If You’re Looking for Unspoiled Nature: ST. JOHN
Bee MurphyWHY GO More than half of this
woodsy isle in the US Virgin
Islands is blanketed in a national
park. As a result, serene tropical
forest trails, OMG-inducing
overlooks of cobalt water, and run-ins with donkeysand other wildlife are part of
the daily happenings on this
peaceful island.WHERE TO STAY Caneel Bay
Resort, the only lodging within
the national park, hits the sweet
spot between rustic and unstuffy
luxury. Comfy rooms reveal
thoughtful details, including mini
flashlights, beach coolers—and
no TVs. Insider tip: The resort’s
homemade gelato is ridiculously
tasty (from $559 per night,
CaneelBay.com).HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME Don’t miss the
renowned hiking trails: For major
lookouts without much effort,give the resort’s half-mile Mary’s
Trail a go. Once your legs are
warmed-up, hike the moderate-
level Lind Point Trail, which
conveniently ends on Caneel’s
Honeymoon Beach. In the
afternoon, taxi into the town of
Cruz Bay for fresh seafood and
shopping at Waterfront Bistro.
“Hook” bracelets in silver or
gold are the souvenir to score.
Point the jewelry’s “J” hook
toward your heart to tell the
world you’re taken.If You’re Looking For Cool Culture: JAMAICA
Bee MurphyWHY GO Even with tourist
crowds and big resorts, this laid-
back country’s colorful soul
always shines through. The
friendly locals, traditionalstreet food, reggae music and
abundance of natural assets
keep Jamaica’s authentic
rhythm on repeat.
WHERE TO STAY Built on
Negril’s cliffs, the boho-chic,
34-room Rockhouse is both
architecturally stunning and big
on embracing local culture and
the community (the property’s
foundation supports area
educational projects that guests
can visit). Plus, it can brag that Bob Marley was once a guest.
Don’t leave without a couple’s
aromatherapy soak in its
Holistic Bath House (stand-alone
villas from $195 per night,
Rockhouse.com).HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME You’ll do as
Jamaicans do when you feast on
amazing jerk chicken and jam
to live reggae at the hotel’s
seaside Pushcart Restaurant & Rum Bar. Climbing waterfalls
is another island custom. Take
a refreshing guided walk up
Mayfield Falls, which tends to
be less touristy than Jamaica’s
other popular falls.If You’re Looking For a Foodie Retreat: ANGUILLA
Bee MurphyWHY GO The only thing better
than hanging in an island
setting is adding a killer mealto the scene. No problem for
Anguilla. From fine restaurants
to roadside barbecue stands,
more than 100 eateries dot its 35
square miles, leaving gourmands
seriously satisfied.WHERE TO STAY A few
decades back, cliffside resort
Malliouhana put Anguilla on
the culinary map by importing
fine, French cuisine and a
Michelin-starred chef to the
island. Renovated and reborn
as the chic, airy Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort, the iconis still spoiling guests with its
epicurean magic (the main
restaurant leans Mediterranean
now) and in every otherway possible (from $470,
Malliouhana.com).
HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME Troll the food
trucks in the island’s capital,
The Valley (hunt for Hungry’s
Good Food van and its exotic
soups), or spend the afternoon
dining on fresh seafood and
drinking rum punch on one of
the offshore cays, such as Scilly
Cay (ScillyCayAnguilla.com).If You’re Looking For a Flawless Beaches: PROVIDENCIALES
Bee MurphyWHY GO There are beaches—
and then there’s “Provo,” as this
Turks & Caicos island is called,
complete with blindingly white
sand and turquoise water that
are mind-blowing. Spectacular
Grace Bay Beach, where there’s
no slimy seaweed or rocks in
the water, is the crown jewel.
WHERE TO STAY At the posh
Grace Bay Club, you’re privy to 1,100 feet of beach frontage,
the largest of any resort in
Provo. The VIP treatment continues with beach butlers
fetching drinks and food when
you flash your personal flag
(junior suite from $515 per
night, GraceBayResorts.com/
gracebayclub).HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME Zone out during
a Time for Two couple’s massage
in an oceanfront cabana. Keep
the seaside indulgences rolling
with a torch-lit, toes-in-the-
sand romantic dinner for two
on Grace Bay Beach.If You’re Looking For All Inclusive: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Bee MurphyWHY GO When you want to
detox from the planning and
sticker shock of a wedding, all-
inclusive resorts offer the
ease you need. The Dominican
Republic, which shares the
island of Hispaniola with Haiti,
has a top selection of these
value-conscious, amenity-
packed properties.WHERE TO STAY Guests of
the Barceló Bávaro Beach hotel,
a lush, adults-only retreat in
Punta Cana, are granted full use
of all amenities at the more
bouncing Barceló property
that’s part of the same resort
complex. Between the two,
you’ll have access to nine á la
carte restaurants, a casino, shopping plaza, golf course,
nightly shows and multiple pools.
Upgrade to a Club Premium
room for special perks, like entry
to the hydrotherapy spa (all-
inclusive Club Premium room
from $152 per person per night,
BarceloBavaroBeachResort.com).HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME Filling yourdays and nights are easy
here. Tee off on the resort’s
championship P.B. Dye designed
golf course (your first round is
free), take kayaks out together,
or check the activities boardfor cooking classes. After dark,
watch a Vegas-style numberand then hit the casino or
thumping nightclub.If You’re Looking For Under-the-Sea Adventure: GRAND CAYMAN
Bee MurphyWHY GO Besides its famed
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
has a major following for its
underwater thrills. Snorkelers
and scuba divers are stoked by
the water’s good visibility, warm
temps, vibrant coral reefs and
choice of about 240 dive sites.WHERE TO STAY Hang your
flippers at The Westin Grand
Cayman Seven Mile Beach
Resort & Spa. It has top dive-
operator Red Sail Sports on-site,
and snorkelers can see some colorful fish right off the beach.
Set up the hotel’s honeymoon
registry to score your aquatic
excursions as wedding gifts
(from $239 per night,
WestinGrandCayman.com).HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME Raise your
adrenaline with a dive around
the USS Kittiwake, a rescue-ship-
turned-dive-attraction sunk just off Seven Mile Beach, or
by petting a friendly stingray in
shallow water at Stingray City.If You’re Looking For Total Seclusion: GUANA ISLAND
Bee MurphyWHY GO This under-the-radar
private island resort in the
British Virgin Islands maxes out
at around 35 guests (though
occupancy hovers closer to just 10 during the off-season),
granting couples an almost
deserted feel (in a good way!).
Find luxury style “roughing it”
here. Be dropped on a remote
beach, with a boat on call, where
you can have your fresh catch
eagerly prepped by a skilled chef.
Getting to this island entails a
couple of connections, but the
journey is worth it.WHERE TO STAY Go crazy
over the view of electric-blue
water from your cottage or
villa at Guana Island. Start
exploring and you’ll see that
the grounds, which include a beautiful fruit orchard and a
Garden of Eden for yoga and
outdoor movie screenings,are just as impressive. On the
departure dock, guests are even
photographed for the resort’s
memento binder—you’ll feel just
like family (all-inclusive rates
from $695 per night, Guana.com).HOW TO SPEND YOUR
ISLAND TIME Sign up for the
hotel’s Castaway Picnic and you
can pretend to be shipwrecked
together on Bigelow or Harris
beach (two of the island’s
pristine seven beaches), snorkel,
enjoy great food—and do
whatever else comes to mind.
Also arrange a day trip to The
Baths National Park on Virgin
Gorda or the infamous Soggy
Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke.