Now in its ninth year, CJ’s Cool List has always sought to inspire different kinds of getaways — to hotels with personality, with purpose. And the latest edition is a journey through a diverse portfolio of places to stay, from mountain retreats at the edge of the Caribbean Basin to hip new beach resorts with world-leading restaurants, some of which you may have heard of — and others which may be wonderful new mysteries to discover. This year, we’ve also tried to focus on properties where you can really get away; hotels that, by their location, design and setting, are perfect for finding some space amid the new realities of travel.

Because cool doesn’t have just one definition. Whether it’s the look, the culture, the service or the sustainability, it’s ultimately about how a hotel makes you feel. 

Here are the coolest hotels in the Caribbean for 2021. 

Goldeneye, Oracabessa, Jamaica Ian Fleming’s Jamaican retreat isn’t just the “birthplace” of James Bond; it’s an energetic, hip, playful boutique resort that the sets the standard for Caribbean cool. Whether you’re staying in the Fleming Villa itself or the Beach Huts or the stunning Lagoon Villas, owner Chris Blackwell ensures you’ll have some spectacular stories of your own.