Which Caribbean island do you think is the best?

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Del

Barbados without a doubt.

* Some great surf spots especially scuba diving
* Great weather
* Unbelievable sceneries
* Friendly locals
* Great beaches especially some isolated ones means privacy
* Duty-free shopping in its capital especially at Cave Shepherd locations

It is one that has me keep coming back to.

bobfrappals

Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten, Barbados are all wonderful. St. Lucia and Dominica are beautiful islands with lush rainforests. So many great islands , so little time.

bajan maisie

I like all of them. Each of them has a unique personality while similarities run deep.

If you like to party then you need to channel your inner Trinidadian. Trinidad is 'the party place" in the Caribbean. It's a religion there. In addition, its got a melting pot culture from the four corners of the globe and bone deep hospitality.

Jamaica has a more complex vibe. Immense natural beauty and musical geniuses and to die for jerk chicken. Crime is a prob in the city though

St. Lucia is a gem. When we West Indians want to escape our islands(!) we go to St. Lucia. Rustic, with a charming mixture of French and English and VERY VERY VERY laid back.

Dominica - eco tourism dream -modern facilities available but if you like to hike and do all those outdoorsy things -Dominica is the place for you.

Grenada is where you want to retire. Pretty and even more laid back than St. Lucia. Crime very very low and food cheap. Plenty of water sports everywhere. Less commercial than some of the other islands.

Barbados is a little combination of all the others. If you want secluded you can find it. It has more of night life than some of the quieter destinations and you can always find a party. More developed than St. Lucia and Dominica you can sunbathe and still keep tabs on your business overseas. Infrastructure excellent.

Â¡Keisha!

The twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It's the best because it's the home of carnival, soca and doubles with slight peppa.

Chelsea W

Trinidad and Tobago. the culture is beautiful and it is known for its diversity.

~*~Fuego Taino~*~

Dominican Republic.....
- Wonderful People
- Mesmerizing Beaches
- Wild Night Life
- Spectacular sites
I just LOVE DR. Since I am Dominican I feel like its my other home (I was born in the US) and I always have A LOT of fun when I go there... Its just a beautiful country

hottawarrior - win lose or draw

Trinidad and Tobago.

Each island in the caribbean has its own speciality. but T&T has so many things going for it.

Trinidad is the party goer's dream place. The night life is excellent - there is always something to do.

additionally, there is the diverse cultures, FOOD - Doubles, roti, bake and shark, souse, KFC (lol - its a know fact that KFC in trinidad is the best tasting) etc etc etc.

Carnival!!!!
The laid back, easygoing pace of its citizens.
You can go surfing out at Maracas Bay.

And according to the time of year you can go turtle watching as the Giant Leatherback turtles come ashore to lay eggs or when the babies hatch and head out to sea.

Then Tobago is like the opposite, if you're into Nature there's the Rain Forest, hiking up to the waterfall, Bird watching out on Little Tobago, or you can go snorkeling, diving, sailing.

There's beautiful beaches, FOOD - crab and dumpling etc. or go out over the Reef, or spend some time in the Nylon Pool (if you are in Tobago this is a must!) or spend the day at No Man's Land.

Peace and Quiet, Serene and Relaxation is what you will find in Tobago!

You can also go game fishing on either of the islands! and if you are brave enough, you can come in for the carnival season in Trinidad....but you will definitely need the Peace, Quiet and Relaxation of Tobago to "Cool down"!

shygirl93

Grenada, it's beautiful, and the people are friendly.

â™¥G3M!N! PR!NC355â™¥

grenada... bc thats where im from... i like barbados and st.vincent.... go check out grenada....

mh_swaney

I like Grand Cayman the best. The hotel we stayed at was great, and it was literally right across the street from the beach. The reef was about 10 feet from the beach. You can go and swim with the stingrays. They're swimming around your feet, but they won't sting you, unless you like do something really harmful to it. You can also go to the turtle farm and even pick up the turtles. It's really cool! The beach is beautiful, with it's pure white sand that feels like powder, and the blue, sunny sky. The water is always warm, with beautiful teal colored water. I reccomend going in late October, because it's not really hot like in the summer. The temperature's about 90 degrees farenheit.

Tyler I Shanick

ANTIGUA and BARBUDA!!! check video below=

Ana Iris S

i think that the best island is the dominican republic, cuz i was born there and i obviously know my culture. but i do have to give it to the islands beside me, like puerto rico, cuba, etc, and obviously just all around latinos.

looardislander

I have been all over the world and I chose to live in Antigua... that should tell you everything you need to know.

karibikgirl

Each islands has its own charm. Plus it all depends on your taste.

I like Puerto Rico for shopping, & entertainment.

Dominica the nature island - for exploring and hiking.

The Grenadines Island - for relaxation, snorkeling, sailing

Grenada the isle of Spice - it's my home and offers nearly a small piece of everything from above.

Nice article from National Geographic Traveler:

Anguilla
Score: 70

"Tremendous aesthetic appeal with pristine beaches and healthy reef system. Tourism is up-market and low density. Large hotels have altered formerly pristine coastal settings, damaged archaeological sites, and required the importation of labor."

"Big plus: The island has eschewed large cruise ships, minimizing the impact of thousands of day-trippers. Islanders are aware of Anguilla's special providence and aren't selling it off at the pace seen on other Caribbean islands."

"The beaches are gorgeous but it is becoming a place only the ultra-rich can enjoy."

Antigua
Score: 50

"Classic mass tourism destination. Emphasis on beach tourism. Hotels are generally not energy-conscious. The island has a severe problem with disposal of solid waste. Because hotels are mostly foreign-owned, the local population only receives lower-end wages. The major assets, the beaches, are in danger of overuse and erosion."

"The Heritage Quay area is a wonderful example of integrating the historic heritage with present-day commercial activities. The built heritage all over the island is very rich."

"Because of a notoriously corrupt government, the land is beautiful but relatively uncontrolled. They have lost touch with much of their heritage. One beautiful fortress is preserved by tourism, but there isn't much else along those lines."

Aruba
Score: 48

"Massive development of high-rise hotels on the west end results in serious traffic congestion. Also heavy dependence for hotel workers on expatriate labor. Cruise ships have resulted in a tacky downtown."

"The high-rise hotels lining Palm Beach are a good way of maximizing bodies on a beach while minimally impacting the island's interior. Vast majority of islanders are employed by tourism and know it's their bread and butter. The attitude towards visitors is genuinely warm and inviting. The Arikok National Park appears to be well-protected."

"Very little aesthetic appeal. The island has become almost exclusively a sand, sun, sea, and casino experience. Tourists are not educated on the ecological and/or historical elements of the destination."

"There's no 'there' there."

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Out Islands, Bahamas
Score: 66

"The Bahamas Out Islands vary a great deal. For every island that has local involvement and ecologically conscious development, there is another dominated by outside investment, where exploitation of the natural environment is the rule."

"Some of the most beautiful islands in the world but are being threatened by big development, second homes, and a loss of everything Bahamian. Still there are some special places like Andros, San Salvador, and Inagua."

"The allure of Eleuthera and its little sister Harbor Island has been discovered big timeâ€”chickens crossing the road mix with celebrity sightings."

"Aesthetically pleasant for those who only care about a beach and a BBQ. Rather appalling in terms of diffusing wealth or educating tourists about the Bahamas."

"The biggest threat lies with selective development by European-style resorts that come in and exceed the labor supply of the islands, resulting in the importation of off-island labor and the accompanying change in social character."

Barbados
Score: 62

"Densely populated, with some of the highest visitor arrivals in the region. Although very clean, demand on marine resources has led to over-fishing, including the flagship flying fish. Oral and other traditions are fading, or becoming watered down and commercialized for visitors."

"Bajan culture is strong and evident, and locals relate warmly to visitors. However, the volumes of cruise visitors overwhelm Bridgetown and bring far fewer benefits than stay-over visitors. The agricultural landscape is aesthetically appealing."

"Tourism is well-organized, with the populace sensitive to its economic importance. Barbadians are conscious of their environment. There is recycling of plastic and glass bottles. The beach areas are kept meticulously clean and the water pristine."

"Away from the tourist areas, Barbados offers unbelievable scenery, isolated beaches, fascinating culture, and a rich history. The future is likely to continue submerging the real Barbados to bring in more seekers of beaches, golf, and winter homes."

Bermuda, North Atlantic
Score: 66

"One of the most crowded places on Earth, and one of the tidiest. There is a remarkable dedication to the preservation of its archaeological, historic, and maritime heritage."

"Built environment is well preserved as is its colonial British atmosphere. Cruise ships have a major impact, although harbor office does a great job of making sure ships conform to environmental regulations. The diversified resort economyâ€”lots of non-chain, independently owned beach resorts dot the southern coastâ€”acts as a bulwark against the mono-economy of cruise ship tourism."

"Culture is still strong, but racial tension continues to grow and is a problem. Over-built and very expensive. Lovely beaches and beautiful club atmosphere, but the cruise ships in the middle of town are not attractive."

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Bonaire
Score: 68

"Hailed for its conservation practices, Bonaire's coral reef management and sustainable tourism awareness program deserve special mention. Areas of concern are the rapidly growing real estate sector and government intention to expand tourism, with potential stress on natural resources."

"It's all about the diving . . . and for good reason. The reefs are among the most easily accessible in the world and are reasonably protected."

"High aesthetic appeal showcasing desert isle character. Some resorts now detracting from the small destination feel."

"Stewardship of natural environment has been a hallmark of Bonaire, yet island is now poised to become overdeveloped, and sewage treatment is minimal."

Cozumel, Mexico
Score: 47

"Up to a dozen cruise ships visit at once. Port is essentially jewelry and curio shops. Island is water short. New cruise ship dock is nearly atop Paraiso reef and next to Chankanaab ecological site, Some sites are well managed and protected, but overall the island is stressed, particularly as most ships arrive at the same time."

"The reefs of Cozumel have some of the highest fish density/biomass of the entire Caribbean. The entire marine environment is a reserve and well-enforced, supported in part by the tourism."

"Hurricane impacts are still noticable, but much has been done to restore the situation. Unfortunately there has not been much effort to preserve character or sense of place in recent structures."

"Cozumel can be taken as an example of the need of establishing limits to the number of visitors an island destination can hold at a single time."

"The Cozumel Country Club is the first golf course in Mexico designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary from Audubon International."

CuraÃ§ao
Score: 57

"Ideal climate, nice beaches, and cultural and architectonical values make it attractive for different types of tourism; some more appropriate than others. Other economic interests compete with tourism and the environment. The economic situation of high debt and slow growth have not helped to improve stewardship practices and policies."

"Tourist arrivals are on the increase. The offering seems focused on heritage tourism and history. Areas of concern are: violent crime on the increase with alleged high number of murders; deficiencies in drinking water distribution (and utilities); and the presence of oil refining pollution close to the tourist corridor."

"CuraÃ§ao has done a remarkable job in embracing its architectural heritage and protecting hundreds of significant sites."

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Dominica
Score: 77

"Beautiful country. Still largely forested, amazing biodiversity, great bird watching and scuba diving. Because Dominica doesn't possess the traditional beaches of the Caribbean, it is often overlooked."

"The Nature Isle is aptly namedâ€”awesome power and incredible beauty of nature unspoiled. Its lush mountains, indigenous population, art, craft, agro-based products, and small-scale accommodation facilities all add to the opportunity for sustainable tourism development."

"The island has not changed much since Columbus first spied it. While cruise ship tourism has remained low, it threatens to overrun specific sites."

"A serious dichotomy between lip service to preserving and protecting its wilderness, which is the major product, and the soliciting of more cruise ships, the proposed oil refinery, and support for Japan on the whaling issue."

Grand Cayman
Score: 47

"A high-end destination aimed mainly at the U.S. market with luxury hotels and diving. The massive damage from Hurricane Ivan showed that even a very rich island is extremely vulnerable to devastation. Other than tourism and offshore banking, no economic alternatives."

"The ratio of tourist arrivals to residents is greater in the Cayman Islands than any other Caribbean destination. Grand Cayman feels more American than C

Caribbean Living

The Cayman Islands http://www.caymanislands.ky the best of everything can be found on these three islands only an hour and 20 minutes from Miami. The islands are all super friendly and what ever it is you are looking for out of Caribbean life can be found here - endless white sand beaches, crystal clear waters for all sorts of watersports and relaxing, restaurants catering to all flavors, bars filled with fun, sophistication and style, street dances and carnivals, outdoor sports as the sun shines 95% of the year, friendly smiles to greet you wherever you are...there is so much to mention but the best of all is swinging in the hammock to the sound of the Caribbean Sea.

sailingblue13

Union Island which is apart of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I love the culture there and the island is so beautiful.

â—™â—‹â˜¼Le Poisonâ˜¼â—‹â—™

Grenada is the best caribbean island...It is small so you can learn it quickly.It has the best networks of roads...so you can get around the island easily and you can get to any place you like.Then again it has a low crime rate...and the weather is always beautiful..plus it has beautiful beaches...(bathway& Levera beach..St.Patrick's,Grand Anse St.George)Plus it has a lot of eco tourism..Grand Etang St.Andrew's ...Grand Etang is a resrved forest..filled with many animals and plants(the leptotila Welsi...is only found in Grenada) and consists of a crater lake(grand Etang Lake).the people are friendly and amiable...the food is delicious,the rentals are cheap,the hotels are unbeilevable.... and so much more....I think you need to visit to see it's beauty

chantal n

st.maarten. I was born n raised there,n even though i live in miami now i plan 2 move back home next summer

swan tips

ANTIGUA by far or a very second St Lucia.
http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/
Antigua is a lovely little island famous for sailing and some of the historic sites where Admiral Nelson stayed - e.g Nelson's dockyard. internationally world renowned sailing events are held here as well and a lot of celebrities have holiday homes here. By the way there are 365 beaches - one for every day of the year!!!

I feel that it is nicer than most of the larger Caribbean islands as the locals are nicer towards tourists and it is a smaller, more intimate island. Most islanders can take or leave tourists - especially British tourists who are seen not to be great tippers but Antiguans treat all visitors the same.

It is very pretty. It has a small population and it is a former British colony and so it is very similar to the UK - same education system, same bicameral government system.. that sort of thing!

Source: My family are Antiguan but it is not bias as I am british and have travelled to many of the other islands.

P.S Trinidad and Tobago have a few problems with crimes against tourists - "There is a high level of gang related violence and crime in Trinidad...". See the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/trinidad-tobago?ta=safetySecurity&pg=2
My mother was going to go there last year but changed her mind for that reason:

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