It’s one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean: in some ways, traveling to the Caribbean is even better in the summer.

It’s less crowded, meaning you get can in to the hottest tables, find your seat at the hippest beaches and enjoy an even more tranquil experience.

And that’s without mentioning the blissfully warm water that you don’t find in some destinations during the colder months of the year.

But there’s a caveat: the mercury is higher, meaning you’ll want to be in one of two places: either somewhere in the hills, or somewhere right on the beach, close to the water.

And we have you covered, with 20 great places to stay for perfect summer Caribbean vacations, either perched in breezy hillsides, set right on the sand, or, well, both.

Kimpton Seafire, Grand Cayman One of the Caribbean’s hottest resorts is effortlessly cool in summer, especially if you stay in one of the resort’s beachfront bungalows. Either way, you’re getting a plum spot on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach, with outstanding food, a buzzy bar scene and an even better spa.

Cap Maison, Saint Lucia Set at the northern tip of Saint Lucia, this boutique hotel is an oasis of luxury and charm, with a dual setting that includes a clutch of rooms perched on a cliffside — and a stunning beach down below (home to the Naked Fisherman Beach Bar). No matter which level you spend your time on, you’ve chosen wisely.

Coral Sands, Harbour Island, The Bahamas You can’t go wrong on The Bahamas’ capital of cool, home to an enviable supply of boutique hotels. But Coral Sands, which has been transformed in recent years, ups the chic factor that much more, with a mix of rooms and cottages and a privileged position on the glorious Pink Sand Beach.

Pearl Beach, St Barth St Barth may be the best example of the Caribbean’s summer superiority. When the calendar turns to June, St Barth is uncrowded, unhurried and brimming with the kind of French Caribbean fishing village charm that first drew travelers here in the first place. But don’t get us wrong — you still get the jet-set energy, and that’s particularly true at the recently rebranded Pearl Beach (formerly Tom Beach), a tiny, direct beachfront boutique with a terrific restaurant and the perfect spot on St Jean Beach.

Galley Bay, Antigua There’s a big reason why Antigua has quietly become one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after vacation destinations: the beaches are breathtaking. And none more so than the legendary  Galley Bay, where you can either stay in the endlessly romantic Gauguin Suites (with their own private pools) or go for the beachfront suites and literally walk right out into the sand.

Delfins Beach Resort, Bonaire Bonaire is all about summer breezes, whether you’re windsurfing on Lac Bay or liming on the white sand beach at Delfins Beach Resort, the newest hotspot in Bonaire. This is a laid-back, toes-in-the-sand kind of place, with large apartment-style rooms and a party piece: it’s home to the Brass Boer restaurant helmed by three-Michelin-star chefs from Holland.

Sandals Royal Barbados Where better to spend your summer vacation than in a swim-up suite at the new Sandals Royal Barbados, the company’s second resort in Barbados that is its most state-of-the-art resort. The all-suite property has everything from a 15,000-square-foot spa to the first-ever rooftop pool at a Sandals, meaning you won’t lack for places to cool down. Even better? Thanks to the adjacent Sandals Barbados, you can choose from 16 dining concepts.

Cooper Island Beach Club, BVI Sailing around the BVI is one of the best ways to spend a summer vacation in the BVI — but it isn’t the only way. Take residence in a room at the boutique Cooper Island Beach Club and you’ll have your own little world for a week, from a world-class rum bar to a microbrewery to a sublime beach.

Pagua Bay House, Dominica You’re up in the hills on the breezy Atlantic coast of Dominica, tucked away from the world and immersed in nature. It’s just you, the pool and a shimmering view of the ocean. The tiny boutique Pagua Bay House is the essence of Dominica’s unmatched serenity, with artfully designed rooms, superb food and an uncanny connection to the natural world.

Cocobay, Antigua Sure, you can see Antigua from the sand — but you can also enjoy its beauty from the hills. Enter Cocobay, the barefoot chic adults-only resort that has some of the most stunning views in Antigua, set above the impossibly turquoise Valley Church Beach. Even better? It’s just steps up the hill from the destination’s hottest table, Sheer Rocks.

Grand Case Beach Club, Saint Martin When you bob in the water or sit on the sand at one of the Grand Case Beach Club’s two beaches, you won’t be thinking about what season it is — you’ll just be devising ways to never have to leave. This hotel is just plain good, delivering an honest, authentic, beautifully run experience that lets you explore the wonders of St Martin and feel like you actually live here.

Plein Soleil, Martinique You’re somewhere in the hills of Martinique’s rugged Atlantic coast, sipping on a ti’ punch in your very own private plunge pool. Throw away your calendar. This is Martinique’s best-kept secret, with rooms right out of a catalog and the sort of vistas that you can gaze upon all day. And yes, just about every room comes with its own pool.

Strawberry Hill, Jamaica This is not the Jamaica you think you know, far away from the beaches of Montego Bay. This is a window into Jamaica’s lush beauty, an oasis of luxury in the heart of the Blue Mountains that is as enchanting as it is beautiful, a place where you can begin to experience what makes this country so spellbinding.

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba This has long been Aruba’s best hotel, an adults-only sanctuary on the widest part of Eagle Beach, making it the perfect jumping off point to explore one of the Caribbean’s best summer destinations, whether you’re going kitesurfing at Boca Grandi, gliding on the water at Fishermen’s Huts, or enjoying an oceanside fish lunch at Zeerovers.

Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, The Bahamas A summer Caribbean vacation doesn’t just have to be about the beach. At Small Hope Bay, it’s all about adventure — about bonefishing, hiking, boating and discovering the mysteries of the Bahamas’ most enigmatic destination. Of course, having rooms right on the sand doesn’t hurt.

Montpelier Plantation and Beach Club, Nevis While it’s best known for its Four Seasons Resort, Nevis defined by its charming plantation inns, scattered around the hillsides of Nevis Peak. And none is better than Montpelier, a crisp, elegant Relais & Chateaux property that combines modern amenities with a historic soul. And yes, it comes with its own private beach club, too, when you want to descend to the ocean.

Sonesta Ocean Point, St Maarten The Dutch side’s signature place to stay has never been better, newly transformed and still boasting the sleek design that made it a draw in the first place. And with its position high on a cliff above Maho Beach, it’s always got a breeze; not that you’ll be thinking about that in your swim-up suite.

True Blue Bay, Grenada It’s colorful, it’s funky and it’s a way to see the real Grenada. The venerable True Blue Bay has always oozed Grenadian personality, and after a recent expansion it’s never looked better. What hasn’t changed? The energy at the Dodgy Dock, the seafront eatery that seems to bring together the whole country.

Palm Island, The Grenadines When you basically have an entire private oasis in the Grenadines to yourself, you aren’t thinking about summer’s smaller crowds. But the magnetic pull of this private getaway in one of the world’s most sought-after sailing destinations is difficult to avoid. This is the Robinson Crusoe, castaway-chic fantasy, the Caribbean fantasy. Sounds like a perfect summer vacation to us.

Belle Mont Farm, St Kitts There are few hotel properties anywhere in the Caribbean more stunning than this, and its hillside location (along with outdoor showers and sparkling infinity pools) make it the perfect place for a summer Caribbean cool-down. You’re in touch with another side of St Kitts here, quiet and lush and removed, a destination within a destination.

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A New Way to Live in the BVI

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