Travel: Island Hopping

From family-focused luxury to reinvented all-inclusives, what's new in the Caribbean could be just the thing for you

By Victor Fiorillo

: Coconut Bay in St. Lucia. / Photo by Jim Stephens, courtesy of the resort

Villas Plus: Great Exuma, Bahamas

All the privacy of a plush seaside villa, all the amenities of a top-flight resort: That’s the (trend-driven) idea behind Grand Isle Resort in Great Exuma (888-472-6310; grandislevillas.com). But given your oceanfront deck and the pillowy beach below, the simpler pleasures may be all you need.

Digs: Two- and three-bedroom townhomes top out at a cavernous 2,800 square feet and are fully loaded: a Sub-Zero fridge, plus plasma TV and surround sound in the living room. Each comes with a golf cart, perfect for cruising to grocery and spirits shops. High-season rental prices from $540 per night, with buy-in options starting at $735,000.

Scene: Families with kids, a few scattered honeymooners. Service is attentive without being overbearing.

Eat: For dinner, let one of the on-site chefs prepare and serve a three-course menu in your villa, for $150 per person.

Do: Kayaking and snorkeling in the bay are free. Sightseeing cruises also run daily. The best nightlife is just 200 yards up the beach, at the petite but lively Four Seasons casino.

Getting there: Most flights connect through Florida. Expect to pay $600.

Kid Luxe: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Family travel compromise exists. At the all-inclusive Paradisus Punta Cana (866-436-3542; paradisuspuntacana.travel), new family concierges will ply your kids with juice and respond to your walkie-talkie page, should you want the little ones brought from the kiddie club to your spot on the beach.

Digs: The grounds are manicured and sprawling, and the 534 cabanas are roomy. Doubles from $570 a night; family concierge suites start at $650.

Scene: A mix of families and couples, with a good dose of international visitors.

Eat: Ten restaurants (plus drinks) are covered in your daily rate. But plan ahead for dinner, because hibachi house Sakura and gourmet French restaurant El Romantico — the best of the lot — require reservations.

Do: On-site, for day, there's a spa (with bargain massage), scuba, snorkeling, horseback riding, tennis and more. (Golf is nearby.) At night, hit the resort casino and bars.

Getting there: US Airways and USA3000 fly direct from Philly in just under four hours ($400-$600).

On the Cusp: St. Lucia

This 27-mile-long Windward Island used to be one of the less developed Caribbean spots. That's about to change. Thanks to ultra-resorts going up in every pocket, St. Lucia is becoming, as the New York Times recently put it, "the newest Caribbean playground for high-rollers and celebrities." So go now, while seclusion still exists.

Digs: Families may enjoy the all-inclusive convenience and friendliness of Coconut Bay (758-456-9999; coconutbayresortandspa.com) on the southern coast, with supervised kiddie activities and an on-site spa (doubles from $300, all-inclusive). For a more sophisticated convalescence, opt for organically posh Ladera (800-738-4752; ladera.com), with rooms from $310.

Scene: Locals are incredibly friendly, but you'll have to adjust to the island's speeds: slow and stop.

Eat: When you've tired of all that resort fare, try Debbie's, near Piaye (758-455-1625), and order the (literal) catch of the day.

Do: Rent a car for easy access to mountain climbs, rainforest hikes, mineral springs, snorkeling, and the capital city's bustling street markets.

Getting there: More flights are expected soon, but for now, US Airways offers the only weekly nonstop ($500-$700).