It’s something you just don’t find that often at many resorts anymore: that intimacy with the ocean; the feeling of being right at the beach’s edge, or perched directly above the waves, of being able to take just a few steps (or a single one) and put your toes right in the sand. 

But they’re still out there, those resorts designed precisely around the beach, where many rooms open right out to the sand, or are perched right above it. 

There’s no barrier, no long walk to get to the ocean, no sprawling poolscape between you and the sea, where a five-minute stroll to the beach can feel like an hour. 

They’re the Caribbean’s toes-in-the-sand resorts. And here are our favorites.

Galley Bay, Antigua It’s the ultimate toes-in-the-sand resort, set on one of the most beautiful beaches in a destination home to 365 of them. And the beachfront, ground-floor rooms at Galley Bay are as good as it gets in the Caribbean, where you literally slide open your door and are immediately immersed in the beach. This is as beautiful a property as there is in all of the Caribbean — where it’s all about being in nature; that begins with your room.

Coral Beach Club, St Maarten The best-kept secret in St Maarten, this private villa resort is home to a collection of 31 rooms, many of which are set right at the edge of the beach (and home to their own private plunge pools to boot). Here, it’s all about the sensory experience of the sand; it’s almost impossibly serene, a sandy sanctuary at the edge of Oyster Pond. 

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada This luxury all-inclusive in Grenada sets the standard for high-end beach resorts, marvelously taking an elegant vision of Caribbean luxury and molding it for the barefoot chic experience. 

Les Ilets de la Plage, St Barth It’s set right on St Jean, one of the most spectacular stretches of sand in St Barth, with a lovable group of bungalows at the edge of the sand. It’s an ode to another time in St Barth, an unpretentious, friendly, endlessly charming place to stay. 

Caerula Mar Club, The Bahamas You may know it as the resort from the popular Renovation Island television show, but it’s also one of the most charming, well-run resorts in all of the Out Islands of The Bahamas, anchored around 24 suites and villas, all within a few steps of sublime Andros beachfront. 

Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos It’s a toes-in-the-sand resort with a gourmet feel. This Relais & Chateaux set on Pine Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands is a mix of beachfront rooms and a pair of beachfront cottages; the former are just lovely, coming with their own private thatched-roof tiki huts; and the latter especially tailored for the toes-in-the-sand experience (and the privacy of surrounding gardens). 

Anse Chastanet, Saint Lucia This sister resort to the renowned Jade Mountain is perched on a rather magnificent stretch of beach on the western coast of Saint Lucia, with a mix of hillside rooms and direct beachfront rooms and a breezy, carefree, wonderful ambience across the property. 

Cottages by the Sea, St Croix It’s quietly made its home on the west cost of St Croix since 1949, a tiny collection of cottages right on the sand outside of Frederiksted. And it’s a true throwback, where all you hear are the clacks of plates, the crash of waves and the smiling conversations of fellow travelers who’ve discovered a cherished, well-kept secret. 

Sorobon Beach Resort It’s set on Lac Bay, Bonaire’s most energetic beach (and the Caribbean capital of windsurfing), with a surf-town ambience and 34 rooms, all with a lovable Robinson Crusoe-meets-the-Dutch Caribbean castaway feel. 

Fernandez Bay Village, Cat Island, The Bahamas This family-owned historic hotel on still-undiscovered Cat Island is a hidden gem, with 18 rooms, all of which are direct beachfront. There’s an excellent three-meals-a-day restaurant, exceptionally warm service and an impossible-to-match Out Islands authenticity. 

Keyonna Beach Resort, Antigua This boutique all-inclusive on the south coast of Antigua has 29 rooms and cottages, none of which is more than a step or two to the sand. Our favorites are the Beachfront Sanctuary Pool Cottages, which offer direct proximity to the sand and lovely private plunge pools. 

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, St Thomas It’s the quintessential Caribbean beach resort, one of those legendary places to stay, a must-visit for any Caribbean aficionado. And every room is either right at the sand or perched directly above it, a place where you can spend all day just looking at the froth of the waves from your balcony. 

The post 12 Toes-in-the-Sand Resorts in the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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