Caribbean
Turks and Caicos
The best beach in the Caribbean, and we'd defend that. Grace Bay is twelve miles of white sand with almost no rock and water that changes colour four times before it reaches the reef.
It's also where nearly every resort in the country sits, which means the real decision is whether to be on Grace Bay at all. Most first-timers should. But the best hotel in Turks and Caicos, Amanyara, is out on the northwest point, and the two private island properties, Parrot Cay and Ambergris Cay, are somewhere else entirely.
Our guide to the best hotels in Turks and Caicos ranks twelve properties and explains which stretch of coast suits which trip. Families should also read Turks and Caicos with kids.
Direct flights run under three hours from most East Coast hubs, which is the biggest advantage this country has over its rivals. Expect $700 to $1,800 a night in high season, and budget properly for food, because everything is imported.
St Barths
The most expensive island in the Caribbean and the most French. No all-inclusives, no cruise ships, no chain resorts. Around three quarters of visitors rent a villa, the hotels are small, and the whole island is nine square miles.
Eden Rock is the name everyone knows. Cheval Blanc on Flamands is the quieter icon and has the better beach. Le Barthélemy on the Grand Cul de Sac lagoon is where we'd send a family, because the water is shallow and calm in a way the rest of the island's beaches aren't.
Our guide to the best hotels in St Barths covers nine properties by coast.
There are no direct international flights. You connect through St Martin, either on a ten-minute puddle jumper or a forty-five-minute ferry. Rates run €900 to €2,500 a night in high season and roughly triple over Christmas.
Best time to visit the Caribbean
December through April is high season across the whole region. Dry, breezy, and reliably in the eighties. It's also when everything costs the most.
Christmas, New Year, and Presidents' week are their own category. Rates roughly triple, minimum stays appear, and the good hotels fill six to nine months out. If you want Christmas in Turks and Caicos or St Barths, book by March.
May and June are the best value in the year. Still dry, still warm, noticeably cheaper, and quiet.
August through October is hurricane season and also when sargassum is most likely. Some hotels close entirely for maintenance in September. We wouldn't book the region then.
November is underrated everywhere. The season hasn't started, rates are still low, and the weather is usually already good.
Which Caribbean destination is right for you
Choose Turks and Caicos if the beach is the entire point. Grace Bay is the best in the region and the hotel scene around it is the strongest. Best all-round family choice too.
Choose St Barths if you want French food, villa culture, and no cruise ships, and the budget is not the constraint. Best for couples and repeat Caribbean travellers.
Choose Belize if you'd rather dive and explore than lie down. The only destination here where the beach is not the reason to go.
FAQs about Caribbean travel
Which Caribbean island has the best beaches? Turks and Caicos, and Grace Bay specifically. Twelve miles of white sand, almost no rock, and very little seaweed compared with Mexico or Barbados. Harbour Island in the Bahamas has the most unusual, with pink sand from crushed conch shell.
Which Caribbean destination is best for families? Turks and Caicos for the combination of calm water, direct flights, and family-friendly resorts. The Bahamas is the better choice for a shorter trip, and Harbour Island in particular works well with young children.
Is the Bahamas in the Caribbean? Technically no, it's in the Atlantic. Practically yes, and everyone plans it as a Caribbean trip, including us.
When is hurricane season in the Caribbean? June through November, with August to October the highest risk. Many hotels close for maintenance in September. Travel insurance matters more here than in most regions.
What is sargassum and where is it worst? Seaweed that washes ashore in mats, most likely spring and summer. Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas get far less of it than Mexico or Barbados, but no island is immune.
How far is the Caribbean from the US? Turks and Caicos is under three hours from most East Coast cities with direct service. St Barths always requires a connection through St Martin.
Which Caribbean island is the most expensive? St Barths, comfortably. Turks and Caicos is second.
Do you need a car in the Caribbean? In Turks and Caicos and St Barths, yes, and taxis are expensive enough that a rental pays for itself in two days. On Harbour Island you rent a golf cart instead.
