The 40 Best Resorts in the Caribbean: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards
It isn’t possible for the Condé Nast Traveler team to see and do everything, everywhere, all at once—though we try our best! Fortunately, we also have you, our readers. This year you cast an astonishing 757,109 votes in the 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, sharing your opinions on the very best in travel. You told us you were enchanted by Italian hotels, went on safari in Botswana, took to semiprivate aviation, and advocated for newcomers to the top American cities. We loved poring over the results to find out what’s sticking with readers and editors and spinning the data into a snapshot of the current moment in travel. Ahead: your manual for planning that next adventure, whether it's to a top-rated hotel or resort, or centered around a worthy cruise, spa, or island. These are the best resorts in the Caribbean, as voted by our readers.
View this gallery as a list of the top resorts in the Caribbean with scores here.
Courtesy Couples Sans Soucihotel40. Couples Sans Souci Resort
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Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025This all-inclusive whose name means "no worries" in French is a tropical oasis on 35 acres atop the cliffs of Jamaica's emerald coast. British colonial-inspired suites offer Caribbean views and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, and are decorated with intricate latticework and white woven furnishings. Secluded stone pathways and natural mineral springs make the grounds anything but cookie cutter. Friendly staff give spa treatments in private cabanas at the cliff's edge—it's a beautiful spot in which to be pampered. At Casanova, European cuisine gets a Caribbean makeover, hence dishes like the jerk plantain-crusted rack of lamb.
hotel39. Sandals Royal Plantation, Ocho Rios
Readers' Choice Awards 2025Sandals recently took over Royal Plantation, a 17-acre, 1950s sanctuary for Hollywood celebs and British royalty. Each room has a sea view, beds layered in Italian linens, and 24-hour pillow menus and butlers and are "as appealing as the surroundings." Dining choices touch on French, Mediterranean, and Jamaican. Champagne and caviar are the focus of C-Bar.
Rock House Jamaicahotel38. Rockhouse Hotel & Spa
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Gold List 2018, 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025Images of the Rockhouse’s thatch-roof stone villas and bright red ladders dropping into the sea have come to represent a certain brand of Jamaican cool. The property, currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, isn’t shy about honoring its place in pop culture history: Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones once jumped off its iconic cliffs, and reggae and dancehall ephemera line the walls. Rooms are simple but still retain an essence of the sleepy 1970s Negril that originally defined the property: Four-poster beds are draped with mosquito nets and decorated with locally sourced quilts; in the villa rooms, palm-fringed outdoor showers mean morning routines are accompanied by birdsong; and the cool, simple stone floors keep you feeling in tune with island life. Meanwhile, food here is a primer in Jamaican classics, especially at jerk spot Pushcart, where DJs take over the sound systems for regular dance parties. The Rockhouse crowd knows how to have a good time.
Mandarin Orientalhotel37. Mandarin Oriental, Canouan
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2024, 2025A small, barely five-square-mile island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Canouan has seen a recent flurry of luxury hotel activity since the pandemic. In 2019, the Mandarin Oriental brand made its Caribbean debut on the island's eastern reaches, commandeering what was once the Pink Sands Club and rebooting the property to feel more Portofino than Port of Spain, expanding its 14, infinity pool–equipped villas by a further dozen.
Courtesy Sugar Beach Resorthotel36. Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025The majestic Pitons mountains, over 100 acres of untouched rainforest, and the shimmering Caribbean Sea all frame this idyllic resort, which is set on the site of a former 18th-century sugar plantation along the southwestern edge of the island. It’s the views that grab you first: lush, picture-perfect, and uninterrupted from the porches of the plantation-style structures out past the white-sand beach and over the water. You can’t really go wrong with which room category you choose here, as all accommodations come with a plunge pool, walled garden, and private patio; but the Luxury Sugar Mill rooms, which are ideal for two, look out at Gros Piton, the on-site lily pond, and the ruins of the original 18th-century sugar mill. On the resort, a PADI dive facility and land and water equipment are available. Don’t miss the on-site Rainforest Spa, with 10 treehouse treatment rooms and a menu that takes inspiration from St. Lucia's natural wonders, from its volcanoes and beaches to its hot springs and cocoa plantations (so look out for ingredients like raw coconut, sea salt, and organic cocoa).
CAROLINA ANSALDO/Bitter End Yacht Clubhotel35. Bitter End Yacht Club
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024, 2025Bitter End Yacht Club is one of the Caribbean’s finest full-service resorts, serving as the final BVI outpost before the sea meets the Atlantic’s open waters. Bitter End has been a nautical playground for families since 1973, boasting over a mile of pristine shoreline, vibrant coral reefs, and fresh breezes from trade winds funneling steadily through the North Sound. The property features 30 seaside bungalows, a brand new marina, a gourmet provisions emporium and retail boutique, as well as the Clubhouse beach restobar. Home to world-famous regattas, an accredited sailing school, and the world’s largest complimentary on-site boat fleet, don’t sleep on the wealth of water sports offered at Bitter End. Challenge yourself to participate in as many as possible, including windsurfing, kiteboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, and more.
Hermitage Bayhotel34. Hermitage Bay
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025This constellation of 30 villa suites on a lush, jungled hillside features private infinity pools landscaped with pink bougainvillea, mahogany-trimmed rooms, mosquito-netted beds, rattan ceiling fans, and wraparound terraces with seaviews. Guests at the tranquil 14-and-over resort head to the palm-thatched beach bar and white-sand beach. Food at the all-inclusive is a standout (the tarragon lobster is a favorite), not to mention the daily “sunset and sushi” cocktail hour, during which guests can dine on fresh tuna, snapper, and mahi-mahi nigiri made by Nobu-trained chefs. No wonder, considering the property was purchased in 2024 by Daniel Shamoon, co-owner of Luxury Hotel Partners, which boasts Spain's Marbella Club, Puente Romano Marbella, and several Nobu hotels, including one slated to open in 2026 on Antigua's sister island, Barbuda.
Courtesy Sandals Regency La Tochotel33. Sandals Regency La Toc
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025If you're itching for some extra leg room for your vacation, Sandals' St. Lucia outpost is just the escape you've been daydreaming of. With a whopping 220 acres set on seemingly endless ocean cliffside, this resort is set a million miles away from the business of your inbox. Stay in a villa with a sea view where you can enjoy your own pool in total privacy, or visit the neighboring Cap Estate Golf & Country Club and swing away at the 18-hole course. It's sun, fun, and not much else at this dreamy Carib bolthole.
Courtesy Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorthotel32. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025This adults-only boutique resort in Aruba's quieter low-rise Eagle Beach district offers sun seekers the island's best, least-crowded beach. Signal for a piña colada by putting a red flag in the sand and let the very accommodating staff take care of you. The Spanish colonial exterior is offset by more contemporary interiors. Suites in the Tara Wing, added in 2004 and renovated during summer 2017, have oceanfront views, king-size beds, and separate living areas. Elements Restaurant, which opened in 2013, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though don't shy away from exploring the island for a more memorable dining experience. Try the coffee body scrub at the Purun Spa.
Courtesy Sandals South Coasthotel31. Sandals South Coast
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023All rooms at this Sandals Resort are in stone buildings on a two-mile-long beach in a 500-acre wilderness preserve on the island's south coast. The resort is arranged as three European villages—Dutch, French, and Italian (including a Venetian piazza)—and the architecture includes lots of marble columns and vaulted ceilings. "Buildings are spread out, but it still feels like an intimate retreat." Rooms differ according to village: French rooms have mahogany four-poster beds and Caribbean decor, while Italian rooms are heavy on marble. The plantation-style Eleanor's, complete with a waterwheel and a stone fireplace, serves contemporary Caribbean cuisine.
Courtesy Tensing Pen Resorthotel30. Tensing Pen Resort
Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2025Who knew paradise could be so convenient? Approximately two hours out from Montego Bay Airport by car and a mere minutes' stroll away from Seven Mile Beach, this oceanside resort is Jamaica at its breeziest and beachiest. Each suite and villa lays claim to its own private patio area and distinct furnishings. To help fuel up for the day, the resort offers a complimentary continental breakfast for two guests for each night's stay, plus free coffee and tea at the Lodge Restaurant. For a warm, mom-and-pop stay that doesn't compromise on thoughtful amenities and attentive service, this Negril-based escape is calling.
Sandals Royal Curaçaohotel29. Sandals Royal Curaçao
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025Introduced into the Sandals vision by the late Founder Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Sandals Royal Curacao is the newest addition to the Sandals collection and the first to inhabit the C of the ABC islands. Formerly the Santa Barbara Resort Curaçao, the spot was renovated in 2021 and reopened for its official debut as an all-inclusive Sandals property in June 2022 with the party of a lifetime. A celebration of the rich and colorful culture of Curacao, the launch was an introduction to a new ‘island-first’ approach to hospitality, including dining incentives with local restaurants and the opportunity for guests in certain rooms to explore the island in a Mini Cooper.
With this in mind, the minutiae of luxury and the island’s heritage can be found in every inch of the 44 acre estate; from the colorful architecture—a nod to the capital of Willemstad—to the fusion of traditional Curacao flavors experienced at one of the eight restaurants or three food trucks on site. The 351 rooms and suites have been categorized by experience, most with unencumbered sea views or access to private pools. Opportunities to experience the island fully are there for the taking, though it's hard to resist staying put on the white sands of the private Santa Barbara beach or lounging under coconut leaf parasols.
Courtesy Jade Mountainhotel28. Jade Mountain
$$$ | Gold List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Luxury can mean different things to different people. For me, it’s about privacy, freedom, and an exquisite sense of space, combined with subtle hospitality that makes you feel effortlessly at home. Jade Mountain embodies this and more. Perched high on St. Lucia’s rugged cliffs, this architectural marvel, crafted from local stone and rough concrete, rises organically from the lush forest. Designed by Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy, Jade Mountain frames the breathtaking views of the Pitons from each of its 24 open-air residences (known as sanctuaries). The pinnacle of luxury, Galaxy Sanctuary JE1, features uninterrupted 270-degree views and a 900-square-foot infinity pool with jewel-toned tiles. Here serenity reigns supreme.
Mike Toy/Courtesy Cap Maisonhotel27. Cap Maison
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2025At the northern tip of St. Lucia, on what used to be the sugar plantation, Cap Maison sits clifftop like a small orderly village. This cluster of three-story white buildings has a Spanish (via Caribbean) colonial architectural motif with its characteristic Moorish inflections, painted tiles, and dark wood. The 49 rooms are kitted out with local paintings and richly upholstered furniture (including an oversized chaise longue at the foot of the bed), balconies, louvered shutters, ceiling fans, A/C, iPod docks, and Bose speakers, as well as lovely bathrooms with painted ceramic sinks. Some suites come with a private plunge pool but, should you prefer company, there is a small cliff-edge cascading pool as well as a larger one surrounded by chaises. At the bottom of a long staircase down to the sea is a small protected beach for swimming and snorkeling.
Courtesy Anse Chastanet Resorthotel26. Anse Chastanet Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025The sister property to Jade Mountain up in the hills, this 600-acre beachfront resort has octagonal hillside cottages and waterfront rooms, each individually designed. There's special attention paid to keeping things local: The wood used in the rooms is of St. Lucia, and cushions and bedspreads are a bright madras plaid, the island's cloth. Since rooms have no phones or TVs, this is the most romantic and wonderful place on the island, truly an experience to replenish the soul. After scuba diving, dine at the Treehouse Restaurant for Caribbean by candlelight or at Emerald's, which uses organic produce from the resort's farm in its all-vegetarian menu.
Courtesy Secret Bayhotel25. Secret Bay
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The "secret" part of Secret Bay's name is no accident—the resort's 10 gorgeous villas give new meaning to the word hideaway. Touches vary from villa to villa, but all have interiors and floors made of Guyanese Greenheart, bedroom furniture made of Dominican red cedar, open decks, private pools, and 180-degree views over the mountain peaks of Dominica and the Caribbean Sea. Though we doubt you'll get tired of living your own castaway fantasies (albeit with much nicer accommodations), Secret Bay's concierge is available to help craft personalized itineraries: think rainforest hikes with a famed naturalist, or a sunset sail along the island's western coast.
Sandals Dunn's Riverhotel24. Sandals Dunn's River
Readers' Choice Awards 2024, 2025Escape the stressors and dreary weather of the urban jungle at this adults-only resort seated at the edge of a tropical rainforest on Jamaica’s temperate northern coast. Swim without a care in Dunn’s River’s five pools, or catch some sun as the gentle flow of the property’s two river pools ferries you around. Between the unlimited fine dining at the property’s 12 restaurants, the professional instruction for scuba diving and surfing, and all-inclusive fees that include taxes, tips, and gratuities, guests are given nothing short of the Midas touch during their stay. Suites like the Tufa Terrace SkyPool Butler Suite feel like a spacious apartment with a neutral color scheme, modern interiors, and work by local artists on display. Private clear-glass panel-edge infinity plunge pools span the entire balcony length and give uninterrupted 180-degree views of the oceanfront—a first on the island.
Courtesy Calabashhotel23. Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel
Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025You’ll find Calabash’s 30 bespoke suites are where lush greenery fades seamlessly into silky sands and the azure Caribbean Sea beyond. From one of Grenada’s best beaches, spot couples and families enjoying the clear waters as yachts gently rock in the ripples a little further out. Life on the water is as essential as a good night’s sleep here—see the underwater residents in all their technicolor glory while snorkeling, paddleboarding, and kayaking around the protected bay. Suites and villas are stylishly minimalist—expect neutral, high ceilings, and balconies that open up to views of the complex and island neighbors dotted under the speckled shade of shimmying palm trees. At 700 square feet, deluxe suites have ample room for any duration, complete with a king-size bedroom, a walk-in dressing area, and living spaces split across lower and upper floors.
Moskito Islandhotel22. Moskito Island
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Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2025Although more expensive than your average luxury hotel, Moskito Island makes living the life of a billionaire a tiny bit more accessible. Five-star restaurants are swapped for private chefs, hotel suites for exclusive estates, and concierges for dedicated house managers capable of making nearly anything you want possible. The only guests in sight are those in your immediate party—that is, unless you decide to venture to the communal Manchioneel Beach, complete with a floating trampoline and bartenders at the ready, or the Beach House, a community recreational area where you can play a round of tennis and mingle with estate owners (you may even spot Richard Branson himself).
Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spahotel21. Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025Grand Cayman may be famous for its SCUBA diving and offshore banking, but with several daily non-stops from New York and Boston, it’s increasingly drawing families to its powdery, placid western Caribbean beaches. On the island’s Seven Mile Beach—one of the loveliest stretches of sand in the world—you'll find the 266-room Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa, with a boutique atmosphere that manages to be both child-friendly (two pools, a kids club) and hip (colorful, contemporary design, and a lobby scene replete with pool table, library, and daily happy hour). The food is also strong: Hit beachside Coccoloba for fish tacos and ceviches; Ave, the resort's primary restaurant, for epic breakfast buffets (including house-made cronuts); and the sceney Avecita for progressive Spanish fare like white anchovy toast and prawn tartare, served up alongside craft cocktails at the chef’s counter. You can always snorkel and parasail right off the hotel’s beach, but you’re also just a short ride from Stingray City (where you can stand on a sandbar and touch giant rays as they swim by), world-class gardens (look for the endangered blue iguana), golf, and roadside jerk chicken. Hit Rum Point to toast the sunset—or maybe you'll prefer doing that from your own private balcony.
StolenTimehotel20. StolenTime
Readers' Choice Awards 2024, 2025This resort's unfettered access to Malabar Beach does not disappoint when it comes to natural beauty. The pristine two-mile stretch is secluded enough to offer privacy, while the resort offers first-class services. From your personal cabana or sun bed, you need only raise a flag, and a refreshing cocktail will be in your hands in minutes. Meanwhile, the wider grounds are designed for maximum relaxation. Stroll along Lazy River, which meanders through the resort, and you’ll encounter tranquil pools and tiny secluded islands. Dip your toes in its cool waters, or find a secluded spot to dig into that novel you’d been meaning to find time to read forever—you’re decadently off the clock. Before heading back to your room, take a lap in the lovely Water Garden pool, which cultivates a calm, quiet atmosphere—no cannonballs or blaring radios here.
Malliouhanahotel19. Malliouhana
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Hot List 2015 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025Anguilla is a very Anglo island; and Malliouhana was, for decades, one of its most staunchly traditional hotels. Lemon yellow and ice-blue walls and ornate glass sconces that have breathed new life into this Caribbean classic. Set along Turtle Cove, there are ample activities on offer—from kayaking to stand-up paddle boarding, kite-surfing, horse-riding, and outdoor yoga classes. One of our favorite diversions is a rum tasting with an in-house "rummelier."
Courtesy Galley Bay Resort & Spahotel18. Galley Bay Resort & Spa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2023, 2025This is paradise in the Caribbean: a tranquil and secluded adults-only all-inclusive retreat with gourmet dining, a dreamy swath of beach with crystal clear water, warm and friendly staff, and the most serene atmosphere possible with the only “soundtrack” to the property being the crashing waves that can be heard from all of the resort’s 98 oceanfront rooms. All 98 rooms are situated directly on the beach, and feature king beds making this ideal for a romantic getaway. Recently the hotel renovated the Premium Beachfront Suites which instilled modern finishes while maintaining its effortless and classic Caribbean aesthetic. The premium suites offer guests the option to be either on the beach level with direct access to the water, or the upper level with 30-foot-tall vaulted ceilings and a private balcony with glorious ocean views. Galley Bay’s award-winning spa is worth a visit if only because it has two open-air treatment cabanas (one which accommodates couples) where guests can listen to the sounds of nature while getting a signature massage.
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Le Toiny St Barthshotel17. Hotel Le Toiny
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2026 Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The namesake hillside resort set above Toiny Bay gives “wild” an unexpected new meaning when it comes to sceney St. Barts: On the shrubby southeastern point of the island, this unfussy haven is where an in-the-know social set head to find serenity. The star amenity here is the private beach, accessible via a three-minute Defender ride down switchbacking roads. Le Toiny’s stretch of soft sand is considered the sole private hotel beach on all of St. Barts. Plus, some of the oldest traditional English-style cottages on the island, dating back to the 1700s, can be found beside the beach club (one is currently used as treatment areas for the spa). The suites and villas were redesigned in 2024 to create airy living spaces that draw your eye outward to the leafy open-air surroundings and azure water views just beyond your private pool deck.
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hotel16. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025The super-sized resort commandeers the island’s narrowest east-west point, blanketing 144 acres. The residential towers, holding 69 residences, front Seven Mile Beach; the hotel towers are on North Sound and Caribbean Sea. Beige-to-cream facades duplicate the multi-hued Caymanian sands. The reception area with chandeliers and masses of flowers opens into the Silver Palm Lounge, where delicious munchies accompany evening drinks—with the promise of Caribbean rum, cigars, and chocolate. The 369 classic rooms and eleven suites favor soft yellow walls, botanical prints, chaise longues, and humongous beds in maize, periwinkle or coral. By spring, the Greg Norman nine-hole golf course should be in full swing. Three night-lit clay tennis courts glow like fireflies; a grass court is under growth. The entire menu at The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman tempts, book ESPA and 111SKIN treatments, facials with luxurious ingredients and advanced technology, and body therapies with marine plants. As you wiggle your fishy toes that night at “Blue by Eric Ripert,” a scoop of Iranian Osetra Caviar seems so right. When to Go: Late December to Easter when all is at its pricey best.
Courtesy Ladera Resorthotel15. Ladera Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Anticipate the experience of a lifetime at this eco-lodge built with Caribbean timber, local stone, and terra-cotta tiles on the site of a former cocoa plantation. It's in a calm, beautiful garden setting on a forested ridge overlooking the Pitons and the sea far below. Rustic suites—very Swiss Family Robinson in look and feel—have private plunge pools and no fourth wall, allowing unobstructed views. At Ti Kai Posé Spa, indulge in a hot volcanic stone massage or take a dip in the mineral pools. A free shuttle can take you to Sugar Beach, just five minutes away. Note that there are no televisions or phones in guest rooms, but there's free Wi-Fi for the needy (plus, only 17+ here—befitting one of the world's most romantic resorts).
Peter Island Resorthotel14. Peter Island Resort
$$$ | Hot List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2025From the moment the resort’s yacht glides into the serene waters of Yacht Harbor in Sprat Bay, the transition from passenger to prized guest is practically instantaneous. Peter Island is the largest private island in the British Virgin Islands, yet the resort has managed to capture an utterly intimate vibe. In 2017, Hurricane Irma tragically destroyed homes and upended lives throughout the Virgin Islands. The resort strives to be as sustainable as possible; it has a reverse osmosis water purification plant and two wind turbines that can generate up to 75% of the island's power. And yet Peter Island still doesn't mess with what works, and leans into a familial flavor of hospitality that feels like you’re at your favorite aunt and uncle’s for the holidays.
hotel13. Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2025This is the perfect sanctuary for relaxation within over 50 acres of breathtaking Jurassic Park-like scenery. Whether you prefer to unwind in serene surroundings or embark on an adventure to explore the island's rich flora and fauna, the choice is yours. Here, you can embrace tranquillity or seek excitement at your own pace.
Courtesy Curtain Bluffhotel12. Curtain Bluff
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025This classic Caribbean legend is an all-inclusive on 20 acres of gardens, where beautiful birds flit in and out of the trees. Stuccoed accommodations are filled with wicker furniture and overlook the beach. Dinner is served alfresco four nights a week at the Sea Grape restaurant. A different band plays nightly at the Tamarind Tree, where French and Caribbean flavors intensify the fresh-caught grouper and wahoo. Kids can brush up on their drop volleys, top-spin lobs, and cross-court backhand winners at the complimentary kids' tennis clinic. With two private beaches—one for swimming, the other for water sports—there's ample space for all.
Roberto Bonardi/Courtesy Half Moonhotel11. Half Moon
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Jamaica's storied, 400-acre Half Moon has played host to icons like Queen Elizabeth II and J.F.K.—and for good reason. The rooms, which are decorated with wood and natural fibers, are set back from two miles of stunning Montego Bay beachfront and contain an impressive number of cheerful works of art by Jamaican artists. With the Great House as its centerpiece, the Fern Tree Spa is one of the largest in the Caribbean, and sporty folk can engage with a Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole golf course, 11 tennis courts, and an equestrian center. Visiting families will appreciate a marketplace and café for takeaway snacks and an all-day, casual dining room.
Eden Rock - St Barthshotel10. Eden Rock St. Barths
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2022, 2024 Hot List 2018, 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025You can become a little numb to beauty in St. Barts, but even after having been on island for days, I think I squealed when I pulled into Eden Rock. It’s just so perfect—so chic, so glamorous, but in this easy, island-appropriate way. It’s the type of place that just being there makes you feel like the most glam, sun-kissed version of yourself. The hotel is almost entirely surrounded by calm, gin-bottle blue water that’s heavenly for a swim. There’s a diving platform a little ways out, and you can take out rafts and paddle around the point, and there’s a reef if you want to snorkel. The rooms are lovely and elegant, with a subtle Carib-meets-nautical vibe, at once bright and airy. When it comes to the food, rockstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is in charge of the menu at the main restaurant, and the resort’s breakfast spread is insane in scope and quality; don’t miss it. Sure, you could have a delightful breakfast by your private pool, but the people-watching here is too good—you’d be missing an opportunity if you stayed in. It’s a pretty diverse crowd in some ways, but the common denominator, to tell it straight, is money. This place is not cheap, but it’s one of the rare hotels that is absolutely worth it. The setting is unparalleled, and the food, service, and design are top of the top. There is no way you’ll go and not dream (maybe nightly) about going back—it’s that special.
Eden Roc Cap Canahotel9. Eden Roc Cap Cana
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The only Relais & Châteaux property in the Dominican Republic occupies an exclusive slice of beachfront real estate on the country’s eastern tip. Accommodations run the gamut from standalone beach suites to ocean bungalows to multi-bedroom villas, which come in an array of architectural styles that speak to the Caribbean surroundings: Think bright punchy colors and barrel tiles for some; thatched-roof, palapa-inspired designs for others; and plenty that are blindingly white to contrast with the area’s deep blue skies. The resort is also home to a Jack Nicklaus signature course, where the 18 holes dip and curve with the oceanfront landscape, past waterfalls and cliffs and beaches, while the spa offers such unique treatments as a massage that incorporates virtual reality.
Courtesy Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spahotel8. Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa
$$$ | Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025A relatively new addition to St. Barts' luxury hotel scene, Le Barthélemy is a sophisticated winner that keeps with the island's low-rise sensibility. Set between a lagoon and Grand Cul-de-Sac beach along the island's northeastern shore, the hotel is an education in understated elegance. Rooms are spare and enormous, with lots of wood and one or two pops of bright color—some even have small, rectangular plunge pools for mini-laps. The food at Amis St. Barth is unabashedly modern French, with attention paid to proper portions in the tropics: in other words, not too much. Water sports enthusiasts have an expanse of calm shallow waters for kayaking, kite-surfing, and snorkeling—a flotilla of a dozen sea turtles that survived the storms of 2017 remain in residence and are easily visible.
Richard James Taylor/Courtesy Belmond Cap Julucahotel7. Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel, Anguilla
$$$ | Gold List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025When Cap Juluca opened on a mile-long white crescent here in 1988, it was widely considered—to quote its sanguine American-born owners—“the best hotel on the best beach in the Caribbean.” The domed villas, a few with then-scarce plunge pools, brought worldly glamour to a squiggle of an island that had only recently acquired roads and drew discretion-seeking jet setters from chockablock St. Martin. Families flew to Cap J year after year, while major handshake deals would go down on Maundays Bay, and legendary parties would keep the drinks flowing at Pimms restaurant. Eventually, of course, the crowd moved on, and the owners sold the property to Belmond in 2017—just before Hurricane Irma barreled in. No matter: In a $130 million refurb, Rottet Studio added five new villas and recast the interiors, replacing the Moroccan carpets and lanterns with soft linens, rattan, and seagrass.
Emily Labhotel6. Le Sereno
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025At the quiet end of an idyllic cove in Grand Cul-de-Sac, this cottage colony was utterly remade by master minimalist Christian Liaigre. The decor is elaborately spare—bare white walls, dark wood floors, and nary a rounded edge or flourish in sight—but with no sacrifice to comfort. The 39 rooms have buttery linens and walled gardens with giant daybeds (Grand Suites add settees and bathtubs), and cushioned banquettes make up most of the restaurant’s seating. The resort sustained some damage from Hurricane Irma in September 2017, but it came back better than ever following a massive refurbishment, with three additional rooms and a new bar, spa, and on-site boutique.
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Cheval Blanc St Barthhotel5. Cheval Blanc St-Barth
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2023 Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020, 2024, 2025Over the past two years, the Caribbean island of St. Barts has bounced back from Hurricane Irma, but the recovery required much more than a coat of fresh white paint on the verandas. Take the former Isle de France, now Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, part of LVMH’s Cheval Blanc stable and always the essence of St. Barts, for example. Part of its post-Irma upgrade was the acquisition of the hotel next door, Hotel Taïwana, so the property now sprawls along Flamands Beach with oceanfront and garden rooms as well as penthouse-style suites, all fashioned by the careful hands of French designer Jacques Grange in linen and teak, blush-pink and ikat. This re-imagination is a masterpiece in scene setting that you won’t find anywhere else beyond the beaches of the French Riviera.
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Aidan Bradley/Courtesy Sandy Lanehotel4. Sandy Lane
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025This landmark resort is something of a Bajan institution, with elegant interiors and an awesomely beautiful setting that ensures it is consistently ranked as one of the best hotels in the Caribbean. This splendor runs through everything, including the hotel's Treehouse Club for little ones.The resort, on the site of a onetime sugar plantation, offers old-school Caribbean luxury. Neo-Palladian accommodations are appointed with rich furniture, and offer views of the beachfront or Sandy Lane’s tropical gardens. Three golf courses are set along a former stone quarry, and open only to guests. Dine on French and Mediterranean specialties at the open-air L’Acajou.
John Athimaritis/Six Senses La Sagesse Grenadahotel3. Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada
$$$ | Hot List 2025 Readers' Choice Awards 2025The tiny volcanic island of Grenada is both an unexpected and obvious choice for Six Senses’ foray into the Caribbean. Compared to big-hitting neighbors like St. Lucia and Antigua, it has been overlooked by travelers to the region. But this means that it remains largely uncrowded and retains a more rustic version of tourism. Six Senses has done well to anchor itself to that. Here, your welcome ritual begins with a sensory spice “tour;” its 56 suites and 15 villas are stylish but designed to sit unobtrusively on the landscape; and its curated excursions—from rainforest hikes to Rastafarian farm visits—spotlight the best of Grenada’s natural bounty. In classic Six Senses style, wellness is a key protagonist, and you can seek out everything from aerial yoga to sleep therapy, as well as treatments like the Caribbean Cleansing Ritual that nod to the surroundings. It’s very tempting to stay put, heading to the spa or sipping rum cocktails poolside, but you’d do well to pair off with one of the property’s community hosts and head out: to spice-laden markets in its photogenic capital or for a bit of beachside limin’ (defined locally as “kicking with friends”), a beloved national pastime.
Ken Hayden/Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barthhotel2. Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth
$$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2025The newly reopened Rosewood Le Guanahani is located along an 18-acre peninsula overlooking Marigot Bay, the so-called other side of the island. The resort feels considerably more secluded than some of its competitors because of this, with each of its 66 cottages (all with private entrances; many suites have private pools) enveloped by lazily drooping palm trees and other local fauna. Another perk of its location along this quiet northeast-coast peninsula? The endless breeze wafting across the beachside infinity pool and into Beach House St. Barth, an airy eatery that feels more like a chic friend’s home in the Mediterranean or French Riviera than a resort restaurant in the Caribbean. Another major upside of Le Guanahani recently becoming a Rosewood property is the arrival of the brand’s Sense Spa, which is just as upscale and luxurious as you would expect. Upon arrival, you're handed a refreshing towel and cup of chilled kombucha before being presented with an array of signature, house-blended oils to choose from—little touches that elevated the experience right from the start. Treatment rooms feel private but are still filled with natural light, done up in soft shades of cream and wood, and products include French-Japanese brand EviDens de Beauté and natural skincare brand Soleil Toujour.
Baoase Luxury Resorthotel1. Baoase Luxury Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025Set in a quiet residential neighborhood, this intimate beachfront property (whose name mixes the owners’ first initials with the Dutch word for oasis) uses dense, vibrant landscaping and shutters and stone walls between guest rooms to create a cocooning feeling of privacy. Baoase is also transporting, as any memorable hotel should be, with a strong Asian-esque design that includes ubiquitous Balinese Hindu statues, idols, and sculptures, and a reliance on simplicity over dazzle. High-ceilinged suites mix dark-wood furnishings with whimsical touches like silver crocodile-print wallpaper and knobby chenille rugs that look like mats of pebbles; villas come with full stainless steel kitchens. The sole restaurant produces international cuisine including dishes such as terrine of duck and duck liver and carpaccio of scallops with a vanilla dressing as well as fresh fish caught by local fishermen. Although service is not quite polished, the happy-go-lucky Dutch-Caribbean staff are refreshingly devoid of attitude.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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