By Alexander Britell
It isn’t the longest vacation of the year, but it’s one of the most important: Labor Day, the summer travel season’s exclamation point.
Maybe you block out a three-day weekend, or add on a few extra days. It may not be the week-long (or longer) Caribbean vacation you usually take, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect getaway in a small package.
We’ve compiled a group of Caribbean trips to think about for Labor Day, the kind of journeys that fit especially well in a smaller time frame, emphasizing destinations with shorter flight times from the continental U.S.
Here are five inspirations for your Labor Day trip this September.
Harbour Island, Bahamas Still one of the region’s best-kept secrets, Harbour Island has long been a celebrity playground. But while its location off the coast of Eleuthera may seem remote, it’s actually decidedly easy to get to, with daily, 40-minute-long flights from Miami to North Eleuthera. Then it’s just a short cab ride and a five-minute ferry to get there. And once you arrive, you’ll find wonders, from Pink Sand Beach to one of the prettiest little towns in the Caribbean, the charming Dunmore Town. It’s a fascinating mix of historic architecture and world-class boutique hotels, with a Nantucket-meets-the-Caribbean vibe. Where to stay? We like Valentines Resort and Marina and The Dunmore.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos It’s about an hour and a half from well-connected Miami, but Providenciales is more than a world away. And it’s got all of the perks of a top travel destination without the crowds: dazzling beaches (led by Grace Bay Beach, of course), top-level food and a wave of comfortable, luxurious resorts, from The Sands at Grace Bay to the boutique Point Grace to the ultra-luxe The Shore Club.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Less than 1.5 hours from Miami and easily accessed from a number of U.S. major airports, Grand Cayman has a mix of both hotel and condo accommodations and a culinary scene that makes it one of the Caribbean’s gastronomic capitals (the tasting menu at Blue By Eric Ripert is one of the Caribbean’s greatest food experiences). And there’s a cornucopia of offerings even for a island on the smaller side, whether you want to explore million-year-old caves, sit on the magnificent Seven Mile Beach or make a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the mudslide. Where to stay? Kimpton Seafire, the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman or the Westin Grand Cayman.
Montego Bay, Jamaica Maybe there’s a Jamaica you think you know, the one with the megaresorts and spring breakers. But there’s another Jamaica to see, the one tucked inside its legendary hotels. This is the one with impeccable service, charming architecture and the feeling that you’ve traveled back in time. Jamaica’s easy air access means that a three or four-night getaway to a hotel like Half Moon or Round Hill feels like a two-week beach vacation.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic A short Caribbean vacation doesn’t have to mean idling on the beach. So why not try a totally different kind of Caribbean experience? Santo Domingo, the increasingly popular capital of the Dominican Republic shows you another side of this tourism hub, a pulsing, modern city with a merengue beat. It’s also home to the Colonial Zone, the oldest city in the New World and a marvelous collection of art galleries, cafes and tiny boutique hotels. Where to stay? The ultra-modern JW Marriott or the old-world Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando, housed in a structure dating to 1502.