Often, when you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean, the resort is high on your mind.

Choosing the perfect place to stay is integral to an unforgettable Caribbean vacation. But there’s another way to think about your travel planning.

What if you started with the beach?

Our latest list flips the traditional vacation plan on its head, beginning with finding the right beach.

Naturally, though, the best beaches in the Caribbean have the best resorts on them. So when planning your next all-inclusive Caribbean vacation, maybe you should start with the beach and then find the best resort on that beach to fit your needs.

Because no matter what anyone tells you, it’s all about the beach.

Between long walks on the beach, hours of sunbathing, beach sports and the beach bar, you will spend most of your vacation on the beach. So it just makes sense to do your vacation planning with the beach as a primary consideration.

The good news is, there are so many wonderful Caribbean beaches where you can find great all-inclusive resorts. Even better? We’ve selected the best ones for you.

Here are the top all-inclusive beaches to start your planning.

Bavaro Beach.

Bavaro Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic This is the impossibly white stretch of sand that made Punta Cana the centerpiece of the Caribbean’s most popular destination, the Dominican Republic. This stretch of east coast shoreline is perfect for long walks, calm sunbathing and carefree afternoons. And it’s also home to some great all-inclusive properties, led by favorites like the Reserve at the Paradisus Palma Real and the Level at Melia Caribe Tropical.