A bargain guesthouse in another 19th-century clapboard, just two blocks from Duval Street, Caribbean House has been cheerily run for the past half-dozen years by the well-liked, Paris-born Marie Barrabes and her husband Michel. Its 10 spotless (though admittedly petite) rooms are mood-lifters, too, with their bright colors and cool modern art. It’s otherwise short on the bells and whistles, such as a pool, but you’re within walking distance of several beaches, the closest being our favorite, in Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, just a 10-minute stroll away. And if you love to travel with your dog(s), these may be the best digs on the island at any price, because Marie and Michel are dog people, too (they have three Yorkies), and welcome visiting canines at no charge, just a credit-card deposit.