Hotel Within a Hotel

Now hoteliers of all breeds are designing properties that combine features of both, adding separate mini-hotels onto existing resorts, complete with swankier rooms and exclusive perks like private pools, beaches and restaurants. And in a recession-battered travel climate, these posh add-ons have another, even stronger draw: For now, at least, they often cost little more than the main resorts.

And they're hiding in plain sight. If the historic grande dame Hotel del Coronado just outside San Diego isn't quite high-end enough, vacationers can now check in to the resort's Beach Village section, where cottages and villas boast cozy fireplaces and private, ocean-view terraces, along with luxe trappings like flat-screen TVs, 400-thread-count linens and spa-style baths. At Costa Rica's Occidental Grand Papagayo, discriminating travelers can avoid the sunburned masses by opting for its Royal Club, complete with private check-in and a Royals-only lounge. Even Club Med, famous for its traditionally spartan rooms and communal-seating buffets, has added an exclusive option to its property in Ixtapa, Mexico.

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