The Caribbean is the easiest international beach trip from anywhere in the Americas. Direct flights from most US cities run 3–5 hours, and the moment you land, the temperature, the water, and the pace all reset. The all-inclusive resort model — Sandals, Beaches, Hyatt Ziva, Riu, Iberostar — was basically invented here, and it still works: one price, all the food, all the drinks, the beach is 30 seconds from your room. Jamaica, Punta Cana (DR), Cancún and the Riviera Maya, Aruba, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Barbados are the heavy-hitters; St. Lucia, Grenada, and Curaçao are quieter alternatives with the same water. Hurricane season runs June through November, with peak risk in September. December through April is the sweet spot — best weather, but also the highest prices.
