Casagrande solves a tricky equation in José Ignacio: apartment space with hotel service. Its 59 units range from generous rooms to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, tucked among the pines at the entrance to the village, a short walk from the beach and the restaurants. There's an outdoor pool heated in summer, an in-house restaurant, a shop on the premises and even shared barbecue areas for the asado ritual.

In season it adds its beach club on Playa Mansa, with beach service for guests, snacks and drinks by the sea. It's the most functional option around for families and groups who want to settle in for several days with their own kitchen, without giving up daily housekeeping, a concierge and covered parking. Less showy than the village's design hotels — and all the more likeable for it.