Celebrating on beach in Caribbean
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Once a year, the World Travel Awards honor the most stunning properties in the Caribbean highlighting properties that are setting the standard for luxury, innovation, and elevated guest experiences. This Fall, the awards will take place in St Lucia, where the Best of the Caribbean and Americas winners will be revealed.
Traveler interest in the Caribbean is soaring in 2025, and a new report by the Caribbean Tourism Association reveals the top 10 most-visited islands: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba, Martinique, St Maarten, Barbados and St. Kitts.
“The nominees this year represent the bold, beautiful future of luxury hospitality,” says Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards. “Each is a masterclass in innovation and world-class service-redefining what it means to escape to paradise in 2025.”
This year’s nominees highlight some of the most stunning properties in the Caribbean, with Turks & Caicos leading the pack with multiple resorts. The Dominican Republic also features prominently with several new hotels.
From new openings to island retreats, these nominees for Best New Resort and Best Island Resort in the Caribbean offer up some of the very best sunny destination escapes.
Best New Resort
Princes Grand Jamaica pool bungalows
Princess Grand
Princess Grand features Family suites with boat-shaped bunk beds and direct access to the semi-private pool from the terrace.
Princess Grand
Princess Grand – Jamaica
This all-inclusive family resort is nestled between Montego Bay and Negril, with 590 suites, nine restaurants and eight bars as well as three pools and a large aquatic park.
Overwater villas at Royalton Chic in Antigua
Royalton Chic
Private pool in overwater villa
Royalton Chic
Royalton CHIC – Antigua
This all-inclusive adults-only resort has 235 rooms and suites and is located on Antigua’s stunning Dickenson Bay. There are five bars, seven restaurants, and a spa.
Salterra Resort in Turks and Caicos
Salterra
Penthouse suite at Salterra Turks & Caicos
Salterra
Salterra Resort & Spa – Turks & Caicos
On the quiet island of South Caicos, the property offers 100 rooms and suites as well as six dining options, several swimming pools, and prime beachfront on Salterra Beach, where it is the only resort. I was the first writer to do a hardhat tour of the property and can attest it is a stunner; photographs do not do it justice. Private and tranquil, it is the perfect retreat away from the crowds of the neighboring islands.
Cliff retreats at Six Senses La Sagesse
Six Senses
Bedroom suite in a Cliff Retreat at Six Senses La Sagesse
Six Senses
Six Senses La Sagesse – Grenada
The brand’s debut resort in the Caribbean is set around a lush lagoon and enjoys a prime spot by the child friendly La Sagesse Bay with its shallow warm waters. There are 56 pool suites and 15 villas, ranging from one, two and four bedrooms, all with large outdoor terraces and private plunge pools.
Beachfront villas at Southbank Grace Resorts in Turks & Caicos
Grace Bay Resorts
Lagoon villa living room at South Bank Grace Bay
Grace Bay Resorts
South Bank – Grace Bay Resorts – Turks and Caicos
This oceanfront resort and marina is located on the southern shores of Providenciales, and features 92 waterfront accommodations with great amenities, including the island’s first ocean swimming lagoon. The property consists of four unique neighborhoods: Ocean Estate Villas, Lagoon Villas, The Boathouses, and Arc, all of which offer waterfront rooms.
Caroline Aster one-bedroom Presidential Suite at St Regis Aruba
St Regis
The St. Regis Aruba Resort – Aruba
Located directly on popular Palm Beach, this new property features 252 large rooms, including 52 suites with the pools offering direct beach access. Guests enjoy The St. Regis Spa, and Aruba’s first St. Regis Casino. I was the first writer to tour this new property while in construction, and it has a wonderful beachfront layout that is perfect for families.
St Regis Cap Cana Resort in Punta Cana
St Regis
Palm Suite offers swim out access at St Regis Cap Cana
St Regis
The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort – Dominican Republic
Located in Cap Cana, this new property offers 200 rooms, including luxury suites and swim-out options. There is a St. Regis Spa and exclusive spaces like The Amber Room cigar bar.
Zel Punta Cana poolside
Melia Hotels
Swim up pool suite at Zel Punta Cana
Melia Hotels
Zel Punta Cana – Dominican Republic
Located close to Los Corales Beach and Cortecito Beach this all-inclusive resort is created in partnership with Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal. With architecture designed around open spaces, the resort boasts swim-up suites, pools, a beach club, and seven restaurants.
Aerial view of Four Seasons Nevis
Christian Horan/Four Seasons
Suite at Four Seasons Nevis
Christian Horan/Four Seasons
Best Island Resort
Four Seasons Resort Nevis – West Indies
This new property is located on the site of a former sugar and coconut plantation from the late 1790s. There are 39 private retreats and 80 rooms and suites. The two-story cottages, offer up large rooms with marble bathrooms. There are seven gourmet restaurants and bars, a 12,000-sf spa with a volcanic-stone pool and Japanese cold plunge pool. Activities are plentiful here including a stunning golf course.
Rosewood Baha Mar in the Bahamas
Rosewood
Rosewood Baha Mar Rosewood Suite Terrace
Rosewood
Rosewood Baha Mar – Bahamas
Nestled along the shores of Nassau’s famous Cable Beach, Rosewood Baha Mar Resort is located within the sprawling Baha Mar resort. The resort has 221 rooms and suites with four bars and restaurants, state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facilities at Sense, a Rosewood Spa, and a three-tiered courtyard pool.
Beachfront villas at Sailrock Resort in South Caicos
Sailrock
Bedroom suite at Sailrock
Sailrock
Sailrock South Caicos – Turks & Caicos
South Caicos recently celebrated its first-ever direct flight from Miami making it much more accessible. The Sailrock Resort feels more like a private residential community, with large villas dotting its rough and wild terrain. At the heart of Sailrock is the beachy Great House where guests mix and mingle for meals and drinks.
Scrub Island Resort and Marina in BVI
Scrub Island
Governors Suite private balcony
Scrub Island
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina (British Virgin Islands)
This private-island resort features 52 guest accommodations, as well as a collection of two to six-bedroom villas, an Ixora Spa, gourmet restaurants, two private beaches and a 55-slip marina.
Aerial of Necker Island
Virgin Limited
Private Island Resorts
Rounding out the honors are seven private island resorts that can be rented out entirely with four properties in the Bahamas leading the pack including Fowl Cay Resort, Kamalame Cay, Musha Cay and Over Yonder Cay. Turks & Caicos has two Ambergris Cay and Pine Cay, The Meridian Club while in British Virgin Islands Richard Bransons Necker Island rounds out the list.
