Trying to Find the Perfect Caribbean Island

My husband and I are trying to decide where to go on vacation next April (2027), and I’d love to hear some firsthand experiences and recommendations!

We’ve done quite a bit of research on our own, but it’s always nice to hear from people who have actually been there rather than just relying on travel websites.

A little about us and how we like to travel…

We’re pretty budget-conscious travelers. We typically rent an Airbnb or VRBO, rent a car, and spend our time exploring wherever we go. We’d love to stay at a beautiful resort, but honestly, they’re usually more than we want to spend.

For lodging, we’re hoping to stay around $200–$300 USD per night, but we can be a little flexible if we find a perfect place. We’d rather spend our money on experiences, excursions, and local food than luxury accommodations.

We love spending time on beautiful beaches and snorkeling, but we also like to get out and explore. Waterfalls, hiking, sightseeing, local restaurants, little towns… all of that interests us. We really enjoy seeing what makes each place unique.

Our current shortlist is:

• St. Lucia
• Grenada
• Barbados
• Aruba

I know these islands all offer something a little different, which is making the decision harder!

Right now, we’re leaning toward St. Lucia.

The scenery looks absolutely incredible, and we love how different the landscape is compared to some of the other Caribbean islands. The volcano tour, mud baths, waterfalls, and hiking all sound like things we’d really enjoy. My husband especially loves the idea of the volcano and mud baths! (Me too!)

I’ve been looking at Airbnbs around Soufrière and have found a handful that look really nice. From what I’ve read, that seems like a good area to stay if we want to explore.

So, a few questions…

1. I’ve seen some comments on Reddit suggesting that St. Lucia is better if you stay at a resort. Is there any truth to that? For those who have stayed in Airbnbs or other vacation rentals, did you feel like you missed out on anything?
2. How difficult is driving around St. Lucia? We’ve rented cars and driven all over Tortola in the BVI, so we’re somewhat familiar with steep, winding Caribbean roads. Is St. Lucia similar? Worse? Better?
3. Is Soufrière a good place to base ourselves, or would you recommend somewhere else?
4. For anyone who’s been to more than one of the islands on our list, which would you recommend for people who like a mix of beaches, snorkeling, sightseeing, and exploring on their own?

We’re definitely not looking for a luxury, all-inclusive type of vacation. We just want to enjoy some beautiful scenery, experience the local culture, eat some good food, and have fun exploring a new place.

I’d really appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, or experiences you’re willing to share. And if you live on one of these islands, I’d especially love to hear your perspective!

Thanks so much!