Maybe you’ve been to the Caribbean a dozen times. Maybe you’re planning your first Caribbean vacation. The Caribbean continues to reinvent itself, to rewrite its story. The Caribbean just keeps getting better.
As the region comes off what was a record-breaking year for just about every destination in the Caribbean, most projections show an even better year ahead.
So where should you choose for your next Caribbean vacation? Our latest annual edition of the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit takes you on a journey through volcanic towns, blue holes, fishing villages and gourmet hotspots, telling new stories of destinations you may think you already knew. From the inspiring rebirth of St Thomas’ capital to charting new routes through the Grenadines, here are 24 new ways to think about the most beautiful place on earth.
Nassau Paradise Island, The Bahamas Plainly, Nassau Paradise Island has it all. The two greatest large resorts in the Caribbean: Atlantis Paradise Island and Baha Mar (along with a host of terrific independent hotels from Graycliff to the Paradise Island Beach Club); a booming foodie scene; countless white-sand beaches; a reinvigorated downtown; great golf, we could go on and on. But if you’re looking for a complete Caribbean vacation, this is your spot. Hotels we like: Atlantis, Baha Mar, Goldwynn Resort and Residences; Graycliff; Paradise Island Beach Club.
Antigua The honeymoon capital of the Caribbean will make any vacation feel like a special one, with 365 beaches, an enviable collection of resorts and a dynamic culture. Whether you’re at bucket-list hotels like Hammock Cove or adults-only retreats like The Verandah Antigua has a vacation for every kind of traveler.
Ambergris Caye, Belize New hotels like Marriott’s Alaia and the Margaritaville Beach Resort have rekindled the spotlight on this beloved island, a friendly, warm, destination that’s all about the sparkling turquoise water and the wonders of the Belize Barrier Reef. Hotels we like: Alaia; Victoria House; Mahogany Bay.
Grenada The Caribbean’s first Six Senses will be opening in Grenada this year, and it’s the latest addition to a hotel stock that’s among the most diverse in the Caribbean, from top all-inclusives to intimate boutique resorts. Grenada has just about everything: rainforests, beaches, a vibrant culinary scene; but it’s still deliciously under the radar. Hotels we like: Spice Island Beach Resort, La Sagesse Beach Resort; Silversands.
Aruba Maybe you know about the beaches, easily some of the best on the planet. But what you may not know about is the booming art scene; the infinite adventures of the eastern coast; or a dynamic culinary scene that includes a remarkable number of chef’s table concepts. Aruba is constantly redefining itself in new and exciting ways, and that’s why it’s so good at making travelers happy. Hotels we like: Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba Ocean Villas.
The South Coast of Barbados The center of gravity in Barbados is starting to shift, with more travelers appreciating the diverse, rich destination that is the island’s south coast. Now they call it the “cool coast,” and that’s thanks to an influx of new and transformed hotels (led by the beautiful O2 Beach Club), the island’s best nightlife and a booming culinary scene (including the Caribbean’s top food court). Hotels we like: O2 Beach Club, Bougainvillea Resort.
St Kitts While it’s the home of the world-class Park Hyatt St Kitts, at its heart this is a destination that’s all about natural beauty , eco-tourism and the authentic Caribbean. That includes some magnificent scenery, terrific hiking and a booming farm-to-table movement. Hotels we like: the Park Hyatt, Sunset Reef, Belle Mont Farm.
Frederiksted, St Croix While Christiansted gets much of the attention, the western coast of St Croix teems with delights: the beach paradise that is the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge; and increasingly cool downtown; a selection of great beach bars and, most importantly, some great places to stay, led by the outstanding The Fred boutique hotel. Hotels we like: The Fred, Cottages by the Sea.
The Grenadines Ask a true Caribbean aficionado for their list of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean, and it’s likely The Grenadines will be right at the top of the list. This jaw-dropping archipelago is filled with green hills and turquoise water, an island hopper’s dream. Even better? There’s a new way to experience it, thanks to The Moorings‘ new Grenadines itinerary that sails out of Saint Lucia. Hotels we like: Palm Island, Petit St Vincent.
Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Rugged and raw, pristine and untouched. This is a million miles away from Provo: Middle Caicos is the sort of place you escape to for unmatched seclusion and serenity, drawn by some of the most stunningly beautiful landscapes in the whole Caribbean. Hotels we like: Dragon Cay.
Little Cayman You’ll say it the moment you arrive at the one-room airport: they don’t make islands like this anymore. That’s what makes tiny Little Cayman such a jewel, a place where the main road is also the runway, where traffic lights are something you read about in books and just off the coast you’ll find some of the world’s best diving. Hotels we like: Southern Cross Club, Little Cayman Beach Resort.
Saint Pierre, Martinique Dubbed the “Caribbean Pompeii” for the 1902 eruption that turned what was the Paris of the Caribbean into a ruin, today Saint Pierre is a wonderful, vibrant little French Caribbean town, with a lovely waterfront, some great places to eat and an almost endless list of attractions, from the spectacular Depaz rum distillery to the rainforest nearby. Where to stay: Villa Saint Pierre, VillaVeo (a villa company).
Long Island, The Bahamas Blue holes, beaches, fishing and relaxation. Long Island is one of the best-kept secrets in The Bahamas, but with landmark new nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale on Makers Air, it’s never been easier to get here and explore its stunning natural beauty. Where to stay: Cape Santa Maria, Stella Maris.
Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas The downtown of St Thomas has been experiencing a remarkable transformation in recent years, one that has helped turn the historic area into an all-day, vacation destination, from its beautiful new waterfront to the USVI’s most exciting new hotel: the Pink Palm. Where to stay: the Pink Palm.
Curacao While you may know about the colorful historic buildings in Willemstad, Curacao’s big secret is the remarkable number of beautiful, exotic and uncrowded beaches that dot the island. Indeed, Curaca is a world-class beach getaway, from top beach hotels like the Baoase Luxury Resort to a party spots like the fun-loving Mambo Beach. It’s an island that has, in a short time, become one of the hottest places to visit in the Caribbean right now. Hotels we like: Baoase Luxury Resort, Blue Bay, Papagayo Beach Resort.
Statia This was where Alexander Hamilton spent several years in his childhood, and you can feel the palpable sense of history as you walk down Oranjestad’s cobblestone streets. Statia is a friendly, quiet, beautiful place, with some lovely little boutique hotels and restaurants and a sparkling new luxury resort called the Golden Rock that fits right into the destination’s genteel charm.
Eleuthera Eleuthera is an entire universe; the thin, 112-mile long island is filled with adventure, mystery and pristine beauty. Whether you venture to towns like Spanish Wells in the north, the increasingly popular Governor’s Harbour in the center or the rugged beauty of the island’s southern tip (at places like Cape Eleuthera) you’ll find an endless array of experiences. Hotels we like: Cape Eleuthera, Pineapple Fields, La Bougainvillea, French Leave.
Saba Looking for a different kind of Caribbean? This is your place, a storybook destination with adorable villages, imposing mountain views, a vibrant food scene and a glorious feeling that you’ve discovered someplace truly special. Even better? It’s just a 15-minute flight from St Maarten. Where to stay: Cottage Club; Juliana’s Hotel; Queen’s Hotel and the Haiku House villa.
La Romana, Dominican Republic The story here is one of the great resorts anywhere in the hemisphere: Casa de Campo, which recently unveiled two major new additions: its luxe hotel-within-a-hotel called the Premier Club, and a sparkling new 18,000-square-foot spa that’s a new standard for the Caribbean. It only adds to an impressive offering that includes arguably the best golf anywhere in the Caribbean.
Gustavia, St Barth It’s amazing to see how much St Barth’s tiny capital has changed in just a half-decade; the postcard-perfect French Caribbean town has become a buzzing, day-and-night destination, from its world-class shopping to a sensational nightlife scene and some spectacular restaurants like Bonito and the Caribbean’s only outpost of L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon. (Just make sure you fly there on Tradewind). Where to stay: WIMCO Villas, Le Carl Gustaf.
Grand Case, St Martin This French Caribbean town is so much more than just its main street (albeit one that’s home to the Caribbean’s greatest concentration of fine restaurants); great markets, exciting shopping, a beautiful main beach and some terrific hotels, from the Grand Case Beach Club to the cute LTC Beach Hotel.
Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia While most pictures people see of Saint Lucia tend to be of the Pitons to the south, the beating heart of this island tends to be focused in the always-bustling, always-fun Rodney Bay, where terrific restaurants and bars abound and there are some great places to stay, including the Bay Gardens Resorts portfolio.
Roatan, Honduras A cult-favorite Caribbean island is newly arriving in the spotlight thanks to the opening of the new Kimpton Grand Roatan; but one hotel won’t change the island’s identity as a salt-life, eco-cool, beach lover’s destination.
Great Exuma, The Bahamas The swimming pigs are to the far north of the Exuma chain; but travelers are increasingly zeroed in on this beach-filled, biggest island in Exuma, home to lovely little resorts like the Peace n Plenty and Hideaways at Palm Bay and an almost impossible number of secluded, empty, brilliant white sand beaches. Hotels we like: Kahari Resort, Peace n Plenty, Hideaways at Palm Bay.