The land of breezy mountain peaks, glimmering shores, pillow-soft beaches and mood-busting beats is appealing all year round but, rather unsurprisingly, even more so once London’s winter chill sets in. Situated off the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean comprises more than 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays boasting a plethora of wild attractions – think waterfalls, emerald rainforests and hot springs – and luxury in the form of some of the most impeccable five-star hotels south of America. Read on for our Caribbean destination guide and discover stays where you’re almost guaranteed to bask under golden sun and teal skies throughout December and beyond. 

Barbados

One of the most famous island countries in the Caribbean, Barbados is situated in the east of the archipelago and home to stars including singer Rihanna and cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers. The capital is Bridgetown, famous for its British colonial architecture, 17th-century garrison, Jewish history and horse racing course. Go beyond the port city to discover more than 80 pristine white sand beaches – Mullins Beach, Pebbles Beach, Soup Bowl and Silver Sands are must-sees – where you can charter kayaks, fishing boats, luxury catamarans and jet skis, try your hand at spearfishing or help out local conservationists. As Barbados is the birthplace of rum, it would be rude not to sample some of the finest drams in the country – but we’ll leave it to the locals to recommend those… 

Where to stay: Coral Reef Club

Family-owned and run, the Coral Reef Club is one of the most prestigious hotels in Barbados – and for good reason. Set on a picturesque beachfront, the hotel boasts 88 cottage garden-style rooms, with some suites situated in the lush forest that fringes the shores. Recent refurbishment saw the addition of luxury cottages and Coral Terrace, as well as enhancements to the club’s five-star spa, gym and tennis courts. The hotel’s flagship restaurant overlooks Barbados’ west coast – and recently saw guest chefs such as Ollie Dabbous from Hide showcase new menus – while the thoughtfully decorated bar hosts many local calypso, jazz, piano and reggae bands to entertain guests all night long. We’d recommend visiting Holetown too, which is just a 15-minute walk away and offers an array of authentic restaurants and boutiques. 

From £485 per night.

Dominican Republic

Famous for its beaches, five-star resorts and golf courses, as well as a terrain that spans rainforest, savannah and highlands, the Dominican Republic has long drawn travellers from every corner of the globe. As the second largest Caribbean island, situated only two hours from Miami by air, the Dominican Republic’s major cities include Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros and Punta Cana, the latter being the capital and home to an overwhelming amount of all-inclusives and bars. For those who wish to sample a more authentic slice of island life should head to the coast, such as the Samaná Peninsula to discover less-developed natural enclaves, waterfalls, whale watching spots and flora-filled rainforests.

Where to stay: Eden Roc Cap Cana

Eden Roc Cap Cana is a Relais and Châteaux jewel located in the exclusive community of Cap Cana, perfect for multi-generational holidays. New for 2024, Eden Roc Cap Cana will launch two new villas – the 11-room Founder’s property and the six-bed Villa Azuree – accentuating how family-friendly experiences is the hotel’s forte. Catering for all ages, those travelling with babies will arrive with in-room amenities such as a portable crib with toys and changing tables, bottle warmers, dry and swim nappies, and sun protection, while youngsters a little older can enrol at Eden Roc’s Koko Kids Club: a tree house on a lagoon equipped with a mini spa, expansive play area, storytelling snug, and enclosed sandy beach. All the while private ecotourism safaris invite guests to learn about a variety of wildlife, while Humpback Whale encounters in the Samaná bay sanctuary provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

From £700 per night. 

St Vincent & the Grenadines

Fondly known as the Caribbean’s best-kept secret, St Vincent and the Grenadines comprises the former main island and a chain of smaller islets in the southern region. Some of the 32 Grenadines are inhabited – including Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, and Palm Island – while the rest, such as Tobago Cays, Petite Mustique and Savan are smaller, isolated islands which are best reached by yacht. Back on the mainland, Kingstown is the capital of St Vincent, famous for its lively markets, expansive botanical forests and bustling bars and restaurants. A haven for yachts zig-zagging through the Caribbean’s 700 islands, stop off here to expect long leisurely lunches fringing the ocean, hikes through the jungle, and plenty of lounging on the beach.

Where to stay: Bequia Beach Hotel

Occupying an enviable slice of one of the island’s best coastlines, Bequia Beach Hotel promising barefoot luxury, plenty of character and the very best of Caribbean hospitality. The family-owned and run property is set within nine acres of lush tropical gardens, with 58 distinctive guest rooms and suites that combine vintage elegance and retro charm. Travelling with kids in tow? Book the new Rock Villa, the biggest on the island with eight en-suite bedrooms, as well as an enormous private infinity pool, dining gazebo, lounge gazebo, jacuzzi and spacious kitchen. All villas also provide access to Bequia Beach Hotel’s five-star facilities, including the garden spa, saltwater pool and chauffeur via private plane.

From £250 per night.

Jamaica

While it is famous for being the birthplace of reggae, there’s much more than Jamaica’s laidback beats to tempt travellers to the third-largest island in the Caribbean. Boasting a topography that ranges from high mountains and dense rainforests to turquoise reefs and white sandy beaches, Negril and its Seven Mile Beach is one of the best places on the island to take to the water, while Kingston is great for experiencing an authentic taste of the island. Don’t miss the Bob Marley Museum housed in the singer’s former home, the range of native flora and fauna at Hope Botanical Gardens and, north of the city, the Blue Mountains famous for their coffee, walking trails and waterfalls.

Where to stay: Jamaica Inn

North of Kingston, the five-star Jamaica Inn is situated at the heart of Ocho Rios and features its very own 700m private beach. The family-owned hotel possesses laidback charm and warm, friendly service, and its 55 rooms are bright and breezy, with some including huge verandas decked out with sofas to enjoy vistas of the great blue beyond. Feast on Jamaican favourites under an almond tree canopy moments from the shore at Teddy’s Beach Grill, and book a massage at the Ocean Spa. This Jamaican estate counts Ian Fleming, Marilyn Monroe, Arthur Miller and Noel Coward among its former clientele – and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us. 

From £400 per night.

St Barts

Widely known as one of the most glamorous destinations in the world, and where New York and Paris’ social set holiday during the winter (we’re firm believers in if you can’t beat them, join them), this French-speaking Caribbean island is famous for its white sand beaches and designer boutiques, which set up shop in the capital of Gustavia. Encompassing a yacht-filled marina, wander the capital to discover high-end restaurants – fine dining foodies will love the Michelin-starred Restaurant St Barts – and historical attractions such as the Wall House, which harks back to the island’s Swedish colonial era. Go beyond the city to discover 22 public beaches, or head to Grand-cul-de-sac for water sports and Anse de Flamands, famous for its wide sandy plains and safety, if you have little ones in tow. 

Where to stay: Cheval Blanc St-Barth

A step away from the warm sea, and surrounded by tropical gardens, Cheval Blanc St-Barth is a cornucopia of Caribbean colour. Aptly situated on Baie des Flamands – one of the island’s finest beaches – the five-star hotel is home to 61 suites, bungalows and villas offering panoramic ocean views. Delicious dining awaits guests at La Case, an island hotspot serving locally-inspired French cuisine by Michelin-starred French chef Jean Imbert, while over at La Cabane, the feet-in-the-sand beach restaurant, you'll find a culinary ode to the Caribbean. Guerlain treatments – the first in the Caribbean – can be enjoyed in the four treatment rooms or outdoor pavilion for two at the Cheval Blanc Spa.

From £2,760 per night.

Grenada

Otherwise known as the Spice Isle, Grenada’s hills are famously home to countless nutmeg plantations while its picturesque capital, St George’s, has become famous for the pastel-coloured houses fringing the waterfront. Foodies will enjoy tours of Grenada’s three award-winning rum distilleries and five organic chocolate factories, while adrenaline junkies can dive into the world’s first underwater sculpture park, and zipline through the lush rainforests. Grand Anse Beach is one of the island’s most famous tourist hotspots, and just a 30-minute drive away lies Grand Etang National Park, where you can chase waterfalls and admire the Grand Etang Lake: an extinct volcano crater now filled with water. Don’t miss the Mona monkeys swinging from the branches, too. 

Where to stay: Calabash Hotel

Calabash, which is the only Relais and Châteaux hotel on the island, is home to just 30 upscale suites which have just emerged from a renovation completed in October and feature modern luxuries, Elemis amenities and private balconies showcasing unparalleled panoramas of the Caribbean Sea. There are three dining options to choose from, including the fine dining, vine-covered Rhodes restaurant specialising in local flair, and the newly-rebranded Nori, serving Japanese-inspired cuisine and more laidback fare at The Beach Club with views overlooking the yacht-dotted Prickly Bay. Discover Zero Mile treatments, using local ingredients, in the spa or while the days away on a sunbed by the sandy shore. If there’s one thing we can guarantee, it’s that you won’t want to come home… 

From £630 per night.

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