Boutique hotels in Caribbean 43 Boutique hotels

Welcome to the Caribbean Islands: Paradise on Earth

For many people, having their luxury Caribbean island vacation confirmed in an exclusive resort will mean being able to enjoy the getaway of a lifetime. Of course, there are so many great places to explore, with a luxury resort and exclusive boutique hotel on nearly every island. Whether you like the idea of staying in Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, or anywhere else on the Caribbean map, you are likely to find the availability you want depending on the exact dates you'd like confirmed. What's more, the beach life on offer at many of the best luxury hotels in the Caribbean - from Barbados to Puerto Rico - is second to none. Even if you are not a fan of the beach, you can expect a private pool to cool off in, as well as many other offers, depending on the type of boutique property you have selected.

Which are the best dates to select and have confirmed for a boutique hotel vacation in the Caribbean?

Once you book and have your dates confirmed, you'll be looking forward to your exclusive luxury hotel in your chosen resort. Having dates set means you will also usually book your flights and have them confirmed, too. If so, you will want to select dates that mean you are not set to coincide with the Caribbean's hurricane season. Although the absence of severe weather can never be totally confirmed, late summer and early fall tend to be the dates when it is most likely. Consequently, having dates for your vacation confirmed at this time can mean there is more availability in boutique hotels, even some of the most exclusive luxury resort hotels. Regardless of the star rating, confirmed price drops tend to occur everywhere on the map during hurricane season dates. This is a good thing if you want a charming property in the low season. Some of the best pricing is due to the increased availability of rooms at this time, and even if you book a luxury hotel on a bay or by a beach during the low season, you may never encounter severe weather at all, leaving you free to enjoy your hotel and spa resort regardless of the dates you've selected for your break. Take a view on whether the dates you have set provide the best chance of enjoying your beach vacation in a hotel resort in a way that will satisfy you. After all, even if it rains for a day or two on the dates you've selected, you can always head to the indoor pool or spa and go back to the beach when the weather is set to be more favorable.

Where should you stay for a luxury beach hotel vacation in the island chain?

Once you have selected your preferred dates, look at the map for availability on an island that you want to visit. The star rating of each boutique hotel will give you an indication of its luxury qualities and design style, but look at the photos, too. This way, you'll get to know what sort of rooms are on offer on different islands. To begin with, the Dominican Republic has some superb luxury hotels which, although very charming, often have rooms at surprisingly affordable rates. Check out Santo Domingo, the bustling capital of the Dominican Republic. Nevertheless, the more relaxed resort of Las Terrenas, on the other side of the island from Santo Domingo, provides some truly breathtaking ocean view rooms where you can chill out in style. If you want to mix with Europeans during your stay, then the French island of Guadeloupe is a good place to select. Unlike Antigua, Jamaica, or Puerto Rico, for example, Guadeloupe and nearby St Barth, have a very French feel and restaurant food on these islands is often based on Gallic cuisine. Located a little to the north of Barbados, which also has many luxury hotel rooms offering style and stunning views, is Martinique, another French-speaking island that is as charming as it is beautiful. Although English speakers may find islands like Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua, or Barbados more immediately appealing, at least checking out some of the other islands in the Caribbean is worth it before your final destination is confirmed. After all, you're free to check out all the photos of every resort, bay, and boutique hotel offering ocean views before your vacation is confirmed, so why not make the most of looking at the availability in places like Martinique or St Barth as well as the better-known resorts on the Caribbean map?

What offers can you expect at a boutique hotel in the Caribbean?

With your vacation confirmed to Saint Lucia, Santo Domingo, or anywhere else on the Caribbean map, you should confirm what offers hotels of your chosen star rating provide to guests. Firstly, look at photos of the hotel restaurant to see where you want to enjoy dining there or if you'd prefer to head out. Typically, breakfast is offered for free with the price of the room, but if you've selected an exclusive resort and a chic hotel, your evening meal may also be included within the price of the rooms you've booked. Note that booking boutique or luxury hotel rooms for your party in the Caribbean islands often also means being able to gain free access to the private hotel spa. Have the availability of a spa confirmed before booking, and check photos of the spa facilities so you know what to expect. Bear in mind that smaller boutique hotels or those with a lower star rating may not have a spa. If so, you can often access a nearby hotel spa because many luxury hotels in the Caribbean have deals, which means guests can enjoy the best facilities in each other's hotels. Of course, this depends on the resort you choose to book and whether the boutique hotel you've selected makes such offers available even during the low season. Sometimes, it can depend on which dates you've confirmed with the hotel. Finally, make sure your hotel has a pool. Some offer a private pool if you book a suite of rooms, but typically, boutique hotel pools are shared among guests. Note that it is quite common for chic luxury hotels on nearly every Caribbean island to have an infinity pool these days. This means being able to enjoy an ocean view over the low pool wall without having to head to the beach, of course.

What activities do luxury boutique hotels in the Caribbean provide?

Every hotel on every Caribbean island provides its own activity list regardless of the availability of rooms and the star rating of the boutique hotel concerned. That said, luxury hotels tend to offer free activities you can select from. On French-speaking islands, offers of beach volleyball or a game of boules are commonplace. Elsewhere, you may find snorkeling gear is provided for the beach or the pool. Many of the best hotels will offer an excursion to another part of the island where you can explore a town, take in a different ocean view, and enjoy a restaurant meal before being transported back to your resort. Some hotels you could select for your vacation provide fitness classes, spa massages, or private sporting equipment, such as tennis courts, but not all hotels have these. In the Caribbean, the availability of the beach tends to win out, and most people just set themselves up for another day on the beach, enjoying the ocean and all the charming relaxation it has to offer. This can be particularly compelling if your boutique hotel is in a corner of the island on a bay where the light on the beach changes throughout the day. Where better to have your love of the beach confirmed by enjoying the view from sun up to sunset than a beautiful Caribbean island?