Lighthouse Bay Resort, Barbuda

Nine is the magic number on Barbuda, a 20-minute flight from its more
bustling sister island of Antigua: the all-inclusive Lighthouse Bay has
just nine suites facing a nine-mile-long pink sand beach. The resort
marries a sense of blissful remoteness with urban refugee essentials
like iPads and in-room espresso machines. Tuck into Caribbean delicacies
like Barbuda lobster at Café Lagoon, then while away the days by
horseback riding, diving the crystal-clear water, or just reveling in
the fact that you barely have to share that incredible beach with
another soul.
Fowl Cay, Bahamas

This private island 50-acre resort makes life so sybaritic—cocktails
on the deck at Hill House, bocce on the private beach, hammock time
pretty much everywhere—that you’ll never want to leave. That would be a
mistake, though. Each of the six oceanfront villas here comes with its
own 17-foot boat so that you can explore neighboring islets. Worthy
adventures include swimming with docile nurse sharks at Compass Cay
Marina, dropping by the iguana-dominated Guana Cay, and feeding the
famous swimming pigs at Big Major Spot beach. Yes, you read that right.
Hotel Bois Joli, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe

Francophiles seeking a closer-to-home vacation should make a beeline
for Guadeloupe, an island group featuring all the powdery white sand
beaches and gorgeous water you expect to find in the Caribbean, but with
a level of tranquility absent on other more high-profile islands. At
this sweet French hotel, accommodations consist of simple cottages
strung along the beach, along with five rooms in the French Colonial
Balcony house. The restaurant serves fresh seafood like ouassous (a
local crayfish), cod fritters, and grilled tuna. hotelboisjoli.fr
Hotel Deep Blue, Providencia, Colombia

Part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, this far-flung Caribbean
destination is worth the extra mileage. Near-deserted beaches,
traditional Creole culture, and kaleidoscopic marine life in the
pristine waters offshore make this a perfect choice for those who like
their island life to offer more than swaying palm trees. The 12-room
Deep Blue features luxuries like private balconies with panoramic ocean
views, while your Instagram shots of the restaurant—built right over the
water—are destined to induce envy back home. hoteldeepblue.com
Secret Bay Resort, Portsmouth, Dominica

Positioned midway between Guadeloupe and Martinique, this
underappreciated island seems set for its day in the sun. After all, the
lush, almost antediluvian landscapes (volcanoes, rivers, gorges,
waterfalls, hot springs), outdoorsy adventures, and chilled-out
lifestyle couldn’t stay a secret forever. Check into Secret Bay, a
boutique resort set on a promontory between two beaches with six chic,
streamlined cliff-top villas designed by Venezuelan architect Fruto
Vivas. secretbay.dm
Les Petits Saints, Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe

Small can be beautiful, particularly when it comes to tropical
idylls, and this two-square-mile island in the Iles des Saintes sure
makes the case. At Les Petits Saints, a kind of
Provençal-auberge-meets-Caribbean-resort, the idiosyncratic guest rooms
are decked out with European antiques, gilded mirrors, and four-poster
beds, while the restaurant serves refined Creole-inspired dishes like
tuna tartare and grilled langoustine salad. All of which comes with a
side of sweeping views over the surreally blue Baie des Saintes.
Tiamo Resort, Andros, Bahamas

Thanks to its remote location—the island is accessible only by boat
or seaplane—Andros has been spared the tourist bustle of its neighbors.
And this stylish resort with 10 cottages, each facing a private beach,
epitomizes its laid-back appeal. Andros is situated right on the world’s
third-largest barrier reef, and it’s big for sea kayaking, bonefishing,
and cave diving in freshwater caves called “blue holes” that were first
explored by Jacques Cousteau. While the beaches are exemplary, the
interior is also sublime, covered with pristine subtropical forest and
many species of orchid.
CasaSandra, Holbox, Mexico

Barefoot luxury doesn’t get much more appealing than at Holbox’s
chicest hotel, the beachfront CasaSandra. Owner Sandra Perez’s artistic
background yielded suites whose white-on-white elegance is punctuated
with bright Mexican textiles and colorful hammocks. The restaurant
serves blissfully simple seafood dishes like grilled grouper with black
sesame and cilantro to a well-heeled international crowd. Daytime,
meanwhile, should be reserved for taking advantage of the island’s
greatest claim to fame: swimming with whale sharks. These gentle giants
congregate in the waters here in great numbers from June to September.
Hotel Plein Soleil, Martinique

Immerse yourself in the vivid colors and sounds of the French
territory of Martinique at this 16-room boutique hideaway, positioned
between two bays and featuring tropical gardens bright with
bougainvillea. The hotel’s location is perfect for exploring both the
lovely beaches down south and the forests up north. Back at the open-air
restaurant, chef Nathanael Ducteil whips up Euro-Creole delights like
lobster bisque and sweet potato gnocchi.
Bayaleau Point Cottages, Carriacou, Grenadines

The largest of the 600-island chain in the West Indies, Carriacou
nevertheless retains a laid-back vibe (especially when compared to tony
Mustique). The four candy-colored cottages at this hideaway on the
easternmost point of Windward Bay are a case in point: family-run,
unpretentious, with a communal deck overlooking the ocean. The waters
teem with marine life, including sea turtles, and the hotel can arrange
trips to the nearby Tobago Cays. carriacoucottages.com