Best of the Caribbean

What's the best overall Caribbean destination?

By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY

It's Puerto Rico, according to Caribbean Travel + Life's "Best of the Caribbean" Readers' Choice Awards.

The W Retreat & Spa on Vieques Island adds glamour to the hotel scene in Puerto Rico.

CAPTION

W Retreat & Spa -- Vieques Island

(And Jamaica's Red Stripe is the best beer.)

Puerto Rico bested St. John and Jamaica in voting by more than 250,000 readers. It also won honorable mentions in shopping, adventure and best natural attraction or park for El Yunque rainforest. Its new W Retreat & Spa -- Vieques Island won honorable mention in best medium-sized hotel. And the venerable Caribe Hilton in San Juan earned an honorable mention in the "Megaresort" category.

Why did PR win best island? For its nightlife, nature, beaches, culture and friendly people. (And its food is pretty interesting, too. Foodies shouldn't miss "mofongo" (mashed plantain, yucca or breadfruit with garlic, oil stuffed with meat, poultry or fish) and might want to check out the Saborea food fest, April 1-3. Here's the website.)

Other winners of the the magazine's "Best of the Caribbean Readers' Choice" Awards :

Best Festival: Trinidad Carnival
Honorable Mention: Reggae Sumfest, Jamaica; St. Lucia Jazz Festival

Best Island to Live On: St. John, USVI
Honorable Mention: St. Thomas, USVI; Grand Cayman

Best Happy Hour: Rick's Café, Jamaica
Honorable Mention: Sunset Beach Bar, St. Maarten; Soggy Dollar, BVI (Kitty's note: The Soggy Dollar is a hoot if you're a boater and party animal.)

Best Luxury Resort: Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos
Honorable Mention: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia; Fowl Cay Resort, Bahamas

Best Family Resort: Atlantis, Bahamas
Honorable Mention: Beaches Turks & Caicos; The Buccaneer, St. Croix, USVI

Best Rum: Cruzan
Honorable Mention: Tortuga; Appleton

Best Beer: Red Stripe
Honorable Mention: Carib; Presidente

Best Shopping: St. Thomas, USVI
Honorable Mention: St. Martin; Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Best Adventure Destination: Belize
Honorable Mention: Riviera Maya, Mexico; Puerto Rico

Best Snorkeling & Diving: Belize
Honorable Mention: Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico

Best Small Hotel: Little Cayman Beach Resort
Honorable Mention: Rincón Beach Resort, Puerto Rico; Peter Island, BVI

Best Midsize Hotel: Caneel Bay, St. John, USVI
Honorable Mention: W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico; Rosewood Little Dix Bay, BVI

Best Restaurant: The Cliff, Barbados
Honorable Mention: Kon Tiki, St. Maarten; Cracked Conch, Grand Cayman

Best Golf Resort: Four Seasons, Nevis
Honorable Mention: Sandy Lane, Barbados; Half Moon, Jamaica

Best Resort Spa: Silver Rain, Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Honorable Mention: Golden Door Spa, Las Casitas Resort, Puerto Rico; Hotel Guanahani & Spa, St. Barts

Best Beach: Seven-Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Honorable Mention: Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI; Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Resort With the Best View: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Honorable Mention: Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia; Peter Island, BVI

Best Bang for the Buck Resort: Beaches Turks & Caicos
Honorable Mention: Lazy Parrot Inn, Puerto Rico; Sunset House, Grand Cayman

Best Megaresort: Atlantis, Bahamas
Honorable Mention: Wyndham Sugar Bay, St. Thomas, USVI; Caribe Hilton, Puerto Rico

Best All-Inclusive Resort: Beaches Turks & Caicos
Honorable Mention: Peter Island, BVI; Jumby Bay, Antigua

Best Island for Celebrity-Watching: St. Barts
Honorable Mention: Turks and Caicos; Anguilla

Best Natural Attraction or Park: Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, USVI
Honorable Mention: El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico; Bonaire National Marine Park

Best Romantic Resort: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Honorable Mention: Peter Island, BVI; The Caves, Jamaica

Check out other great travel destinations on our website: www.swtourandtravel.com