Room rates at luxury hotels have risen considerably since before the pandemic, nearly 25% in some cases. Luckily, you can still find reasonably affordable, attractive accommodations scattered throughout the Caribbean. Here, the Washington Street Journal zeroes in on six of their favorite Caribbean getaways, including Alaia Belize in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
1. A Seafront Condo in Anguilla, built for privacy
After all, long and skinny Anguilla is known for its translucent water and some of the region’s finest beaches. Tranquility Beach Resort, on Meads Bay Beach, houses 15 sea-viewing condos. Five are beachfront and three have three bedrooms. Built for privacy, each condo unit comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a hot tub on the balcony. A short walk along the sand leads to a number of seaside restaurants.
From US$575 a night, with a three-night minimum.
2. A Belizean Resort for the Young and Restless
Alaia Belize caters to a younger crowd drawn to the sleekly designed digs, oceanfront location, and full slate of outdoor diversions. The resort is a new Autograph Collection hotel on Belize’s Ambergris Caye. The spare sophistication comes across in natural textures, reclaimed wood, and greenery in the 155 airy guest rooms. (See the “adventure concierge” for beach barbecue logistics). After an arduous day of cave tubing, a sip of Sancerre on the rooftop lounge and pool area resets the mood—likewise the view of the twinkling lights of the town of San Pedro.
From US$399 a night.
3. At Home in Tobago
Base yourself at the four-bedroom Nirvana Tobago Luxury Villa, a private vacation rental, and you can easily pretend you’re a local yourself. The smaller, quieter isle of the dual-island nation, Trinidad and Tobago, is known for its teeming rainforests, sandy beaches, and what the locals call blue food or ground provision (root vegetable staples such as dasheen, yams, and cassava). At this private vacation rental, the saltwater pool and palatial outdoor patio were designed to facilitate lazy lounging. The second-floor balcony has a clear view of the ocean—the beach is less than a mile away.
From US$550 a night, with a 2-night minimum.
4. Breezy Dominican Days
The beachfront Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa comprises 12 thatched-roof bungalows, with one to three bedrooms. Lying on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, each bungalow is naturally cooled by ceiling fans and screened windows that make the most of the sea breeze. Not to mention, hammocks strung up on the balcony. The two hotel restaurants—both open-air and facing the sea—lean heavily on organic ingredients and offer a number of gluten-free and vegan options. Yoga classes are held most mornings (and evenings). To explore farther afield, consult the long list of outdoor excursions, including jungle river tours, kayaking, or kite-surfing lessons.
From US$190 a night.
5. A Turtle Sanctuary in Trinidad
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- Acajout Hotel, Trinidad & Tobago
Acajou Hotel consists of just six wooden, Asian-inspired cottages nestled between the beach or river and rainforest. In February, in most years, the island of Trinidad erupts in nonstop Carnival festivities. But venture deep to the northeastern coast of the island, away from the bustle, and you’ll find Acajou Hotel in the fishing village of Grand Riviere. A family-run hotel, it consists of just six wooden, Asian-inspired cottages nestled between the beach or river and rainforest. Some cottages offer sea views; all are so well concealed behind thick stands of trees that you could lean out the window and grab a coconut. The big draw of a Caribbean getaway to Grand Riviere is the chance to see leatherback turtles waddling along the shoreline. The beach is one of the largest nesting sites for the species and guests can visit them with a guide starting in March.
From US$145 a night.
6. Treehouses for Grown-ups in Jamaica
The Sunset at the Palms in Negril—Jamaica’s famously lively tourist town—is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort. The 85 guest rooms, billed as “treehouses,” are air-conditioned wooden cottages; they’re built on stilts and set on the lushly planted grounds. In addition to weekly cocktail events and nightly entertainment, Sunset at the Palms’ all-inclusive package also includes watersports and meals at the three resort restaurants. For lunch, that means you can grab both a jerk chicken sandwich and a burger from the Palm Breeze Beach Bar & Grill, then stretch out on the white sand of Bloody Bay, across the street.
From US$575 a night.
This article on Caribbean getaways originally appeared in the Washington Street Journal here. Header image features Alaia Belize, with all images within this article courtesy of each respective property.
