Caribbean getaways with direct flights from NYC
The splash pool at Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa in Saint Lucia. Credit: Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa
Traveling internationally often includes at least one connecting flight. Direct flights are ideal, and for Long Islanders looking for a Caribbean getaway, there are many options to buckle up in your seat once, kick back and jet off to paradise.
If you want to keep the simple vibe going, leave hot spots like the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas for another time. Instead, explore Nevis, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Maarten/St. Martin. Get your fill of surf, sunshine and adventure without the crowds. The good news: You can fly direct from New York airports to these destinations.
Here's a mini guide for where to go, where to stay and more in these under-the-radar locales.
St. Maarten/St. Martin
Get double the fun in St. Maarten/St. Martin, with French and Dutch cultures. Partiers favor the nightlife on the Dutch side of the island, and serenity seekers like the quieter French side. Thirty beaches offer some of the best snorkeling and diving anywhere.
Soak up some rays on Mullet Bay Beach in St. Martin. Credit: Sheryl Nance-Nash
Divers love Under SXM, the underwater sculpture park in Little Bay. To play on the water rather than in it, kayak, Jet Ski and paddle board in lagoons. Hike, bike and get thrills on the Flying Dutchman, the world’s steepest zip line. Guests can feast at 300-plus restaurants. Head to Simpson Bay for varied, fantastic food — Indian, Korean or Lee’s Roadside Bar & Grill for Caribbean fare, seafood and lively music. Thrill-seekers can take the Philipsburg Mural & Sunset Tour, and in Marigot, shop the waterfront marketplace.
Where to stay
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa
The all-inclusive resort, with 400-plus rooms and suites, is an oceanfront property on the Dutch side’s Maho Beach. The Ultimate Adults Only Club is 50-plus rooms and suites with bay and ocean views and perks including the Cloud 9 Rooftop Bar. Families can enjoy the Beach House Kids Club and Teen Zone. Next door is the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort, with swim-out suites, butler service and more. Prices start at $279 a night for Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, and $419 at Sonesta Ocean Point Resort. More info: sonestastmaarten.com
La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel
For luxury on the French side, there’s beachfront La Samanna. Expect nothing ordinary. There are restaurants, tennis courts, pools, wine cellar, a spa and more. The family-friendly resort has nanny services. Splurge on a Signature Private Pool Villa with floor-to-ceiling windows, Italian marble flooring or the one-bedroom plunge pool suite. Accommodations start at about $1,100 per night. More info: belmond.com
Know before you go
- Travel time and cost: The flight time is just over 4 hours from New York, with fares approximately $500 round trip from Kennedy Airport on Delta.
- Currency: Euro on the French side, the ANG on the Dutch side. U.S. dollars are widely accepted. (The exchange rate changes daily, but today, $1 U.S. is .87 Euro and 1.79 to the ANG)
- Language: Dutch is the official language on the Dutch side, and French on the French side. English is spoken throughout the island.
- Best time to go: December to April is the peak season, including Carnival in February, with parades, costumes, concerts and street food, and the five-day SXM Music Festival in March. May to November is the offseason, with lower prices and fewer tourists (In the high season, average nightly hotel rates can run around $402, compared to $248 in the low season).
Nevis
Here, it’s so quiet, the loudest thing is lapping waves. The tiny island’s mystique is created by the inactive volcano, the often mist-shrouded mountains and Nevis Peak at more than 3,200 feet, ideal for hiking. Look forward to wild donkeys and green vervet monkeys, golf, water sports and horseback rides through beaches, trails and villages.
Ride bikes at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Funky Monkey Tours Nevis takes you off-road through rainforests, mountain trails and beaches only accessible by ATV. For a history lesson, visit the Museum of Nevis History and churches, such as St. Thomas’ Lowland Church, built in 1643. No trip to Nevis is complete without a sit-down meal at Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill for the infamous Killer Bee, a rum punch with kick, seafood and jerk chicken.
Where to stay
Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Whether you want a romantic picnic or you’re traveling with kids and teens ready to play competitive games and build sandcastles, you’re in good hands at this luxurious property on Pinney's Beach. Hit the reset button at the spa and dine seaside at the open-air restaurant, Mango. Watch waves splash on the rocks and feast on crispy coconut-breaded shrimp and other goodies. Prices start at $585 per night in a Nevis Peak View Room. More info: fourseasons.com
Golden Rock Inn
Bask in this boutique resort’s jungle vibe, lush gardens, 1,000 feet above sea level, with mountain and ocean views. Dine al fresco at The Rocks restaurant, with its cascading ponds and greenery. Helen’s Moroccan Chicken is a favorite. Arrange a massage in your room or a yoga session in the gardens. Rooms start at $400. More info: goldenrocknevis.com
Know before you go
- Travel time and cost: Sister islands Nevis and St. Kitts make up the independent country of St. Kitts and Nevis. Fly direct from New York airports to St. Kitts (SKB). Take a taxi to the ferry for a short ride to Nevis. Flight time is 4 and a half hours and costs about $580 round trip from Kennedy Airport on JetBlue and American Airlines.
- Language: English is official, but Creole (a mix of British English and various West African languages) is also spoken.
- Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD). U.S. dollars are widely accepted. EXCHANGE RATE?JW
- Best time to go: Peak season is December-April. Travel in August for Culturama, the island’s culture festival. July brings the Mango Festival (mango tastings, culinary and mixology competitions, live music, chef masterclass featuring mangos, kid’s mango hunt, mango eating contests),
Grenada
There’s plenty to see in the "spice island" and "wreck diving capital of the Caribbean." If you can’t get enough of the beach, there are 40 to choose from. Fifteen waterfalls, kayaking and paddleboarding provide more water wonderment. One of the island’s crown jewels is the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, the world’s first submarine sculpture garden.
Grenada is home to 15 waterfalls. Credit: Getty Images/cdwheatley
For fun on land, hike the rainforest or tour the Tower Estate in St. George parish. The historic house is surrounded by lush gardens and an organic farm that grows fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal plants and tea — which you can sample at an afternoon tea sitting. Make your way to the Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market for crafts, spices and handmade treasures. Eat like a local at Grand Anse beach at Umbrellas Beach Bar, known for grilled seafood and great cocktails.
Where to stay
Mount Cinnamon Beach Wellness Resort
This hillside retreat has colorful villas and panoramic views of Grand Anse. Feast at The Flying Fish, with its farm-to-table cuisine, be it the pan-seared catch of the day over callaloo puree or spiced chicken roulade with coconut stuffing and tamarind sauce. There is an all-inclusive meal plan. The Cinnamon Spa is said to be one of the island’s best. Prices start at about $500 a night. More info: mountcinnamon.com
Spice Island Beach Resort
This AAA Five Diamond rated, all-inclusive resort has elegant villa-style suites, some with private swimming pools. Amenities include the Nutmeg Pod Activity Center for children, paddleboarding, kayaking, and tennis courts. Find Zen at the Janissa Spa, with its cascading water wall, open-air rain showers and outdoor relaxation lounge. Prices start at about $1,200 a night. More info: spiceislandbeachresort.com
Know before you go
- Travel time and cost: Expect a 5 five-hour flight to Grenada from New York, at a cost of $590 round trip on average from Kennedy Airport on JetBlue.
- Currency: East Caribbean dollar, (XCD). U.S. dollars are widely accepted.
- Language: English is the official language, but the main spoken language is Grenadian Creole (a mix of English and African languages).
- Best time to visit: December to April is peak season, very sunny and less humid. The low season is June through November. Spicemas Carnival (costumes, food, music and stilt walkers) is in August, the Grenada Sailing Festival is typically in January, and the Chocolate Festival is in May.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia’s Pitons are the island’s big wow. The dormant volcanoes on the southwestern coast are two marvels of nature. Gros Piton is more than 2,500 feet high and Petit Piton exceeds 2,400 feet. They are part of the magic, along with the bluest of seas, white sand and exotic greenery.
Saint Lucia's Pitons are dormant volcanoes. Credit: Getty Images/Jim Mallouk
One quintessential Saint Lucia experience is the volcanic mud baths at Sulphur Springs in Soufriere, said to have healing properties. For thrills, zip line in the rainforest, dive, hike in Pigeon Island National Park or comb the island via ATV. Plantation Beach in the Gros Islet area is the place for wind sports and surfing. Snorkeling is great at Anse Chastanet Beach. Ready for a night out? Head to Rodney Bay for the restaurants and clubs.
Where to stay
Serenity at Coconut Bay
Check in here for an all-inclusive, couples-only, intimate experience. Envision plunge-pool suites with private "backyard" patio, plunge pool, waterfall, hammock, outdoor showerand wet bar. There are also butler service and 24-hour room service. Serenity is part of the all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa next door that has an adult-only retreat and a section for families featuring a waterpark and CocoLand Kidz Klub. At Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, all-inclusive rates start at $399 per room with a five-night minimum booking, and at Serenity at Coconut Bay, the couples-only, all-inclusive package with the Plunge Pool Butler Experience Suite starts at $1,118 per suite with a five-night minimum. More info: serenitycoconutbay.com
Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences
This all-inclusive, family-centric resort on Labrelotte Bay offers nanny services, kids club and teen activities. Snorkeling, windsurfing, pedal boating, paddle boarding and kayaking are complimentary. Options include rooms, suites and two-, three- and four-bedroom villas with large kitchens; most with private plunge pools. Prices start at about $290 a night. More info: windjammer-landing.com
Know before you go
- Travel time and cost: The flight to Saint Lucia is just under 5 five hours from New York, and costs typically around $560 round trip from Kennedy Airport on American Airlines and JetBlue.
- Currency: East Caribbean Dollar, (XCD). U.S. dollars are widely accepted.
- Language spoken: English is the official language, and many Saint Lucians speak a French patois (French and West African languages).
- Best time to visit: December to April is peak season with the best weather. In May and June, there are fewer crowds, and the lowest prices are June through November. The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is in May, Carnival is celebrated in July, the Creole Heritage Month is in October, and mid-October brings the Rum & Rhythm Festival.
