Home Articles Best Places in the Caribbean for a Vacation

Best Places in the Caribbean for a Vacation

The Caribbean is a great destination for South Florida residents who are looking to travel and experience another culture without having to travel too far.

Not sure where to head to? The following are several of the best places to go to in the Caribbean for a quick vacation.

U.S. Virgin Islands

For South Florida residents who don’t want to worry about passports or exchanging currency, the U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the best vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Still, it helps to have a passport while traveling there so you don’t have to travel with your birth certificate. It’s also a good destination for Americans who want a more comfortable vacation that feels a little closer to home.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are made up of many islands, but the three main islands are St.John, St. Thomas, and St Croix. Although the islands greatly differ from one another, all together they are known for their resorts, colorful buildings, dining, beautiful scenery, water activities, shopping, and nightlife. And for nature and history lovers, you can’t miss visiting the Virgin Islands National Park.

The Bahamas

Roughly 55 miles from Miami, the Bahamas is a country with a complex history and vibrant culture, and it is made up of more than 700 islands and 2,000 rocks and cays. It has a population of about 400,000 million people. Although the official language is English, many of the locals speak Bahamian Creole.

Millions of travelers from all over the world visit the Bahamas every year, whether for a vacation or as cruise visitors. The country has something to please every traveler, from beautiful weather and beaches to plenty of adventurous activities, incredible nightlife, friendly locals, great restaurants, and so much more.

If you want a resort-style vacation with plenty of excitement, modern amenities, and activities, Nassau or Paradise Island is a great place to stay. But if you’re looking for a more remote and adventurous vacation, you can travel to the outer islands like Cat Island or the Exumas.

Jamaica

Jamaica is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean, both in terms of land and population. It’s also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean and sees roughly four million tourists each year. Although there’s plenty to do and see in Jamaica, many tourists choose to stay in one of the island’s many all-inclusive resorts for the duration of their stay. So if that’s what you’re looking for in a Caribbean vacation, head to Jamaica.

The island has a beautiful mix of scenery, from rainforests to mountains, to lush beaches. Blue Mountain Peak is a must-visit place for nature lovers and a great place to go hiking or camping.

It’s also the home of Blue Mountain coffee. As for water sports, snorkeling and diving are very popular. And music lovers can’t visit Jamaica without heading to Kingston to visit the Bob Marley Museum. Lastly, if you love spicy food, you must indulge in the local cuisine.

Barbados

Like the other islands on this list, Barbados boasts beautiful beaches and plenty of water activities. But because of the nation’s colonial past, Barbados has a very British feel to it — a certain type of sophistication and preppiness. Because of this you’ll find afternoon tea, dressing up for dinner, a number of colonial buildings, and beloved British sports.

Sports are a big deal in Barbados, for locals and for tourists. Cricket, the national sport, is by far the most popular on the island, but other popular sports include horse racing, rugby, polo, golf, basketball, and tennis. And if you love rum, then you can’t miss out on some great rum from one of the island’s many distilleries, such as Mount Gay Rum.

There’s no reason you shouldn’t make your traveling dreams a reality. If you’re not sure where to go for your next vacation, give one of the above places a shot for a quick tropical vacation that’s close to home.