Caribbean

Low-rise, understated and exceptionally relaxed, Anguilla is known for beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants and discreet luxury hotels.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Couples, beaches, villas and quiet luxury.
Interesting fact: The island is famous for 33 beaches.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Choose Anguilla when privacy and exceptional beach time matter more than sightseeing.

Antigua brings together beautiful bays, historic English Harbour and a strong sailing culture, while sparsely developed Barbuda feels considerably more remote.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Beaches, sailing, couples and families.
Interesting fact: Antigua traditionally promotes itself as having a beach for every day of the year.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Add a private boat day — this is an island best appreciated from the water.

Aruba offers reliable sunshine, powder-white beaches and a lively choice of restaurants and resorts, complemented by a surprisingly rugged desert-like interior.

Best time: Year-round.
Perfect for: Sunshine, families, beaches and water sports.
Interesting fact: Aruba sits outside the main Caribbean hurricane belt.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine the beaches with a private exploration of the island's wild northern coast.

Hundreds of islands and cays allow the Bahamas to offer everything from sophisticated resorts to near-total seclusion. Nassau provides convenient access, but the Out Islands reveal its quieter side.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Islands, boating, families, diving and private villas.
Interesting fact: Only a fraction of the Bahamas' many islands and cays are inhabited.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Look beyond Nassau and consider combining it with an Out Island.

Barbados blends excellent beaches with historic plantations, exceptional restaurants, lively towns and a distinctive Bajan identity.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Families, couples, gastronomy, cricket and beaches.
Interesting fact: Barbados is home to Mount Gay, whose rum-making history stretches back to the early 18th century.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Split your time between the west coast and exploring the island's less-developed east.

The British Virgin Islands are made for the water, with protected bays and a collection of islands and cays creating some of the Caribbean's finest sailing.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Sailing, yachts, beaches and groups.
Interesting fact: The archipelago comprises dozens of islands and smaller cays.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Charter a crewed yacht and turn the journey itself into your accommodation.

Grand Cayman combines polished resorts and restaurants with exceptional diving and famously clear Caribbean water, while Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are quieter and more adventurous.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Families, diving, beaches and luxury resorts.
Interesting fact: Stingray City allows visitors to encounter southern stingrays on a shallow offshore sandbar.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Add a day on the water even if diving isn't part of your plans.

Cuba is culturally unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean, combining historic architecture, music, beaches and an extraordinary 20th-century story.

Best time: November–April.
Perfect for: Culture, history, music and curious travellers.
Interesting fact: Havana's celebrated collection of classic American cars reflects decades in which importing new vehicles was extremely restricted.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Havana with countryside and coast rather than visiting purely for a beach holiday.

Curaçao combines colourful Dutch-Caribbean architecture, excellent diving and a cosmopolitan food scene with a dry, sunny climate.

Best time: Year-round.
Perfect for: Couples, diving, culture and winter sunshine.
Interesting fact: The local Papiamentu language reflects African, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch influences.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Spend time exploring Willemstad rather than staying entirely within a resort.

Dominica is the Caribbean for travellers who value nature over conventional resort life. Rainforest, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and hiking dominate this exceptionally green island.

Best time: February–May.
Perfect for: Adventure, hiking, nature and wellness.
Interesting fact: Dominica's Boiling Lake is one of the world's largest naturally heated lakes.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Choose a nature-led boutique property and build activities around the landscape.

Beyond its celebrated beach resorts, the Dominican Republic contains mountains, colonial history, rainforest and vibrant cities.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Families, beaches, golf and all-inclusive luxury.
Interesting fact: Pico Duarte is the highest mountain in the Caribbean.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine a resort stay with at least one private excursion beyond the hotel.

Known as the Spice Isle, Grenada is lush, mountainous and wonderfully relaxed, with attractive beaches alongside rainforest, waterfalls and historic estates.

Best time: January–May.
Perfect for: Couples, sailing, food and quieter Caribbean escapes.
Interesting fact: Nutmeg has played such an important role in Grenada that it appears on the national flag.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Explore the island's spice and chocolate traditions as well as its beaches.

Jamaica has an unmistakable identity shaped by music, food, mountains and magnificent coastline. Montego Bay and Ocho Rios offer established resorts while quieter areas provide more intimate experiences.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Music, food, couples, families and beaches.
Interesting fact: Jamaica's Blue Mountains produce one of the world's most celebrated coffees.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine beach time with the interior rather than seeing Jamaica solely from a resort.

Puerto Rico brings together historic San Juan, Caribbean beaches, rainforest and a dynamic food scene, all with a distinctive blend of Caribbean, Spanish and American influences.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Culture, nightlife, beaches and families.
Interesting fact: El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest within the US National Forest System.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Pair several nights in Old San Juan with a coastal stay.

Better known as St Barts, this small French Caribbean island is synonymous with discreet glamour, stylish hotels, villas, yachts and outstanding dining.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Couples, celebrations, yachts and luxury escapes.
Interesting fact: St Barts is an overseas collectivity of France.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Book early around Christmas and New Year, when demand becomes exceptional.

These neighbouring islands balance beaches and historic plantations with volcanic landscapes and a noticeably unhurried atmosphere.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Couples, history, beaches and relaxed luxury.
Interesting fact: St Kitts' scenic railway was originally constructed to transport sugar cane.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Experience both islands rather than choosing between them.

Saint Lucia's dramatic Pitons, rainforest and volcanic landscapes make it one of the Caribbean's most visually striking islands.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Honeymoons, wellness, scenery and romance.
Interesting fact: The twin Pitons are volcanic formations and form part of a UNESCO-listed landscape.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Choose accommodation with a direct Piton view for the full Saint Lucia experience.

One small island offers two distinct personalities: French Saint-Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten, combining fine dining, beaches, boating and lively nightlife.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Food, beaches, yachts and couples.
Interesting fact: The island has been divided between French and Dutch administration for centuries.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Explore both sides rather than remaining close to your hotel.

Turks & Caicos is built around extraordinary beaches and water, with Providenciales offering some of the Caribbean's most refined resorts and villas.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Families, couples, villas, diving and pure relaxation.
Interesting fact: The islands sit alongside an extensive coral reef system.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Grace Bay works beautifully for first visits; private islands offer another level of seclusion.

St Thomas, St John and St Croix each offer a different experience, combining beaches, sailing and Caribbean scenery with easy connections to the United States.

Best time: December–April.
Perfect for: Island hopping, sailing and families.
Interesting fact: Much of St John is protected within Virgin Islands National Park.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine the convenience of St Thomas with the natural beauty of St John.

A chain of wonderfully varied islands and cays, St Vincent and the Grenadines rewards travellers who want to move between secluded beaches, sailing harbours and private-island resorts.

Best time: December–May.
Perfect for: Sailing, honeymoons, private islands and seclusion.
Interesting fact: The Grenadines extend southwards in a chain between St Vincent and Grenada.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Make this an island-hopping journey rather than a single-resort holiday.