The Best Resort Hotels in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas in 2016

By Adeline Duff
July 06, 2016
Danilo Scarpati/Courtesy of Kamalame Cay​
With crystal clear waters and fantastically fresh seafood,  the Caribbean and its sister destinations, Bermuda and the Bahamas, are home to some of the world’s most beautiful hotels and resorts.

In other words, it's pretty tough to choose the best of the best.

But every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. In the hotels category, readers rated properties on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink, and overall value. Hotels were categorized as resort properties based on their locations.

Unsurprisingly, one thing these top properties have in common is proximity to the beach, with rooms offering awe-inspiring ocean views. They also feature unusual and luxurious amenities, ranging from a Jean-Georges restaurant (On The Rocks) at Eden Rock, St. Bart’s, to a dive center overseen by ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, at Petit St. Vincent in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Readers applauded this year’s winner, Kamalame Cay, for its intimate, home-like feel. Many voters mentioned the owners, Michael King and David Hew. “They bring you in like family to their dinners and cocktail parties,” one survey participant wrote. 

The rest of the staff earned high praise as well. “[It's] as if you have known them for years! The only negative is we weren't able to bring them back to California with us,” one reader exclaimed. 

Coming in at a close second, Curtain Bluff in Antigua also received raves for its attentive service. “There is truly no other resort anywhere that excels at every single element of the hospitality industry as perfectly as Curtain Bluff does,” one voter remarked.

Activities and amenities, including yoga on a deck overlooking the sea, a spa offering hydrating “Jet Lag Facials,” and Tennis Week — an international pro-am festival hosted by the resort — were among the offerings readers appreciated.

Whether you’re an adventurer looking to scuba dive and snorkel, a sybarite looking to just lie on the beach with a rum punch, or a parent looking for a family-friendly escape, there’s somewhere on this list for everyone who wants to experience the Caribbean. The only question is, how soon can you go? 
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No. 25: The Palms Turks and Caicos 

Courtesy of the Palms Turks and Caicos

Score: 90.61

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No. 24: Parrot Cay by Como, Turks and Caicos

Courtesy of Parrot Cay and Como Shambhala Retreat

Score: 90.65

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No. 23: Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Courtesy of Zoëtry Resorts

Score: 90.67

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No. 22: The Reefs Resort & Club, Bermuda        

Courtesy of the Reefs Resort and Club

Score: 90.76

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No. 21: Christopher Hotel, Villas & Spa, St. Bart's

Courtesy of Hotel Christopher Pointe Milou / Pierre Carreau

Score: 90.88

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No. 20: Petit St. Vincent Resort, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Jonathan Palmer

Score: 90.96

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No. 19: Colony Club, Barbados

Courtesy of Colony Club, Elegant Hotels Group

Score: 91.04

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No. 18: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado, Puerto Rico

Courtesy of Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Score: 91.15

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No. 17: Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis and St. Kitts

David Massey

Score: 91.26

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No. 16: Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos     

Courtesy of Grace Bay Club

Score: 91.37

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No. 15: Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort & Spa, St. George's, Grenada       

Courtesy of Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort and Spa

Score: 91.42

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No. 14: Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, St. John's, Antigua

Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts

Score: 91.44

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No. 13: Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia

Courtesy of Anse Chastanet Resort

Score: 91.45

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No. 12: Capella Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Courtesy of Capella Marigot Bay

Score: 91.78

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No. 11: Secret Bay, Dominica

Derek Galon

Score: 91.89

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No. 10: Eden Rock, Baie de Saint Jean, St. Bart's         

Courtesy of Eden Rock–St. Barths

Score: 91.94

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No. 9: Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios, Jamaica  

Courtesy Jamaica Inn

Score: 92.35

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No. 8: GoldenEye, Oracabesssa, Jamaica

Jessica Sample

Score: 92.50

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No. 7: Ladera, St. Lucia

Courtesy of Ladera, St. Lucia

Score: 93.26

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No. 6: The Somerset on Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos          

Courtesy of The Somerset on Grace Bay

Score: 93.61

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No. 5: Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Courtesy of Round Hill Hotel

Score: 94.26

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No. 4: The House, St. James, Barbados   

Courtesy of The House

Score: 94.70

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No. 3: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

Courtesy of Jade Mountain

Score: 94.85

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No. 2: Curtain Bluff, St. John's, Antigua

Courtesy of Curtain Bluff Resort

Score: 95.40

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No. 1: Kamalame Cay, Andros, Bahamas

Danilo Scarpati/Courtesy of Kamalame Cay​

Score: 96.3

Kamalame Cay is a 27-room, nine-villa resort set on its own 96-acre private island. Balinese-style ceilings, stone walls, and colorful accents make the rooms feel intimate and tropical; just outside, you’ll find lush greenery and crystalline waters. “This is the place you go to get away from it all. You get your own cottage, a golf cart to get around in, an extremely well stocked honor bar, and your own section of beach that is really yours,” said one T+L reader. Top that off with exquisite food and an overwater spa, and you can see why it's a winner.

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By Adeline Duff