The islands of the Caribbean are relatively close to home for many U.S. travelers, yet offer a change of pace that relaxes and rejuvenates. Travel to the Caribbean is a great value, compared to the cost of vacationing in Tahiti, Seychelles or other tropical beach destinations. In addition, the Caribbean offers a number of exclusive experiences that go beyond a run-of-the-mill beach vacation. For these reasons, many discerning travelers choose to find their luxury in the Caribbean.

Luxury with Value

The savvy traveler understands that luxury is not necessarily synonymous with expensive and low cost doesn’t guarantee value. Value means getting a positive return on your investment, or in simple terms, getting more than you paid for, whatever the price point. Luxury in the Caribbean means a truly extraordinary experience with idyllic views, romantic seclusion, and gracious service, often in a “barefoot elegant” atmosphere.

Luxury 4- and 5-star accommodations are available throughout the Caribbean. Some notables include Jumby Bay on Antigua, Amanyara on Turks & Caicos, Sandy Lane on Barbados, and Le Sereno on St. Barts. Nestled into the hillside of St. Lucia, the suites at Ladera feature an open wall with views of the twin peaks of le Pitons. Or for the ultimate luxury in the Caribbean, you can take over an entire private island paradise, such as Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

Private villas provide both monetary and intrinsic value to guests. Parties of four to 20 or more people can stay together in one villa, often at a price comparable to or even lower than individual hotel rooms. Villa vacations give guests more space to be together and the privacy to do so, plus have the added convenience of a kitchen. Villas usually have private pools and the option of cooks and butlers to really increase the luxury quotient.

Cruising is always a good vacation value and there are several luxury options in the Caribbean. A private yacht with a captain and crew at your disposal is undoubtedly an exclusive way to experience luxury in the Caribbean. You may be surprised to find that the cost can be competitive with luxury resorts and private villas. Several “boutique” cruise lines also offer yacht-style ships that can tuck into the small Caribbean harbors that mega-liners can’t enter. Sea Dream, Windstar, and Clipper Cruise Lines each have several ships that carry only 100 – 300 guests with high crew-to-passenger ratios, providing an elite level of luxury and pampering.

Exclusive Experiences

Luxury travelers are increasingly looking for another important value factor in travel: exclusive experiences. The events that you participate in, the people you meet, and the emotions you feel, although intangible, make a huge contribution to the trip. These are the memory makers.

For example, interacting with the locals at a fruit and vegetable market in Grenada is an authentic way to learn about the “Spice Island” food culture – one that you will remember fondly every time you cook with the nutmeg you bought there.

The Caribbean islands have plenty of unique activities that tick the box of exclusive experiences. You can swim with stingrays in Grand Cayman or adorable little pigs in Exuma – thrilling pursuits that you won’t find anywhere else. The Caribbean offers many other special activities that you probably can’t do at home: Humpback whale watching in the Dominican Republic (January – March), zip-lining through the jungle in St. Lucia, snorkeling on shallow reefs 20 feet offshore of Bonaire, or riding in an impeccably maintained classic ’57 Chevy in Cuba.

Exclusive experiences come in the form of personal services, too. Travelers looking for luxury in the Caribbean can enjoy an individual meet and greet at the airport in Nevis, or a private candle-lit dinner on the beach in Jamaica.

Each island has its own unique history and traditions, so there are many distinctive ways to engage with the local culture. More than ever, travelers view these experiences as irreplaceable – a special insider entrée to participate in another’s way of life. These exclusive experiences are the new real luxury.

To raise your vacation bar to “Luxury” in the Caribbean, talk with one of the Luxury Vacation Specialists at Covington Travel.