A Fresh Take on a Caribbean Winter
The Caribbean is a perennial winter favorite for good reason. St. Barts has beach clubs and a lively social scene; the Cayman Islands are known for exceptional dining, and Turks & Caicos is famous for its white-sand beaches. But beyond these familiar favorites are islands with their own distinctive character, beautiful places to stay and experiences worth traveling for. This winter, I'm looking at a few that deserve a little more attention.
Bequia Beach Hotel, Bequia, St. Vincent & Grenadines
Need a quieter beach-focused stay? Let’s look at great places to stay on Bequia, the “green jewel of the Grenadines” renowned for its laid-back lifestyle and lack of mass tourism. Pair a visit here with nearby Canouan, a three-and-a-half-mile-long island in the Grenadines archipelago, for a delightful contrast. This luxury island retreat offers exclusive waterfront properties and hotels; jetties line the shore with luxury yachts, and a nearby small airport makes private transfers easy to arrange. Visiting both by yacht, catamaran, or sailboat offers a whole new way to explore the Grenadines.
Secret Bay, Dominica
Another favorite in the lesser-visited Caribbean is Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) in the eastern Caribbean, between Guadeloupe and Martinique. It’s also called “Nature Island” for its untamed rainforest, national park hiking, and hot springs. Dominica brings another dimension to a Caribbean vacation, with sustainable luxury accommodations and year-round opportunities to explore its rugged, tropical terrain. In February, the island’s Carnival celebrations are a cultural delight you won't want to miss.
Silversands Beach House, Grenada
Grenada and Nevis offer plenty to discover, especially for travelers who enjoy local food traditions, historic towns, and life beyond the beach. Known as the Spice Island, Grenada is home to cacao estates, chocolate makers, rum distilleries, and an underwater sculpture park, along with beautiful beaches and stylish boutique resorts. Nevis, meanwhile, offers historic plantation inns, private villas, and tropical gardens beneath Nevis Peak. Charlestown, with its Georgian-era architecture, colorful shopfronts, and waterfront, is well worth exploring between beach days.