Where to spend Christmas in the Caribbean
Swap the snow for a sandy beach and a sun- soaked Christmas at these Caribbean resorts. Join in where traditional and local celebrations fill the season with offerings and cheer. You’ll be sure to have a magical and memorable holiday at these five beachfront resorts.
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, BVI
Secluded beaches and crystal-clear waters fringe the 230-acre escape of Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands. With just 52 guest accommodations and a handful of villas, there is plenty of room for quiet moments in secluded spots. Choose from villas with private pools and water views or hotel rooms lofting over the marina where mega yachts and sailboats dock. Easy to reach with the new flights American Airlines offers from Miami to Tortola, Scrub Island is then just a seven-minute ferry ride in the resort’s private launch.
View of the marina and the upper pool at Scrub Island Resort. Photo: Scrub Island
Here, guests can participate in a variety of programs, including a gingerbread decorating contest, a holiday cooking class, a Christmas Eve dinner, and a Christmas morning celebration with Santa. Santa will make appearances in various locations on the island and is on hand for a meet- and-greet at Marina Cay, the small island offshore. There will be a holiday yacht decorating contest, a holiday mixology class, and live entertainment with British Virgin Island Heritage dancers. Time and space allow to break away for a visit to Ixora Spa, take a sailing class or explore the nearby islands. Book here: https://www.scrubisland.com/
Carlisle Bay, Antigua
Set on a white sand crescent overlooking a calm turquoise sea and backed by a tropical rainforest, the intimate setting of 87 suites at Carlisle Bay offers a full week of holiday joy. A Caribbean Christmas is magical, with a mix of local and traditional celebrations in a warm climate and sandy shores. Locally sourced food is on the menu, and beach barbeques and holiday buffets ring in the season. Each evening, live music provides a soundtrack, with local lounge singers and Antiguan steel bands.
Beachfront view from a villa patio at Carlisle Bay on Antigua. Photo: Carlisle Bay
The festive activities exclusive to guests run from December 23, 2024, until January 3, 2025, and include cocktail parties, live musical performances, fashion shows, and even special spa events. Special menus are set for New Year’s Eve along with fireworks and live music. Options for dining include a private setup on the jetty, on the sand, or your own barbeque with a personal chef. In between all the activities you can still relax with a cocktail by the sea, take a kayak for a cruise or schedule some down time at the spa. Book here: https://www.carlisle-bay.com/
St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
There is more than enough space to spread out with family and friends during the holidays at the 483-acre resort, which was once a coconut and sugarcane plantation. Fronted by the sea and backed by a rainforest, the resort offers miles of paths for outdoor enthusiasts. Two miles of beach, and the only Audubon Gold Certified Sanctuary in the Caribbean offers up undisturbed nature with several bird sanctuaries and lakes. Puerto Ricos’s only 5 Diamond resort has 139 rooms, several pools and outdoor spaces, an amazing spa, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course, and several outlets for food and beverage.
One of several pools at St. Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico. Photo: Marco Ricca/St. Regis
During the festive season, the resort will highlight St. Regis’ most beloved experiences, including sabering champagne in the evening on the lawn by the plantation house, afternoon tea service, and several versions of Bloody Mary cocktails. A grand event will be hosted on the estate lawn under tent with several culinary outlets, including wine, tapas and, paella or gourmet burgers, and local craft beers at the burger pop-up. Seafood and Mexican delights are offered at Turtle’s Nest Beach Bar, and a temporary Japanese garden will offer sushi. A beachfront New Year’s Eve includes a raw bar feast, chef stations, and gourmet food with local touches. Another option is a black-tie curated prix fix New Year’s Eve menu at Paros restaurant. Book here: https://www.bahiabeachpuertorico.com/
The Cove, Eleuthera
Mix a little romance with the yuletide season at this adult-focused resort hidden from the outside world in its own sanctuary nestled between two white sand coves. Eluding a private island feel, The Cove is situated on the secluded island of Eleuthera, one of the Out Islands in the Bahamas. This off-the-beaten-path hideaway makes you feel like you’ve washed ashore on your own private Caribbean Island. This holiday season, enjoy Bahamian hospitality set to the backdrop of turquoise waters.
The Cove Eleuthera has plenty of grassy hills for afternoon naps in a hammock. Photo: The Cove
Thanksgiving dinner begins the season with a three-course feast featuring island-inspired twists on traditional dishes. A Christmas Day celebration takes place at the Point Bar and will feature live entertainment and plenty of festive toasts. All this is followed by a dinner menu at the Freedom Restaurant with tropically inspired dishes. And on New Year’s Eve, a lavish six-course menu will start the evening, followed by dancing, a Junkanoo “rush out,” and the annual Pineapple Drop at midnight. Rum tastings are a daily tradition, and hands-on sushi demonstrations take place at the new sushi bar, where guests will make a Junkanoo roll, a seasonal addition to celebrate the holidays. Book here: https://thecoveeleuthera.com/
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia
Views of the majestic Pitons are divine. The setting is spacious and tropical, and the service is top-tier at Sugar Beach. The property, over 100 acres of untouched rainforest, is ready for exploration, and the hillsides are dotted with private villas that look over the crescent of white sand beach, one of the favored on the island. The marine park is right next door for underwater adventures.
A pool villa overlooks the Pitons at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort on St. Lucia. Photo: Sugar Beach
Festive Season at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Hotel is appropriately titled “Joy on the Caribbean Shore” And there are plenty of joyous occasions to join in for celebratory experiences inspired by the region, cuisine, and culture. Each day, there’s something new to discover, from bountiful barbeques and tropical beach parties and even moonlight carnivals. Get in the spirit with the tree lighting ceremony on December 11 with carols sung by the local children’s choir. Santa comes to visit Christmas morning as you linger over breakfast on The Terrace. St. Lucia is famous for the Festival of Lights, and this tradition is coming to the resort on December 27. When the sun sets, lanterns are set to float in a ceremonial style, offering well wishes for the new year. Book here: https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/sugar-beach
