12 Best Caribbean Islands for Couples Who Want White Sand, Gourmet Food, and Private Resorts

St. Barts

The Caribbean charm, European influence, and overarching natural beauty of St. Barts is an incredible combination. This is perhaps why honeymooners and couples continue to flock here in droves, despite the heftier price tags. On the island, 11 beaches await and the best include Anse des Flamands for rolling white sands and verdant greenery, Baie de Saint Jean for beachside restaurants like Nao Beach, and Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac for watersports. If you’re after a romantic setting with Hollywood glamour and world-class views, try the famous Eden Rock hotel.

Dominican Republic

If you want to feel like you’ve uncovered an opulent yet secluded spot with your partner, the Samaná Peninsula region of the Dominican Republic is it. Samaná is a sleepy and traditional town on the peninsula, which drops off into the sparkling waters of Samaná Bay — home to hundreds of humpback whales during mating season from January to March. For accommodation, couples must head to the dizzyingly beautiful isle of Cayo Levantado. Palm tree-lined beaches and chalky-white sands can be explored at the five-star resort of Cayo Levantado Resort, set to open summer 2023.

Jamaica

Located on the island’s far western side, Negril is perfect for couples in search of a lively and picturesque vacation. Sun-basking, reef-swimming, and all out indulging take place here, on the golden sands of the famous, sunset-facing Seven Mile Beach. Negril boasts stylish, boutique hotels atop the stunning limestone cliffs, the most impressive of which is The Caves. There are also plush beachfront hotels like the Royalton Negril.

Corn Islands, Nicaragua

Head to Nicaragua’s pleasingly affordable Caribbean coast, where Big and Little Corn Island offer untapped beauty with a rustic edge. A short flight from Managua, the islands will tempt you with their crystalline waters, coconut bread, and diving options, but the larger of the two, Big Corn, houses more locals and better beaches. Stay at Casa Canada for cabanas overlooking the ocean, an impossibly pretty infinity pool, a no-fuss restaurant, and charming service. In comparison, Little Corn does well at maintaining its party reputation and offers a larger range of boutique accommodations, like the luxury resort Yemaya Island Hideaway.

Turks and Caicos

Two hundred miles of powdery, white sands and gorgeous reefs meet utter indulgence in Turks and Caicos, an archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands. While technically part of the Bahamian chain in the Atlantic, this tropical destination is often considered to be part of the Caribbean.

Romance-seekers are rich with choices when it comes to elegant accommodations and dining here, particularly on the gateway island of Providenciales (known as Provo). Try the sensational seafood at Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar or check out the lively crowd at Da Conch Shack and Rum Bar.

Hotels and resorts are pretty much luxury only: Como Parrot Cay, a resort on a private cay, is for the couple who wants to absorb all the beauty of the islands without feeling as if they’ve stepped onto a resort. Amanyara, on the other hand, is pure opulence with private villas and bungalows surrounded by nature reserves.

St. Kitts and Nevis

This pair of tropical islands off the coast of Puerto Rico is not one of the Caribbean’s best-known spots, but there are few better places for couples looking to unwind somewhere serene, secluded, and adventurous. The UNESCO-protected Brimstone Hill Fortress offers history, and climbing one of St. Kitts’ volcanic peaks, like Mount Liamuiga, is for adventurers seeking monkeys and wild orchids. Fall asleep to the gentle lapping of the waves at the luxury, beachfront Four Seasons Resort Nevis.

Aruba

This Dutch Caribbean island is perfect for couples who like to mix it up, offering luxury, nature, and history in one. Make some memories and swim with flamingos on a neighboring private island, hike to the Arikok National Park to work up a sweat, and check out the range of museums on the island including one for archaeology and another for glass ceramics. Aruba has no shortage of good restaurants, too, with coconut shrimp and Jamaican jerk chicken at the popular outdoor dining spot Smokey Joe's Island Grill and gourmet eating at 2 Fools and a Bull. Cozy couples' resorts include the intimate MVC Eagle Beach hotel and the eco-friendly Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.

Barbados

Couples can watch the sun melt into the sparkling sea on a romantic catamaran tour, or take a walk on one of Barbados’s many breathtaking beaches. Cuisine is varied thanks to the fusion of African, Spanish, and West Indian influences. The Fish Pot, set within an 18th-century fort and part of the Little Good Harbour hotel, serves up delicious dishes and an unbeatable ambience in equal measure. For romantic accommodations, there's the five-star Fairmont Royal Pavilion or the larger Sandy Lane hotel, which boasts a golf course and spa alongside its spectacular suites and oceanfront rooms.

Grenada

Grenada has idyllic sands, tropical trees laden with fruit, a dramatic coastline, and the constant smell of nutmeg in the air. Most accommodations on Grenada offer low-key luxury, like Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club Grenada, which provides guests with an on-site spa and sailing and watersports activities. Then there’s the low-rise, all-inclusive Spice Island Beach Resort, which unfurls along the sparkling waters and white sands of the islands’ best beach, Grand Anse. Don’t forget to also head to the picture-perfect Tobago Cays for some of the Caribbean’s best diving and indulge in candle-lit gourmet Caribbean food at The Beach Club and Rhodes Restaurant at the Calabash.

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the Caribbean. The north of the island is busier and more developed, with spectacular beaches, bars, and restaurants, and the south is where the UNESCO World Heritage site, Saint Lucia’s Pitons, sits. Day-trip excursions between the north and south can be made easily, but it’s worth spending significant time on each side. For a truly spectacular and intimate retreat, take a trip to the unforgettable hilltop hotel, Jade Mountain, where you can birdwatch, scuba dive, and relax in the property's 24 infinity pools. The hotel also offers special experiences for anniversaries, honeymoons, and vow renewals. We recommend the all-inclusive Total Romance Package for a Sulphur Springs tour, a snorkeling trip, scuba diving, and sailing on the resort's yacht. 

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

St. Vincent and the Grenadines encompasses 32 islands, secluded private cays, and yacht-filled harbors. It’s known as a major sailing destination and offers some of the best sands in the Caribbean. Stay in the luxury beachfront Mandarin Oriental, Canouan on Canouan Island, the isle of wild tortoises, and explore the hotel’s Godhal Beach setting before kayaking over to the picturesque Shell Beach. Later, you can head up to Mount Royal and take in the panoramic views of the Caribbean waters, Mustique, Bequia, and Tobago Cays.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are situated between the Atlantic and Caribbean and will impress with a variety of quiet, natural wonders and friendly locals. Half Moon Bay and Rendezvous Bay are spectacular must-sees for divers and sunbathers, the latter accessible via 90-minute jungle trek (it's drivable, but only just). There’s also the Georgian-era marina and national park, Nelson’s Dockyard, which is Antigua's top sightseeing draw and was made a UNESCO site in 2016. And when you want romantic accommodation, try Jumby Bay Resort, a private island paradise peppered with hammocks.