Bridal Guide
September 1, 2005
Footprints in the Sand

Looking for a beautiful Caribbean beach where you can stake a claim? Follow us and discover the islands’ most spectacular strands.

by Heidi Sarna

The main ingredient for a perfect Caribbean honeymoon is a fabulous beach. Why? Spending lazy afternoons lying out in the sun is a great way to catch your breath after the big day. Fortunately, the Caribbean, Bermuda and The Bahamas are full of dozens of beautiful stretches of sand. So, the question is, which beach should you choose to spread your towels on? Whether you dream about canoodling in a secluded spot or want a shoreline where you can hop on a board and windsurf your cares away, we’ve found the strand for you. All you have to do is pack your sunscreen, sandals and swimsuits, and away you go.

Best for Romance
Pink Beach
Harbour Island, Bahamas

Harbour Island may not be the easiest place to get to—you have to fly from Nassau, Fort Lauderdale or Miami to Eleuthera, and then take a ferry over—but that’s why it’s so wonderfully tranquil. In fact, you could have the wide, three-mile-long band of Pink Beach almost entirely to yourselves for the whole day. The soft sand gets its lovely color from coral and shells that were pulverized by the sea eons ago, so you can consider this a historical excursion as well as a romantic one. Stretch out together in the sun, cool off in the Atlantic (The Bahamas is east of the Caribbean) and feel free to steal plenty of kisses. Chances are, nobody will be there to see you.

Off the Beach On this tiny island, where the preferred mode of transport is the golf cart, the sleepy, narrow streets tend to be as empty as the beaches. Check into the nine-room Rock House, and you’ll find a quiet little hideaway that’s framed in bougainvillea and palm trees, and perfect for honeymooners. Each room has a style of its own, but all offer king-size beds and high ceilings, plus lots of mahogany furniture and cooling ceiling fans. After a late-morning splash in the ocean, have a massage ($85 per person) in one of the thatch-roofed cabanas by the pool (corner of Bay and Hill streets; doubles start at $275 per couple per night; 242-333-2053; rockhousebahamas.com).

Best Sunsets
Seven Mile Beach
Negril, Jamaica

This long band of golden sand has made Negril a hot beach destination since the 1960s, but what’s really special about this place are the amazing red, cliff-framed sunsets. Head for the part of the beach that’s called the West End, where a ridge of cliffs rise above the sand and none of the hotels are taller than a palm tree. Grab a table on the patio at Rick’s Café, which overlooks the horizon, and sip an ice-cold Red Stripe, the local brew of choice. You’ll swoon at the sight of cliff divers plunging into the water as the sun slips behind the sea.

Off the Beach The northern end of Seven Mile Beach is full of big, bustling resorts. If plenty of action is your thing, consider staying at Grand Lido Negril Resort and Spa, a truly exciting spot to call home. The sprawling complex of 210 rooms offers every activity imaginable, from scuba diving to sunset cruises. Those who like to party will love the free-flowing cocktails and the pumped-up reggae music (Norman Manley Boulevard; doubles from $2,702 per couple per week, including all meals and drinks, and some activities; 877-467-8737; superclubs.com).

Best Snorkeling
Trunk Bay Beach
St. John

This beach is popular for a good reason: All of the guesswork has been taken out of snorkeling. How? Just off the shoreline you’ll find a marked underwater snorkeling trail, complete with plaques bearing pictures that identify the sea life, from angelfish and sea turtles to octopus and towering elkhorn coral. Even if snorkeling is not a high priority, you’ll love the beach’s sugar-white sand, and the coconut palms, which provide a bit of shade.

Off the Beach Because most of St. John is parkland, protected by the U.S. National Park Service, there’s little development on the island—but by noon, people arrive from the cruise ships that anchor off nearby St. Thomas. If you prefer some alone time, head for the hills during peak beach hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). You can hike on the 20 miles of marked trails that wind through dense forests and past beaches and plantation ruins. Before you set off, pick up a trail map from the visitor’s center (Cruz Bay; maps are free; 340-776-6201, ext. 238; nps.gov).

Quietest
Little Bay Beach
Anguilla

Half-moon-shaped Little Bay is small, surrounded by cliffs and accessible only by boat. As a result, this stunning beach is surprisingly secluded. Hire a fisherman at Crocus Bay to take you in his motor boat on the five-minute ride (for about $10 per person). There are no Jet-Skis or sailboats for rent here although, if you’re lucky, you may spot a stingray. Trust us, if it were easier to reach, Little Bay Beach would be packed.

Off the Beach Rent a pair of bikes or scooters and visit some of the other gorgeous beaches that stretch around this tiny isle’s shoreline. (There’s one main road, so you won’t get lost. Plus, the
island is flat.) Little Bay is the most peaceful, but Shoal Bay is worth seeing, too. That’s where you’ll find the crowds, and the action, from parasailing and windsurfing to pedal-boating and sailing.

Most Private
Colombier Beach
St. Barthélemy

Beautiful St. Barts attracts jet-setters from around the world. If you need an afternoon away from the glitterati, head for the northwestern tip of the island. A steep, but picturesque, goat path leads to the quiet sands of Colombier Beach. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the road, so most people don’t make the trek. As a result, it feels completely private. You’ll hear locals call Colombier “Rockefeller’s Beach,” from the days when David Rockefeller owned the property bordering this secluded patch. It used to be his favorite hideaway—and now it can be yours.

Off the Beach The Caribbean epicenter of European chic, St. Barts has several spectacular boutique hotels, including the 15-room Le Toiny. The suites here are straight from the pages of a design magazine, with mahogany furniture and teak four-poster beds, plus private pools and terraces. Will you ever want to leave? We think not (Anse de Toiny; doubles from $950 per night; 011-590-590-27-88-88; letoiny.com).

Best for Adventurers
The Baths
Virgin Gorda

This stretch of sand is a natural wonder. After you’ve swum around the huge boulders, which are scattered along the shoreline like giant beach balls, plan to explore The Baths’ grottoes and hidden pools, which can be reached only by crawling through caves and climbing over rock walls. Just beyond this natural maze, you’ll find that the sand is powdery and the waters, which are protected from the tides by the rock formations, are calm and warm. This is a popular beach, so don’t expect to have it to yourselves, and wear reef shoes so that you don’t cut your feet on the climb.

Off the Beach Virgin Gorda is so divine, with its tiny bays and secluded coves, that it’s no wonder pirates used to hide their riches in these parts. Today, the island is still a treasure trove—it’s the address for one of the most exclusive hotels in the Caribbean, the 100-room Little Dix Bay. The hotel has a new granite pool, which pays homage to The Baths with a boulder-laden design (Virgin Gorda; doubles start at $325 per night; 888-767-3966; littledixbay.com).

Best Windsurfing
Fisherman’s Hut Beach
Aruba

Thanks to the hearty trade winds that blow across the southern part of the Caribbean, Aruba is in a great position to provide some truly challenging windsurfing. The top spot: Fisherman’s Hut, which is located on the narrow northern end of Aruba’s western coast. Here, you can rent equipment and sign up for lessons right on the shore. You can also try out the latest craze: kite-surfing, in which the sail is harnessed to your body. After you’ve worn yourselves out, lay your towels on nearby Palm Beach, where the white sand is welcoming and the wind is much calmer.

Off the Beach Rent a car with four-wheel-drive and explore the island’s wild, rocky side, where you can check out the California Lighthouse, the Natural Bridge (a giant span of ancient rock) and plenty of caves (Dollar Rent-a-Car, Queen Beatrix International Airport; rentals start at $60 per day; 800-800-3665; dollarcar.com).

Best Surfing
Bathsheba Beach
Barbados

This is the easternmost island in the Caribbean, and its exposure to the powerful Atlantic Ocean makes it a great place to catch some waves, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Grab a pair of boards and head to the island’s east coast, home of some very hearty swells. The number-one spot for riding the waves is Bathsheba Beach. Here, the sea pounds the shore, especially at a spot called the Soup Bowl.

Off the Beach There’s no denying that the poshest digs are at the 112-room Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Club. Elegant rooms combine classic Caribbean style (think dark wood) with modern amenities, and the polished service makes lazing about together a breeze (St. James; doubles start at $800 per night; 246-444-2000; sandylane.com).

Softest Sand
Horseshoe Bay Beach
Bermuda

Okay, so Bermuda’s not technically in the Carib-bean either, but during the summer you’ll find the same balmy temperatures and great beaches there as you would farther south. The best choice: Horseshoe Bay Beach, a broad patch of silky sand framed by sky-blue surf. Take a stroll along the shore or just wiggle your toes in the soft, pink powder.

Off the Beach When you’re not sitting in the sun, you can visit colonial-era historical sites, including the Bermuda Maritime Museum at the Royal Naval Dockyard, located at the western tip of the island. Here, you can check out ship models, and jewelry recovered from 16th- and 17th-century shipwrecks (Sandys Parish; admission costs $10 per person; 441-234-1418; bmm.bm).

Best Beach Bar
Pinney’s Beach
Nevis

After sunning in a cozy spot under a tree on Pinney’s Beach, in Charlestown, stroll over to Sunshine’s Bar and Grill, a rustic shack that sits right on the sand. The bar itself is just a simple thatch-walled hut with a few stools, but it attracts plenty of famous faces with its casual vibe and powerful drinks. After one of the famous Killer Bee cocktails, made with passion fruit juice and a healthy dose of island rum, we promise you won’t feel any pain.

Off the Beach There are no behemoth hotels on this quiet volcanic island; just cozy plantation inns…and the only Four Seasons Resort in the Caribbean. Head for the spa and sample a Rum Tonic ($190), in which your skin will be exfoliated with sugarcane and coated with a rum-ginger-honey glaze (Pinney’s Beach, Charlestown; doubles from $325 per couple per night; 800-332-3442; fourseasons.com).

Best Topless Beach
Long Bay Beach
St. Martin

St. Martin/Sint Maarten is governed by both France and The Netherlands, which split the island down the middle. It’s important to know that the French half not only has the best restaurants, but also some of the nicest beaches. After a baguette or a croissant and a hunk of Gruyère, spend the day at Long Bay Beach, a quiet arc of sand that stretches along the western coast of the island, just north of the French-Dutch border. You won’t find crowds, so it’s the perfect place to shed your inhibitions (and your top) for the first time. Going topless is common all over the island, so you’ll feel natural, not on display.

Off the Beach If you don’t want to go far for a fresh towel, check into the chic 81-room La Samanna Hotel, which anchors the southern end of Long Bay. This whitewashed resort is a favorite of celebrities, and a good choice for anyone looking for beauty and solitude. All rooms have patios or balconies and are stocked with goodies, including L’Occitane bath products. Best of all, the only thing better than the view from the dining room is dinner itself, which includes grilled mahimahi topped with fruit salsa and snapper served with plantains and black beans (Route Baie Longue, St. Martin; doubles from $425 per night; 800-854-2252; lasamanna.com).

Best Party
Playa Langosta
Cancún, Mexico

Cancún’s been a party-all-night town for years, and it shows no sign of going to sleep. For lots of action while you’re working on that tan, head for the famed Playa Langosta section of the Hotel Zone, where there are lots of beachside restaurants and bars that are full of life, laughter and music. You’re sure to have a good time.

Off the Beach At the towering 506-room Hotel Riu Caribe, a giant palapa covers a sprawling swim-up bar. There’s also an open-air theater where you can watch movies under the stars. This place is so hot that it’s totally cool (Boulevard Kukulcan, Km. 5.5, Cancún; doubles from $234 per couple per night, including all meals, drinks and activities; 888-666-8816; riu.com).