The weather is starting to cool down, making one of our favorite times to visit the Caribbean even better. For much of the region, the fall is the nadir of the off season — but for die-hard Caribbean travelers, it means the chance to find lower rates, smaller (or nonexistent) crowds and the feeling of having destinations entirely to yourselves. So where should you go in October? The latest monthly edition of 7 Places to Visit brings you inspiration for seven very different but equally fascinating destinations in the Caribbean, from St Croix to Aruba.
Hillside House, legendary Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts’ must-visit gallery and studio in Nassau.
Downtown Nassau It’s an amazing thing to see the growth of downtown Nassau, which has become a vibrant, walkable, art-packed destination in just a few years. Whether you want to tour galleries or museums, dine at world-class restaurants like Cafe Matisse and Graycliff, explore the new Heritage Village or spend the afternoon on pulsing white-sand beaches, there’s a whole world here — without ever needing to head to Paradise Island or Cable Beach. It’s quietly become one of the more sophisticated, culturally rich places to visit in the region. And the hotels are wide-ranging, too, from the aforementioned Graycliff to the underrated British Colonial Hilton.
Frederiksted, US Virgin Islands The island of St Croix has quietly become one of the coolest destinations in the Caribbean — but the epicenter of the destination’s cool right now is almost certainly in Frederiksted, where you’ll find a wonderfully walkable town, great beaches, funky cafes and eateries, and, most importantly, the impressively designed new boutique hotel, The Fred, above.
Grand Anse Beach in Grenada.
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada It’s hard to find a more perfect beach anywhere in the Caribbean, with the right cocktail of warm water, friendly locals and spectacular views. And Grenada’s signature beach is also home to some lovely places to stay, at all prices points, whether you want to splurge for the Spice Island Beach Resort, find a boutique getaway at Mount Cinnamon (and its wonderful beach restaurant) or get a great value at the Radisson Grenada.
Aruba’s Eagle Beach
Eagle Beach, Aruba Palm Beach may be the hub of Aruba’s hotel stock, but Eagle is still the island’s most magnificent stretch of sand — remarkably wide with almost blindingly white sand. And while there are several good options for Eagle Beach stays, none tops the adults-only Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.
Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico One of the Caribbean’s most beautiful – and exclusive – hotels makes its post-Irma return this month with the relaunch of Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. The spectacularly designed onetime Rockefeller property is one of the Caribbean’s halo resorts, from its unmatched golf offering to a jaw-dropping spa. Puerto Rico’s tourism sector is making its comeback from the storm, and there may be no more important symbol than this one.
Mandarin Oriental, Canouan.
Canouan, St Vincent and the Grenadines The Grenadines are filled with private island destinations, but there’s a new star on the block: the Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, the brand’s first outpost in the Caribbean region. It’s a colorful, ultra-luxurious beach club-style resort that is the perfect way to experience this breathtaking archipelago.
The Grand Residences Riviera Cancun.
Puerto Morelos, Mexico While Tulum and larger cities like Playa del Carmen get most of the fanfare, this laid-back fishing village in the Mexican Caribbean has remained true to its roots, offering willing travelers an authentic, honest portal to the way Riviera Maya towns used to be, the sort of place where you can safely and comfortably enjoy cold beers and fish tacos and never look at your watch. The best place to stay? The CJ favorite Grand Residences Riviera Cancun.