You didn’t want to spend 20 minutes walking from your room to get to the beach. That’s not why you’re here.
You made the long journey so you could spend your vacation lazing on the sand, rum punch (or just rum) in hand, enjoying the most precious natural resource of the Caribbean. And time is of the essence.
Because there are hotels with beaches — and then there are true beach hotels. The latter means rooms that are decidedly close to the sand, where the entire ambience of the property is focused around the beach experience — about barefoot comfort and pure tranquility, about a vacation free from pretentiousness and vanity.
And while you may have been to some great beach hotels in the Caribbean, we’d like to present you with some that generally fly under the radar of most travelers. They may not quite be secrets, but they’re just begging to be discovered.
Here are 10 great beach hotels that should be on your travel radar.
Sorobon Beach Resort Bonaire The essence of the barefoot beach hotel. Sorobon, set on the spectacular Lac Bay, is a mix of 15 colorful “chalets” right on the sand, meaning you step out of your bungalow right onto the beach. And when you get there, you’ll find the island’s greatest beach bar, with generous cocktails, fresh fish and a common love of all things beach. And if you’re in the mood for some activity, it’s now home to a world-class windsurfing center, the Dunkerbeck Pro Center.
Van der Valk Kontiki Beach Resort, Curacao Travelers are just now getting wise to the diverse beach scene on this Dutch Caribbean island, where the beach afternoon is something of an art form. The family behind this hotel on this Mambo Beach-area retreat is better known as the brains behind the world-class Baoase Luxury Resort. But they’ve taken their outstanding hospitality to this modern, decidedly affordable resort with sleek rooms and a terrific beach club called Cabana Beach.
Carimar Beach Club, Anguilla The island of Anguilla has no shortage of world-renowned hotels, but some of its best places to stay can sometimes get overshadowed by bigger brands. The Carimar has long been an in-the-know stay for travelers in search of the real Anguilla and a classic, throwback beach vacation on the marvelous sands of Mead’s Bay.
Pirates Point Resort Little Cayman This may be a dive resort, but you can spend a week here and never even need to go under the water. There are just 11 bright rooms at this hideaway on lovable Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands, four of which are direct oceanfront. That means there’s nothing between you and the sand. Even better? It’s all-inclusive, too.
Cape Santa Maria, Long Island, Bahamas Long Island has long been one of the best-kept secrets in The Bahamas, a largely undeveloped, beach-filled outpost that is the essence of the Out Islands experience. But it’s not without its perfect beach hotels, none better than the beloved Cape Santa Maria, set on four miles of impossibly white sand with a mix of both beach bungalows and villas.
Oualie Beach Resort, Nevis The tiny island of Nevis may be best known for its historic plantation inns (and, of course, the Four Seasons), but it’s not without its great little beach hotels. The family-owned retreat has 32 rooms on Nevis’ beautiful Lovers Beach, with the kind of warm hospitality for which the island has become famous.
Keyonna Beach, Antigua Set on the resplendent Turners Beach on Antigua’s southwestern coast, this hidden-away adults-only outpost is all about rustic elegance. There’s a mix of rooms from simple cottages to beachfront pool cottages (the latter come with their own pools), special bali beds right on the sand and, well, did we mention it’s an all-inclusive?
Frenchman’s Cove Jamaica Port Antonio remains one of the most coveted destinations in Jamaica: it’s a little bit off the beaten path, a little harder to reach, and, well, it’s not quite like anywhere else on the island. And while Port Antonio is filled with a number of chic boutique hotels, Frenchman’s Cove is the town’s most venerable retreat. Set on what is one of the most gorgeous beaches in Jamaica (you may recognize it from the recent Tom Cruise film “Knight and Day”), it’s a throwback to another time, with a mix of rooms and villas and a wonderfully refreshing simplicity.
Young Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines Yes, it may be a private island resort, but it’s simply secluded — not exclusive. This quirky little hotel is reached via a short ferry ride from “mainland” St Vincent, with 29 cottages across 13 acres. The private beach is nothing short of lovely, and, yes, there’s a floating bar. Need we say more?
Mango Bay Resort, BVI The British Virgin Islands’ renaissance continues, and that includes the relaunch of the popular Mango Bay hotel on the island of Virgin Gorda. The tiny beachfront boutique is set on four acres of the stunning Mahoe Bay, with six private villas and unmatched serenity.