East Winds Inn doesn't try to compete with the mega all-inclusive resorts on St. Lucia. Instead, the intimate, 30-room, upper-middle-range all-inclusive caters to guests who want to relax in a quiet location without constant attention. It lacks amenities such as a gym and spa but offers a laid-back vibe among lushly landscaped gardens. Guests hide out in air-conditioned, cottage-style rooms, snorkel the reefs from the lovely gold-sand beach, and lounge at the pool, where they can also mix their their own cocktails at the swim-up bar.

Romantic? Undoubtedly. Unique? Absolutely. Expensive? For sure. Through an innovative, open fourth wall, each of Jade's 29 enormous suites overlooks the sea from its chromatherapy-lit whirlpool tub, canopied bed, and private infinity pool. Getting to Jade Mountain can be tedious, even nauseating, but its organic cuisine, doting service, unwavering silence (no TVs, radios, or children), and extraordinary design make the long journey worthwhile. Many guests state that it's worth opting for the all-inclusive package.

The newest of the three Sandals resorts on St. Lucia, Sandals Grande is a 301-room, upscale, couples-only resort that's set on a peninsula adjacent to Pigeon Island, a historic national landmark. Its signature pool with a huge tower and swim-up bar is the center of the action, a place where young honeymooners mix and mingle. Three other (quieter) pool areas, a slew of water sports (including unlimited scuba), a beautiful spa, and eight restaurants, including an authentic British Pub, help keep guests occupied. Club Level and Butler Level rooms are available for upgraded service

The first of the three Sandals resorts on St. Lucia, the 331-room, adult-only La Toc is a bit more traditional in style than its sister properties. It's set on 210 acres that roll through the forested grounds and over dramatic cliffs to the half-mile of brown-sugar sand beach. Geared to couples and honeymooners, the upscale resort has three pools, including a beachfront signature pool with a swim-up bar, the largest on St. Lucia. A nine-hole golf course, beautifully landscaped grounds with private lounging spots, and nine restaurants, including a fine-dining French restaurant, keep guests occupied. Sunset Bluff Village is a resort within the resort, offering elevated views and high-end butler-serviced villas with private pools.

Founded in 1966, Rendevous is an established all-inclusive, upscale resort that caters specifically to couples. Set on the shores of the white-sand Malabar Beach close to St. Lucia's capital city, the 100-room resort is both intimate and grand. Property features include two pools, a spa, and tennis, and rooms have sophisticated tropical style. The main restaurant has fabulous ocean views but the cuisine is a bit bland, and the planes coming and going at the neighboring airport can be noisy.

The smallest and least expensive of the three Sandals Resorts on St. Lucia, Halcyon is also quieter and more intimate. The 169-room all-inclusive resort features low-rise French-Caribbean style buildings with exposed stone walls and white shuttered windows. The rooms are not huge, but they are stylish, cozy nests for honeymooners and couples. The lushly landscaped grounds offer plenty of opportunity for wandering and lounging in oversized daybeds, on swinging benches, in oceanfront whirlpools, and on sofas set around fire pits overlooking the Caribbean.

Coco Palm is an 83-room budget-oriented boutique hotel with style and service you'd expect at higher priced, beachfront hotels. It features a huge free-form pool, French Caribbean style decor, and the option to book with or without an all-inclusive plan. Rooms are cheerful and tropical, and some have terraces with pool access. While not on the ocean, it is a short walk to Reduit Beach and close to the amenities of Rodney Bay Village, St. Lucia's entertainment district.

The flagship of three Rodney Bay hotels founded by a former St. Lucian schoolteacher turned hotelier, Bay Gardens Beach Resort is a mid-sized (72-room) modern beachfront resort with Caribbean flair and an energetic social scene. It's set close enough to the beach to hear the waves from beachfront rooms, even when the air-conditioning is running. Budget-oriented families will likely appreciate the one- and two-bedroom suites with mini kitchens and living areas. On some evenings, HiTide restaurant features steel drum music and entertainment such as fire-eating limbo dancers. All-inclusive rates are available, but optional.