Fodor's Expert Review Casa Sandra

Rustic meets five-star at this boutique hotel, elegantly landscaped with winding pathways leading to two-story casitas draped in bougainvillea. The Mayan and Cuban architecture features white stucco walls and palapa rooftops, enhanced by the soothing white and beige interior. Adorning the walls are paintings by owner Sandra, whose artistic expression is portrayed in every room. Each has a lounge area, private balcony, and large bathroom equipped with bathrobes, conch showerheads, and organic bath products; design features include wood beam ceilings, hand-painted lamps, and linen-draped beds. Request a room in one of the back casitas—those in the main building tend to pick up noise from the restaurant below. You can lounge at the small pool or head for a beach bed perched on the sand in front of the hotel. The restaurant serves a mélange of Creole, Mexican, and Cuban dishes, and there's live music on Saturday nights.