Top Caribbean Destinations Create Unforgettable Memories

Writing a guide to the top Caribbean destinations is difficult because everyone has different ideas about what they want on a vacation. Here are five suggestions for great destinations from someone who has vacationed there many times.

1. Aruba
It is top rated for the most return visits. The beaches are great, shopping is plentiful and everything is easily accessible. It is an arid island, so don't expect a tropical paradise. Do expect the best all-around experience in the Caribbean.

2. Dominican Republic
People often think about all-inclusive resorts when they plan a Caribbean vacation. The truth is that some destinations have many all-inclusives while others have very few. DR has many all-inclusives, and they are generally top quality. Consider Punta Cana or Puerto Plata as places for some of the best resorts.

3. Cancun
Cancun is a tough choice because the beaches aren't on the same level as the islands. But Cancun has plenty of shopping and nightlfe, and the nearby excursions are fabulous. It also has convenient transportation and a top-notch hotel strip.

4. British Virgin Islands
Good snorkeling, quiet and beautiful. This is a good choice for someone who wants a peaceful vacation. More of a place for couples than families.

5. Jamaica
The people are cool and interesting. Like Dominican Republic, it emphasizes all-inclusive resorts. Dunn's River Falls is one of the most popular excursions in the Caribbean. Focus your planning on Negril or Montego Bay.

A Caribbean cruise is a great introduction to the region for anyone who hasn't been there before. A typical seven-day cruise might visit four or five destinations in a particular area. (More on areas in a moment.)

By visiting four or five destinations, a cruise traveler can see the differences among the locations and decide which type of destination would make sense for a longer-term visit.

They might find that Cancun has great hotels, restaurants, shopping and activities, but the beaches aren't as good as Aruba, Jamaica, St. Maarten or Dominican Republic. However, Aruba is good for walking around, while Jamaica and Dominican Republic are not.

If their choice is a long-term stopover vacation, such as a week, they will need to do some research on each destination. Excellent choices for a first-time stopover vacation include the four listed above. Aruba is an arid, mid-sized island with excellent beaches, especially Palm Beach.

Jamaica is famous for lush landscape, interesting people and all-inclusive resorts. St. Maarten has great beaches and a European flair thanks to the island being controlled by France and the Netherlands. Dominican Republic is one of the most popular destinations because of numerous all-inclusive resorts.

Choosing a particular area of the Caribbean is more important for a cruise than for a stopover, but it is still important for both.

Caribbean cruises are divided into eastern, western and southern cruises. An eastern Caribbean cruise often goes to destinations such as:

* Bahamas - the biggest cruise location in the Caribbean. But it is a popular destination in its own right because it is easily accessible from the U.S.

* Turks and Caicos - an up-and-coming cruise destination.

* U.S. Virgin Islands - famous for its duty-free shopping.

* Haiti - mainly a stop for cruise ships in beautiful remote locations

* Dominican Republic - it's all about the all-inclusive resorts on beautiful beaches. The resorts are so good that people rarely leave them until it is time to return home.

* Puerto Rico - a tour of Old San Juan is a must. The historical and architectural sites represent some of the best of the New World from centuries ago. If they don't interest you, there is plenty of shopping along cobblestone streets.

Eastern destinations are dominated by cruise visits. Many cruises stop at the Bahamas and Puerto Rico in particular. San Juan, Puerto Rico, often is a starting point for western or southern cruises.

Two places in particular are not heavy on cruises. One is Dominican Republic because of its all-inclusive resorts, and the other is British Virgin Islands, a quiet nearby cousin of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A western Caribbean cruise often goes to:

* Jamaica - resorts, people and Dunn's River Falls.

* Cayman Islands - Great excursion at Sting Ray City, where you can swim with the sting rays.

* Cancun, Mexico - Excellent excursions including the massive Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza.

* Cozumel, Mexico - Mainly a cruise stop; popular for snorkeling and scuba diving.

* Central America - Belize, Honduras, Panama or Costa Rica

Many of the Mexican and Central American destinations have Mayan ruins, and they also have numerous eco-tourism opportunities.

A southern Caribbean vacation has the advantage of warmer weather from the late fall till early spring simply because it is located closer to the equator. The roundup includes:

* The ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao -- quiet islands that lie south of the Caribbean hurricane belt. Aruba reputedly has the highest number of return visits for any vacation destination in the Caribbean. It has an ideal combination of great beaches, shopping and friendly locals. It is especially famous for scuba diving, the dining and shopping district of Palm Beach and of course the great beaches.

* St. Kitts -- A great place to visit if you want simple quiet time.

* St. Maarten -- One of the great beauties of the Caribbean.

* Antigua -- Famous for having one beach for every day of the year. Unlike more popular places, it's easy to find a beach with few people on it.

* Barbados -- Snorkeling with giant sea turtles will be a memorable experience.

* St. Lucia -- nice beaches, beautiful back country. One of the better excursions is an ATV ride along a beautiful untouched coastline owned by a wealthy local family.

* Dominica - gaining a reputation for eco-tourism.

Southern destinations are more popular for long-term stays than for cruises. As a general rule, the islands here are smaller, quieter and have some of the nicest beaches.

A southern or western cruise often disembarks from Puerto Rico or Gulf of Mexico ports such as Galveston, Texas, or New Orleans, Louisiana. An eastern cruise often disembarks from Florida or the east coast of the U.S.

Caribbean beaches are famous for their white sand, but the quality and quantity of beaches varies from one destination to another. Antigua may win the award for most beaches -- it claims 365 of them or one for every day of the year. Cancun has small beaches that have been damaged recently by hurricanes. Aruba, Dominican Republic, St. Maarten and Martinique all have reputations for great beaches.

Some people like to stay at the beach every day, while others need something to do. All have various levels of shopping, much of it duty free, ranging from tourist shopping districts that are about one block long in Dominica to the sprawling shopping district of Old San Juan. Most destinations, however, have small shopping areas.

Water sports are available everywhere, with snorkeling and scuba diving being especially popular. Aruba, Cozumel, the Virgin Islands and a few other locations are known for snorkeling and scuba, while every destination has its share of sea kayaking, sailing, fishing and other water sports.

Most destinations have similar ties to European colonization with old forts, governor mansions and other historical attractions. But only a few have truly unique excursions, such as:

• Swimming with sting rays at Sting Ray City in the Cayman Islands


• Climbing Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica


• Snorkeling with giant sea turtles in Barbados


• Canopying (zip lining) in Costa Rica


• River cave tubing in Belize


• Touring Chichen Itza near Cancun

Eco-tourism varies from one place to another with waterfall hikes and other natural activities especially popular on Dominica, Grenada and Trinidad.

Not all Caribbean destinations offer the same experience. Choosing the right one takes research and planning, but the effort will pay off in a memorable experience.

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Click top Caribbean destinations for travel tips, weather forecasts, attractions and other advice on planning a trip.