Sun, Sand & Service -- Winter 2026 Awaits

            It’s still August, but the cooler weather lately has gotten all of us thinking about autumn, and what comes after that: winter. And when our clients start thinking about winter, they start calling us. Now’s the time to plan your winter 2026 getaway, and that usually means someplace with sun, a beach and somebody else to do the cooking and cleaning for a few days.

            If you’re looking for an all-inclusive, no-kids-allowed resort, the Caribbean has plenty to choose from. FamilyVacationist.com travel writer Caroline Teel recently put together a list of the ten best:

·         Sandals Royal Caribbean, Montego Bay, Jamaica. The first vacation my husband-to-be and I went on was to a Sandals near Ocho Rios, and this one sounds even better. The resort’s offshore private island features over-the-water bungalows and villas, complete with a Balinese-style pool, swim-up bar and Sandals’ renowned Red Lane Spa. More than two dozen types of rooms allow for amenities like private plunge pools, in-room jacuzzis, and over-water hammocks-for-two. And did we mention the resort’s nine restaurants?

·         Cocos Hotel Antigua, Jolly Harbour, Antigua. Nestled against one of Antigua’s most beautiful white-sand beaches, this is a boutique all-inclusive resort where you can choose from 34 cliff-top cottages, all equipped with hammocks, Adirondack chairs and outdoor showers. You can take in the sunset while sipping champagne in your private cliffside infinity pool.

·         Stolen Time, Castries, St. Lucia. We got married on this island, and if we ever go back, this is the resort for us: an island escape with a focus on wellness. Within a seven-acre tropical garden on the island’s northwest coast, this resort is along a golden-sand beach and offers 100 guest rooms (including 43 suites), three restaurants and three bars. Enjoy holistic spa treatments along with yoga, meditation, archery and art classes. The resort’s philosophy: “It’s about time you introduced your body to your mind.”

·         Serenity at Coconut Bay, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia. Or maybe we’ll go to this one. Three dozen luxurious suites await the visitor, each with a four-poster mahogany bed looking out through a glass wall to a private patio with a personal plunge pool and waterfall, hammock for two and a fully stocked wet bar. Inside, there’s a walk-in rain shower, soaking tub, espresso machine and Bose entertainment system. All reservations include butler service, unlimited gourmet dining, premium spirits and craft cocktails, private airport transfers and romantic activities like a Jazz Sunset Cruise.

·         Sandals Grenada, St. George’s, Grenada. Sandals scores again with 22 room types, but for a truly romantic vacation, book the SkyPool Butler Suite. You’ll find a private infinity pool cantilevered over the beach for incredible ocean views. The resort also has ten gourmet restaurants, a swim-up bar on the beach and PADI-certified scuba diving, just one of the standard amenities.

·         Couples Tower Isle, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This is one we have visited, and I’m not surprised it’s on this list. The five-star property is perched on one of Jamaica’s best white-sand beaches. There are eight Oasis Spa Villas, offering guests unlimited spa treatments during their stay. Dave and I still talk about the couples massage we indulged in. Other amenities include unlimited gourmet dining, premium spirits, scuba diving, golf, tennis and off-site excursions. And if you dare, there’s also a clothing-optional beach on an offshore island.

·         The Caves, Negril, Jamaica. If you’re looking for an intimate resort experience, here it is. The Caves has only 12 rooms, all custom-designed cliffside cottages with luxurious interiors, and many have outdoor showers and private patios. Within the resort are private caves, a saltwater swimming pool, a spa featuring the trademark Jamaican brown sugar body scrub, and local nightlife.

·         Hermitage Bay, St. Mary’s, Antigua. A recent multimillion-dollar renovation has made this resort on the island’s west coast better than ever. It now has 30 fully redesigned guest villa suites, many with their own pools and outdoor showers, a refreshed spa and a new beach club concept and bar. Nestled within 140 acres of tropical gardens, activities include guided farm tours, weekly cooking classes, sunset cruises and snorkeling trips. Helicopter and boat rides are also available to the nearby island of Barbuda, where guests can visit a sister resort.

·         Sandals Barbados, St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados. This resort offers 280 suites in 14 categories, so you’re bound to find something that fits your tastes and desires. With swim-up rooms that allow you to walk right out into the island’s longest lazy-river pool to suites that include butler service, the resort is comprised of three unique villages, so you can experience something new without leaving the property. There are 11 different restaurants and eight intimate lounges and bars, too. And if you want to get married here, wedding services are free.

·         Pineapple Beach Club Antigua, Long Bay, St. Philips North, Antigua. This resort is the picture of island perfection, nestled between a powdery white beach and a lush green forest. You can frolic in the three on-site pools, play pickleball, sample traditional Caribbean cuisine, sail, snorkel—it’s all included. The resort’s Tranquility Body and Soul Spa welcomes you with a variety of relaxation and wellness offerings. Each of the club’s 180 rooms has a balcony or patio that offers views of the beach, garden or pool.

Wow! I’ll have to tell my husband that our beach getaways are already set for the next decade! Ready to explore one of them yourself? Give us a call!

Sue Tindell