All-inclusive resorts are nice when you're looking for the wide variety of activities a large resort can provide, but when you want a more intimate experience, a small property off the beaten path can be the right choice. These Caribbean selections from the New York Times: Travel section offer experiences ranging from rustic to modern, all in out-of-the-way enclaves which allow for privacy but still offer plenty of local activities and sightseeing.

Picks include Secret Bay, Dominica, with four glass-walled cottages on stilts; the bargain-priced Bamboo Bali, Bonaire, with five bungalows; Cotton Tree, Grand Cayman, with four cottages likened to "downsized plantation homes"; Lush Life Natural Resort, Barbados, with ten rustic cottage cabins, and more.

All qualify as romantic, but each plays a different variation on the theme, ranging from rugged to refined. Each features owner management, cottage or suite quarters and, in most cases, kitchens that give you an excuse to shop at the local produce markets. Seekers of beach parties should book elsewhere.