Searching for SE Asian vibe in Caribbean

I'm 35, single and male. Along the way I've had a couple of backpacking trips and have spent time in SE Asian beaches. Generally speaking, a basic hut, potential for diving/snorkeling, and some good seafood on the beach is what I'm after. Does anyone have experience traveling like this in the Caribbean? I'm currently in the US (NYC) and have just 2 days in August to string together a long weekend. The beach is calling me and I find myself looking through tripadvisor and resort after resort pop up. A friend has mentioned Club Med, but that's not really what I'm after. A guesthouse, beach hut, maybe even dive shop might do the trick. Any suggestions are appreciated while I begin my search.

Not sure for a long weekend, may depend on flights but have you considered Belize?

Good tip - upon a quick look it does not look like I can land a direct flight from NYC. I will however do some more searching. I was hoping to keep my flight time under 4-5 hours. Thank you for your response.

A weekend is hardly enough time or I'd suggest you will find that vibe more in Central America as the Caribbean is not known for cheap and beach huts.

For short flights, consider Dominican Republic? USVI? or Jamaica, which is touristy but a few days in Negril might meet your needs. The cliffs would be less hectic than the beach for accommodation. Lots of Yardies on this site to help with advice.

In the end I chose Culebra, Puerto Rico. It was a fantastic little trip to a place that has a backpacker vibe. The island is small enough where it is easy to bump into and meet other solo travelers. If anyone wants further info, feel free to contact me.

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