First time in the Caribbean – help us choose somewhere to go!

My wife and I (both 28) are looking to head to the Caribbean for the first time in early November for a week-ish getaway (anywhere from 5 to 7 nights). We just got married and went on a small trip in the continental U.S., but we’re looking to travel a lot more! (We’re both relatively new at traveling)

We’re both foodies and love to try diverse cuisine, but the long and short of it is we love good food. Ideally, wherever we choose to go would have great food options. We also enjoy history, nature, and scenic beaches. Honestly, we’re open to anything as long as it’s nice!

Overall, we’re looking for something easy-ish and fun to get introduced to the Caribbean while having a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. We think a slower pace with the option to do excursions, etc. would be nice. What places should we consider and what would be the pros/cons?

We are trying to also keep to a budget of around 8k or less (if possible) because we’re planning a Northern Europe vacation for Summer 2026. We looked at some all-inclusive options and we were also wondering if that would be worth it.

Thanks Reddit!