6 of the Best Caribbean Resorts

Planning a resort vacation in the Caribbean can be as intimidating as choosing a cruise ship; there are hundreds of options to sift through and not a very clear picture of how exactly to compare them. That’s even tougher when you want to splash out, treat yourself and leave the kids at home.

There are guideposts, though, that can help you get the most for your hard-earned money. For example, do you want to stick with a valued name brand? And if so, would you prefer one that offers familiarity or tailors its offerings to its locale? All-inclusive, all-suites or à la carte? Pampering or playfulness? Lots of dining and activities options or a more curated experience?

Here’s what’s new at six high-end properties that represent some of the Caribbean’s best bets.

Keeping It Local

In unveiling the Hyatt Vivid Grand Island, Cancún, Hyatt turned to one of Mexico’s most treasured myths for inspiration: Mayan god Kukulkan (more familiarly referenced by the Aztec name Quetzalcoatl). Design motifs subtly evoke the vital elements—fire, water, air and earth—with which the feathered serpent gifted humans.

This 400-suite resort (rooms begin at a whopping 570 square feet) encourages guests to further explore the regional culture through pottery-making classes, mezcal tastings and a host of other activities. Aimed at travelers less interested in pampering and white tablecloths than place-specific experiences and hip eateries, the resort is the first entry in the new all-inclusive Vivid brand, whose mission is to bring guests together for an adult-camp vibe. (Hyatt’s expansion in Cancún also includes Impression Moxché by Secrets and Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, the first entries in a new luxury all-inclusive concept.)

Three pools (including Cancún’s longest rooftop pool), a half-dozen bars and a bevy of restaurants seal the deal. While you can choose Italian, Japanese, French and (of course) Mexican for dinner during your stay, be sure to sample the more casual opportunities like Vivid Bites food truck and Fresco for ceviche. For alone time, stop by the private Ennea Beach Club on Playa Delfines, which offers its own pools, bars, Bali-style daybeds and proximity to the colorful Cancún sign, a selfie fave.

Boundless Choices

Packed with unexpected options and secret hideaways, it’s no wonder that the all-inclusive AAA Four Diamond Sanctuary Cap Cana, Dominican Republic compelled one AAA inspector to enthuse that “if I had just one last place to go, this might be it.” In the two years since the first all-inclusive resort in Marriott’s Luxury Collection opened, the 324-room resort has repeatedly garnered such raves.

Whether it’s enjoying fresh catches while ensconced in a thatched hut rising on stilts overlooking the ocean (Blue Marlin) or sampling sushi in the middle of a moat and surrounded by forests (Wok), the immersive dining experiences at Sanctuary promise delicious menus in unparalleled settings. In addition to its five restaurants, a variety of casual eateries await, including a coffee shop, juice bar, deli and piano bar.

For some rest and relaxation, you can try a different swimming pool every day—there’s six of them!—and spend time in Sanctuary Spa, where hydrotherapy services are a specialty. And if you get antsy for more, bike tours, yoga lessons and excursions like cave exploration and horseback riding await. Once the brilliant sun sets, you might discover a karaoke night or a moonlit beach party.

Enhancing Wellness

Never one to rest on its laurels, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Anguilla, a AAA Four Diamond property, naturally focuses on cuisine and service first but keeps adding to its luxe offerings. Most recently, that’s included an extra dollop of wellness thanks to an ongoing series of pop-up partnerships with mind and body experts such as beauty brand de Mamiel, wellness retreat chain Sensei and acupuncture guru Sarah Bradden.

Couples keen on keeping the spotlight—or the moonlight—solely on themselves might prefer to try another new experience: the Night Spa. Sink into the magic of a side-by-side couples massage overlooking the ocean and then after the romantic rejuvenation, follow a candlelit rose-petal-strewn path to a private pool deck where chilled champagne awaits, natch.

And, of course, the 144-room resort also maintains a full slate of more strenuous activities, ranging from personal fitness and yoga sessions to tennis and rock climbing.

For a different kind of self-care, treat yourself to the just-opened Cafe Nai, where coffee, pastries and gelato are served up in a lush space that evokes the seashells and foliage of Anguilla. The café joins other food and beverage outlets like Salt, with a menu of classic Caribbean seafood, and the Mediterranean-inspired Bamboo Bar and Grill.

All-Suites, Sweet!

You can’t go wrong with your room choice at the Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos, since all 136 are suites and each one faces the ocean. Fresh off a multimillion-dollar renovation, the property has a refreshed lobby, a new open-air yoga pavilion and revamped Villas suites. Rooms in all categories—the others are Estates and the adults-only Hotel—are very spacious (starting at around 800 square feet), include private terraces and tend toward neutral color schemes.

The longest bar in the Caribbean, the aptly named Infiniti Bar, stretches an amazing 90 feet toward the bay. Other food options include an adjacent raw bar and lounge, also on the beach, the Italian-inspired Grill, and Krave, located in the Estates and serving elevated comfort food. There’s also Off Shore, a new concept featuring beachfront cabanas that present a selection of casual and fun dining experiences like Caribbean-style tacos.

Also new is a luxury ferry service that transports guests between the island’s other Grace Bay resorts—Rock House, Point Grace and the brand-spanking-new South Bank, which features its own swimming lagoon and 92 expansive rooms decked out in fresh pastels.

Of course, guests of the Club are welcome to enjoy dinner or spa treatments at these various venues. It all adds up to plenty to do, but for a novel experience, consider participating in an expedition led by the Turks and Caicos Coral Reef Fund, to help preserve one of the world’s barrier reef systems.

Spicing Things Up

Consistently awarded AAA’s coveted Five Diamond rating, the intimate 64-room Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada knows that it’s the little things that count. Named for the island’s copious production of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger and independently owned by a local family, the resort presents a range of suites tucked amid lush gardens or perfectly situated fronting the beach. Each outfitted with graceful accents like native wood headboards or four-poster beds, they include quietly luxurious touches such as Frette linens and Molton Brown bath products and tantalizing extras like private terraces and plunge pools.

Here the goal is not endless experiences but settling in and settling down. Your dining choices are simplified, beginning and ending at the elegant Oliver Restaurant for breakfast (tropical pancakes, perhaps, or a fish creole with polenta?) and dinner (grilled tuna steak or mushroom tart, say) and switching things up midday at Sea & Surf Terrace and Bar for lunch.

The resort’s activity menu also skews toward the mellow— with paddleboarding, beachside yoga and snorkeling among the choices. For the ultimate in serenity, don’t skip the secluded Janissa Spa, where native spices and herbs infuse the lotions and potions and a menu of herbal teas offers personal pairings for whichever service you choose. Open-air rain showers and cedar saunas complete your visit.

Sustaining Quality

For sustainability kudos, the 104-key, AAA Four Diamond Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba holds bragging rights as the Caribbean’s first and only carbon-neutral resort. You’ll notice the commitment in subtle ways—spaces are less frigidly air-conditioned than typical, the water in hot tubs and faucet taps is warmed by solar energy, and there’s precious little red meat on the menus.

Guests can even make use of a Carbon Offset Concierge, who can assist with offsetting your flight and travel to Aruba. There’s a lot you won’t find at this adult-only oasis set on exclusive Eagle Beach: no nightlife, no groups, no room service and, happily, no resort fees. Yet, it is consistently rated one of the best places to stay in the world.

All guests enjoy access to a private balcony or terrace, complimentary breakfast and select wellness activities like beach yoga and mindfulness walks. To up the wellness ante, Purun Spa also offers a variety of treatments, including a “sacred massage” that draws on Aruban practices and a facial that uses Aruba-grown aloe to hydrate and protect sun-exposed skin.

The wellness component extends into the menus, too, with vegan options for food and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, including a nice selection of mocktails, available at the beachfront Elements, the Tara Lounge (a favorite for Sunday brunch) and the open-air SandBar.