Beach resorts are the biggest draw to the Caribbean, offering the promise of indulgent comfort, natural beauty and authentic luxury. Because while the Caribbean’s resort product continues to amaze, with a remarkably diverse offering from hillside retreats to private islands to artful urban boutiques, it’s the beach that remains the primary magnet for travelers to the region — and with good reason — Caribbean beaches are the most beautiful on earth. It’s this beauty that remains the Caribbean’s abundant natural resource. So if you’re looking for the full-fledged beach experience, we have the perfect options for you.
And our recommendations range from across the Caribbean, from the heart of the Mexican coast to luxe boutique beach resorts in the Dominican Republic and everywhere in between.
Here are our 10 favorite beach resorts to visit right now, with a diverse mix of everything from traditional luxe to effortlessly chic.
Simply but, it’s all about that beach.
The Palms, Turks and Caicos This grand, gorgeous property has 72 capacious, luxurious suites on a beautifully landscaped setting right on Providenciales’ world-famous Grace Bay Beach. When it comes to beach resorts, it doesn’t get any better than this.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman It begins with one of the world’s greatest beaches: Seven Mile Beach, the Cayman Islands’ flagship stretch of sand. But this resort, Ritz-Carlton’s best in the Caribbean, does it all, from unmatched service to a wide array of culinary options led by Eric Ripert’s Blue.
Galley Bay, Antigua It’s all-inclusive, it’s intimate, it’s well-appointed and it’s set on one of the most beautiful beaches on an island overflowing with great coastlines. The boutique property has just 98 rooms on a 40-acre site, offering a charming blend of all-inclusive comfort and authentic luxury. It all adds up to a one of a kind property among beach resorts in the region. Our advice? Splurge for the unique Gauguin Suites.
Grand Residences Riviera Cancun Some resorts are luxurious by default — for others, luxury is more than just design and amenities — it’s a philosophy. At this Puerto Morelos property on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, it’s the latter. The service is a standard for Caribbean resorts — it’s not that your every need it taken care of — it’s that you don’t even have to think what you need. A true jewel, set on a gorgeous, wide stretch of white-sand beach.
Fernandez Bay Village, Cat Island There’s just something eminently lovable about this classic resort on Cat Island in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. The rooms are all steps from the sand, the food is authentically Bahamian and there’s even an honor bar, meaning you can make yourself a rum punch at all hours of the night should the need arise. But the real joy here is the feeling of escape, the kind you can only experience in an untouched, pristine destination like Cat Island.
Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Paradise Island Long one of the region’s most legendary beach resorts, the newly-rebranded Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort has all of the amenities you expect, accompanied by the blindingly-white sands of Cabbage Beach, one of our favorite beaches anywhere in the Bahamas.
Casa Colonial, Dominican Republic A boutique gem on the sprawling, spectacular Playa Dorada on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, this has long been one of the country’s best-kept secrets, thanks to inspired design by Sarah Garcia, exquisite service and the kind of cosmopolitan luxury that’s not always easy to find in the region.
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort This adults-only outpost isn’t just the leader in Aruba; it’s also set on a privileged perch on the most intoxicating corner of the island’s best beach: the impossibly wide, astonishingly beautiful Eagle Beach.
The House, Barbados Another top adults-only option among beach resorts, this Barbados standard just underwent a major transformation that has the property looking better than ever. All of the signatures are here: the champagne breakfast, the beautiful stretch of Platinum Coast beach, and the on-site Daphne’s restaurant, one of Barbados’ best.
Papagayo Beach Hotel Curaçao This is different from many beach resorts in the Caribbean — it’s ultra-hip, always bustling and boasting modern, contemporary design. But the story here is really Jan Thiel Beach and Papagayo’s chic beach club, a place where you’ll spend all day, every day during your stay. It’s cool, it’s sleek and its the essence of what makes Curaçao such an exciting destination right now.