Top Caribbean Beaches (3)
Shoal Bay Beach
Anguilla
Almasalla Travel News – What Makes It Great: Shoal Bay East is a coral island. Like Grace Bay, the sunsets here are what sets it apart from most beaches. Plus, the locals who frequent this beach are about as nice as they come. You may also get an impromptu taste of culture on the beach as it’s a popular spot for some leisurely games of cricket.
Best Hotel Nearby: Shoal Bay Villas is an excellent option for families and large groups. It recently underwent an extensive renovation, which included room upgrades, and an expansion. This includes 10 new deluxe rooms—eight oceanfront and two poolside—bringing its total to 23 rooms altogether. The resort also added a fitness center and a mini-spa with two Balinese therapists on hand.
Crane Beach
Saint Philip Parish, Barbados
What Makes It Great: This beach offers a well-balanced mix of a tranquil sun-sand-and-sea experience and some challenging water sports. Sunbathers can stretch out and work on their tans, but swimmers should be aware that the water is rough. The surf here is usually pretty high and the tide is equally strong. While this may discourage some folks looking for a calm dip in the ocean, it is a major perk for water sports enthusiasts who love to body surf and boogie board. There is also the aesthetic factor to consider: Crane Beach is the only one on the island with pink sand.
Best Hotel Nearby: The Crane Residential Resort is one of Travel Agent’s favorite luxury resorts in all of the Caribbean. This place defines classic elegance and top-notch service. And it doesn’t hurt that it sits on the cliff overlooking Crane Beach. These views can be equally relaxing as lounging on the beach itself and make this particular spot very popular for destination weddings. The best accommodations at the resort, however, are the private residences, which have hardwood or stone floors, private ocean-view pools in most and fully equipped kitchens. (Don’t let the luxury aspect discourage you from suggesting Crane Resort to your less-affluent clients; the hotel’s website posts 20-25 percent discounts that are available for 2014 if they book by June 30, 2013.)
Anse Marcel Beach
Anse Marcel, St. Martin
What Makes It Great: This is one of the best beaches in the Caribbean for families with small children who may not be the best swimmers just yet. The water is very calm and shallow, making it an excellent place to get the little ones acquainted with the ocean. It is tucked into a beautiful, quiet, tropical bay, protected from the swell. There is also a lot to do here as the Marina Port de Lonvilliers is located at the northern side of Anse Marcel. The marina is home to an array of quick and affordable eateries as well as some impressive boutique shops.
Best Hotel Nearby: The Radisson Blu Resort Marina & Spa, St. Martin offers some of the best views of Anse Marcel Beach as most of its rooms include private balconies that feature impressive views of the surrounding scenery. And just like the beach, the resort is a good choice for families.
Cinnamon Bay
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
What Makes It Great: The beach is gorgeous and last year became certified by Blue Flag for its environmental sustainability. There is a watersports center on the beach that rents kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, etc. Across the street from the beach entrance are extensive sugar mill ruins that visitors can check out (this was recently made wheelchair accessible) as well as a short hiking trail. The snorkeling is good too. Wildlife to be seen include donkeys, iguanas, white-tailed deer, and birds. Admission to Cinnamon Bay is free.
Best Hotel Nearby: There is a campground on the beach with bare campsites, tents and cottages as well as a restaurant managed by nearby hotel, the much more upscale Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort. Caneel Bay is especially well suited for affluent clients. This 166-room luxury resort offers not only great access to Cinnamon Bay Beach, but also borders six other secluded beaches if the crowds at Cinnamon Bay get a bit too heavy.
Pink Sands Beach
Harbour Island, Eleuthera, the Bahamas
What Makes It Great: First, allow us to say that pretty much any beach located in The Bahamas Out Islands lends itself to some of the greatest snorkeling you will find in the Caribbean. This beach is usually not very crowded and is a good place to bring young children or inexperienced swimmers since the coral reef protects the shore from the breakers. The beach is full of pale, pink sand and spans about three miles.
Best Hotels Nearby: For couples, we suggest the 38-room boutique hotel, Valentines Resort & Marina. Sitting right on the Harbour Island waterfront, it has a private dock, a diving center and a freshwater pool surrounded by Balinese-style lounge chairs. For families, we suggest the Pink Sands Resort, which comprises 25 private cottages and offers a freshwater swimming pool, two tennis courts, snorkeling gear and more. Oceanview accommodations provide a private path to the sea.
Horseshoe Bay Beach
Southampton Parish, Bermuda
What Makes It Great: There may actually be better beaches in Bermuda, but we are giving Horseshoe Bay the nod simply because it is the most popular beach in the destination and perhaps one of the most well-known beaches in the world for the long stretch of pink sand, giving clients some bragging rights when they share tales of their Caribbean vacation with friends. This may also be the safest and calmest beach on our list. Because it is so popular, however, it tends to get a bit crowded, so be sure to tell clients to claim their spot on this iconic beach as early as possible in the morning. Also, it should be noted that unlike most beaches in Bermuda, Horseshoe Bay has a lifeguard on duty from May to September.
Best Hotels Nearby: For our money, the two best resorts near Horseshoe Bay are The Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda Resort, which includes rooms with private balconies and marble floors and The Reefs Resort & Club, which has some stunning rooms set atop a limestone cliff overlooking the beach.
