Varadero
No, that's not a beached cruise liner, but a five-star Meliá! Part of the plushly redeveloped Marina Gaviota, this has several key advantages over its…
Must-see hotels in Caribbean
Havana
This flashy 'glass cathedral' on Playa's still-developing hotel strip is effectively a self-contained resort, which has its advantages when you're this…
Santo Domingo
On paper, the Casa del Sol seems like a no-brainer, with borderline budget rates and well located at the very southeastern corner of the Zona Colonial on…
Ponce
Standing grandly over a corner of the plaza, this 69-room, lemon-yellow colonial-era building is one of Ponce's most engaging places to unpack. The…
Rincón
This surf school has an accommodation option tucked away on its premises in the forested hills southeast of Rincón. There is a wonderful villa that…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Opened in 2015 and designed to appeal to millennials interested in unironically enjoying all that all-inclusives can offer, including a craft-beer bar, a…
Montego Bay & Northwest Coast
This resort, 1km north of Duncans, has more than 100 upscale one- to five-bedroom villas and cottages along a gorgeous private beach. Each villa is…
Varadero
Varadero's most intimate lodging is in the grand former residence of US chemical-entrepreneur Irenée Du Pont, where eight fairly simple art deco–era rooms…
Punta Cana & the Southeast
Ignore the name. This all-inclusive is very much in Bayahibe; in fact, it's the only resort occupying a good chunk of the town beach and so the only…
Dominican Republic
Built at dictator Trujillo’s request in 1947, the Maguana has an imposing facade and interior courtyard that suggest a grandeur that has now faded, but…
Montego Bay & Northwest Coast
The rustic house of archaeologist Ivor Connelly sits in a tranquil spot by the Martha Brae river. Stay in one of the basic dorms or rooms, camp by the…
Habana Vieja
Not an Irish joke but one of Havana's more impressive period hotels, the Hotel Palacio O'Farrill is a staggeringly beautiful colonial palace that once…
Pinar del Río Province
The Mirador is a low-key stop-off. Predating the revolution by five years, the hotel was built in 1954 to accommodate spa-seekers headed for the adjacent…
Dominica
Previous guests at this magnificent wooden villa on the estate of the Napier family have included Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret, and it's not hard to…
Aruba
Venezuelan architect Óscar Enrique Bracho Malpica designed this South Beach–style stunner facing Malmok Beach. Thirteen guest rooms exude understated…
Cuba
Something of an unheralded (if overpriced) place located too close to Trinidad to delay most of the drive-by traffic, Villa Yaguanabo sits on a sublime…
Nassau
Built in 1922, this seven-story grand dame is a downtown Nassau institution. The hotel was a location for two James Bond movies, and it’s easy to see why …
Santo Domingo
Still known to locals as Barceló Lina, this outpost of the Spanish chain is within walking distance of the Plaza de la Cultura and is steps away from the…
Ocho Rios, Port Antonio & the North Coast
Once owned by Noël Coward, this is a slightly ramshackle retreat with a laid-back atmosphere, consisting of three separate villas by a tiny rocky beach…
Valle de Viñales
After Viñales' two spectacularly located hotels, you probably thought it couldn't get any better, but Rancho San Vicente comes close as far as setting is…
St Vincent & the Grenadines
It’s only 200m offshore from Villa, but the private, vaguely heart-shaped Young Island is a whole world away. The 29 units here include sexy villas, some…
Grand Cayman
This vast, sumptuous 369-room property is located in two towers on both sides of West Bay Rd. The rooms all have private balconies, marble bathrooms and…
Parque Ecológico Monte de Estado en Maricao
Central Mountains
This campground, 5.5 miles southeast of Maricao, has 24 remodeled cabins sleeping between three and six, most with refrigerators, fireplaces and hot water…
Grand Cayman
'For divers, by divers' is the motto here – meaning that there's terrific shore diving, morning and afternoon boat dives, and various training programs,…
Cabarete
Designed with the discerning surfer in mind, Swell is far from a crash pad. The spare clean lines, plush bedding, modern photographs and funky furniture…
Las Terrazas
Cuba’s self-proclaimed ecohotel might not qualify for the four stars it advertises, but who’s arguing? With its trickling fountains, blooming flower…
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Sweeping views of the island-dotted waters and curvaceous shore at Villa Point are reason enough to stay at this modest hillside resort with a truthful…
Habana Vieja
The Hotel Florida presents a typical Havana conundrum. The building is an architectural extravaganza constructed in the purest colonial style, with arches…
Providenciales
With a great location in the heart of Grace Bay, the OCW is a safe bet. The wonderful pool is complete with an arch-bridge-appointed ‘river’ and the…
Grenada Island
Built at the edge of a yacht-filled bay, this family-owned resort is an island favorite, with rows of blue wooden huts springing up like mushrooms from…
Vedado
Looking a bit like a small piece of the Hotel Nacional cut off and deposited a couple of blocks to the south, the attractive neoclassical Victoria, dating…
Barbados
One cove south of Bathsheba, Atlantis was the original hotel in the area. It is centered around a carefully renovated period building facing the sea. The…
Royal Decameron Indigo Beach Resort & Spa
Port-au-Prince & Around
On the site that once housed Club Med, this bright and breezy hotel is operated by the international chain Decameron All-Inclusive Hotels & Resorts. The…
North Coast
This resort is something of an anomaly in Puerto Rico: a high-end stay that works gracefully within its stunning environment. Here 48 brightly painted…
Bequia
Right at the top of the hill overlooking Spring Bay, this intimate hotel feels like your private retreat on a secluded island. The 10 rooms are elegant…
St Lucia
Run by an affable Englishwoman, Judith Verity, who dotes upon her guests with effortless charm, this historic stone house is soothingly positioned on a…
Ponce
The 153-room Hilton stands within a gated area 6km south of town, near the La Guancha boardwalk. It’s Ponce's most deluxe option, with well-manicured…
St Lucia
A harmonious blend of modern lines and Creole styling. Although the Coco Palm isn't on the beach, it has an inviting setting on a grassy terrace…
Cabarete
If a beachfront location isn’t a priority, then this small, vaguely suburban property down a dirt road 200m or so from Playa Encuentro is a nice place to…
Negril
Famous for its risqué attitude and weekly lingerie parties (and notorious for its sheer tackiness), this adults-only resort has 280 rooms and suites and a…
