Puerto Rico – A U.S territory since 1917, and is more laid back than popular San Juan.  When here stay at the Normandie Hotel, located only 15 minutes (by car) away from Old San Juan, and was renovated in 2004.  Also you can stay in Ponce’s historic zone at Hotel Melia, which has 73 rooms with balconies over the plaza.

St. Kitts – Made one of the Caribbean’s rickets nations by their production of Sugar, and kept one of its richest from its tourism.  When here stay at Bird Rock Beach Hotel, which offers excellent diving and fishing.

St. Lucia – Offers long stretches of beach with your pick of white, golden or volcanic sand.  When here stay at the family-run guesthouse, La Haut Plantation, which features 13 hillside rooms.  Or at Ti Kaye Village Resort, who’s 33 ocean-view rooms and cottages (each with a veranda and hammock) are located 75 minutes from the airport, but are worth the wait.

St. Martin/St. Maarten – This is the smallest landmass in the world to be shared by two countries:  the Netherlands and France.  When here you can choose to stay on the French side of the border (St. Martin) at Les Balcons d’Oyster Pond, where you can rend out bungalows with marina views.  Or on the Dutch side (St. Maarten), at the Pasanggrahan Royal Guest House, with the name appropriately meaning “place of rest.”

Turks & Caicos – Of all the islands of Turks & Caicos, Providenciales (Provo) is the most developed island, yet it is never crowded.  When here stay at Sibonne Beach Hotel, where the beach is just steps away from every room.  Or the family-run Caribbean Paradise Inn, which is only two minutes from Grace Bay Beach.

U.S. Virgin Islands – A Caribbean island where no passport is required in order to travel there from the U.S.  When here stay at the historic Hotel 1829, which was built in 1829 by a French sea captain.  Or at Hotel on the Cay, which you can take a free two-minute water taxi (which runs 24 hours) to, and where you can relax on the hotels very own beach, giving the hotel’s 53 rooms their own ocean view.

            St. Kitts and Nevis offers the best of both worlds; the high-end luxury lifestyle; and the low-cost relaxing environment.  The island also offers small coastal villages, sugar cane fields, and a dormant volcano.

                   
            To keep your budget, avoid the luxury resorts, and you may find more enjoyment and peace in one of the islands many budget friendly spots.  One of these is the Timothy Beach Resort on St. Kitts southern peninsula.  This condominium resort starts at $135.  You can also check into the Bird Rock Beach Hotel, where you can stay in one of the resort’s 46 furnished rooms with private balconies or patios.  Rates start at $79.
 
            And when it comes to food, St. Kitts and Nevis offer many dining choices.  One is Rock Lobster, and open-air seating venue specializing in affordable seafood dishes.  Second is Stone Walls, an outdoor restaurant and bar.  And for lunch drop by Redi-Fried, a local favorite located on Bay Road, Basseterre.
 
            During the day you can take part in one of the local’s favorite past times, diving.  One popular dive is River Taw, which is named for a cargo boat that sank in the 1980’s, and on your dive you can see stingrays, turtles and octopuses that weave in the remnants of the ship.  You can organize a dive through Pro Divers (located at the Ocean Terrace Inn).  And at night head to Frigate Bay where you can find many laid-back bars and conversation.  Two places you should stop by are Ziggy’s and Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack, a beachfront bar with karaoke.