With its crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches, and vibrant cultures, the Caribbean has long drawn travelers in search of paradise. But this sun-soaked region is more than a beautiful backdrop—especially when it comes to the best hotels.
From beachfront resorts that redefine opulence to charming boutique properties steeped in history, the Caribbean’s hotel scene is as diverse and captivating as the islands themselves. In this carefully curated guide, part of AFAR’s Hotels We Love series, we’ve explored the whole archipelago—from the glamorous shores of Turks and Caicos to eco-chic Dominica—to present you with the 15 best luxury hotels and resorts in the Caribbean that promise not just a place to rest your head but also an unforgettable experience.
1. Rock House
The grounds of Rock House feature walking paths surrounded by Indigenous foliage.
Courtesy of Rock House
- Location: Turks and Caicos
- Why we love it: A Mediterranean-inspired sister hotel to a Turks and Caicos classic
- Loyalty program: The Leaders Club (The Leading Hotels of the World)
- Book now
It’s no surprise that Rock House came out of the gate swinging when it opened in 2022: This is a property with provenance. It’s the latest sibling of Grace Bay Club—which put Turks and Caicos on the luxury travel map when it opened in 1993. Carved into a rocky cliff on the north shore of Providenciales, the new Rock House is a vision straight out of the Mediterranean, all white lines and turquoise water. Mark Durliat, CEO of Grace Bay Resorts, says that he was inspired by vacations he took at France’s Hotel du Cap with his wife (who named the hotel).
This high-style hideaway has 46 rooms crafted from excavated white limestone, each with 13-foot vaulted wooden ceilings, hand-woven chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame ocean views. The accommodations range from studios with private terraces to freestanding one- and two-bedroom cottages, complete with private pools and outdoor shower gardens.
Guests have access to an array of on-property amenities, including a 100-foot infinity pool (the largest in Turks and Caicos). But Rock House is more than luxury: It’s a champion of eco-conscious hospitality. Wrapped in Indigenous foliage, the resort embraces sustainability with gray-water harvesting, the elimination of single-use plastics, and the creative repurposing of native limestone from the cliffs below. Even your room key is crafted from sustainable bamboo. From $640
2. Cambridge Beaches
A lounge area at Cambridge Beaches
Courtesy of Cambridge Beaches
- Location: Bermuda
- Why we love it: A Bermuda classic gets a major glow up, Brooklyn-style
- Book now
You might not know the name Dovetail + Co., but you might recognize some of this up-and-coming hospitality company’s recent projects, including Urban Cowboy Lodge (a hipster redo of an alpine inn in the Catskills) and the Wayfinder Waikiki (an overhaul of a brutalist beach resort on O‘ahu). Dovetail’s latest design-forward reinvention is Cambridge Beaches, a property with deep roots in Bermuda.
Built in 1923 on a scenic 23-acre peninsula on the west side of the island, this pretty-in-pink resort has long been a beloved destination for tranquility, authentic Bermudian charm, and romance (it’s big with honeymooners). After Dovetail + Co. bought the property in 2021, it set about giving Cambridge Beaches a modern spin. Historic architectural features were preserved—100-year-old stone walls, 17th-century cedar beams, and, of course, those pink exteriors—while the interiors were given a tropical refresh. Now, the 86 guest rooms and cottages are splashed with vibrant shades of coral and turquoise, alongside quirky patterned fabrics and paintings by local artists.
You’ll find four secluded private beaches right on property (unusual in Bermuda), an infinity-edge pool overlooking Mangrove Bay, five acres of ornamental gardens, pickleball courts, and a croquet lawn. But the big news here is a collaboration with the Brooklyn cocktail bar Sunken Harbor Club. Award-winning mixologist St. John Frizell has assembled a cocktail menu like none other. There are drinks with a cause behind them (a portion of the proceeds from the Old Yachtsman helps protect the delicate ecosystem surrounding the island), while others aren’t for the faint of heart (guests are limited to just two of the powerful Abyss drinks per day). Sunken Harbor Club also includes a restaurant led by Kenyan chef James Wambui, whose menu fuses influences from Bermuda, Portugal, Italy, and beyond. From $495
3. Eden Rock
Eden Rock is surrounded by blue waters in Sean Jean Bay, on the Caribbean Island of St. Bart’s.
Photo by Jeanne Le Menn
- Where: St. Bart’s
- What to expect: A chic and storied retreat with a rare swimming beach
- Book now
Surprisingly, there are only so many good swimming beaches along the white-sand shores of St Bart’s. Eden Rock—a property from the luxury Oetker Collection in sheltered St. Jean Bay—is on one of them, and guests can wade out to the hotel’s ruby red floating dock a few feet from shore. Eden Rock, which first debuted in the 1950s and became a respite for the Hollywood set, is also one of the finest places to stay on the island, with 37 white slatted guest rooms and suites and two villas, which were recently overhauled.
Each accommodation exudes personality, with wood-paneled walls, leather tub chairs, and splashes of color throughout. Some rooms are in the garden, while others are set atop a boulder or on the beach with a terrace that juts over the water. In the Rockstar Villa, there’s a lap pool with plenty of outdoor seating for lounging. Jean-Georges Vongerichten oversees the culinary program at the two restaurants, including the ocean-facing Sand Bar, which features truffle-topped pizza and locally caught fare like mahi mahi and lobster, all prepared with French flair. From $3,155
4. Amanera
A guest room at Amanera in Dominican Republic
Courtesy of Amanera
- Location: Dominican Republic
- Why we love it: A super-luxe Aman—need we say more?
- Book now
Set above Playa Grande on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Amanera is the coveted luxury hotel group’s second Caribbean outpost (the first was Amanyara in Turks and Caicos). Besides offering the signature Aman blend of polished minimalism and top-notch service, it brings a much-needed dash of ultra-luxurious sophistication to an island better known for its all-inclusives.
British architect John Heah has designed spectacular spaces: wide-open and lofty with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and walls. Every detail has been careully curated, from the handcrafted lighting fixtures to the remote-controlled, wall-size window shades. Amanera offers 25 individual freestanding villas, many with a private plunge pools, and even the smallest one-bedroom casitas are spacious.
The central hub of the resort is Casa Grande, home to the main restaurant (with organic produce, fresh seafood, and contemporary interpretations of Dominican cuisine), a bar (custom Amanera cigars and an extensive rum selection), and an infinity pool. Down at the seaside Beach Club, you can enjoy toes-in-the-sand lunches, torch-lit dinners, and ceviche cooking classes. Golfers will love having access to the 370-acre Playa Grande Golf Course, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones and later renovated by his son, Rees Jones—it’s got the most ocean-facing holes in the Western Hemisphere and is set atop 60-foot cliffs. From $2,000
5. Jade Mountain
The beach near Jade Mountain in St. Lucia
Courtesy of Jade Mountain
- Location: St. Lucia
- Why we love it: A resort that embraces nature with three walls
- Book now
A few decades ago, architect Nick Troubetzkoy and his entrepreneurial wife, Karolin, began their journey in St. Lucia, buying Anse Chastanet resort and transforming it into a Caribbean mainstay. In 2007, they opened a sister property, the 29-room Jade Mountain: a one-of-a-kind resort with open-air rooms overlooking the island’s legendary twin Pitons.
Jade Mountain calls its 24 accommodations “sanctuaries”—and they are. With a seamless blend of bedroom, living area, and a private infinity pool, these guest rooms seem to float into nature, thanks to the absence of a fourth wall. The five Sky suites average 1,650 square feet each; instead of private pools, they have a chromatherapy bathtub large enough for two.
Sustainability and social responsibility are at the core of Jade Mountain. The resort recently appointed a Reef Life and Renewal Ambassador to help look after the surrounding waters (guests can help plant coral in new nurseries). And a million-dollar refurbishment introduced a line of furniture crafted by the in-house carpentry masters using tropical hardwoods sourced with responsible forest management. From $1,455
6. Secret Bay
The Zabuco villa at Secret Bay has ample outdoor spaces and a private pool.
Courtesy of Secret Bay
- Location: Dominica
- Why we love it: An intimate all-villa resort that shows how sustainability can be sexy
- Book now
Despite the name, the secret’s out on Secret Bay, an all-villa Relais & Châteaux resort committed to sustainability and preserving the surrounding rain forest on Dominica, an under-the-radar island that’s making big strides in environmental stewardship.
Hidden on the northwestern coast, Secret Bay is a 10-minute drive from Portsmouth, the second largest town on the island. (Large is relative here—it has fewer than 4,000 residents.) The 19 villas were responsibly built to not disturb the surrounding rain forest, but luxuries were not spared—think, private pools and well-equipped kitchens.
Guests can get in touch with nature at Secret Bay, from the tree house–style spa to the riverside yoga pavilion. The resort recently created the Botanica Organic Garden & Chef’s Table, an open-air garden-to-fork culinary experience where you’ll sample plant-based dishes with ingredients from the chef’s organic garden. A just-launched energy-efficient funicular—the longest in the Caribbean—allows guests to take in the rain forest from new heights. From $987
7. Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado Beach
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado Beach
Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado Beach
- Location: Puerto Rico
- Why we love it: A resort that combines glamour with a commitment to the environment
- Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
- Book now
Set on Puerto Rico’s pristine northern coast, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve has quite a history. Once a pineapple, grapefruit, and coconut plantation, the land was bought by visionary tycoon Laurance Rockefeller in the 1950s; he reimagined it as a world-class hotel and nature preserve. In 2012, Ritz-Carlton transformed it into its first luxury Reserve property in the Americas.
Each of the 96 rooms and suites immerses guests in the natural surroundings via generous terraces and expansive picture windows with cinematic water views. They’re beyond spacious, even at the entry-level—the East Beach Ocean King starts at nearly 900 square feet, between interior and exterior spaces. Every guest is assigned an embajador, a personal butler who can make anything happen, from touring the island by helicopter to staging a family photo shoot on the beach. For the utmost pampering, book one of the 14 residences, which come equipped with your own golf cart.
The resort takes its commitment to the environment seriously with programs like Ambassadors of the Environment, which teaches kids about biodiversity, sustainability, environmental conservation, and Puerto Rico’s rich history. From $1,450
8. Golden Rock Inn
The Golden Rock Inn in Nevis is surrounded by coconut palms and mango trees.
Courtesy of Golden Rock Inn
- Where: Nevis
- What to expect: A contemporary, design-forward jungle retreat
- Book now
Golden Rock Inn is the legacy of New York art world power couple Helen and Brice Marden (dubbed “the most profound abstract painter of the past four decades” by The New Yorker). The couple built a palm-filled property brimming with pieces from contemporary international design heavyweights such as Patricia Urquiola and Vitra. Set around an 18th-century stone sugar mill, Golden Rock Inn is centered on a garden shaded by coconut palms and mango trees where monkeys climb. The six bright cottages feature colorful rugs, throws, and chaise lounges.
Activities include hiking, biking, and garden tours where mangoes are plucked straight from the trees. But lounging around the spring-fed pool with a rum punch somehow feels equally virtuous in this nature-filled sanctuary. From $300
9. Kamalame Cay
Kamalame Cay in the Bahamas sits along a three-mile stretch of secluded beach.
Courtesy of Kamalame Cay
- Location: The Bahamas
- Why we love it: A family-owned hotel with a locavore ethos
- Book now
For 25 years, Kamalame Cay’s family owners have embraced both barefoot luxury and a commitment to supporting local businesses. What started as four beach houses in 1997 are now 35 bungalows, cottages, and villas spread along three miles of pristine beach in the eastern Bahamas. But the original boho beach club feel has remained: The bungalows are sanctuaries of inviting white couches, crisp white linens, wooden floors, and distinctive design details like intricately painted cabinets. The resort’s six seasonal restaurants draw much of their fresh produce from Kamalame’s own sustainable farm, which also supplies organic eggs and honey. The hotel has recently expanded its farm-to-table program and is now producing a range of organic hot sauces, pepper jellies, and ice creams. Another new touch: full moon wine pairing dinner parties, held each month.
Snorkeling or scuba diving along the Andros Barrier Reef, the third largest reef system in the world, is high on the agenda for many visitors. Ditto a game of tennis or pickleball on the new pro courts. But so is a holistic sensory massage with marine-based cruelty-free products in one of the airy treatment rooms of the only overwater spa in the Bahamas. From $625
10. Rockhouse Hotel and Spa
The Rockhouse in Jamaica offers 40 stone and thatch accommodations.
Courtesy of Rockhouse Jamaica
- Where: Jamaica
- What to expect: A laid-back home away from home that’s doing good
- Book now
Located in Negril, on the western tip of Jamaica, Rockhouse is a feel-good vacation for many reasons. The 40-room clifftop hotel is Green Globe Certified. And the hotel’s nonprofit Rockhouse Foundation has invested more than $8 million in the local school system, which guests can visit. The resort’s destination stewardship makes it that much more rewarding to indulge in snorkeling off the rocky shoreline, visiting the spa, lounging around the pool, or taking a side trip to the nearby Seven Mile Beach (where the Rockhouse has a sister hotel, Skylark).
The stone-and-thatch rooms and freestanding cottages are built from local materials, designed to blend into the landscape, and simply but stylishly decorated with wooden four-poster beds; some cottages sit along a rocky volcanic cliff with terraces jutting over the sea. A new block of 800-square-foot Ocean View Suites have unrivaled sunset views.
The Rockhouse is always on the vanguard. The property has recently launched immersive programming like an eco-friendly candle-making class, a 4,500 square-foot hydroponic greenhouse (where guests can learn about everything from organic farming to composting), and Psilocybin Sound Bath (a two-hour wellness session that incorporates psychedelic plant medicine with breathwork and sound therapy). From $160
11. Jumby Bay Island Resort
Jumby Bay in Antigua is filled with tropical artwork and sits on a 300-acre beachfront property.
Courtesy of Jumby Bay
- Where: Antigua
- What to expect: An off-the-radar private island hideaway
- Book now
Only reachable by boat, Oetker Collection’s Jumby Bay sits on a private island off Antigua. It offers a true dose of seclusion on 300 acres of flowering Joewood trees, pearly white sand, and sparkling blue shores. The 40-room resort recently debuted refurbished suites in shades of sand and white, with palm wall coverings and tropical themed paintings by local artist Jan Farara. Throughout the property, meandering paths for walkers and cyclists lead to beaches with nearby coral reefs teeming with marine life.
At Jumby Bay’s own farm—accessible only by foot, bike, or golf cart—guests can dine under the stars, sharing a seasonally changing menu with dishes like poached Antiguan conch and lobster tartare. The hotel is also home to egrets and hummingbirds that live in a five-acre sanctuary and a flock of protected sheep (originally brought over from Spain 400 years ago). From $2,350
12. Coulibri Ridge
The 14 hillside suites of Dominica’s Coulibri Ridge run on solar power.
Courtesy of Coulibri Ridge
- Location: Dominica
- Why we love it: A sustainability-focused resort on a wildlife-filled Caribbean island
- Book now
Billing itself as one of the most sustainable hotels to open in the Caribbean, Dominica’s Coulibri Ridge was founded by Québécois entrepreneur Daniel Langlois, who fell in love with the island in 1997. The hotel debuted in October 2022 on a hillside facing the forested Sulphur Spring Valley of Dominica. The opening is significant for green initiatives within the region, as well as for the isolated, less visited island, where low foot traffic means more opportunities to connect with nature and resident wildlife without crowds.
The solar-powered resort is completely off the grid, with a central bank storage system that ensures it will never be without power. The 14 modular suites, fashioned out of hand-chiseled stone, feature recycled teak wood finishes and ceilings of 100 percent recyclable, mold-resistant aluminum. To lighten its footprint, the hotel has taken a holistic approach: Rainwater is collected for drinking, copper ionization is used to kill any bacteria in the pool, and all ingredients in the two restaurants are either grown on-site or purchased from local producers. Coulibri Ridge even has specially designed wind turbines so birds don’t fly into them. In the works: a greenhouse with a 10,000-gallon cistern with noncirculating hydroponics on the property’s small farm. From $700
13. O2 Beach Club
The 02 Beach Club in Barbados sits on a sandy beach on the island’s south coast.
Courtesy of 02 Beach Club
- Location: Barbados
- Why we love it: A swanky new hotel on the island’s low-key south coast
- Book now
Barbados’s newest resort is the all-inclusive, eight-story O2 Beach Club, on the relaxed south coast. Unlike some of the more traditional retreats on the island, O2 stands out with its mix of top-notch service and a laid-back, contemporary vibe. The 130 fuchsia- and blue-accented rooms are all set on a sandy beach. With three swimming pools (one is a rooftop pool, rare on the island), six restaurants, and a 5,600-square-foot spa, plus free Bajan-inspired classes (steel pan drumming, playing dominoes like a local), guests have ample things to do.
There are also places to find a respite: a private dinner around a firepit on the beach, paddleboarding on the water, or a meditative spa treatment with Osea products. Don’t miss an excursion to the nearby Barbados Boardwalk, which winds along the shoreline past outdoor pools and white-sand beaches. From $1,354
14. Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel
Cap Juluca in Antigua sits on a white-sand beach next to turquoise waters.
Courtesy of Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel
- Location: Anguilla
- Why we love it: A slice of Santorini in the Caribbean
- Loyalty program: Cap Juluca is part of Virtuoso and Fine Hotels + Resorts
- Book now
Set along the southern coast of Anguilla on Maundays Bay, lined with picturesque white beach umbrellas, Cap Juluca is filled with domed roofs and archways that frame the sea. The 128 accommodations are equally elegant, with white couches, blue throws, and slatted shutters. Yet the Santorini-inspired hotel maintains an easygoing, barefoot luxury vibe. That might mean a beachside lunch at the Capshack with rum punches, watermelon gazpacho, and a tuna poke bowl from a food truck. A little less rustic but equally inviting, Pimms serves jerk chicken and Caribbean red fish curry next to breezy curtains and soaring arches.
Spend sun-filled days snorkeling, sailing, or soaking up rays on the white-sand beach. For avid anglers, the hotel offers expeditions with a local fisherman who knows all the secret spots around the island. And coming in 2024: Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain, a new haven of wellness and healing that draws inspiration from the Indigenous Arawak tribe. It will be designed by Rottet Studio, which oversaw Cap Juluca’s transformation in 2018. From $1,300
15. Rosewood Little Dix Bay
Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands sits on a hillside beside the sea.
Courtesy of Rosewood Little Dix Bay
- Location: British Virgin Islands
- Why we love it: A reimagined historic resort with conservation-driven activities
- Book now
Originally founded by financier, philanthropist, and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller in 1964, Rosewood Little Dix Bay has always been a secluded place rooted in nature. Set on a hillside on Virgin Gorda island, the hotel was renovated in 2020, and the 82 guest rooms are now awash in blue and white with rain showers and glass doors that lead to palm-shaded pathways and ocean views. Some interiors still feature their original Pietra Cardosa stone walls, and the resort’s beachside pavilion has vaulted slate roofs modeled from the original ones that were destroyed in a hurricane.
With the renovation came new programming, too: Take a trip to the Baths National Park, where visitors can swim in pools flanked by granite boulders. Or head out during the day with scientists on a turtle tagging conservation excursion on the half-mile crescent beach, dubbed “wilderness beach” by Rockefeller, where hawksbill, green, and leatherback turtles lay their eggs between July and October. From $1,295
Additional reporting by Mary Holland.
