The Wanderlist: Tropical Winter Escapes

The Barbados coastline has some of the most stunning beaches in the eastern Caribbean with everything from rocky to fine sand. For the best beachside stays, stick to the west side of the island where the sands are fine and the waters are a calm, clear blue. Barbados is an island with plenty of access to local seafood and produce, so look up properties on Airbnb for a homestay experience with gorgeous views of the sea.

Head to Oistsins Bay Gardens at night for an authentic fish fry on the weekends. Bridgetown and Diamond Valley are filled with cutter spots – huts where you can get fried fish sandwiches made from the local catch. The best brunch on the island is at Champers, another seaside spot in Bridgetown.

The largest city in the state of Jalisco is quickly becoming a hotspot for travellers seeking a mix of distinctive local culture and authentic yet progressive Mexican cuisine. Punto Sao Paulo is a hip part of the city, ideal for first-timers. Culture addicts also love staying in the Mexicaltzingo district, which is steps away from countless heritage monuments, including the Plaza de Armas museum.

Guadalajara’s culinary scene stretches from rustic street food to progressive Mexican. Tlaquepaque’s downtown square is a must, the promenade is home to a variety of new-wave eateries and an old-school market, offering the best of home cooking and a taste of where Mexico’s cuisine is heading. For late-night grub and cool libations, head to the hip Providencia district.

Yes, the beaches are stunning, but Ocho Rios is also known as a nature lover’s paradise, with dozens of outdoor-themed activities spattered around the thriving rainforest. See Dunn’s River Falls, the island’s most famous terraced waterfall, stretching 1,000 feet with steps that spill into warm-water lagoons. Or head into the rainforest for a zip line adventure that glides you through butterfly and hummingbird gardens.

If you’re looking to eat outdoors, head to Hermosa Cove, where Christopher’s offers an authentic Jamaican barbecue experience, with one of the island’s top chefs, Conroy Arnold, in the kitchen. The locals lunch at Miss T’s Kitchen, where the goat curry, ackee and saltfish are some of the best examples of their type on the island. 

In St. Lucia, many guest rooms have walls on three sides, but the fourth is left open for dramatic, uninterrupted views of the ocean, rainforest and sometimes the island’s Piton mountains. Ladera Resort was the first property on the island to introduce this idea, with the open wall allowing in mountain breezes and abundant nature sounds to complement the resort’s rustic-chic aesthetic. Anse Chastanet Resort is a swish beachfront option that makes use of this concept in some rooms. It is also the only property in St. Lucia with views of both the Petit and Gros Piton mountains.

Set on a working cocoa estate, Boucan by Hotel Chocolat’s restaurant is a top-notch fine dining option, with cocoa incorporated in almost every dish. The chocolate-infused cocktails made with cacao pulp and vodka are a highlight, as are the views of Petit Piton.