Best Caribbean destinations?

[Timzee]

Looking to book somewhere for a week next month. Where is good in the Caribbean? Barbados Dom Repub probably too touristy for us but are the first that spring to mind.

St Lucia is gorgeous but dirt poor
Cuba is fascinating but dirt poor in an entirely different way
Martinique was lovely

Barbados is so safe you can walk around and explore, eat at local places etc - it’s not the same on other islands.

Trinidad and Tobago

I've been to the DR, St Lucia, Barbados and Antigua. I loved them all. Barbados is not necessarily very touristy, we rented an apartment in Dover. St Lucia is on a go back to list, we found the people to be incredibly friendly and so proud of their island. Last year we went to Antigua and whilst St John was very touristy due to the cruise liners the rest of the island was more authentic.

Depends how you would rate “best”.

Tobago was the least developed place I’ve been too but the food was crap and the hotel basic.

Barbados has a lot of variety, from cheap and cheerful resorts to genuine luxury 5 star.

St Vincent - had to transfer which added to the journey. Wouldn’t bother again for that reason but was perfectly ok.

Cayman Islands - loved it. Beautiful beaches, great restaurants, excellent hotel. Could have been in the US though really. Same for Turks and Caicos.

St Lucia - probably my favourite of the places I’ve visited.

Grenada is a beautiful island.

We love Antigua over everywhere else 💖

Barbados would be my choice. Some parts are less touristy than others.
St Lucia is lovely.

"Too touristy for us."

:-D

Wherever you go, if it's for a holiday, you will be a tourist....

We loved St Lucia but felt unsafe on our own going out. A tour with a driver was ok but you are hassled a lot.

It's a stunning island but I don't think I really want to go back.

Barbados - loved it, safe to be out on your own, lots to do and see if you go beyond the typical stuff.

The Tropikist Hotel in Tobago. Utter paradise!

Hated Barbados. It was a while ago but it had been basically ruined by the hotels on the 'rich' side clubbing together so that anyone staying there in an AI could dine for free at all the other hotels on the stretch. It put so many lovely restaurants out of business literally overnight.

Tobago is heaven in comparison.

Antigua. Safe, friendly and gorgeous.

Grenada is my favourite, but if you want a very different type of Caribbean look at Aruba. It is super touristy but lots of fun!

When we went a couple of years back a lot of hotels offered B&B and you went out for dinner. There were lovely restaurants all around our AI hotel we used despite paying for AI.

Tobago maybe. Trinidad hell no. I fail to see why anyone would view Trinidad as a holiday destination.

Mauritius. I know it's not the Caribbean but it is a relatively safe country unlike other island destinations.

I thought both Trinidad and Tobago lovely

It depends what you’re looking for?

I’ve been to St. Lucia, DR + Barbados.

Turks + Caicos is next on my list.

This

We have travelled to Barbados and loved it. Great weather, lovely people, great food and great vibe and we felt completely safe at all times.

Barbados is the most developed and has the biggest choice of places to stay, depending on your budget. Are you looking for hotels or Airbnb…? Tobago is probably the least developed of the Caribbean islands that I’ve been to and is my favourite so far. I’ve been twice and loved it (I stayed at Bacolet Beach Club, a small-ish boutique hotel on the southern side, a couple of miles outside Scarborough, the capital), so much so that I’m going back next year, although trying a different hotel on the Caribbean side. Grenada and Antigua are both beautiful too. I’ve just booked a last-minute trip to Antigua next month and can’t wait.

Places on the west side of the islands, on the Caribbean side, have quite a different feel to those on the Atlantic side, and if you like swimming in a calm turquoise sea, that’s worth considering. All the islands I’ve mentioned have felt completely safe, I wouldn’t go back to Jamaica or Trinidad. Generally speaking, I love the relaxed vibe of the Caribbean and the food (lots of fresh fish and seafood) is what I love to eat, and if I get the chance for a holiday, that’s where I head 😁