Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2023 list of our favorite islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.
In the two years since the destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, our readers have consistently supported the islands hit the hardest — including the sailors’ Edens of St. John, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke, along with St. Bart’s and Vieques, which continue to reopen their most popular resorts. However, this year’s choices also reflect the ever-evolving advent of new discoveries waiting to be explored.
Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to provide insights on travel experiences around the globe — gathering their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. The islands are rated according to their activities, sights, natural attractions, beaches, culinary offerings, friendliness, and overall value.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the East Coast’s enchanting answer to Hawaii: a volcanic island boasting spectacular diving, jungle hiking leading to magnificent waterfalls, and pristine white-sand beaches surrounded by crystalline waters. JetBlue offers direct flights from New York, thereby facilitating access to this 133-square-mile paradise that one reader described as “a great getaway.”
Returning to this list after a year’s absence is Harbour Island in the Bahamas. This petite gem — only 3½ miles long and half a mile wide — is renowned for its stretches of striking pink-sand beaches, exceptional diveable reefs, and the charming Dunmore Town, where Georgian buildings are adorned in cheerful pastels. Savvy visitors tend to choose the Ocean View Club, a family-owned boutique hotel featuring 12 sea-facing units just steps from the Pink Sand Beach, complemented by one of the island’s best dining establishments. One reader expressed, “Lovely island, with the most beautiful beach in the world.”
The island achieving the top position does so for the third consecutive year, firmly establishing its presence on the World’s Best Islands list.
15. Exumas, Bahamas
Score: 83.22
14. Culebra, Puerto Rico
Score: 83.44
13. Bermuda
Score: 83.54
12. Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Score: 83.73
11. Turks and Caicos
Score: 83.99
10. St. Bart’s
Score: 84.24
9. Grenada
Score: 84.65
8. Harbour Island, Bahamas
Score: 84.70
7. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 84.84
6. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 85.47
5. St. Lucia
Score: 85.94
4. Abaco Islands, Bahamas
Score: 86.15
3. Vieques, Puerto Rico
Score: 87.52
2. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Score: 87.67
1. Anguilla
Score: 90.28
The most complicated decision you’ll face when visiting this exquisite island — which wins the top spot for the third consecutive year, plus a spot on our World’s Best Islands list — is which of the 33 breathtaking beaches to choose as your base. Each beach appears more beautiful than the last, complemented by lodgings that match, including Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa, Four Seasons Resort Anguilla, and Frangipani Beach Resort, all of which remain on the World’s Best Hotels list. Furthermore, the venerable Malliouhana and Belmond Cap Juluca have reopened to great acclaim this year. With spectacular dining options (be sure to visit Blanchards and Straw Hat), welcoming locals, and a relaxed atmosphere, Anguilla presents the ideal island setting for travelers seeking an idyllic getaway.
