Top Islands for a Serene Getaway

It’s no fun getting away from it all when you find yourself huddled on a beach with everyone else doing the same. However, as these beautiful islands attest, it’s still possible to spend time with your book or your beloved — and not be held hostage to a stranger’s cell phone exchanges. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.

Highlights of the Best Islands

Some choices, such as Anguilla, which won top honors for the first time in our survey, offer an intoxicating mix of secluded beaches where you can be the only inhabitant and extraordinary restaurants should you care to break bread with other humans. Moreover, there are plenty of luxurious hotels to choose from, too. On Shoal Bay East, newcomer Zemi Beach House is a breath of fresh air thanks to its sleek, minimalist rooms and its spa set in a Thai home (yes, the building was brought all the way over from Asia). Zemi placed 10th this year in the region’s Resort Hotel category. The Four Seasons recently took over the Viceroy — but Meads Bay, an exquisite stretch of sand from which one can watch migrating whales while raising a flag for a rum punch, remains unchanged!

Puerto Rico’s Hidden Gems

Two Puerto Rican destinations also ranked high on the list, as travelers continue to explore the quieter, more rustic isles of Culebra and Vieques. These off-the-beaten-path places keep company with pristine spots like St. John and Virgin Gorda, islands known for their natural attractions: two-thirds of St. John is a protected national park, while Virgin Gorda is home to the famous Baths. The Bahamas — an archipelago of some 700 islands — boasts three spots in the top 15: the Abacos, Harbour Island, and Exuma, where our readers have reported on the unique experience of pigs who swim like porpoises. (Who knew that swimming with pigs was possible, let alone so much fun?) And, of course, Bermuda takes its proper seat on the list for its pink sand, sophistication, and proximity to the United States. All of these honored islands possess individual appeal, but they share the most coveted qualities: breathtaking landscapes where the din of civilization and other people’s cell phone calls seem a world away.

15. Nevis

Score: 81.99

14. The Abacos, Bahamas

Score: 82.01

13. Aruba

Score: 82.31

12. St. Lucia

Score: 82.61

11. St. Bart’s

Score: 83.35

10. Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

Score: 83.44

9. Turks and Caicos

Score: 83.96

8. Exuma, Bahamas

Score: 84.08

7. Bermuda

Score: 84.10

6. Harbour Island, Bahamas

Score: 84.36

5. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Score: 84.38

4. Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Score: 85.03

3. Vieques, Puerto Rico

Score: 85.06

2. Culebra, Puerto Rico

Score: 86.03

1. Anguilla

Score: 86.87

Finding a destination with unpopulated shores and stellar food might seem to be an unreasonable request. However, on Anguilla, you will discover 33 pristine stretches of sand and some of the finest food in the Caribbean. For instance, you can visit Palm Grove, a seaside shack nestled into the mile-long crescent of Junks Hole Bay, for grilled lobster and johnnycakes prepared while you snorkel. Lounge at Little Bay — accessible by boat or climbing down a cliff with a frayed rope — and experience a place straight out of your winter fantasies. When describing Anguilla, one reader claimed: “There’s nothing touristy. Just great, welcoming people and beautiful beaches.” Who can argue with that?