Alternative escapes
MORE AND MORE CURIOUS TRAVELLERS TO THE CARIBBEAN ARE VEERING OFF THE BEATEN PATH. FROM DRAMATIC LANDSCAPES TO FLAMBOYANT FESTIVALS, THESE FIVE UNDER-THE-RADAR DESTINATIONS PROMISE A DIFFERENT KIND OF ADVENTURE
WORDS: CONNOR MCGOVERN D
etour destinations are booming. In fact, according to Expedia’s Unpack ’25 report with Vrbo and
Hotels.com, some 63% of travellers say they’re likely to add a lesser known spot to their next trip. Think a peaceful stay in Girona after
buzzing Barcelona, some downtime in Krabi following Phuket’s party scene, or a trip to Guadeloupe after a few days in St Lucia. With its lush mosaic of islands, the Caribbean offers ample
opportunity to try something new. It’s a region long synonymous with dream trips — turquoise waters, soft sand and rum punch — but there’s far more to discover beyond the usual suspects. Old favourites such as Barbados, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic continue to draw travellers, but other islands — just as
beautiful, with fewer crowds — are beginning to muscle in on the action, too. Increased flight connectivity has made it easier to enjoy a twin-centre trip. For example, Virgin Atlantic flies direct from Heathrow and Manchester to Barbados, where the airline’s island-hopping service can then take travellers on to either Grenada or St Vincent. British Airways, meanwhile, flies from Gatwick to Tobago, with a stop in St Lucia en route. Admittedly, a little more planning is required, but the reward is a chance to escape the crowds and uncover a new corner of the Caribbean, with no compromise on those lush, brochure-worthy backdrops. So, whether you’re a hiker looking to get off the beaten path or
a seasoned gourmet hungry for new flavours, we’ve picked five of the best islands for a new kind of Caribbean escape.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER – CARIBBEAN COLLECTION 7
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