Top three places to stay in the Caribbean

From tiny B&Bs to ‘barefoot luxury’ retreats, there’s accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes in the Caribbean, but we’d recommend swerving the big hotels and resorts in favour of something smaller, smarter and more environmentally responsible. A holiday in the Caribbean should introduce you to the Caribbean, after all – to its people, birdlife, small fishing villages and local festivities – not simply airlift you to a beach. It should immerse you in the life, beauty and raw nature of these islands, through accommodation that has a connection with the landscape, through friendly local staff keen to share their love and knowledge, and through super fresh locally produced food. Here are three of our favourite Caribbean place to stay, each one proud to be doing things its own way and offering first rate service in a very personal, unique package.

The owners of Mango Beach describe it as a ramshackle old stone inn, so immediately you know this isn’t some sleek, off-the-peg resort. In fact, Mango Beach Inn has just three rooms, neatly confirming that small is beautiful. It’s one minute from the beach, and only accessible by boat or a free ferry that runs 24/7. Once here, it’s hard to work out where the gardens stop and the inn starts, and in amongst the lushness are herbs, veg and fruit that arrive on your breakfast table each morning.

This is a great location for lazing, but also exploring – the inn welcomes visitors with a hankering for both – and its position half way down Saint Lucia’s Caribbean coast means the walking trails, birding hotspots and activity hubs are easy to reach, north and south, by road or by boat. Mango Beach Inn is also very family friendly. Children under 10 stay free, and it has toys, games and equipment to suit all ages, from babies right up to teenagers. Best of all, it’s very much a part of the local community, so come ready to immerse yourself in St Lucian life, learn some creole and make new friends.

If you’re going to stay on the ‘Nature Island’ of the Caribbean, it seems appropriate to stay somewhere that takes the beauty and health of its environment seriously. Citrus Creek Plantation does just that. It’s a collection of nine cottages and villas in a tropical plantation on the wild east coast, right next to the Taberi River and facing Bout Sable beach, where sea turtles come to nest each year. The environment around Citrus Creek is pristine, with no chemicals used in the plantation, and hundreds of acres of prime tropical forest surrounding it. The villas and cottages are run using rainwater harvesting and renewable energy, and were built using traditional, local techniques. Luxury comes in the form of space, being close to nature, and being treated like a traveller of old, who’s pitched up at a plantation house and is welcomed like a friend.

Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica in 2017 and many homes and businesses were destroyed. Naturally, tourist accommodation was hit, too, but this resilient little island is recovering, and much accommodation is being repaired, ready to be opened by the end of November 2018, as the dry, settled weather begins. Show your support for the island by booking to come here. You’ll find places such as Citrus Creek Plantation back on their feet, improved and better than ever, and very excited to welcome you.