Top Caribbean Beaches (2)
Seven Mile Beach
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Almasalla Travel News – What Makes It Great: This may be the best beach for clients who want a little more action to go along with their beach experience. Besides swimming in the clear blue water, where spotting a friendly stingray is as common as finding a sea shell, this stretch of heaven comes with an array of beach bars, restaurants and shops. For the best snorkeling and diving on Seven Mile Beach, we recommend the Cemetery Reef. One Caveat: The beach can get rather crowded at any given time, since this is a popular spot for cruise passengers. On the plus side, clients will only have to endure that for an hour or so.
Best Hotels Nearby: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar resort renewal project. The oceanfront resort has introduced additions through all guest rooms, suites, public spaces, meeting spaces, the fitness center, and the pool and beach experience. Plus, it is home to our favorite restaurant in Grand Cayman, Casa Havana, which serves traditional Caribbean cuisine with a Cajun twist. For clients looking for some classic elegance, book the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
The Baths
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
What Make It Great: It’s not often that you hear “rocks” given as the main reason to why a beach is superb, but that’s exactly why the beach at the Baths is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Caribbean jet-setters. Now, we aren’t talking about the rocks that stub your toes on a full-out sprint to the ocean. Rather, the Baths are perhaps one of the most mind-blowing rock configurations you will ever see. At the Baths, the beach shows evidence of the island’s volcanic origins, as huge granite boulders lie in piles on the beach. Because of the rocks, the water can be a little choppy, but not enough to ruin some great snorkeling.
Clients should be at least moderately fit as the Baths do involve a bit of climbing and maneuvering. A scraped knee here and there isn’t uncommon, but it’s a small price to pay for seeing something that is on so many people’s “bucket lists.”
Best Hotel Nearby: There are plenty of viable options for hotels close to the Baths, but why not pair a once-in-a-lifetime experience with perhaps the Caribbean’s best villa resort. Villa Aquamare is made up of three thoughtfully designed, 8,000-square-foot villas—all spaced out enough to ensure privacy. Each five-bedroom villa is perched at a different elevation and surrounded by landscaping for even more privacy, yet angled to maximize views of the stunning Sir Francis Drake Channel. A separate concierge house Resident Concierge is located on the property to provide attentive guest services at every turn.
Clients have the option of renting more than one villa, or even all three, to accommodate large gatherings of up to 36 people in one private enclave. The villas all have comfortable and spacious areas and ample balconies with spectacular ocean views. But a distinguishing feature of the Aquamare experience is found in each of the spa suites: open, yet completely sheltered marble bath areas with separate, large, outdoor shower rooms.
