A shade less luxe than its sister hotel, the Coral Reef Club up the beach, the Sandpiper exudes the same kind of hands-on, family-run hospitality from Wayne and Karen Capaldi (Karen’s the daughter of the O’Haras who founded both hotels). It’s an olde worlde Barbados resort a short walk from Holetown, a series of country-comfy rooms in cool Caribbean woods and wickers scattered across the lush grounds—the deluxe treetops suites come with their own private plunge pools. Non-motorized water sports (small sailboats, paddle boards, snorkeling) at the beach are complimentary. Children under 12 are not allowed mid-January through February, the rest of the year there is a kids’ program of sailing and swim lessons in the off-season. Note that the Sandpiper will be closed from April 17 to November 1, 2015 for an extensive renovation (and as the owners start construction of villas on their recently purchased property next door).