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HONEYMOON TRAVEL > Caribbean

Caribbean

Caribbean

The only downside to planning a trip to the Caribbean? Deciding which island paradise to call home. Fear not -- practically every island is so idyllic that there will be no reason for traveler's remorse once you arrive. Whether you want to relax on a secluded beach or you're ready to hit the party circuit, there's an island suited to your style.

Click on any location for details, or get more info on the Caribbean.

The island of Anguilla combines mellow Caribbean life with exotic Mediterranean style. Everywhere you look, you see blue and white: Turquoise sea tickling white-sand beaches or blue sky framing stark white resorts. There are no casinos, cruise ships, or high-rises -- the focus here is on lingering meals, silky sand, and star-lit strolls. You may pay a higher price to visit Anguilla than other tourist-trampled islands, but you‘ll be rewarded with great food, over-the-top luxury and star-studded beaches.

Before You Go: Need-to-Know Info
Language: English
Flight time: 7 hours from NYC, 13.5 hours from LA, 7 hours from Chicago, 7.5 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Car (keep to the left!), taxis, ferry to St. Martin
Entry requirements: Passport (or photo ID with a birth certificate), return ticket
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC), US dollar

When to Go: Anguilla at Its Best
Best weather: Anguilla receives relatively little rainfall (hence its arid topography) and has a monthly mean temperature of 80 degrees all year long
Best prices: May to December
Festivals: Anguilla International Arts Festival and Competition occurs biannually during the third week in January; Moonsplash Annual Music Festival begins on the night of the full moon in March; Summer Festival rocks the first week of August with parades, pageants, boat racing, and calypso competitions
Anguillian holidays: May 1, May 16, May 27, June 14, Aug 4-5, Dec 19

Why to Go
The Celebrities are Doing It: If you‘re looking for a glimpse of famous faces, or if you‘d like to make like a superstar yourself, this is the place to be. Beyoncé, Uma Thurman, J. Lo, Queen Latifah and Jay-Z have all been sighted along the powder-white shores of Anguilla. (Don‘t forget your movie-star shades!)

Luxury Spas: Anguilla is the place to indulge. (It is your vacation, after all.) The island is loaded with extravagant spas offering massages, polishes, wraps, masques, scrubs -- even bathing rituals. Try a yoga session under the palm trees. Or, for real luxury, have a couples‘ rub-down in a private "spa suite" overlooking sand and sea.

Anguilla

Once a British naval hot spot, Antigua offers a genteel take on the leisurely life. Located in the middle of the Caribbean Islands, Antigua is loved for its chalky white beaches, boating (featuring the Caribbean‘s largest regatta), and ideal weather year-round. Barbuda, just 25 miles north of Antigua, features 17 miles of beaches, a bird sanctuary, and colorful offshore wrecks and reefs ripe for exploration.

Before You Go: Need-to-Know Info
Language: English
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 8 hours from Chicago, 7.5 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Car (drive on the left!), taxis
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC), US dollar

When to Go: Antigua & Barbuda at Their Best
Best weather: Anytime. The Antiguan climate is one of the most idyllic in the Caribbean, thanks to constant sea breezes and trade winds. Temperatures hover around 81 degrees but can rise to 93 degrees during the hot season from May to November.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).
Festival highlights: Cheer more than 300 racing yachts during Antigua Sailing Week in late April and early May, or take in one of the Caribbean‘s most intoxicating Carnivals, which runs from late July to early August.

What to Do
Abundant Beaches: Rimmed by 366 public beaches -- one for each day of the year, plus one for luck -- there‘s a sandy paradise for every beach personality. Some of the best include Half Moon Bay for windsurfing, Dickinson Bay for restaurant hopping and people watching, and Five Islands Peninsula for a clothing-optional experience.

Seafaring Lore: History lovers and yachters shouldn‘t miss Nelson‘s Dockyard National Park at English Harbour in Antigua. Built in 1784, this former naval headquarters now hosts charming old restaurants, craft shops, and historic buildings.

Shipyard Views: For a stunning panoramic view -- of English Harbour, Eric Clapton‘s house, and the island of Montserrat -- plus steel-pan music, barbecue, and a superb sunset, spend your Sunday afternoon at Shirley Heights Lookout, a restaurant perched on a bluff at the south side of the island.

Antigua

Flat, arid, and outside the hurricane belt, this Dutch island off the coast of Venezuela is the "A" island of the so-called ABC Islands (Bonaire and Curacao complete the trio). A true paradise, Aruba enjoys low humidity and breezy blue vistas year-round. The island‘s not much for tropical foliage -- instead, you‘ll find rocky deserts, silky sand, and the trademark divi-divi tree (bent at a 45-degree angle by strong trade winds). It‘s tough to miss the ka-ching of casinos on the wind, and you‘ll be rocking to the infectious steel band beat of beach barbecues and fish fries. This is, as car license-plates proclaim, "one happy island."

Before You Go: Need-to-Know Info
Language: Dutch, English, Spanish, Papiamento
Flight time: 4.5 hours from NYC, 11 hours from LA, 9 hours from Chicago, 8 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, rental car (follow the southwestern-pointing divi-divi trees if you get lost)
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Currency: Aruban florin (AFl), US dollars

When to Go: Aruba at Its Best
Best weather: Aruba enjoys a mean temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, a fairly constant 10 mph to 20 mph breeze, and blissfully low humidity year-round. July and August are less windy, and short showers occur more often from mid-October through December.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel
Festivals: Colorful Carnival events whirl through the streets each winter (during the two months preceding Ash Wednesday)
What to Do
Underwater Sightseeing: Sunken ships include the eye-popping, bombed-in-half German freighter Antilla -- its shallow wreckage is easily and eerily visible in the clear ocean waters -- and the Jane Sea, a freighter lying in an almost vertical position. Baby Beach is best for shore diving, while Mangel Halto Reef offers fascinating night dives.

Hit the Jackpot: Feeling lucky? Aruba has the games for you: blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat, slot machines, and an island original, Caribbean Stud Poker, invented in 1988. This high-stakes game is like blackjack, but tempts players with a progressive jackpot that can skyrocket!

Aruba

The Dominican Republic offers a little bit of everything on this Columbus-discovered island in the sea. From world-class golf resort to minor and major league baseball (the country‘s favorite pastime), active couples will have plenty to do and see. If a slower pace is more your speed, then take your pick from 800 miles of super-fine sandy beaches. The DR (as it‘s casually called) is also the largest producer of cigars in the world, so even if you prefer not to smoke, be sure and check out the Museo del Tabaco in the city of Santiago for a slice of history. Before You Go: Need-to-know info Languages: Spanish, English Travel time: 4 hours from NYC, 9 hours from LA Getting around: Taxis (agree on a rate before diving in!) When To Go: The Dominican Republic at its best Best weather: The nice thing about the DR is that it averages 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, making it a warm-weather honeymoon destination anytime. Best prices: May through October What To Do Go whale-watching: On the eastern side of the island, the Bay of Samana is teeming with humpback whales from December through March. You can cozy up on a chartered boat and watch these wondrous creatures as they migrate to their breeding and feeding grounds. Relax on sugary beaches: The DR‘s most popular destination is also home to some of the best beaches in the world. In addition to its all-inclusive resorts, Punta Cana‘s 21-mile coast is lined with coconut palms and boarder by warm cerulean waters. For something a little less populated, check out the beaches of the north and northeast coasts. Support ecotourism: Because it is home to the highest and lowest peaks in the Caribbean, the DR has taken advantage of its eco-friendly status with plenty of green itineraries. Couples can bird-watch among 300 species, camp in the national parks, explore caves, hike trail to Pico Duarte (the highest point at 10,206 feet above sea level), or go windsurfing and white-water rafting, just to name a few.

The Dominican Republic

Looking for sparkling high-rises and glitzy casinos? They‘re here. How about stunning nature reserves and charming seaside villages? You‘ll find those, too. History? No problema. Best of all: This commonwealth territory of the United States is located close to home (between the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic), offers great airfare and hotel deals (due to its high tourist volume), and is a cinch to navigate: English is widely spoken, the U.S. dollar is the national currency, and no passports are required!

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: Spanish, English
Flight time: 3.5 hours from NYC, 7.5 hours from LA, 4.5 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Rental car, taxi, bus, ferry, "publicos" (public cars that operate between towns, stopping in each town‘s main plaza)

When To Go: Puerto Rico at its best
Best weather: January to April (January has the lowest during this period). The average temperature is 83 degrees in winter and 85 degrees in summer.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December.

Why To Go
Mother Nature: Puerto Rico has 20 forest reserves, including the 28,000-acre El Yunque, the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System (bring a slicker!); Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve (which includes seven unique ecological systems and an "El Faro," a 19th-century lighthouse with great views); and the Guajataca Forest Reserve, with 25 miles of trails.

Piña Coladas and Secret Tunnels: Go on a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. This romantic walled city is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial cities in the world and is full of candy-colored 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century buildings in which people go about their 20th-century life. Window shop the boutiques of Fortaleza Street (Puerto Rico has no sales tax on most items); grab a piña colada at Barrachina Restaurant (where they were invented!); and be sure to wander the maze of secret access tunnels at the hulking El Morro Fortress, where soldiers rebuffed Englishman Sir Francis Drake in 1595.

Puerto Rico

Can‘t decide between a romantic European sojourn or a palm tree bedecked respite? On Martinique, you can have both. This French island in the Lesser Antilles has all the romance of Paris, yet is surrounded by azure waters and soft sandy beaches. Lending to its lovely allure, Martinique is also the birthplace of Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, Napoleon‘s empress, and features some of the most stunning architecture and finest cuisine in the Caribbean.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: Creole, French, English
Flight time: 11 hours from NYC, 13 hours from LA
Getting around: Taxi

When To Go: Martinique at its best
Best weather: The average temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, while the trade winds afford a five-degree difference between summer and winter.
Best prices: July to November

Why To Go
Get a history lesson: Skip the beaches for a day in favor of a leisure walk around Fort-de-France. The centerpiece of the island‘s capital is the Biblitheque Schoeler, a dramatic display of Romanesque-Byzantine architecture built for the Paris Exhibition in 1889. Once you‘re done, you can hop a ferry to the Musee de la Pagerie, which stands on the lush grounds where Empress Josephine‘s home once stood, and houses many artifacts and mementos from her life here.

Eat and Drink: With its French influence and Caribbean location, Martinique chefs have become expert in the fusion of French-Creole cuisine. Fresh fish such as red snapper, kingfish and langouste blend with Creole spices for a heady dish. The chefs also like to play with tropical fruits and vegetables like guava and plantains to add exotic flair and flavor. If it‘s your thirst you‘re looking to quench, stop by the St. James Distillery, where you can sample some of the best rum in the world.

Hit the beach: Though the charm of Martinique can be found in its villages, parks, and gardens, the coastline is just as pleasant -- this is, after all, and island in the Caribbean. And along with its pristine beaches, you‘ll find plenty of opportunities to do the requisite windsurfing, scuba diving, swimming, or, if none of that appeals to your senses, simply spend the day working on your tan.

Martinique

St. John has it all, from picturesque hiking trails to calm, dazzlingly clear water in a spectrum of blue hues. The sleepy hamlet of Cruz Bay is home to most of St. John‘s 3,500 residents, not counting the 350 or so feral donkeys that stake their own claim. When you max out on serenity and need to shop, visit Mongoose Junction, a lovely collection of boutiques and galleries in Cruz Bay, or catch a quick ferry ride west to the duty-free frenzy of St. Thomas, also a U.S. territory. Likewise, the mellow British Virgin Island of Tortola is just a 15-minute ferry ride away.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport, or photo I.D. and original birth certificate
Currency: U.S. dollars
Language: English
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC; 11 hours from Los Angeles; 8 hours from Chicago; 7 hours from Dallas (plus a 20-minute boat ride)

When to Go: St. John at its best
Best weather: February to August. Year-round temperatures range from 69 (winter evenings) to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season runs from September to January.

What To Do
Hike vistas: Of the island‘s 22 trails, Reef Bay Trail is one of the best, with a relatively easy three-mile descent through forest and cactus woodlands. Along the way, you‘ll see haunting sugar mill ruins and pre-Columbian carvings. Bring your bathing suits: The trek peters out at Reef Bay, perfect for a refreshing dip. The Virgin Island National Park Service offers guided hikes and boat rides.

Underwater schools: Beautiful Trunk Bay, on the north shore, offers a snorkel "trail" and "SNUBA" diving. Both are hybrids: The underwater "hike" displays 15 plaques that point out coral and identify fish, while SNUBA combines snorkeling and diving (you draw air via a hose from the boat instead of from a tank strapped to your back). Tip: Inquire about cruise ship schedules and go in between dockings to avoid crowds.

St. John, USVI

Just east of Puerto Rico -- and south of sister islands St. Thomas and St. John -- rises the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands: The 82 pastoral square miles of St. Croix. If you feel St. Thomas is too busy and St. John too quiet, St. Croix may be just what you‘re looking for: A great balance of culture, beaches, history, and exciting outdoor -- and underwater -- activities.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 5 hours from NYC, 10 hours from Los Angeles, 7 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, rental car (keep left!), ferry
Entry requirements: Passport, or photo I.D. and original birth certificate

When to Go: St. Croix at its best
Best weather: February to August. Year-round temperatures range from 69 (winter evenings) to 84 degrees. Rainy season runs from September to January.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

Why To Go
Adrenalin: Outdoors is where it‘s at on St. Croix. Canter through a rain forest on horseback, pedal the island‘s western coast with a rented bike, or kayak the Salt River. While you’re at it, you can learn about the island‘s history and fascinating fauna (including the Pain Killer, Monkey-No-Climb, and Stinking Toe trees).

Sea Creatures: Dive with seahorses at Frederiksted Pier (also a popular night-dive spot); explore one of four wrecks at Butler Bay; or visit the colorful five-mile-long Cane Bay Wall, site of a sponge big enough to stand in (although doing so would kill it). Not a diver? Snorkelers will love Buck Island Reef National Monument, where you can swim with parrotfish and blue tangs among dramatic reef structures. There are many chartered boats that will take you out to sea in day, night, or -- our favorite -- sunset.

Architecture: In both the coastal towns of Christiansted and Victorian-inspired Frederiksted, tin-roof buildings draped in brilliant bougainvillea are painted in Easter egg colors including pale yellow, pink, sage, and ochre. Arcaded sidewalks lead you past little shops, galleries, and restaurants. Stop and skim the historical plaques you‘ll see to get a glimpse into the island‘s past.

St. Croix, USVI

St. Thomas, located about 50 miles east of Puerto Rico, is the second-largest U.S. Virgin Island. When cruise ships slip into dock (up to 11 at a time!), the narrow streets look as though pillaging pirates have truly found where X marks the spot. (Don‘t worry: When frenzied spending starts to weigh heavy on your conscience, you can cleanse yourself in the quiet and regal natural beauty of nearby St. John, just a short ferry ride away.) Also ready for exploring are a variety of excellent restaurants, champagne-hued beaches, and colorful sightseeing beneath the sea.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport, or photo I.D. and original birth certificate
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollars
Flight time: 3 1/2 hours from NYC; 11 hours from Los Angeles; 8 hours from Chicago; 7 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, rental car (keep left!), ferry

When To Go: St. Thomas at its best
Best weather: February to August. Year-round temperatures range from 69 (winter evenings) to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season runs from September to January.

Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).

What To Do
Stroll on sugary beaches: Magens Bay, once named one of the world‘s most beautiful beaches by National Geographic, is the island‘s most famous stretch of sand. (Be sure to stop in at nearby Udder Delight, where you can buy a Cruzan rum-splashed milk shake.) Coki Beach, Sapphire Beach, and Morning Star Beach are also alluring escapes.

Golf: The recently renovated, George and Tom Fazio-designed, 18-hole Mahogany Run Golf Course boasts a distracting view of the islands and a tricky 3-hole "Devil‘s Triangle" in which you must clear a slice of Caribbean Sea that lies between the green and your tee. Call (800) 253-7103 to make reservations.

Explore underwater: Divers and non-divers alike will love the aquatic sights off St. Thomas. Those who prefer to stay dry can sightsee in the Undersea Observatory or at one of many aquariums and pools -- where you can also pet stingrays and sharks. Certified divers will revel in the island‘s many wrecks -- including the Cartanser Sr., a World War II cargo ship, and the Major General Rogers, an intentionally sunk Coast Guard ship with a resident barracuda -- and reef-encrusted tunnels at Thatch, Grass, and Congo Cays.
-- Lori Seto

St. Thomas, USVI

Spread across the lower Atlantic between Florida and Cuba, the 700 islands of the Bahamas -- most are inhabited -- offer a merry mix of buzzing playgrounds, tranquil escapes, and ample underwater delights.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info:
Language: English
Flight time (to Nassau): 5.5 hours from NYC, 8 hours from LA, 5.5 hours from Chicago and Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, bus, golf cart
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Currency: U.S. dollar, Bahamian dollar

When To Go: The Bahamas at its best
Best weather: December to April
Best prices: June to December; exact dates vary by hotel
Festivals: Don‘t miss Junkanoo, a uniquely Bahamian costume parade in which people dance to copper cowbells, goombay drums, and whistles from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. on December 26 and January 1.
Knot Note: Nassau is extra-crowded during March and April, when spring breakers invade.

Where To Go
Nassau/Paradise Island: A tropical blend of vibrant energy and romantic atmosphere keeps the tourists flocking to the sandy shores of Nassau. The lively city, located on the northeast shore of the island of New Providence, is the capital of the Bahamas and one of the world‘s busiest cruise ports. Paradise Island is just an eyebrow-arched bridge away. Compact and colorful, Nassau and Paradise Island offer easy access to water sports, shopping, casinos and nightlife.

Grand Bahama Island: This fourth-largest island in the chain is only a 50-minute flight from Miami and exudes an airy, spread-out feel compared to Nassau. Its allure is a mellow mix of entertainment, back-to-nature treats, and beautiful beaches. Meet the West Indian Flamingo, the islands‘ national bird, at Rand Nature Centre or explore huge caves at Lucayan National Park; take diving lessons; browse the duty-free bounty at International Bazaar in Freeport; and, when the sun sets, dance beneath the stars -- or just sit back and sip a Kalik beer as you watch steel pan drum players, limbo, and fire dancers at the Yellow Bird Show Club.

Out Islands: The Out Islands have a bit of shopping and nightlife -- but their real appeal lies in and under the sea. Succumb to the stunning pink sands and charming gingerbread houses of Harbour Island; dramatic views and soft white beaches of Long Island; sailing and bird watching around the Abaco Islands; the land and sea parks of the Exumas and Pelican Cays; and sport fishing off the Bimini and Berry Islands.

What To Do
Swim and snorkel: Snorkelers and divers alike will swoon over the prismatic pleasures that await them in the coral reefs, blue holes (caves), wall dives, and shipwrecks off the Bahamas -- in fact, the water is so beautifully clear that divers experience visibility of up to 200 feet! The biggest eyefuls are off Andros (home to the third largest Barrier Reef in the world, with 140 miles of coral and cathedral-like caves with stalactite and stalagmite parishioners), Bimini (rumored remnants of the lost City of Atlantis lie offshore), Eleuthera/Harbour Island (Devil‘s Backbone is several miles of pristine reef -- and the graveyard for dozens of vessels, including a train!), and the Exuma Islands, site of the famous Thunderball Grotto.

Experience local flavor: If you like to eat, you‘ll love the Bahamian cuisine. Begin by combining homegrown resources such as guava, mangos, papaya, pineapple, and plantains with the daily catch of conch (believed to be an aphrodisiac), kingfish, wahoo, and grouper. Add a dash of Caribbean spice -- curry, ginger, thyme, and saffron -- and wash it all down with pineapple wine from Eleuthera. Don‘t miss a chance to try island classics such as johnnycakes (a pan-fried bread), chicken souse (a spicy chicken soup), or guava duff (a sweet, pudding-like dessert).

Go sailing: There are plenty of boats bobbing in the crystal-blue water, and many are available for chartering or group tours. The real thrill, though, is in joining the crew onboard one of New Zealand‘s former racing yachts for some America‘s Cup-style racing! Bring your honey to the deck of one of Sail Nassau‘s two multi-million dollar Racers, where you can take the helm or just sit back and feel the wind in your hair.

The Bahamas

"T & T" is apt shorthand for Trinidad and Tobago. The tiny twosome, an island nation off Venezuela‘s northeastern coast, is renowned for zesty Caribbean culture amidst dynamite natural surroundings. Pristine rainforest cloaks the isles‘ mountainous interiors, draping down to sandy shorelines straddling the aqua-tinted Caribbean Sea and the deep-blue Atlantic Ocean. Ethnically diverse hamlets -- predominately African and East Indian with a smidgen of Middle Eastern, European, and indigenous Arawak -- create a cultural mélange across the lush landscape. One moment you‘re passing a Hindu temple and the next you‘re gyrating to a Carib-African steel band beat. Then it‘s off to trek through Amazonian-like rainforests for glimpses of iridescently plumed birds, or stroll aside turquoise-toned surf splashing up against palm-studded beaches every bit as postcard picturesque as some faraway South Seas escape.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Language: English
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TT$)
Flight time: 5 hours from NYC
Getting around: Bus, rental car (keep left), taxi, ferry

When To Go
Best weather: Like many islands in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago have a dry and rainy season -- the dry season lasts from January to May and the rainy season runs from June through December. Temperatures during the day are warm, but not unbearable, and it is pleasantly cool in the evenings.
Best prices: Early September through mid-December; exact rates vary by hotel.

What To Do
Trinidad:
Go to the Asa Wright Nature Center and Lodge: Spend a day, or perhaps overnight here, located an hour east of Port of Spain high in the Northern Range Forest Reserve, where birdwatchers are guaranteed a kaleidoscopic of hummingbirds and tanagers within this 200-acre wildlife sanctuary surrounding a vintage plantation estate.

Visit during Carnival: Beginning with the New Year leading up to the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, 100-member steel bands tease out new riffs; costume designers stitch up hurricanes of spangles and sequins for folks to "play mas" (masquerade); and calypsonians create witty rhyming commentaries poking fun at everyone, especially politicians. Rest up before heading to these festivals because the party never ends here.

Go to festivals: March heralds the Phagwah Festival of Color, during which residents douse each other with colored water. Goat-skin "tassa" drums sound the July arrival of Hosay, an Islamic fete and parade of jeweled tadjah, shoulder-mounted floats symbolizing martyrs‘ tombs. Divali, a Hindu festival of light, marks October evenings, with flickering oil lamps lined atop city walls and on window sills. November vibrates with the Pan Jazz Festival, drawing international performers to match jazzy tunes to steel pan tempos.

Tobago:
Get to the Main Ridge Forest Reserve: This reserve dominates the isle‘s humpbacked terrain, the oldest nature sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere. Birders by the score come here for a peek at more than 400 species of feathered marvels, from green parrots to red-billed tropic birds. Don’t forget your binoculars!

Rent an open-topped 4WD: Get one for the day, then head out for a spin. Remember to drive on the left (T&T was once British) as you negotiate the narrow, winding lanes that skirt the island‘s hilly shoreline. At every twist and turn, vistas deliver dreamy panoramas. Plenty of small villages are welcome rest stops to ease arms weary from too many steering-wheel whirls.

Take a day trip: For a romantic getaway, bring your bathing suits to the Lure Estate Waterfalls or The Argyle Waterfall. There, with the rainforest as your backdrop and a bamboo canopy, you might be tempted to take an enchanting tropical dip in the breathtaking waterfalls.
-- Dan Klinglesmith

Trinidad & Tobago

Called the "land of the turtle doves," Tortola is the largest British Virgin Island (with 13,000 inhabitants) and the easiest to reach. Powdery white beaches and lush green mountains set the scene at this friendly destination, and you won‘t have to lie in the shadow of any big condos -- no building can rise higher than the surrounding palm trees.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 4.75 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 7.5 hours from Chicago
Getting around: Taxi, bus, ferry, rental car (you‘ll need to buy a local license; keep left!)

When To Go: Tortola at its best
Best weather: The British Virgin Islands receive little annual rainfall. The temperature ranges from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and a steady trade wind keeps humidity low and evenings cool in winter.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

What To Do
Feel the beat: Hang out at local bars and you‘ll hear calypso, steel-drum bands, reggae, and soca (a combination of calypso, soul, and reggae), plus indigenous music such as fungi -- scratch bands that produce musical sounds from objects such as washtubs, gourds and bottles.

See shipwrecks: Dive the RMS Rhone, a 310-foot royal mail steamer that sank in 1867. The ship‘s bow and stern rest at depths from 15 to 90 feet and are so well preserved that The Deep was filmed here.

Stroll through the city: Laid-back and picturesque Road Town is loaded with fun souvenirs and great eats -- try homemade jams, spices, Pusser‘s Rum and guava berry liqueur. Once your belly is full, wander through the vine-covered pathways and miniature rainforest of J.R. O‘Neal Botanic Gardens.

Tortola, BVI

This destination may not have the most enticing name (Virgin Gorda translates to "Fat Virgin"), but there‘s plenty to explore on this enchanting isle, and the unique grottoes of its secluded Baths are unbelievably romantic. The unique name was given by Christopher Columbus in 1493 when he saw the silhouette of a portly or pregnant woman lying on her back in the topography of this eight and a half square mile island. (It‘s the third largest of the British Virgin Islands.)

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 4.75 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA, 7.5 hours from Chicago
Getting around: Taxi, ferry, rental car (keep left!)

When To Go: Virgin Gorda at its best
Best weather: The BVI receives little annual rainfall. The temperature ranges from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and a steady trade wind keeps humidity low.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December

What To Do
Hike national parks: Go for a hike at Little Fort National Park, the site of a wildlife sanctuary and the stone-wall skeleton of an old Spanish fort. Other good spots for wandering include Devil‘s Bay National Park, one of several pristine parks given by the Rockefellers to the BVI government in the 1960s, and Gorda Peak National Park, the island‘s highest point. You can also head to the island‘s newest park, Copper Mine, for beautiful views of Tortola, the Dogs, and other islands.

Try the Baths: This popular strip of beach features caves, grottoes, and pools formed by huge granite boulders -- some as big as small houses! For more privacy, follow the shoreline north to quieter Spring, Crawl, Little Trunk, and Valley Trunk bays, or head south to Devil‘s Bay.

Virgin Gorda, BVI

Scenic peaks and lush vegetation are just a few things that make this southern Caribbean island so idyllic. St. Lucia‘s symbols are the jagged Piton peaks, rugged mountains that climb from the sea to lofty heights. Located on the island‘s southwest coast, the verdant slopes of Gros Piton and Petit Piton are among the Caribbean‘s most recognizable landmarks.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar, U.S. dollars
Flight time: 7 hours from NYC, 12 hours from LA, 10 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Bus, rental car (drive on the left!), ferry, taxi

When To Go: St. Lucia at its best
Best weather: St. Lucia‘s climate is mild, with almost constant northeast trade winds. The mean temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainy season runs from June to November.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).
Festival highlights: The four-day St. Lucia Jazz Festival is held in May; Carnival is celebrated in extravagant style the third Monday and Tuesday in July

What To Do
Stroll through a rainforest: You‘ll need a guide to enter the restricted rainforest region, so sign up for a tour to walk through the dense foliage and swim in a tropical waterfall. If you‘re lucky, you may see the rare St. Lucian parrot.

Tour a volcano: Volcano: Walk to the edge of the Sulphur Springs volcano, which last erupted two centuries ago. Lounge in the nearby mineral baths, built among ruins of the first baths commissioned by French King Louis XIV for use by his troops.

Go snorkeling: Don your fins and enjoy the underwater scenery via lazy drift dives, coral walls (some plunging 200 feet deep!), and a 165-foot freighter sunk near Anse Cochon. Keep your eyes peeled: Barrel sponges, angel fish, sea horses, spotted eels, stingrays, nurse sharks, and sea turtles call the area home. Beach entry is best at Anse Chastanet, a hotel on the southwest coast.

Go shopping: Castries, on the island‘s north side, is St. Lucia‘s capital and offers a lively Saturday market, where vendors sell everything from fruits and local spices to crafts. Choiseul, on the south side, is home to the Arts and Crafts Development Centre -- perfect for finding locally made straw, wood, and clay handcrafts.

Go dancing: Gros Islet, a small island off the northwest shore, is known throughout the Caribbean for its Friday night "jump-up." Street-side music blares as residents and locals jam to the sounds of reggae, soca, and calypso.
-- Paris Permenter & John Bigley

St. Lucia

If you‘re looking to for a private, luxurious getaway, consider the Cayman Islands. What you‘ll find here are breath-taking aqua-blue waters and more than seven miles of beaches. What you won‘t find are all-inclusive resorts and beachside peddling (think hair braiding), which makes this trio of islands a breath of fresh air in the heart of the Caribbean Sea.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 6 hours from NYC, 8 hours from LA, 7 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, rental car (keep left!)

When To Go: The Cayman Islands at their best
Best weather: The Cayman Islands have an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. March and April are driest; the rainy season (including hurricanes) is from mid-May to October.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel

Why To Go
Grand Cayman: The largest of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman boasts many options for vacationers, from five-star resorts on the powdery, seven-mile beach to little bed-and-breakfasts along the way. Don‘t miss shopping in historic Georgetown, where you‘ll find high-end retailers like Cartier and Tiffany & Co. right alongside Jimmy Buffet‘s Margaritaville and the Hard Rock Cafe. If you‘d rather get up close with creatures of the deep, Sting Ray City is just a ten-minute boat ride away, or you may be able to snorkel in live reefs just a short swim from your hotel. If lounging around with a frozen drink in hand is more your style, don‘t leave without ordering a mudslide at beachside Rum Point.

Cayman Brac: Adventurous couples will want to check out Cayman Brac, a 40-minute plane ride from Grand Cayman. These rugged 14 square miles feature a dramatic 140-foot bluff that is home to dozens of caves worth exploring, alongside underwater shipwrecks and exotic woodlands teeming with tropical birds.

Little Cayman: The Cayman Islands are renowned for their diving opportunities, which become even more outstanding on Little Cayman Just a 20-minute plane ride from Grand Cayman, this 10-mile long island is home to 50 dive sites, including 6,000-foot sheer coral wall. If you don‘t want to dive, you‘ll have no problem finding a quite respite here -- since the island has just 170 residents, romance abounds on uninhabited beaches and the almost private South Hole Lagoon.

Cayman Islands

This small, sophisticated expat island in the southeast Caribbean offers plenty of British charm without the gray weather (it even lies outside the hurricane zone!). Here, afternoon tea and cricket matches mix with spicy food and amazing sunsets for a stress-free escape.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 4.5 hours from NYC, 9.5 hours from LA, 8 hours from Chicago, 7 hours from Dallas
Getting around: Taxi, rental car (keep left!), bus
Entry requirements: Passport, return ticket

When To Go: Barbados at its best
Best weather: The climate in Barbados is tropical with the rainy season lasting from June to October. The temperature is usually pleasant and hurricanes are infrequent.
Best prices: Early September to mid-December; exact rates vary by hotel.

Why To Go
Nature‘s finest: This island has everything you want in a vacation destination. The rocky, wind-whipped Atlantic coast is one of the world‘s best windsurfing spots, while the tranquil west coast that faces the Caribbean Sea -- called the Platinum Coast -- is lined with posh resorts. For romance, gaze at the waterfalls and limestone formations of mile-long Harrison‘s Cave. Or, the Flower Forest near Mt. Hillaby offers a heady mix of aphrodisiac fragrances and tropical flora to lull you into each other‘s arms. Nature lovers can frolic freely with Mother Nature‘s green monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, then picnic at picturesque Farley Hill National Park.

Sports and sightseeing: For landlubbers, Bajans (as Barbados residents are called) are crazy about cricket and golf (four courses dot the island). But if you want to take to the water, board a catamaran in Bridgetown for lunchtime snorkeling, or set sail for a sunset dinner cruise and sip a Banks Beer as the sun surrenders to stars. If you would rather sip Barbados‘ own sweet elixir, Bajan Gold, check out the Mount Gay Rum Visitors Centre or the Malibu Visitors Centre, where Malibu Caribbean White Rum with Coconut is produced.

Dining and nightlife: Once you worked up an appetite, indulge your taste buds with spicy French-Caribbean cuisine at the cliff-side tables of Carambola, or grab a seat on the intimate, torch-lit terrace overlooking the Caribbean at The Cliff. Then dance the night away in "irie" oblivion to live soca, reggae, or calypso at Harbour Lights or After Dark, home of the longest bar on the island.

Barbados

Fun-loving couples who want a "no problem" getaway will revel in happy-go-lucky Jamaica. The third largest island in the Caribbean, Jamaica is easy to reach, economical, and blessed with a bevy of sports and natural offerings as well as a thriving nightlife. Surrounded by the bright blue sea, the "land of wood and water" has six mountain ranges, 120 rivers, 200 miles of beaches, 25 indigenous bird species, 3,800 flowering plants -- 720 of which are unique to Jamaica -- and over 500 types of ferns.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English, patois
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC, 7.5 hours from LA, 6 hours from Chicago
Getting around: Licensed JUTA taxi recommended

When To Go: Jamaica at its best
Best weather: December to April. Rain (called "liquid sunshine") is common, especially in October.
Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December; exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).

Where To Go
Montego Bay: Located near the airport on the northwest side of the island, "MoBay" is perfect for golf getaways and short vacations. You can pack a lot of window shopping, beach bumming, and rum punches into a short period of time.

Ocho Rios: Garden strollers and nature lovers should make the trip from the airport to Ocho Rios, called "Jamaica‘s Garden," where you‘ll find awe-inspiring waterfalls, tropical flora, sugar plantations, and quaint fishing villages.
Port Antonio: Called the "most exquisite port on earth," Port Antonio is a less-developed seaside gem on the northeast side of the island near where jerked cooking was invented, and The Blue Lagoon was filmed. Need we say more?
Negril: Legendary for its hedonistic happenings, this once-sleepy secret on the west coast is out. The main draws here are the beautiful Seven Mile Beach, cerulean sea, glorious sunsets, and miles of colorful reef.
Kingston: Although Bob Marley‘s homebase is culturally rich, we don‘t recommend Kingston for vacationers, unless you seek the roots of reggae (visit the Bob Marley Museum) or a starting point to the spas and hikes in the beautiful Blue Mountains.

Jamaica

On the tiny piece of paradise called Mustique, you won‘t feel pressure to do a much other than relax and relish the natural beauty that surrounds you. But even though this Caribbean island (part of the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines) is all about taking it easy, little about it could be called low-key. Its small size (just two square miles) and high prices equal exclusivity, and you might find yourself sipping rum punch next to part-time resident Mick Jagger. Although the hotels are top-notch, many vacationers choose to rent a villa, since there are hundreds available and many come equipped with a staff.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean dollar
Flight time: 50 minutes from Barbados, which is 4 1/2 hours from NYC, 3 from Miami
Getting around: Rent a Kawasaki Mule (a jeep/golf cart hybrid), a motorcycle, jeep or bicycle. Taxis are also available.

When To Go: Mustique at its best
Best weather: It‘s sunny and mild from December to August, with average highs in the mid-80s in the winter, high 80s in summer. Just avoid hurricane season (September through November) when many of the island‘s businesses shut down.
Best prices: Glamorous globetrotters flock to the island from December to April, so to find bargains plan your trip between May and August.

What To Do
Beach hop: All of Mustique‘s nine beaches are breathtaking, but each is slightly different as well, so sample a few of them during your stay. The water on the Caribbean side is as warm and clear as a swimming pool, while the Atlantic-facing beaches feature more dramatic surf.

Get pampered: Since the island seems to possess a surplus of outrageously beautiful people, you might feel inspired to polish up your own appearance at the luxe spa at the Cotton House hotel. In addition to a long menu of indulgent treatments, they offer a guy-specific Men of Mustique facial.

Sidle up to a bar: When you need a break from lying on the sand, order up a cool cocktail at one of the island‘s picturesque local watering holes. You can‘t go to Mustique without at least one visit to Basil‘s Bar -- a legendary spot perched above the water on stilts -- to listen to reggae and devour burgers or lobster.
-- Celeste Perron

Photo courtesy of The Mustique Company

Mustique

The tiny island of Nevis is considered by some to be one of the Caribbean‘s most beautiful. It‘s not overly developed or packed with tourists, but isn‘t a backwater, either -- its shores are dotted with quietly luxurious hotels and restaurants. And unlike some other islands, where people think you‘ve lost it if you try to engage in exercise beyond raising a p?na colada to your lips, Nevis offers a wealth of ways to get active -- both water-based activities like diving, windsurfing and kayaking, and land-lubber sports like hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and golf.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean dollar
Flight time: About 6 hours from NYC, 12 from LA. You‘ll have to connect to a flight from a larger island like Puerto Rico or St. Martin.

When To Go: Nevis at its best
Best weather: November through May is reliably gorgeous, with average highs in the high-70s to mid-80s.
Best prices: Look for bargains in June, when the high season has ended and hurricane season is just starting (so the risk of a big storm is still low). You‘ll likely find even cheaper fares in August and September, but those months are the riskiest, weather-wise.

What To Do

Take a hike: You can climb all or part of Nevis Peak, which rises an impressive 3,000+ feet above sea level. Take a map and brave it yourselves, or hire a friendly and informative local guide to lead the way. If you‘re not up for mountain climbing, there are a number of smaller hills and more gentle trails around Nevis that are perfect for mellow hikes and mountain bike rides.

Be beach bums: When you‘re done flexing your muscles for the day, sack out on one of the beaches that rim the island. One beautiful one is Pinney‘s Beach, three miles of reef-protected dark sand.

Catch your dinner: The waters around Nevis swimming with tasty fish such as tuna, mahi mahi, grouper and snapper. Most fishing charters include an open bar, so if your lines come up empty you won‘t mind.
-- Celeste Perron

Nevis

Bermuda is about 180 islands and islets -- located 650 miles east of North Carolina -- that offer couples a tropical getaway that‘s close to home and a cinch to navigate. Off shore, abundant coral reefs and the numerous shipwrecks have earned this British colony the nickname "Isle of Devils." On shore, verdant Bermuda is blanketed in blooms including freesia, bougainvillea, passion flower, bird of paradise, royal Poinciana, frangipani, and many varieties of hibiscus.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 2 hours from NYC, 9 1/2 hours from LA, 3 1/2 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Dallas
Getting around: You can‘t rent cars, but you can easily get around by taxi, bus, ferry, moped, or bike
Entry requirements: Passport and return or onward ticket
Currency: Bermudian dollars (U.S. dollars are also widely accepted)

When To Go: Bermuda at its best
Best weather: May to November. Year-round temperatures range from the mid 60s to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. January receives the most rain, though rainfall is fairly consistent throughout the year.
Best prices: November to March (other than Christmas and New Year‘s); exact dates vary by hotel. Hurricane season swirls from June to November (September is trickiest).
Why To Go
Golf: Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any other country in the world. Best courses: Mid Ocean Club, Port Royal Golf Course, and Riddell’s Bay Golf & Country Club.

Diving: They don‘t call it "The Bermuda Triangle" for nothing. A fantasia of more than 400 wrecks awaits divers beneath the cerulean sea near Bermuda. Explore the Cristobal Colon, a 499-foot Spanish luxury liner that sunk in 1936, or dive a stacked wreck!

It’s pink!: Twenty-one miles of pink beaches encircle this otherwise green island. The coast takes on its powder-pink hue thanks to waves battering and breaking down tiny, calcified pink animals attached to the surrounding coral reef. Homes, buildings, and churches are also painted in every shade of pink imaginable and are topped with white rippled roofs, offering a brilliant contrast to the deep blue sky.

Bermuda

Before the growing green trend shines the spotlight on Bonaire, be one of the few to discover this well-kept eco-friendly island in the Caribbean. Though it‘s probably the least know of the ABC islands -- Aruba and Curacao being the other two -- Bonaire is certainly not lacking in things to do. Before You Go: Need-to-know info Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket Language: Papiamentu (Bonaire‘s language), Dutch, English and Spanish Flight time: 7 hours from NYC, 11 hours from LA Getting around: Taxis When To Go: Bonaire at its best Best weather: Just 12 degrees north of the equator, Bonaire averages 81 degrees year-round with humidity hovering around 76%. The constant tradewinds keep the island on the cooler side during evenings. This destination is also a safe bet during hurricane season (late summer/early fall). Best prices: Mid-April to mid-December Why To Go: Eco-friendly island: Conversation is the main goal on this 24-mile-long destination. The island is surrounded by a natural reef that is protected to 200 feet deep underwater, while above ground the Washington Slagbaai National Park covers 13,500 acres. Here you can hike, cycle, or trek and observe the island‘s lazy iguanas, various species of birds, and goats in their natural habitat of cacti, caves, and patches of volcanic rock and fossilized coral. Water sports: Back to the natural reef -- protected since 1979, Bonaire‘s waters have become a prime destination for those who love to dive and snorkel. Below the surface you‘ll find the island‘s native frogfish, along with other amphibians, crustaceans, and sea life. The island‘s steady tradewinds also makes windsurfing enjoyable year-round. Birdwatching: While there is about 200 species of birds on the island, the flamingo steals the sunlight as the island‘s signature avian. At a given time, there can be thousands of flamingos peppering the landscape, most of which are protected with in Bonaire‘s Flamingo Sanctuary. Also keep your eye out for sea birds, heron, egrets, and parakeets.

Bonaire

Set between the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica‘s landscape is dramatic and stunning. Here you‘ll discover a new kind of Caribbean getaway with its skyscraping mountain peaks, deep green flora, hot springs, a boiling lake (the second largest in the world), and hundreds of crystal blue rivers and streams. The island‘s many faces make it the perfect place to kayak in the mountain lakes, snorkel the reefs, or hike the picturesque valleys and forests.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Valid passport and return ticket
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar
Flight time: 6 ½ hours from NYC, 14 hours from LA

When To Go: Dominica at its best
Best weather: A tropical island climate, the best times to visit are December-April when the weather is cooler and the rains aren‘t as common. Also be forewarned, hurricane season runs June to October.

What To Do
Test the waters: Whether you‘re kayaking on one of the island‘s many lakes, swimming in a secluded rainforest pool, or snorkeling and diving among the fishes and the dramatic reefs and pinnacles, you won‘t want to miss out on exploring the island‘s waters. For diving sites, consider taking a night dive to Champagne Reef near Soufriere where you may spot exotic seahorses and frogfish.

See the whales: Dominica prides itself as the "Whale Watching Capital of the Caribbean" and boasts a 95% success record on whale watching tours. The deep waters around Dominica make the area an ideal place to see the rare sperm whale, as well as 21 other whale species. Another rare water mammal to see while you‘re there? Don‘t be surprised if you spot some dolphins, which are abundant in the surrounding Dominica waters.

Hike the rainforest: Nature lovers look no further. Dominica‘s trails will take you through gorges, valleys, and mountains as tall as 4,000 feet. For an easy hike, take a 15-minute walk to the Trafalgar Falls where you‘ll find a lush rainforest, waterfalls, and warm pools too. Or, take a longer trek to Boiling Lake and feast your eyes on the world‘s second largest bubbling lake.
-- Anja Winikka

Dominica

This "spice island," famous for producing huge quantities of nutmeg, has become a vacationer‘s idyll in recent years, offering a trifecta of beach, rainforest and rich culture. In Grenada you can sail, scuba dive or sunbathe one day, hike to the top of a foliage-covered mountain the next, and then spend some time soaking up French and English colonial culture by strolling the streets of capitol city St. George‘s.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (EC)
Flight time: 4 hours from New York City
Getting around: Taxi or rental car

When To Go: Grenada at its best
Best weather: Temperatures average a balmy 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. June through December is considered the rainy season (though it rains on and off all year), and January through May are typically warm and dry with a pleasant breeze.
Best prices: As with any Caribbean island, you‘re most likely to find deals during the "off-season" of summer and early fall.

What To Do

Set sail: After spending the requisite time sacked out on Grenada‘s gorgeous beaches, try seeing the water from the vantage point of a yacht -- the island is known for its great sailing conditions. (If you‘re a sailing newbie you can take lessons, or go the pampered route and charter a boat that comes with a crew.)

Take a hike: At the island‘s center you‘ll find the Grand Etang National Park, which is filled with verdant rainforests surrounding a crater lake. Whether you‘re up for just a mellow stroll or a heart-pumping hike, you‘ll be able to find a trail suited precisely to the level of exertion you seek.

Island hop: Take a 90-minute ferry ride to the nearby island of Carriacou, where you can do more basking on the beach, relax at a laid-back seaside bar, or spy exotic flora and fauna at the local botanical garden.
-- Celeste Perron

Grenada

As a French territory just north of Martinique, you won‘t find many glamorous resorts here -- instead, you‘ll experience the island by way of small local inns and mouthwatering Creole cuisine. And with sugar and rum plantations, secluded beaches, modern cities, tropical rain forests, and a 4,723-foot tall volcano splattered with banana trees, you might just want to kiss your mainland home goodbye and set up shop here.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Valid passport
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC

When To Go: Guadeloupe at its best
Best weather: Summer temps usually stay in the low 80s, and in the winter, temps stay within the mid 70s. The rainiest months are June to October, and the driest are February to April -- also the peak tourist season. Note: Try to avoid the July to November hurricane season.

What To Do
Go to the park: Guadeloupe Mountains National Park offers some of the most stunning natural wonders on the island. There, you can hike to see Deux Mamelles, two summits located deep into the jungle; and the Carbet Waterfall. Another attraction: Located in the middle of Basse-Terra is Parc Naturel de Guadeloupe (a tropical forest), brimming with orchids.

Island hop: If you have the time, jet over to one of Guadeloupe‘s offshore remote islands such as Iles des Saintes -- a collection of eight small islands -- or Marie-Galante. Most of the locals on Marie-Galante make their living on sugar and rum. Check out the Distillerie Bielle for a tour and to sample some of the best rum in the Caribbean.

See the volcano: Drive to La Soufriere, and climb to the mouth of the volcano. Although the volcano is presumed dormant, it still smokes from time to time and the locals keep an eye on the sulfurous mound. If the volcano intrigues you, make a reservation at the Observatoire Volcanologique le Houelmont to take a tour of the laboratory where French government geologists and volcanologists are busy collecting data and observing the large island volcano.
-- Anja Winikka

Guadeloupe

A volcanic island with dramatic mountains and lush vegetation, St. Kitts, located in the eastern Caribbean, is your prime R&R location. You‘ll find pristine natural surroundings, blue Caribbean waters, warm sandy beaches, and much more. Nature lovers shouldn‘t miss touring the lava formations, tropical forests, and blue-green lagoons. For the adventurers, there are always boating tours and scuba diving expeditions. For a lazy day of shopping, let the quaint, tiny towns draw you in, and you‘ll be captivated by their beautiful Colonial architecture and quiet peaceful surroundings.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Valid passport
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar
Flight time: About 6 hours from NYC

When To Go: St. Kitts at its best
Best weather: Average temperatures fall between 72 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, and you‘ll find the prime tourism season between December and April.
Note: Avoid hurricane season, which lasts from June through the end of November.

What To Do
Tee off: With crystal blue waters to one side and an eye-opening volcano covered with lush tropical foliage to the other, you‘ll find golfing on one of St. Kitts‘ championship golf courses a real treat. Check out the St. Kitts Royal Golf Club, but beware on holes 15, 16, and 17 -- lest you lose your ball in the Atlantic Ocean!
Sail away: Hop aboard one of St. Kitts‘ many catamarans for a day on the water of snorkeling and exploring the vibrant sea life. Many tours will take you to the neighboring island, Nevis for a day where you can swim with the fishes and explore the reef. Many packages include all the equipment for a day of snorkeling and some even offer a barbecue lunch on the beach. How‘s that for island life?
Dine right: For a meal as perfect as St. Kitts, make a reservation at Rawlins Plantation Hotel & Restaurant (RawlinsPlantation.com), a former sugar cane plantation set on Mount Liamuiga. There, you‘ll find a tantalizing menu of West Indian cuisine. At lunch it‘s a West Indian buffet. And in the evenings, you‘ll find a fixed four-course menu made of fresh local ingredients.
-- Anja Winikka

St. Kitts

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a nation made up of the lush, volcanic isle of St. Vincent along with the northern portion of the chain of islands known as the Grenadines (the bottom portion are dependencies of Grenada). With a bit of island-hopping, this Caribbean paradise will have you bathing in waterfalls, admiring six types of dolphin, climbing volcanoes and napping in hammocks. There are over 30 islands in this heavenly realm, with plenty of opportunities for total tropical seclusion.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: English
Flight time: 8 hours from NYC, 14 hours from LA
Getting around: Car (keep left!), taxi, boat, bus

When To Go: St. Vincent and the Grenadines at their best
Best weather: December to May. Year-round temperatures average 70 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best prices: April to December

Why To Go
St. Vincent for its volcanic wonder: The largest island of the nation is home to La Soufrière, a 4,000-foot active volcano, making for spectacular hikes, lush vegetation and exotic black sand beaches. A beautiful drive through banana plantations takes you to the start of a 2 1/2 hours hike through bamboo groves, a rainforest, and a rocky lava field. At the top, especially daring couples can even climb down a rope into the crater and treat themselves to a mineral mud bath.

Petit St. Vincent for total privacy: The sandy white island of Petit St. Vincent offers 22 scattered private cottages, all featuring enchanting views and complete isolation. If it‘s relaxation you‘re after, this is certainly the place. Hammocks are strategically placed along the beaches, and there are no telephones, no televisions, and no air-conditioners. There aren‘t even room keys. There is, however, great service. If you want or need anything (say, a margarita in your room or a picnic lunch on the beach), just shimmy a yellow flag up the bamboo pole outside your villa. The island staff will come right over to hear your wishes. Now that‘s paradise.

Petit Tabac for movie-scene bliss: Remember the scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl where Johnny Depp was stranded on an unbelievable island with a big crate of rum? That‘s here -- on one of the five uninhabited islets of the Tobago Cays. All five are lined with palm trees on fine white sand, and masses of colorful fish beneath crystal blue waters make for some of the world‘s best snorkeling. The crescent-shaped islet featured in the Disney blockbuster is the least accessible in the Cays, but its coconut tree-studded shores are worth the trouble.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Less developed and more upscale than many other spots in the Caribbean, this collection of forty islands, eight of which are inhabited, gives Turks and Caicos an intimate feel. Many of the islands are surrounded by a natural reef, making the turquoise waters clean, calm, and full of sea life. And there‘s plenty to do. Turks and Caicos has some of the best underwater sightseeing around, so snorkeling and scuba diving are a must. Whale and bird watching are two other popular activities, and sunsets over Grace Bay are unforgettable.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Valid passport and return ticket
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar
Flight time: About 4 from NYC to Grand Turk, 13 hours from LA

When To Go: Turks & Caicos at its best
Best weather: The climate is sunny and dry, with highs in the 70s in the winter. In the summer and early fall, daytime highs range from 85 to 90, sometimes reaching the mid-90s in the late summer.
Note: Hurricane season runs from June to November.

What To Do

See the sunset: Try to catch the elusive "green flash" at sunset. This split-second burst of emerald light sometimes happens along the horizon on a clear day.

Get a history lesson: Explore the Historic Cockburn Town on Grand Turk -- some say it‘s the spot where Columbus first landed in 1492. On top of that, the quaint Bermudian-style houses will catch your eye, and you may be tempted to take an impromptu walking tour through town.

Go to the spa: Unwind at the COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot City with a wide range of holistic therapies, including hot river stone and Thai massages, acupuncture, and marine mud therapy. (ComoShambhala.bz)

Ride horses: Between all the snorkeling and the lounging, go horseback riding on Grace Bay beach -- one of the highest rated beaches in the western hemisphere. Plan your equestrian adventure for morning, afternoon, or evening under the moonlight.

Turks & Caicos

Two nations (France and the Netherlands) have gone half-sies on this tiny Caribbean Island. The beautiful destination truly makes the most of its space -- it measures 37 square miles and has 37 beaches! But no matter which side you choose, the French St. Martin or the Dutch Saint Maarteen, beautiful shores, blue water and a happening nightlife await.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: Dutch, French and English are spoken.
Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC, 10 hours from LA
Getting around: Taxi, car

When To Go: Saint Martin at its best
Best weather: Always! It‘s a constant low humidity 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best prices: The high season is December through April so plan around those months for better rates.

What To Do

Try a little bit of everything: The island mixes a European ambience with a laid-back Caribbean feel. You can stroll through cute old towns and dine on culinary delights, or devote your time to more beachy pursuits like sailing, snorkeling or hunting for seashells. Scuba diving is a big draw to the island so you can watch as a parrotfish lunches on coral or a hawksbill turtle glides lazily through the clear blue waters.

Roll the dice: The nights are never dull on the island with bars, clubs and casinos, all of which have craps, blackjack, roulette, and slot machines. Even if you‘re not into gambling yourselves, it‘s fun enough to watch other tourists play the odds, too.

Country hop: The island‘s dual nationality gives you a chance to visit two countries. According to legend, Oyster Pond on the Dutch side is where a Frenchman and Dutchman stood back to back and starting walking around the island in either direction, determining the present-day boundaries between Dutch and French. No need to walk today: it‘s possible to swim between the border (an informal one at that) without even realizing it. You can also hike Mount Concordia, which sits center island and acts as a border.

Saint Martin/St. Maarten

Seven miles east of the island of Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean Sea, is the little island of Vieques. It‘s only about double the size of New York City but it boasts white sand beaches, seclusion and many natural wonders. Though the island has had some controversy in its past (the U.S. Navy used the island as a bombing range and weapons testing ground), those days are no more. Since 2003, the Navy vacated, the tourists arrived, and much of the government-owned land is now leased for cattle grazing -- in fact, part of the island‘s charm are the cattle and horses that roam free!

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: Spanish and English
Flight time: 4 hours from NYC to San Juan, 7 hours from LA to San Juan; 20 minutes from San Juan to Vieques
Getting around: Taxi, car

When To Go: Vieques at its best
Best weather: January to April with temps in the 80s
Best prices: Mid-April to mid December.

What To Do

Be a beach bum: If you want to do nothing more than plop down on the sand and unwind under the sun, Vieques is for you. Sure, there are many beaches to choose from in the Caribbean, but Vieques is a U.S. territory (so there‘s no need for a passport).

Go to the glowing waters: Eco-tourism is hot in Vieques and has something special for travelers who want to see some of nature‘s finest: The island is home Bioluminescent Bay, or Bio-Bay, a natural phenomenon in the Caribbean. This phosphorescent body of water is literally glowing! The light is produced by tiny bioluminescent organisms that leave blue-white trails of phosphorescence in the water. It‘s magical to witness -- like a sea full of fireflies. The best time to see everything light up is on a cloudy or moon-free night (that way the critters really shine). And yes, it‘s safe to swim in the water!

Commune with nature: The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is largest in the Caribbean (a big feat for a small island).The land is nearly untouched and is home to endangered species such as the sea turtle, manatee and brown pelican. Bird watchers will be in heaven, as will divers, snorkelers and anyone who can appreciate unspoiled beaches and habitats.

Vieques

Can‘t decide between the sophistication of a beach resort in Europe and the laid-back (and in-this-hemisphere) ease of a Caribbean island? Consider St. Barths as your destination. The people, cuisine, shopping and nightlife on this tiny island in the French West Indies are every bit as chic as those of St. Tropez, but the aquamarine water and languorous lifestyle are pure Caribbean.

Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Entry requirements: Passport and return ticket
Language: French (English is widely spoken)
Flight time: 4 1/2 hours from NYC, 2 1/2 hours from Miami to the neighboring island of St. Maarten. From there it‘s a ten minute flight or hour long ferry ride.
Getting around: Rental car, motorbike or taxi

When To Go: St. Barths at its best
Best weather: The weather is pretty reliably gorgeous from December to June (highs in the low 80s, lows in the low 70s).
Best prices: You‘ll find some deals in May and June, when the high season has ended but the weather is still optimal (highs in the mid 80s, lows in the mid 70s). Rates are even cheaper from July to November, but that period is less desirable because of the hurricane risk.

What To Do

Sun, snorkel and people watch: St. Barths has 14 beaches, all open to the public and each offering a unique set of pleasures. For snorkeling and swimming, try St. Jean and Grand Cul-de-Sac (which is reef-protected). For privacy, hit Saline. To check out a possibly unparalleled natural collection of sea shells, visit the aptly-named Shell Beach.

Shop for chic treats: St. Barths offers duty-free shopping, which might help you justify a little sight-seeing of the retail variety (look hon, no tax!). You‘ll find posh big-name brands (Hermes, Chanel) as well as seaside essentials like straw hats and locally made body lotions with mesmerizing tropical scents. If you‘re not careful you‘ll wind up buying more haute boho fashions than your suitcases can hold.

Shed your inhibitions: Here the relaxed vibe of the islands combines with the Continental emphasis on savoring the good life to create an atmosphere that condones indulgence. Drink wine at lunch and take an afternoon nap before having a long, late dinner of French and Creole-influenced cuisine.
-- Celeste Perron

St. Barths

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