100 favorite romantic haunts from the Cayman Islands to Tobago. Brief descriptions of a number of other properties are mentioned, including a timeshare (as he says, usually off-limits for “Caribbean Hideways”) in Curacao because of its “scenic and romantic location, intelligent and sensitive design, and romantic ambiance.”

Keown includes enough information—from whether the guest rooms have electric or nature’s air conditioning to the best choice in beaches to the most current decorator color scheme to whether children are allowed (a plus or minus depending on your view)—to let you make an intelligent choice of island and resort. No nasty surprises await you on your all-too-brief getaway. Another benefit are the comments about the local history, how to get there, and tourism information phone numbers. He’s been writing about the Caribbean for a quarter century, so he notices and comments on the changes, improvements, and disappointments.

Not all are incredibly expensive, although the focus is primarily on the pricey. However, with season/off-season prices you may find yourself vacationing where the well heeled do, only at a fraction of the price.

This is the 10^th edition of Keown’s book and the cover is the same as the 9^th and the 8^th and maybe editions before that, so be sure to look for the “completely updated tenth edition” to make sure you have the most current information.

“Caribbean Hideaways: The Most Romantic Resorts, Inns, Hotels and Spas”

Ian Keown

Frommer’s Guide

ISBN 0028631277

308 pp, maps

$16.95

www.amazon.com

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