Beauty isn’t seasonal.
So when you’re planning your summer vacation for 2017, you need to be thinking Caribbean. Because, contrary to the views of some, the Caribbean is just as wonderful a place to visit in the summer as it is the rest of the year.
You’ll find fewer crowds, often significantly better hotel rates and, yes, tropical breezes that will make your stay more than comfortable, with none of the things you love about the Caribbean — the beaches, the rum, the food, changing at all.
Yes, the Caribbean is a full-fledged summer destination, and we have you covered with some of the best islands to visit over the next few months, whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a trip with the whole family.
Barbados This is one of the Caribbean’s luxury capitals, but it’s also a place to let your hair down, making it the perfect cocktail for a proper summer getaway. Whether you’re on the island’s rum trail at distilleries like Foursquare and Mount Gay to checking out the squalls in the lovable surf town of Bathsheba, there’s something for everyone on the Caribbean’s easternmost isle. Barbados hotels to try: Colony Club, The House, The Waves, Atlantis Hotel.
British Virgin Islands Okay, so it’s not just one island — but the archipelago is one of the best places for a summer vacation in the Caribbean, thanks to its cool breezes and island-hopping pedigree. You can take a boat through the islands on a Marine Max vacation, stay at one of a host of private-island retreats that will have you and your family covered, or visit the Caribbean’s best hotel for watersports, the lovely Bitter End Yacht Club. British Virgin Islands Hotels to Check Out: Peter Island Resort, Bitter End Yacht Club, Cooper Island Beach Club.
Antigua and Barbuda Maybe your idea of the perfect summer getaway is just lazing on a white-sand beach, leaving the water only to refill your rum and to sleep. Then it’s time to think about Antigua and Barbuda, a beach-filled paradise with 365 beaches. It’s also the region’s under-the-radar all inclusive capital, with a superb offering of a range of all inclusive stays from tiny boutiques to family classics. Hotels to Check Out: Hermitage Bay, St. James’s Club and Villas, The Verandah, South Point.
Harbour Island This tiny outpost in the Out Islands of the Bahamas has long been one of the region’s best-kept secrets, an English-speaking version of St. Barth full of beach-chic luxe hotels and an utterly carefree vibe. And then there are those pink sand beaches… Where to Stay: Valentines Resort and Marina, Coral Sands, Pink Sands.
Aruba It’s outside the hurricane belt, making it one of the easiest summer vacation options in the Caribbean, and Aruba’s virbrant watersports culture means you’ll always find a way to get out onto the sea. But Aruba also has a broad range of events on the slate this summer, from the Aruba Summer Music Festival at the end of June to the famous Aruba Hi-Winds Kitesurfing Windsurfing Tournament. Aruba hotels: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Boardwalk Small Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba.
Puerto Rico Maybe your dream summer vacation isn’t just about the beach. Maybe you want some culture and adventure, too. Well the consistently underrated destination of Puerto Rico has a bit of something for everyone, from hiking the El Yunque rainforest to strolling through history in Old San Juan to island hopping to Vieques and Culebra. Puerto Rico hotels: The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, Condado Vanderbilt, O:live Boutique Hotel, El Blok (Vieques).
Martinique If Martinique isn’t on your radar by now, it should be. The French Caribbean island is one of the most well-rounded destinations in the Caribbean, thanks to a wide-ranging mix of beaches, adventure, rainforest, gastronomy, culture, history and rum, an largely unmatched in the region. It’s the kind of place that is meant to be explored, meaning while it’s great for a relaxing getaway it’s also perfect for an unforgettable summer vacation. Where to Stay: Cap Est Lagoon Resort and Spa; French Coco; Hotel Plein Soleil.
New Providence Long one of the region’s most popular summer stops, New Providence is home to Nassau, the Bahamas’ capital and tourism hub. So what makes it so popular? Well, it’s very easy to get to, the tourism offerings are copious and the airport is among the Caribbean’s best, for starters. And then of course there’s Atlantis, which has been undergoing a massive renovation and rebranding, joined by a wonderfully rebounding downtown area and the new Baha Mar, which finally opened last month. Where to Stay: Atlantis, Graycliff Hotel, Baha Mar.
St. Barts There’s the world’s boldfaced names come here on their vacations: it’s that good, from world-class beaches to unmatched French gastronomy and stunning villas. Of course, it’s an even better destination in the summer, when the crowds thin and the prices drop dramatically. St Barts Hotels: Hotel Le Village, Hotel Le Toiny, Les Ilets de la Plage.
St. Kitts While St. Kitts remains something of a closely-guarded secret, it’s beginning to find its way onto the minds of travelers drawn to the kind of small island that truly tugs on your heartstrings. Whether you’re drinking coconut water at Black Rocks or hiking Mount Liamuiga, St. Kitts has a remarkably broad offering for such a small place. St Kitts hotels: Kittitian Hill, Ottley’s, Ocean Terrace Inn.
Pinel Island off the coast of St. Martin.
St. Martin The Caribbean’s culinary capital, the French side of St. Martin is a beautifully balanced offering, with charming boutique hotels, sparkling beaches, underrated nightlife and, of course, the greatest concentration of world-class restaurants anywhere in the Caribbean (all in the town of Grand Case). St Martin hotels: Grand Case Beach Club, Le Karibuni, Le Shambala.
Anguilla The beach capital of the Caribbean is only getting better, with a wave of new hotel development, a continuing-to-grow culinary scene and one thing that hasn’t changed: some of the region’s friendliest people. Whether you’re on Shoal Bay, Rendezvous Bay or circumnavigating on a charter, it’s no surprise Anguilla is such a popular spot for CJ readers. Anguilla hotels: Zemi Beach, Cap Juluca.
St. Croix Long off the tourist radar, St. Croix has been quietly undergoing a renaissance, led in large part by a wave of young chefs who have been transforming the island’s culinary scene. Today, more and more travelers are realizing just how beautiful of an island this is. And now it’s time for you, too. St Croix hotels: The Buccaneer, Renaissance St. Croix Carambola, Hotel Caravelle.
Cozumel While it’s more famous for its cruise port, the Mexican Caribbean island of Cozumel (just a 50-minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen) is most notable as a world-class diving and snorkeling destination, making it the perfect place to stay cool in the heat of the summer. Where to Stay: Secrets Aura Cozumel, Cozumel Palace.
Cayman Brac You won’t find crowds on this outpost of the Cayman Islands (a short flight from Grand Cayman), home to serious diving, unmatched tranquility and some lovely little hotels. Hotels to Check Out: Le Soleil d’Or, Cayman Brac Beach Resort.