Brides list their top 10 resorts in the Caribbean and Cayman is not one of them

One of the top websites for honeymooners – BRIDES – has just announced their top 10 resorts for newly weds and the Cayman Islands sadly does not make the list.

Even worse, the survey was executed before the debacle of the wedding dress duty charge and confiscation (that Cayman Customs dispute with NO APOLOGY) that has since resulted in the government now removing the duty.

As part of the 2014 Brides Best Honeymoon awards, we’re counting down the best places for newlyweds to stay in the Caribbean. From gorgeous beachside retreats nestled among mountains to stunning infinity-edge pools, you’re guaranteed a luxurious stay no matter which resort you choose.

Clear blue sea, white sandy strands, and tropical drinks galore. It’s no wonder so many newlyweds flock to the Caribbean for the first trip of their married lives. Not only are these idyllic isles just a short flight way—especially if you live in the south, Midwest, or east coast—but they also have romantic resorts to spare. Some are intimate, some are grand, some sit seaside, others perch hillside, but all cater to tranquility-seeking honeymooners like you. In our top 10 this year: a lavish private-island resort in Antigua, a boutique gem in St. Lucia where every room is missing a wall, and a chic, Asian-inspired retreat in Turks and Caicos, where the bonefishing is sublime but the beaches are even better. So take a look and take your pick, but be warned: Once you’ve spent a day at one of these sun-warmed escapes, you may never want to leave.

—Maggie Parker

How did we choose the Brides Best Honeymoons? A survey was conducted in conjunction with Virtuoso, a network of nearly 9,000 top luxury travel advisors. For more information, contact 855-570-3829.

Picture-perfect white-sand beaches, stunning ocean views, private pools, and, of course, a never ending-rotation of tropical fruity cocktails are only a few of the reasons just-married couples continue to flock to the Caribbean for their honeymoon year after year.

Plus, there are tons of islands to choose from — Turks & Caicos, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, and St. Lucia are just a few of the stellar options. And then there’s the convenience: Most isles are only a short flight away from the mainland U.S., especially if you live in the south, Midwest, or east coast.

But one of the best things about the Caribbean? There are countless resorts fit for newlyweds. The travel experts from Virtuoso helped us sort out where to stay in the network of islands by zeroing in on the 10 best hotels for honeymooners. From Asian-inspired zen at the Amanyara in Turks & Caicos to the Greco-Moorish wonder that is the Cap Juluca in Anguilla, it’ll be hard to choose just one for your post-wedding getaway.

1. Amanyara, Turks & Caicos

Set on one of the most pristine islands this side of paradise, this Asia-meets-the-West-Indies resort is impossibly chic, with 36 sleek guest pavilions and a black-tile infinity pool that begs to be Instagrammed. So go on, strike a pose; Amanyara.

Photo: Courtesy of Amanyara

2. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia

All but one of this resort’s 29 rooms has one wall open—the better to take in those jaw-dropping Caribbean and Piton Mountain views. As if your whirlpool-for-two weren’t sexy enough, most also have a private infinity pool overlooking the endless azure sea; Jade Mountain.

Photo: Courtesy of Jade Mountain

3. Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos

Talk about rooms with a view: This all-suite resort on Providenciales overlooks Grace Bay, a 12-mile strand of sugar-spun sand that sits atop multiple “best beaches” lists. Other highlights include three glam infinity pools, anything-you-desire service (a personal concierge is at your beck and call 24/7), and creative libations at Infiniti Bar, the longest bar in the Caribbean. Tip: Ask for a room in The Hotel, the property’s adults-only wing; Grace Bay Club.

Photo: Courtesy of Grace Bay Club

4. Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

Nestled on a stretch of soft white sand between the twin Piton mountains, this colonial-style resort spoils couples with whitewashed rooms, private plunge pools, and their own walled-off garden. (No wonder Matt Damon and wife Luciana renewed their vows here in 2013.) Don’t leave without treating yourselves to a massage in one of the spa’s treehouse treatment rooms—or signing up for a mud bath at the island’s famous sulphur springs; Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort.

Photo: Courtesy of Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort

5. Cap Juluca, Anguilla

Fresh off a $12 million facelift, this luxe Greco-Moorish gem was made for honeymooners—and A-listers! (Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz, and Harrison Ford have all escaped here.) At night, you’ll sleep your wedding stress away in a king-size bed kitted out with Frette linens. By day, it’s all about Maundays Bay’s perfect sweep of sand. Ride horses in the surf, hit one of five beach bars, or just relax on a chaise lounge and let staff bring the chilled towels and complimentary sorbet to you; Cap Juluca.

Photo: Courtesy of Cap Juluca

6. Hermitage Bay, Antigua

Looking for an intimate beach resort with a foodie bent? This haute all-inclusive offers 25 rustic-chic cottages, a secluded crescent of sand, and an organic garden that produces most of the fruit and vegetables on your plate. Bonus: the rates are all-inclusive, which means those yoga, meditation, and cooking classes are totally covered; Hermitage Bay.

Photo: Courtesy of Hermitage Bay

7. Rosewood Jumby Bay, Antigua

You don’t have to fly halfway around the world to honeymoon on a private isle. Set on its own 300-acre island, Jumby Bay is reachable only by boat, making it feel luxuriously cut off from the rest of the world. Even standard rooms come with wraparound porches, outdoor showers, and colorful bicycles, making exploring your new domain a breeze; Rosewood Jumby Bay.

Photo: Courtesy of Rosewood Jumby Bay

8. Hotel Saint Barth Isle de France, St. Barth’s

On an isle filled with jet setters, this 40-room hotel on Flamands Beach is VIP central. The service is impeccable and the airy rooms are just as chic as you’d expect from a hotel owned by LVMH (the company that also oversees Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon). The pièce de résistance? Those stunning views of Flamands Beach; Hotel Saint Barth Isle de France.

Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Saint Barth Isle de France

9. Eden Rock, St. Barths

On an isle filled with jet setters, this haute hotel is VIP central. There’s an art gallery by the beach, a recording studio in a villa (it has the console John Lennon used to record “Imagine”), and the restaurants are helmed by Jean-Georges Vongerichten. And St. Barth’s famous shopping? The boutiques of St. Jean are just a short walk away; Eden Rock.

Photo: Courtesy of Eden Rock

10. Four Seasons Resort Nevis

When you’re not swimming laps in one of three infinity pools, take off on a diving expedition with the resort’s chef, who’ll grill as many lobsters as you can catch at an après-dip beach barbecue. Rather stay out of the water? Tee off at the Robert Trent Jones II golf course, sip piña coladas as the sun sets (the oceanside 101 Rums bar carries—you guessed it—101 different kinds of rum), or have your new signature perfume custom-blended at the spa. Consider it the ultimate honeymoon souvenir; Four Seasons Resort Nevis.

Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Nevis

For more on this story go to: http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/06/best-honeymoon-resorts-caribbean.html