It was one of many first main guides we at Caribbean Journal ever put collectively: The Cool Record, whose first version was again in 2013 and which stays an unequalled curation of distinctive, character-filled, personality-driven, clever resorts across the Caribbean.
Yearly, it’s a bit completely different, with one unifying theme: The Cool Record is all about resorts which are completely different. These aren’t conventional resorts, they’re nearly at all times on the smaller facet, and so they’re all oozing with character and a human contact. As a result of whereas there are nice massive resorts throughout the Caribbean, it’s within the smaller properties that you simply actually get a way of place, the place the artistry of the hotelier can actually present itself (with some exceptions, after all). That’s the place you discover the cool.
As at all times, this listing is the results of our unmatched, on-the-ground analysis and stays throughout the Caribbean, with decisions by our editors based mostly on the resorts all of us fell in love with over the course of the 12 months and past. To be clear, this isn’t the greatest resorts within the Caribbean. It’s the Cool Record, a set of distinctive, numerous hospitality ideas which are all outlined by, nicely, being indefinable. It’s a listing of locations lots of which you in all probability haven’t heard of. If you happen to love the genuine Caribbean, they’re locations it’s worthwhile to see.
Our 2025 Cool Record takes you throughout the broader Caribbean Basin, from an adventurous luxurious lodge in Panama to a colourful boutique lodge in St Thomas to a far-off retreat in a secret nook of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Los Establos Boutique Resort, Panama Vacationers need one thing extra today. Sure, they need luxurious and luxury, nice meals and heat service. However they need extra. They need experiences. And at this improbable boutique resort set on a shocking hillside in Panama, journey is of their DNA. Each day of your keep, you may take a free tour or tour on daily basis of your keep, whether or not it’s an immersive journey into the artwork of espresso manufacturing, an exhilarating zip line or white-water rafting. Los Establos, the sister resort to Antigua’s Hammock Cove, is, merely put, the Caribbean Basin’s new bucket-list lodge.
Gaia Riverlodge, Belize
There’s an otherworldly high quality as you stroll into the foyer of this small jungle lodge in Belize’s Cayo District, perched excessive above a dashing river, with ethereal, genuine cottages, excellent (with sourcing from the lodge’s on-site backyard) and a somewhat cool social gathering piece: a “seaside” on the fringe of the river linked by a funicular. Rooms from $344.
Anse Chastanet, Saint Lucia
Whereas its sister lodge, Jade Mountain, stays some of the legendary locations to remain within the Caribbean (and for good motive), it’s equally straightforward to fall in love with this 49-room jewel perched on a pair of spectacular seashores within the city of Soufriere. It’s an adventurer’s dream, with 600 acres of pure wonders, world-class snorkeling and diving and the sensation that you simply’ve discovered your individual non-public nook of the Caribbean.
Graycliff, Nassau
Essentially the most lovely pool in The Bahamas (possibly the Caribbean). The area’s primary restaurant. A cigar manufacturing unit. A chocolate manufacturing unit. A heritage village. An artwork gallery. The third-largest wine cellar on this planet. At Graycliff, set in a centuries-old mansion within the coronary heart of historic Nassau, luxurious isn’t a buzzword — it’s a part of the material of the place. Rooms from $419.
The Home, Barbados The most recent member of Marriott’s all-inclusive portfolio in Barbados feels extra like your now non-public membership on the Platinum Coast. This adults-only boutique is endlessly romantic, from its every day champagne breakfast (sure, you learn it proper) to its seaside ambassador service to its afternoon tea. It’s indulgent, it’s intimate and it’s exhausting to depart. Beachfront suites from $1,129.
King Christian Resort, St Croix There’s no higher instance of the renaissance of St Croix than this superbly restored lodge on the fringe of the Christiansted boardwalk, with every part from a world-class tiki bar to an beautiful steakhouse. Rooms from $229.
Sundown Reef, St Kitts This tiny, exceptionally well-run boutique lodge in St Kitts has a non-public seaside, a shocking infinity pool and a somewhat intelligent geothermal cooling system that makes it some of the sustainable resorts within the area. Even higher? It’s dwelling to the most effective eating places in St Kitts. Rooms from $945.
Admiral’s Inn and Gunpowder Suites, Antigua Set inside the UNESCO World Heritage Website of Nelson’s Dockyard, this property is about in a set of 4 18th century buildings, with 23 rooms and suites divided by water of the harbor (a ship will ferry you forwards and backwards). Regardless of which facet you keep on, you’ll discover a deliciously serene, endlessly charming boutique lodge that could be a portal to a different age. Rooms from $270 per night time.
Vida Cayman Islands The most recent place to remain within the Caymna Islands is that this sleekly-designed boutique resort within the beautiful, laid-back West Bay space of Grand Cayman. There are simply 12rooms right here starting from studios to a few bedrooms, all with residential-style facilities. That is an immersive lodge, one which encourages you to get out and discover the island; it’s a spot that’s tailored for lively vacationers searching for wellness, health and countless journey.
Pearl Seaside, St Barth Past the procuring and the luxurious, the megayachts and the sweeping villas is the core id of St Barth: a breezy, enjoyable, carefree, tiny French Caribbean island. And that’s precisely what you discover at this 14-room gem seemingly hidden in plain sight on the sands of standard St Jean Seaside. The funky, playful vibe has an enviable location and the eponymous toes-in-the-sand restaurant is one in all our faves in all of St Barth.
Pink Palm, St Thomas The historic city of Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas has been within the midst of a renaissance in recent times, one which included a dramatically redefined waterfront promenade. What it didn’t have, till lately, was a correct boutique lodge. That modified in 2023 with the debut of this almost 30-room hideaway within the coronary heart of downtown, with a colourful, eclectic vibe and a decidedly beautiful pool scene. Rooms from $305.
Hammock Cove It’s lengthy been our primary all-inclusive within the Caribbean, however this Antigua signature is a correctly cool boutique resort, with a few of the coolest rooms in all the Caribbean: cottage-style villas, all with non-public plunge swimming pools and gorgeous views of the ocean.
Secret Bay, Dominica Residential resort. Six-star lodge. Villa vacation spot. Dominica’s premier place to remain has many definitions — however at its soul, it is a boutique, distinctive, genuine resort, with a few of the most gorgeous villa lodging in all the Caribbean and an exceptionally considerate strategy to hospitality.
O:dwell Boutique Resort, Puerto Rico Earlier than Condado turned one of many hipper spots in Puerto Rico, the crew of Loisse Herger and Fernando Davila created this Mediterranean-inspired retreat just a few steps from the Condado Lagoon. Right this moment, the O:dwell model extends to a few completely different resorts (and a villa in Italy), however we nonetheless have a mushy spot for the unique, which incorporates the just-perfect rooftop pool and lounge overlooking the water. Rooms from $452 proper now.
Kokomo Botanical Resort It’s the best-kept secret in Providenciales: this assortment of 39 charming cottages in a lush jungle-style setting is a full-fledged oasis, with a glowing pool, an genuine Balinese spa (do the Fireplace and Ice therapy — thank us later) and what simply is likely to be the most effective restaurant on the entire island. (It additionally contains your individual non-public seaside membership on Grace Bay) Rooms from the $300s.
Aruba Ocean Villas Sure, Aruba truly has an overwater bungalow resort, with gorgeous thatched-roof models, some with their very own infinity swimming pools, together with some bungalows on the mainland, too. There’s nothing else like this in all of Aruba, plainly. Even higher? It onsite restaurant is nearly as good because it will get on the island: The Outdated Man and the Sea. Rooms from $549.
Resort Indigo Grand Cayman It’s not proper on the seaside. It has nearly 300 rooms. However in some way, you really feel the seaside (which is definitely only a quick stroll away). And you’re feeling the essence of Grand Cayman’s character, its distinctive tackle fashionable Caribbean luxurious. We have been severely impressed when first walked into this lodge, and it stays a marvelously well-executed, considerate, artistic lodge with an revolutionary, irreverent character that belies its measurement. That’s with out mentioning the rooftop lounge, Pom Pom, the island’s new must-stop bar. Rooms from $427.
La Sagesse Boutique Resort, Grenada Grenada’s La Sages seaside is so lovely, so serene, so quiet that you can in all probability really feel like you can spend the night time proper on the sand. Fortunately, you don’t should. As a result of it’s dwelling to the lovable, tiny La Sagesse Boutique Resort, a seaside lodge that can take you again to a Caribbean you didn’t assume existed anymore. We love the restaurant, too, only a step from the sand, and the colourful, clever rooms. Rooms from $227.
Hamanasi, Belize If you happen to’ve been to Belize, that it’s actually two distinct, fantastic locations: the seaside and the jungle. At this 30-room resort, you get each. At Hamanasi, the place you may select to be on the seaside or in a stunning treehouse-style room, the emphasis is on experiencing Belize, with an nearly impossibly lengthy menu of curated actions that will provide you with an unforgettable style of this enchanting vacation spot. Rooms from $601 within the off-season.
Six Senses Grenada It looks like nearly each island has had a Six Senses rumored to open at one level or one other. However final 12 months, the island of Grenada lastly acquired one, and the first-ever Six Senses lodge within the Caribbean delivers the products, with an impressive nexus of luxurious and sustainability and a jaw-dropping perch on one in all our favourite seashores within the Caribbean. Even higher? Each room has its personal non-public pool. Rooms from $975.
Keyonna Seaside, Antigua This 18-room adults-only lodge is a locally-focused, barefoot stylish retreat with Bali beds on the seaside, plunge-pool rooms and a few scrumptious, genuine meals. It’s one in all Antigua’s best-kept secrets and techniques. We suggest the plunge pool cottages, which begin at round $1,280 per night time, all-inclusive within the excessive season.
Goldwynn Resort and Residences, Nassau A long time in the past, Nassau was the it vacation spot for jet setters, drawing everybody from The Beatles to Sidney Poitier. This residential resort is bringing again that really feel to the island’s unique seaside vacation spot, with smooth, full-amenity rooms and simply breathtakingly good design. Rooms from $322.
Silversands Seaside Home We have been blown away once we first visited the Silversands in Grenada shortly after it opened — it’s a glowing, nearly impossibly smooth resort on the sands of Grand Anse Seaside. Final 12 months, its sister resort, the Silversands Seaside Home, opened on the opposite facet of the island’s Portici Seaside — and it’s a smaller, extra laid again, beachier retreat — however one which retains the standard of the unique. $800.
Love SXM, Saint Martin Simply 11 rooms, earthy French Caribbean decor and a hard-to-match location within the coronary heart of the city of Grand Case. Which means you may stroll to lots of the greatest eating places in St Martin — and virtually fall off the bed onto the seaside.
Cape Santa Maria, Lengthy Island, The Bahamas There are seashores and there are seashores. That is the latter. To name it picture-perfect wouldn’t fairly do it justice. It’s that good. And on the lovable Cape Santa Maria resort, you may expertise this world-class stretch of sand with a mixture of villas and rustic whitewashed bungalows which are the essence of Out Islands cool. Rooms from $395.
Fort Younger Resort, Dominica Few resorts have been capable of so expertly mix historical past and modernity as this recently-transformed retreat within the coronary heart of Dominica’s capital, Roseau. It’s genuine, it’s vibrant, it’s lovely and it’s a brand new instance for what an city Caribbean lodge could be.
Bellafonte Bonaire Nearly each lodge in Bonaire is a few type of a condominium resort, the place you get facilities designed for long-term stays with the most effective of a lodge. We’ve at all times liked this meticulously-designed waterfront lodge with 22 rooms perched above Bonaire’s brilliantly blue water anchored by a big pier surrounded by water. That’s the place you’l wish to loosen up nearly all day lengthy.
French Coco, Martinique The perfect resorts in Martinique are its smallest ones, and that features this 17-suite boutique within the fascinating seaside city of Tartane. We love the Creole Suite, which has its personal non-public lushly-landscaped pool. We additionally love the restaurant, Ylanga, which has a scrumptious French Antilles menu (together with Satay-style hen a la Guyanaise) and an incredible collection of native rhums on the bar. Rooms from $432.
Baoase Luxurious Resort, Curacao We will’t sing the praises of this lodge fairly sufficient. Baoase nearly single-handedly turned Curacao right into a luxurious vacation spot, and it stays the island’s crown jewel, with an attractive, intimate Bali-meets-the-Caribbean vibe and the most effective restaurant on the island, too.
Dragon Cay, Turks and Caicos Whereas Turks and Caicos has been scorching for the reason that pandemic, that tourism development has largely centered on Providenciales. However vacationers are beginning to uncover the charms of its sister islands, together with the adventure-filled Center Caicos, which the tiny Dragon Cay lodge calls dwelling. The story right here is the surroundings, centered across the bucket-list-worthy seaside at Mudjin Harbour, and at Dragon Cay, you’re immersed on this little island’s unmatched vibes.
