2 Best Hotels in Dominica

The street-level entrance and lobby of this lovely hotel at the south end of Roseau's bayfront are in an old stone fort (complete with cannons), but the ample, air-conditioned guest rooms are modern and have full or partial ocean-view balconies and spacious bathrooms with great vanities. An attached boardwalk has a variety of shops, including a few duty-frees. Try the Palisades Restaurant, which is one of the island's most upscale and romantic dining spots. Enjoy Unwine Wednesday at Bala's Bar and Cocktails & Conversations (happy hour) every Friday at Warmer's Bar. Fort Young offers in-house dive operations with Dive Dominica. Other amenities include a spa, gym, and tour desk offering activities like diving, snorkeling, and whale-watching.

Sweeping views surround this luxury eco-resort, which sits on 20 acres of the only developed section of the island's southwest—no matter where you are at this peaceful hideaway, you can always hear the sea. And surrounded by lush greenery, you may feel as if you are a million miles away from the rest of the world. Getting some exercise comes with the territory, as the resort begins at 400 feet above sea level and climbs to 1,000 feet. Many rooms are perched high on the cliff (some require a 197-step climb) and have spectacular views. They are rustic-looking but modern, with some nice touches—coffeemaker, refrigerator, fresh fruit, flowers, and a raindrop oasis shower. Overlooking the sea and the pool is the resort's restaurant, which uses local ingredients in its shrimp curry and other delicious vegetarian, seafood, and chicken dishes (dinners cost around $25). The resort also has a large yoga studio and a spa. Airport transfers are included with a minimum three-night stay at this property, which is about 90 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from Roseau.