Top three Caribbean beach holiday destinations

Tropical beach paradises don’t come much better than the Caribbean. This sweeping archipelago of more than 7,000 islands and islets is what many people describe as paradise on earth. It’s not hard to see why…

Tropical rainforests tumble down to white sand beaches, lapped by crystal clear water. Coral reefs teem with life just off the shore whilst pastel coloured towns jingle with Caribbean music as rich, spicy flavours waft through the air. Maybe our glasses are slightly rose tined – nowhere is perfect – but the landscape and weather are as close to perfect as you’re going to get.

Each of the major island groupings has its own identity, culture and history. It is wrong and unjust to lump this entire region together. Because each region, and in fact each island, is unique, you will have a different holiday experience on every one of the Caribbean islands. However, one thing unites every Caribbean holiday: the beach.

Here are three of the best bargain holidays you can have in the Caribbean.

Barbados

Barbados is billed as a luxury and romantic holiday destination and whilst we can honestly say this exotic island is a honeymoon dream come true, it’s also a great destination for family beach holidays too. The water around Barbados’ coastline is gentle and calm, particularly along the west coast, but there is enough wind along the southern coast to enjoy watersports like sailing, kite surfing and windsurfing.

The forested and rocky interior is perfect for hiking and mountain biking whilst the colonial capital, Bridgetown is great for shopping, sampling Barbadian food and getting to grips with this welcoming, warm and vibrant culture.

If you love to scuba dive then Barbados’ barrier reefs and numerous wrecks are perfect. You’ll get to swim alongside turtles, dolphins and a kaleidoscope of colourful fish.

Cuba

Cuba is the largest Caribbean island and because of its communist history is radically different to islands like Barbados and St. Lucia. It feels far more Latin American plus, with its historic architecture and classic cars you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.

The coastline is perfect for beach holidays, with the same ubiquitous white sands and azure ocean found elsewhere in the Caribbean. Much of the coastline is sheltered by small off shore islands so it’s great for children. The capital Havana along with regional towns and villages are colourful and picturesque and the architecture is beautiful. This is one of the most culturally exciting Caribbean islands.

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are perhaps the cream of the crop of Caribbean Islands. They are hard to get to but the destination is worth the long journey. These islands are relatively undeveloped; you can feel a million miles from anywhere and therefore the Caymans offer a true sense of escapism and adventure. They are also the best places in the Caribbean and among the best places in the world to scuba dive. If you don’t believe us check out this article from Scuba Diving magazine.