These 10 Beach Towns Are Why I Love the Caribbean Even More in the Summer

I’ve been to some pretty spectacular beaches around the Caribbean. You know, the sand bar on White Bay in Exuma, or the far edges of the Grenadines, or Old Bight Beach. There are hundreds more. But sometimes you get to a remote, hard-to-reach cay in the middle of the marine wilderness and think, “a rum bar would be pretty nice right about here.” That’s part of why I love beach towns — you get the best of both worlds — beautiful Caribbean beaches and enough living energy to add that extra bit of fun. There’s nothing quite like a beach town in the Caribbean — particularly in the summer, when the winds and the waves can keep you cooler, the tempo slows down a bit more, and the fun never ends.

Sure, Nantucket and Montauk and Martha’s Vineyard are great. But let’s be honest. None of them compares to the Caribbean, a place that I think is even better in the summer.  

Here are my 10 beach towns where you can plan your next summer getaway. Rum bars included.

Speightstown, Barbados

It’s amazing to see the transformation of a part of Barbados that always had the potential to be an amazing beach town — and has now realized it. From fantastic toes-in-the-sand beach bars like Little Bristol (the town’s original nickname for its connection with the UK city) to clever coffee shops to the wonderful comfort food at the Fisherman’s Pub to the fish cake tent outside Jordan’s supermarket, this is just a fantastic little town. It’s my new favorite beach town in the Caribbean.