We can’t stress it enough – the Caribbean is even better in the summer. You get more beaches to yourself, the water is deliciously warm and the nights are breezy and beautiful. The latest edition of Places to Go takes you from a private island in the Grenadines to an up-and-coming beach town in the French Caribbean. Where are you headed next in the Caribbean?
Palm Island, The Grenadines It’s not easy to navigate the vast landscape of private island resorts in the Caribbean. But when it comes to the combination of raw natural beauty, adventure, luxury and the Crusoe factor, nothing compares to Palm Island in the heart of the Grenadines. This legendary all-inclusive by Elite Island Resorts property is just about everything you dream about in a Caribbean hotel, all set on a private, 135-acre island.
Le Diamant, Martinique Martinique is one of the most diverse destinations in all of the Caribbean. That means you can take any number of vacations here: a rainforest retreat, a gastronomic tour, a trip on the island’s Route du Rhum, a kitesurfing week. But Martinique is also home to some of the coolest beach towns in the region, led by a burgeoning destination: Le Diamant, the increasingly hot getaway on the southern tip of the island with beautiful villas (at far better values than nearby islands) terrific eateries like XO Bistro, La Voile Blanche, La Table de Mumu and the wonderfully-named Pizzbook) and a stunning beach with the Diamond Rock in the background.
Marie Galante, Guadeloupe You would be safe in saying Marie Galante is the rum capital of the world, at least on a per capita basis. There are three rum distilleries here on a pancake-shaped island of about 12,000 people. And they’re not just any rum distilleries — they’re producing some of the most remarkable, artisanal agricultural rum on earth, brands like Bielle and Pere Labat. But the rum is just the beginning here; the beaches are many and stunning, and the culinary culture is precisely what you’d expect on a tiny French Caribbean island — magnificent.
Isla Mujeres, Mexico it’s sometimes hard to believe that a place like this can exist just a short ferry ride across the Caribbean Sea from the endless bustle of Cancun, but that’s what makes tiny Isla Mujeres so magical. Golf carts and bicycles are the way to get around here, letting you enjoy the charming eateries and fun-loving bars here. While there are a few large resorts, the secret here is to stay in a villa, with none better than those by CocoBIsla — particularly for their western-facing, sargassum-free locations.
The Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo The history of the New World largely begins in Santo Domingo, and a visit to the city’s Colonial Zone is a moving, immersive journey back in time. The architecture is stunning, the art galleries and cafes are copious, and there are a number of terrific boutique hotels in the district set in historic buildings, led by the marvelous Casas del XVI.
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