Caribbean Connection

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Hiking a volcano. Walking the cane fields of an organic rum distillery. Eating lionfish burgers at an oceanfront food truck; savoring a twilight mento concert; kayaking across a secret mangrove forest; riding a flats boat to an undiscovered sandbar.

They’re the reasons we come to the Caribbean, those once-in-a-lifetime experiences in which the Caribbean abounds, those chances to explore the communities and the natural beauty of the world’s most extraordinary place. (And yes, the beaches, too).

Our editors’ annual edition of the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit takes you on a layered journey across the far corners of the region, from the electric-turquoise waters of The Bahamas to hidden-away islands in the Eastern Caribbean and everywhere in between.

Think of it as an inspiration, as a guide, for an exciting year of traveling to the Caribbean — hopefully multiple times (for our regular readers that goes without saying). Here are our favorites (in no particular order) for 2022 with highlights of those favorites of the Old Town Crier.

St. Lucia Grenada Statia Culebra Roatan Dominica Saba St. Barth Caymen Brac Middle Caicos Jamaica Bonaire Great Exuma Antigua

Publishers Note: We are happy to partner with Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief of the Miami, Florida based Caribbean Journal and his staff contributing to the OTC and our Caribbean Connection Section. Check out the popular online magazine/website at caribjournal. com for valuable information on all fabulous travel options and things of interest in the Caribbean.

St. John’s Honeymoon Beach, home to the island’s best beach bar, Bikinis. St John, US Virgin Islands St John is hotter than ever, and it’s not a surprise; the island, nearly two-thirds of which is covered by National Parkland, is a natural wonder; while there are some lovely little boutique hotels like Estate Lindholm and the Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel, here the villas are the story, with stunning vistas and dramatic settings; and when you combine that with a deliciously quirky, creative and warm community, you get an instantly intoxicating little island.

Potters Cay, the place to go for fresh conch salad in Nassau Nassau, The Bahamas Nassau has never been better. Period. A thriving food scene, a wonderfully revived historic downtown; and one of the most complete hotel products anywhere in the Caribbean, anchored by Atlantis and Baha Mar, the Caribbean’s leading megaresorts, both of which manage to coexist while offering their own layered, unique experiences. But that’s along with a stellar contingent of boutique hotels, from the legendary Graycliff to the hip new Island House, among others. Brewer’s Bay in St Thomas

St Thomas, US Virgin Islands It’s been one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean since the onset of the pandemic, shining a light on the rich, varied offerings of this beautiful, green-hilled island, from outstanding local eateries to a bounty of uncrowded white-sand beaches. That’s along with a dramatic project that’s totally transformed much of historic downtown Charlotte Amalie, one that continues today, adding a new energy to what was always one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the region. And did we mention the bustling activity at Yacht Haven Grande Marina?

Cockleshell Beach in St Kitts St Kitts and Nevis Visitors to this Eastern Caribbean twin-island destination find a place steeped in history and culture, blessed with an indescribable charm. There’s just an endlessly relaxing feeling here, whether you’re liming in the beach bars of Frigate Bay or spending a lazy afternoon on Cockleshell Beach. In Nevis, it’s all about historic charm, centuries old hillside inns and Hamilton trails side-by-side with rum-punch-filled beach bars.

The Town of Saint Pierre in Martinique Martinique It’s an almost impossibly diverse destination, from the northern coastline in the shadow of Mont Pelee to the sparkling golden sands of Le Diamant to the south; from the cultural capital of Fort de France to the rarefied Atlantic villas of Le Vauclin. Martinique has just about everything, and with the return of American Airlines, it’s once again easy to get there from the United States. The town of Saint Pierre in Martinique, where a 1902 volcano destroyed what was once the “Little Paris of the Caribbean.” Today, it’s a lovely village at the foot of Mont Pelee.

As featured on HGTV and winner of “Bang For Your Buck” in St. Thomas. This recently renovated villa resides on the edge of a cliff 200 feet above the Atlantic Ocean crashing onto the rocks below. The best location on the island—a private, secure, gated community of luxury villas—the villa offers spectacular views of the Atlantic and various islands including St. John, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola. The main house has 3 bedrooms with a detached cottage with its’ own queen size bed. Large deck, pool and spa. Phone 703 628-9005 • Fax 703 765-5900