Which Caribbean Island would you visit for a relaxing week and why?

[KilliMonjaro]

Thinking Jan/feb with DH

Because Barbados is the most tourist-y island, and tiny, it's also probably the hardest one to find a completely deserted, out-of-the-way place to visit. It's also known as "Little England" because it's still attached to colonial ideas about law and order. So I'd probably say Barbados.

Antigua is beautiful - 365 beaches and all lovely. I have been a few times and never been disappointed. You can take a catamaran to neighbouring Barbuda which has pink sand and is just gorgeous and quiet. There are lots of great hotels or you can rent a villa or apartment - we have stayed at a friend's place in Jolly Harbour a couple of times. I honestly prefer it to Barbados as less 'touristy'!

@KilliMonjaro DH ended up doing the bookings so not sure exactly which villas we ended up with, but I know this was one of the ones we considered:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2271351?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

We are going to Antigua in May! Sounds wonderful.

Where would you recommend staying on Antigua?

Just got back from Antigua, been to Barbados and St Lucia. We stayed at Galley Bay. It was amazing. We had beachfront rooms.

There isn't much to do on the east coast and the beaches aren't great either, unless you're into surfing. Also look out for seaweed problem.

Really depends on what type of accommodation you are looking for. I always prefer a villa/apartment as I like self-catering and going out for dinner as and when we want to. I do recommend Jolly Harbour for that. In terms of Hotels, Curtain Bluff is supposed to be lovely but very expensive, Cocos is at the far end of Jolly Beach - lovely setting and gardens.Also take a look at Blue Waters Resort and Spa and Galley Bay (adults only). Please do the catamaran trip to Barbuda (takes about 45 mins) - it really is gorgeous! Also if you like reggae/steel bands, a trip to Shirley Heights on a Friday (I think) is fun. Taking a bus is also an experience not to be missed!

Based on our personal experience only:

Antigua - it’s beautiful and relaxed and the people are so lovely.

We didn’t like Jamaica - there’s an undercurrent to it.

St Lucia less so but still had an edge to it and it’s rained a lot

Cobblers Cove, west coast of Barbados. Small, English country house-style hotel. Mature clientele, so very quiet and relaxing. No horrible AI.
Used to be no TVs in rooms, but they provided lots of books.... lovely.

Going to Antigua end March and super excited, hoping to get to Barbuda.
Planning on doing an island tour and a catamaran circumnavigation of the island plus Shirley heights for the BBQ .
OP Grenada is beautiful, felt safe, we stayed at the Royalton Grenada (before it was Royalton) it’s on a gorgeous beach.

As a child, we went to St Lucia and the Bahamas (Pardise Island) with our parents. Both were great, but I preferred the Bahamas. Both were very much stay at your resort holidays though.

Pre-kids, my husband and I went to Antigua twice (once was our honeymoon) and Jamaica once. I loved Antigua for a chill paced holiday. Jamaica there was lots more to do. However I don’t know how long it will take for them to recover from the recent hurricane.

Thank you. I’m liking the self catering idea - the all inclusive hotels put me off for some reason!

@KilliMonjaro Hire a yacht! Otherwise choose an island that’s not mainstream. We like BequIa or Virgin Gorda. More effort to get to but better for it!

I'm looking for me, so solo female traveller for last-minute late Dec/Jan. But would like some History, rather than water-sports. Do any of the experienced travellers have any good ideas for that? I'm sticking on thus thread, thanks to all the helpful tips so far.

Grenada.

I’ve heard that Arruba is very nice and friendly.
Never been myself though., but I’d love to.

Loving the Antigua love on this thread! I had a fab time there a couple of years ago. I recommend staying in English Harbour Town. I would love to go back, but want to explore a few more Caribbean islands first.

@socialdilemmawhattodo What sort of history? Old houses - Barbados. Naval port - Antigua. Military installations - many islands. Sugar plantations and slavery? Do a bit of research. A lot of history isn’t that easy to uncover now or visit. However there are trails and museums. Wanderlust magazine (wanderlustmagazine.com) gave details of heritage highlights on 12 Caribbean islands: Jamaica, Montserrat, US Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Tobago and Domenica and St Eustatius. Take your pick!

Absolutely loved it too! Just got back from a week at Galley Bay. Felt like I had been away for 3 weeks! Loved St Lucia too, Windjammer had similar vibes but Galley Bay had the beachfront rooms. Barbados is beautiful but it’s a bit more busy and not as laid back.

There’s a lot of love for direct flight islands but not many posters have gone anywhere else much - there’s far more to the Caribbean than Antigua and Barbados. They are busy. Other islands are much more relaxed.

Where ?

BVIs - Virgin Gorda. There are others. BequIa. St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis. Tobago.

US Virgin Islands are the best. DR or Aruba for cheap and cheerful. Obviously avoid Jamaica at the moment.

I’ve been to the Bahamas ( twice) , Barbados , Jamaica and St Lucia for a week at a time . All totally doable. I’d avoid the DR. I’d love to go to Antigua. But that’s a more expensive one .