A travel writer who says they have visited 27 of the roughly 30 Caribbean islands and territories has published a guide identifying the best island to visit depending on travellers’ interests, from family-friendly resorts to remote diving destinations.
The guide highlights the region’s variety of landscapes and cultures — from coral cays and powder-white beaches to rainforest-cloaked mountains and Creole, French, Spanish and Dutch influences — and recommends 10 islands as the best choices for particular tastes and activities.
For families, the writer recommends Antigua for its broad choice of all-inclusive resorts, accessible flights and child-focused facilities. Antigua offers a number of long sandy beaches and family-friendly properties, including Blue Waters Resort, which the guide cites for its kids’ club and on-site activities such as tie-dye workshops and fishing. The writer also points visitors toward English Harbour to explore Nelson’s Dockyard and nearby coastal park trails.
Anguilla is recommended for beach lovers seeking striking white sand and turquoise water with a low-key visitor scene. The British Overseas Territory is small — about 16 miles long and three miles wide — but is home to more than 30 beaches, and the guide points to resorts such as Malliouhana and Aurora Anguilla for high-end stays. It also suggests day trips to uninhabited cays, such as Prickly Pear, for lobster lunches on traditional sailing boats.
Grenada, the so-called Spice Island, is highlighted for food-focused travellers. Its mountainous interior supports nutmeg, cocoa and fruit cultivation, and the guide recommends tours of farms and artisanal chocolate producers. The writer also points to River Antoine rum distillery, founded in the 18th century, as an example of the island’s culinary and cultural attractions.
St. Lucia is listed for nature lovers who want dramatic scenery as well as hiking. The island is home to the Pitons, the twin volcanic peaks that are a UNESCO World Heritage site; visitors can admire them from the sea or climb Gros Piton in a multihour hike. Small luxury resorts such as Rabot Estate and Anse Chastanet are cited for their hillside locations and access to marine reserves and wildlife tours.
Barbados is recommended for history and heritage. The guide notes that this year marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first English ship on the island and points to parish churches, stately homes such as St. Nicholas Abbey, and the World Heritage-listed Garrison area of Bridgetown. The Garrison Savannah race track, dating to the mid-19th century, is singled out as a cultural fixture for visitors to time their trips around.
Dominica is presented as the island for hikers and serious nature travellers. Known for verdant rainforest and steep terrain, Dominica offers sections of the 115-mile Waitukubuli National Trail and waterfalls such as Middleham Falls. The guide also notes plans for increased access to volcanic sites, including a cable car project intended to transport visitors toward the Boiling Lake area.
The British Virgin Islands are recommended as a romance destination, with secluded beaches and classic resorts such as Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, which the guide describes as offering midcentury interiors, daily snorkelling trips and island drop-offs for private beach days. Shared catamaran cruises with crewed service are suggested for couples who want to explore multiple islands.
Jamaica is put forward for music fans and cultural travellers. The island’s musical legacy includes the Bob Marley Museum and Tuff Gong recording studio in Kingston and sites tied to Marley’s life in places such as Nine Mile. The guide advises splitting time between coastal resorts and inland areas such as the Blue Mountains to experience both music heritage and natural scenery.
Nevis is recommended for travellers seeking old-school charm and a quieter pace. Accessed by boat from St. Kitts, Nevis is described as less developed than some neighbouring islands, with family-run hotels such as Montpelier Nevis and the Golden Rock Inn. The writer specifically mentions a Friday-night roadside barbecue run by the island’s water department as a local gathering spot.
For a pure escape, the Cayman Islands — particularly Little Cayman — are noted for tranquillity and diving. Little Cayman’s sparse population and wildlife, including a large colony of red-footed boobies, are contrasted with Grand Cayman’s busier resort scene. The guide highlights Bloody Bay Wall, a world-class dive site with dramatic drop-offs, and recommends neighbouring Cayman Brac for hiking and stargazing.
The writer includes practical notes on travel logistics and sample stays and booking options for each island, citing a range of hotels and package prices offered by tour operators. Sample packages mentioned in the guide vary widely in duration and cost, from short multi-night stays to longer tours and small-group programmes; the guide encourages prospective visitors to compare operators and check inter-island connections and transfers when planning an itinerary.
The guide’s selection underscores the Caribbean’s diversity: an individual island can serve as a single-purpose holiday — such as a diving trip or romantic getaway — or as part of a multi-island itinerary that combines beaches, mountains and cultural sites. Travel agents and local tourism boards remain primary sources for up-to-date information on transport links, hotel availability and organised tours.