The 21-acre Grotto Bay Beach Resort (11 Blue Hole Hill, tel. 441/293-8333, fax 441/293-2306, toll-free in the U.S. 800/582-3190, www.grottobay.com, starting at $342 d, minimum three-night stay) covers a lush hillside above the Causeway, giving panoramic views of Castle Harbour, Coney Island, Ferry Reach—and the airport less than a mile away. The resort’s many yards of coastline encompass sheltered coves, an east-facing main beach, and a dock with a water sports center offering scuba, snorkeling, water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, pedal boating, and parasailing. The property claims its own crystal cave, nestled in landscaped grounds, an updated pool, and four tennis courts, two lit for night play. The casual atmosphere, coupled with a playground and children’s program during the high season, make the resort a good choice for family vacations.

The large lobby/clubhouse is reminiscent of a comfortable hunting lodge, or possibly a Polynesian loft, with open-beamed ceilings, solid oak floors, knotty pine columns, a cozy winter fireplace, and numerous nooks and crannies on two floors for reading, meeting friends, or surfing the Internet. Two dining rooms—one formal, the other laid-back tropical—are located off the lobby. The suites themselves are boxy, with tiny bathrooms, but have lovely views of the bay below.