It’s just you and the sand. No crowds, no hassle, no long journeys to get from your room to the water.
That’s what the best beach resorts are about — places where nothing stands between you and the object of your affection — pure Caribbean sun, sand and sea.
And at small Caribbean beach resorts, that’s exactly what you find — intimate hospitality, unmatched beauty and some of the most authentic experiences you’ll encounter in the wider region.
Our favorite small beach resorts (note: we capped them at a maximum of 50 rooms) to check out in 2020 are a mix of old favorites, new additions and some properties that have long stayed under the radar.
Here are 20 small Caribbean beach resorts to try this year.
Barbuda Belle, Barbuda Yes, the island of Barbuda is back, and so is its best boutique hotel: the tiny Barbuda Belle, a eco-chic retreat with seven beachfront bungalows set on one of the most jaw-dropping coastlines in the entire Caribbean. (And the Mangrove eatery is superb, too).
Cooper Island Beach Club, British Virgin Islands Just about the perfect little beach hotel, with the amenities of a far larger property. There’s everything here from a world-class rum bar to a cafe to a brewery, but the star of the show is an almost impossibly tranquil stretch of sand that always draws sailors from around the region.
Rollezz Villas Beach Resort, Cat Island, The Bahamas Small, intimate and lovingly owned by Carl and Yvonne Rolle, this collection of beachfront villas is set on what is one of the most beautiful beaches you will ever set your eyes upon, Cat Island’s spectacular Old Bight Beach.
Cottages by the Sea, St Croix It’s been open in western St Croix since 1949, but this collection of beach bungalows just outside of Frederiksted is still a closely-guarded secret, an old-fashioned beach hotel for those in search of the Caribbean as it once was.
El Zafiro, St Maarten Set in Simpson Bay, this simple, wonderful little property has all of the ingredients of a classic beach hotel: large, comfortable rooms, a terrific central bar and restaurant and just about the most beautiful corner of St Maarten’s signature beach.
LTC Beach Hotel, St Martin The coolest boutique hotel to open in the French Caribbean in years, this hotel-and-restaurant is set right on Grand Case Boulevard, with a plum perch right on the sand, a truly spectacular eatery and a vibrant nightlife scene marked by frequent live music performances.
Les Ilets de la Plage, St Barth This is the real St Barth. Bungalows on the beach, tropical villas under the palms and a serene, secret side of St Jean. All of the benefits of villa living with hotel attention.
The Inn at English Harbour, Antigua There are 28 rooms here on a 19-acre site on its own white-sand stretch just outside of Nelson’s Dockyard, a charming, elegant place to stay that is the essence of Antigua (make sure you go for one of the toes-in-the-sand beach cabanas).
Baoase Luxury Resort, Curacao Easily the best place to stay in Curacao, this boutique is the island’s epicenter of luxury, with a mix of rooms, suites and spectacular villas all set on a lovely private beach.
Treasure Beach, Barbados A full-fledged hideaway in the heart of Barbados’ iconic West Coast, this adults-only property is the newest addition to the Elegant Hotels portfolio, and it’s a stunner, with gorgeous suites and an impressive culinary program for a property with just 35 units.
Diamant Les Bains, Martinique The newest hotel to open its doors in Martinique is also its oldest. Diamant Les Bains is a modern transformation of what was once the first hotel in Martinique, set in the endlessly cool beach town of Le Diamant on the island’s southern tip.
The Meridian Club, Turks and Caicos One of the most legendary private destinations in the Caribbean, this 800-acre private island called Pine Cay is set about 25 minutes by boat (there’s a private air strip, too) from Providenciales. And the beach offering is nearly unmatched, with two miles of almost completely empty white sand beach. It’s the ultimate castaway fantasy, clothed in luxury.
Southern Cross Club, Little Cayman Caribbean aficionados instantly fall head over heels in love with Little Cayman, the minuscule destination in the Cayman Islands that’s one of the region’s great undiscovered treasures. And the Club, which first opened its doors back in 1958, exemplifies Little Cayman cool, with a collection of colorful bungalows and the kind of community vibe that makes you feel at home the minute you check in.
Rondel Village, Negril, Jamaica Negril is one of the coolest spots in the region, but Its massive number of places to stay can sometimes be difficult to navigate. For another side of Negril, try the Rondel Village, an authentic, family-owned mix of rooms and villas.
Fernandez Bay Village, Cat Island, The Bahamas It’s no surprise to see two Cat Island resorts on this list — the beaches are that good. And Fernandez Bay is the island’s most celebrated resort, a family-run Bahamas institution that marries great food, spacious rooms and Out Islands personality into a truly memorable experience.
The Fred, St Croix This stunning new addition to the US Virgin Islands is a major jolt of energy into Frederiksted, St Croix, a hip, modern, colorful hotel right on the beach that somehow manages to combine historic charm with ultra-modern cool. It’s a spectacular hotel.
Calabash, Grenada Grenada’s top boutique resort (part of Relais & Chateaux) has its own stretch of stunning beachfront, a celebrated on-site eatery and a clutch of beautifully appointed rooms.
Harbour Village, Bonaire Home to the best beach of any hotel in Bonaire, this residential resort is a true tropical oasis, with great service, a top dive center (it’s Bonaire, after all) and one of the island’s most romantic places to dine.
Hotel Lo Bleu, Guadeloupe There’s something magical about the beach in Terre de Haut, the tiny island in Guadeloupe’s Les Saintes archipelago, and that sentiment extends to the tiny Lo Bleu beach hotel, a throwback inn that feels ripped straight out of the pages of a novel.
Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis Nevis is home to a number of charming plantation inns, but none is set right on the beach: except Nisbet, an elegant, rarefied resort with a stunning location and a jaw-dropping stretch of beach.
Skylark Negril, Jamaica The newest hotel in Negril is a modern take on the old-school beach hotel, a hip, colorful boutique that’s brought back a new level of jet-set glamour to Seven Mile Beach (and yes, there’s even the first-ever Caribbean outpost of New York’s celebrated Miss Lily’s eatery and lounge.