The Caribbean is a veritable melting pot of vibrant culture, stunning scenery and mouth-watering food and drink – with more than a healthy dose of magnificent weather thrown into the mix. With visitors starting to plan their vacations for the remainder of 2021 or even into 2022, the Caribbean is increasingly on the radar of travellers looking for a truly unspoilt getaway and a chance to escape the roller-coaster of everyday life.
For readers planning a stay in the Caribbean for the first time, we’ve put together a guide to some of the most decadent hotel resorts in the region. All of which can deliver in spades on the hospitality that the Caribbean is proudly revered for around the world.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay – British Virgin Islands
If we were to tell you that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have been regular visitors to Little Dix Bay on the British Virgin Islands, that should tell you all you need to know about this spectacular Rosewood resort. Located on Virgin Gorda, this destination is reached via catamaran from Tortola, giving you a 25-minute ride across the crystal blue waters. This region is truly one of the most unspoilt areas of the Caribbean, which was forced to regenerate itself following the catastrophic Hurricane Irma, forcing the island and this resort to undergo a $185-million makeover.
We can assure you that its investment has been hugely worth it, whilst retaining the hotel’s unmistakable charm and character that dates back to the mid-1960s when conservationist Laurance Rockefeller launched the resort as an unpretentious “sophisticated fishing village” destination.
The Atlantis, Paradise Island – The Bahamas
If you are travelling as a family and size matters, The Atlantis in The Bahamas should certainly be high on your priority list. It’s one of the biggest destinations in the whole of the Caribbean. It’s so big it has six different resorts on-site. All of which offer something different, depending on what you’re looking for in a Caribbean stay.
The Royal resort is one of the most popular among families, due to its water parks, aquarium and iconic tower-style accommodation. This area is also popular with poker players, with its busy casino staging the annual Caribbean Adventure event, which is a two-week poker festival hosted by PokerStars.
Sugar Beach – St Lucia
Photo courtesy piqsels.com
For Caribbean first-timers seeking breath-taking views and a secluded island lifestyle, the Sugar Beach St Lucia resort ticks all the right boxes. For Britons, it’s a great time to visit St Lucia, with BA launching a new direct route from Heathrow to St Lucia from early July 2021.
This Viceroy resort in the Soufrière region of St Lucia is positioned within 100 acres of unspoilt, tranquil rainforest, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Guests are quite literally a stone’s throw from the Pitons, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as an 18th century sugar plantation. Its beach bars, rainforest-style spas and decadent plantation-style accommodation transport you to a unique Caribbean paradise.
COMO Parrot Cay – Turks & Caicos
Dubbed a ‘five-pearl’ private island resort, the COMO Parrot Cay is considered the most decadent hideaway in the Turks & Caicos. It’s a regular haunt for the rich and famous, thanks to the destination’s distinct focus on healthy lifestyles and wellness.
Its award-winning Shambhala Spa is one of the jewels in the crown of COMO Parrot Cay, along with its picture-perfect infinity pool, affording magnificent panoramic views of the sea. Guests can also indulge in daily yoga and Pilates sessions, while the on-site chefs can also cater for any dietary requirements.
The Ritz-Carlton – St Thomas
St Thomas of the US Virgin Islands is also home to one of the most upscale Caribbean destinations, in the shape of The Ritz-Carlton. The complex has recently undergone a wholescale $100m renovation, with a comprehensive redesign and refurbishment.
Although the Ritz-Carlton is a luxury, high-end resort, it’s the little things that matter most here. Whether it’s the attentive yet not overbearing service, the tranquil Nespresso bar for caffeine fiends, motion-sensor lights throughout the accommodation and the free-flowing poolscape, there is always something to raise the eyebrows with excitement here.
Belmond Cap Juluca – Anguilla
Anguilla’s Belmond Cap Juluca is a stunning centrepiece for the Maundays Bay area. As the exclusive hotel for the region, this sprawling complex runs astride the beautiful white sand and turquoise sea, perfect for families and couples looking for uninterrupted downtime together.
With 70 villa suites on-site, it’s by no means a huge resort either. Belmond has invested big sums in helping the resort to recover from Hurricane Irma. Anguilla’s St. Martin airport is also within easy reach of many cities along the US east coast.
To discover a true taste of Caribbean life, all six of the above destinations offer the most idyllic entry level for those prepared to splash out on the finer things in life.
