Featured image: Frenchman’s Reef
As someone who has been traveling to the Caribbean for over 20 years, people often ask me where to go, especially if it’s their first time. Throughout the Caribbean, you’ll find a long list of islands with warm weather and dreamy beaches, but some islands are more suitable if you’re new to the area. My go-to spots for first-timers have the convenience of direct flights from several Southern cities and resorts close to the airport, so you can start your vacation right away.
If you’re ready to kick off your tropical getaway, I’ve picked five islands where you’ll find gorgeous beaches, friendly locals, and lots to do on and off the resorts – should you decide to leave your lounge chair.
Aruba
Aruba’s tagline is “One Happy Island,” and its idyllic white sand beaches and welcoming locals make it one of my top picks. Some of the best resorts on this tiny Dutch Caribbean island are located along Palm Beach, just 20 minutes from the airport. From Charlotte or Dallas, you can be here in about four hours, and if you’re traveling with family, the sprawling, 400-room Aruba Marriott Resort on Palm Beach has five restaurants, two pools, and scheduled daily activities.
Planning a girl’s trip? The Boardwalk Boutique Hotel has colorful private casitas just a 5-minute walk from Palm Beach. Although you can easily spend your whole vacation on the beach, a trip to Aruba should include visiting Arikok National Park, a nearly 8,000-acre park full of caves, secret beaches, and rock formations.
Grand Cayman
If you close your eyes and imagine the perfect Caribbean beach, it’ll likely have the dazzling white sand and vibrant blue water of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach. Catch a direct flight to Grand Cayman from Houston, Charlotte, or Orlando, then a 15-minute ride to Seven Mile Beach and some of the island’s best resorts.
For families, the Westin Grand Cayman offers beach yoga, family game nights, and s’mores after sunset. If you’re splurging, Ritz Carlton Seven Mile Beach is the grand dame of the island, offering a golf course, water park, and 24-hour room service. The calm waters around Grand Cayman are great for paddle boarding and snorkeling, and if you’re daring, book a boat trip to Stingray City, a sandbar where you can pet and feed wild stingrays. It’s great for a photo op, or if you’re like me, you can watch from the safety of the boat.
The Bahamas
One of my first trips to the Caribbean was to The Bahamas, and it’s my go-to place for a quick weekend getaway. The Bahamas is made up of 700 islands, but most people vacation in Nassau or across the bridge on Paradise Island. Getting here is easy; it’s about an hour’s flight from Miami and under four hours from Dallas, Atlanta, and Tampa. If you want an “everything at your fingertips” resort, opt for Atlantis Paradise Island.
The private beachfront resort has over 40 restaurants, an aquarium, and a thrilling waterpark. You could also head to Nassau’s Cable Beach and book a few nights at Baha Mar (a resort complex with Grand Hyatt, Rosewood, and SLS properties). You may be here for the beaches, but you should also scope out Bahamian history with a walking tour of Nassau’s historical attractions like The Queen’s Staircase, Fort Fincastle, and the nearly 300-year-old property, Graycliffe Hotel & Restaurant.
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is one of the quietest island chains I’ve visited, and the most developed island, Providenciales (or Provo), offers secluded, high-end accommodations. Provo has direct flights from Charlotte, Atlanta, and Orlando, and from the airport, it’s about a 20-minute commute to Grace Bay’s dazzling white beaches.
Resorts along Grace Bay include Seven Stars Resort & Spa, a relaxed, all-suite resort with four restaurants. If you’re planning a trip to celebrate a relationship milestone, you’ll love the sparkling infinity pool and personal chef services at The Ritz Carlton, Turks and Caicos. The best things to do here involve the water: swimming, sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. After working up an appetite, swing by for a bite of the island’s famous conch fritters at Castaways Conch Bar in the heart of Grace Bay.
St. Thomas
If you’re a U.S. Citizen, you can leave your passport at home when you visit St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Thomas is a popular cruise stop, but the island offers so much for those who stay overnight. Fly direct from Atlanta or Charlotte, and while you’re here, ride a gondola to Paradise Point, a lookout 700 ft above town, or head to Coral World Ocean Park to swim with dolphins and feed sharks.
Book a stay at the gorgeous new Frenchman’s Reef, a resort complex with two properties that share amenities (The Westin Beach Resort & Spa and Morningstar Buoy Haus Beach Resort), or at Secret Harbor Beach Resort, a comfortable, apartment-style property popular with families. Depending on how long your stay is, hop on a ferry to St. John, the smallest of the U.S Virgin Islands, and head to Trunk Bay, a stunning beach framed by the mountains in St. John National Park.
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