Which Caribbean island is right for you?

Wonderful white-sand beaches under brilliant azure skies – the exotic colours of the Caribbean are welcoming all year round, particularly when winter arrives in Europe and the US. But with more than 7,000 islands split between 13 sovereign countries, finding the ideal location for a home can prove challenging. To start your search, Odge Davey, Savills head of international sales, considers six of his clients’ favourite islands, all served by direct flights from the UK.

Best for golfers: Barbados
Barbados has six golf courses – an impressive number for an island that’s just 21 miles long and 14 wide – including championship contenders at three leading estates: Apes Hill, Royal Westmoreland and Sandy Lane. That variety is mirrored in the island’s property choices, which range from two-bedroom golf apartments for less than $1 million (£760,000) to substantial six-bedroom beachfront villas for $20 million or more. The Pierhead, a landmark new development in the heart of historic Bridgetown, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is designed to be a catalyst for the city’s revitalisation. Barbados mixes it up so well: five-star dining next to an informal rum shack, laid-back beach life alongside active water- and land-based sports. Add in the warm welcome from the ever-friendly Bajans and it’s easy to see why the island’s celebrated appeal remains as strong as ever.

Best for sailors: Grenada
Peaceful, low-key Grenada offers a castaway lifestyle buoyed up by a strong and vibrant community. This is the most southerly of the Windward Islands, a chain that includes Martinique, St Lucia and St Vincent, where steady trade winds and sheltered routes make for excellent sailing. Grenada has world-class marinas, headlined by the 227 berths at Camper & Nicholsons’ Port Louis. The island took 12th place in Savills Executive Nomad Index 2025, which assessed the “appeal and ease of access for long-term remote workers”. Property prices start at less than $1 million for two- and three-bedroom villas.

Best for beaches: Antigua
You’ve probably heard about Antigua’s 365 beaches (one for each day of the year), and the golden sands on both the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts are a definite selling point for this laid-back island. There’s plenty to love away from the beach, too: the drama of annual regattas, history at Nelson’s Dockyard, an evolving restaurant scene and the secluded beauty of Barbuda, Antigua’s sister island, with the inviting pink sands of Princess Diana Beach. Detached villas on Antigua start at about $1.5 million.

Best for views: St Lucia
St Lucia’s charms include excellent beaches and an enticing waterfront lifestyle, but the real drama comes from its volcanic beauty and lush topography of waterfalls, rainforests and mountains. One of the most celebrated views is that of the twin Pitons on the west coast, best seen from the water. Energetic hikers who make it up Gros Piton, the easier of the two to ascend, are rewarded with sweeping views of St Vincent. Two-bedroom apartments start at less than $1 million, larger villas at $1.2 million.

Best for island-hopping: the Bahamas
Calm waters and an established sailing culture make the 700 islands of the Bahamas – only 30 of which are inhabited – an ideal place for exploration. The variety is compelling, with the family-friendly resorts and private jet hangars of Nassau (NetJets says this is the Caribbean’s busiest destination) matched by the low-level charm of the Abacos and the breathtaking beauty of the Exumas. The choice of properties is equally wide, with prices ranging from $500,000 to $150 million for the finest waterfront estates. Prime residential locations include Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay and Albany, a 600-acre resort with outstanding sports and leisure facilities.

Best for overall lifestyle: Cayman Islands
A British Overseas Territory and one of the world’s largest international banking centres, the Cayman Islands have an established business community that appreciates the tax-friendly environment. On Grand Cayman, the most developed of the three islands, you’ll find international schools, modern hospitals and an appealing lifestyle, with golf courses and highly rated restaurants. Property options here include waterfront homes by the beach or on the extensive canal network, with three- or four-bedroom villas starting at $3.5 million.

ODGE DAVEY, SAVILLS HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL SALES
odge.davey@savills.com