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Everything on Best Island to Visit
Every island page, every ranking and every guide on the site, grouped.
RANKINGS
The rankings
Every list, computed from the same six scores.
Rankings
The best Canary Island to visitThe four big Canary Islands scored on weather, beaches, things to do, access, value and crowds. Tenerife wins by a tenth of a point; the right pick depends on whether you want sand, sights or quiet.The best Caribbean island to visit in JanuaryIn January every Caribbean island has good weather, so the ranking turns on hotel prices, crowds and things to do. Curaçao edges Jamaica and Puerto Rico by less than a tenth of a point.The best Caribbean island to visitPuerto Rico wins on things to do and flights, Curaçao on dry weather and $62 rooms, Jamaica on value despite Hurricane Melissa. Fifteen islands ranked, with the catch for each.The best Greek island for couplesFor couples, Paros comes first: romance without Santorini's crowds, at less than half the Mykonos price. Corfu is second for town evenings and green coves; Santorini is sixth, held down by crowds and beaches.The best Greek island for familiesCrete leads for families on size, sights and shallow beaches; Naxos is the easy Cycladic pick with toddlers; Rhodes is the budget resort choice. Santorini, Mykonos and Milos are better left for a trip without small children.The best Greek island for a first visitFor a first trip to the Greek islands, Naxos comes first: one island that does beaches, villages and history, an easy ferry from Athens. Crete is second if you have a week and a car; Santorini is third, for the view.The best Greek island for solo travelTraveling alone, you want buses instead of a rental car, a social evening scene and a room you can afford without splitting it. Paros does all three best. Mykonos is the social pick at a price; Crete is second on sheer strength.The best Greek island to visit in JuneIn June, all eight Greek islands score 8.3 or better on weather, so the ranking comes down to beaches, sights, price and crowds. Crete leads, Rhodes and Naxos follow, and Corfu has its best month.The best Greek island to visit in MayMay is warm on land and cool in the water. The big southern islands, Crete and Rhodes, are warmest; the Cyclades are pleasant for walking but the sea is still cool. Corfu is the wettest.The best Greek island to visit in OctoberOctober is the last warm month in Greece. Crete and Rhodes, the two southern islands, keep a summer-warm sea and lead easily. The Cyclades cool off and start to close, and Corfu turns wet.The best Greek island to visit in SeptemberSeptember is the best month of the year on most Greek islands: the sea is near its peak, the crowds thin and the meltemi eases. Crete scores a perfect 10 on September weather and leads clearly.The best Greek island to visitWe scored eight Greek islands on weather, beaches, things to do, access, value and crowds. Crete wins clearly; Naxos is the best short-trip pick; Santorini and Mykonos sink on crowds.The best Hawaiian island for a honeymoonMaui is the classic Hawaii honeymoon for good reason: Wailea and Kapalua resorts, Haleakala at sunrise and winter whales. Kauai is quieter, Lanai is the splurge, and Oahu is the value pick.The best Hawaiian island for familiesMaui is the best Hawaiian island for a family with mixed ages and a rental car. The Big Island suits school-age kids who like volcanoes; Oahu is the easy pick with toddlers and no car.The best Hawaiian island for a first visitMaui and Oahu are the two easy first picks, 0.2 points apart. Maui if you will drive and want beaches; Oahu if you want a city, more flights and lower prices. Save Lanai and Molokai for later.The best Hawaiian island on a budgetOahu wins the budget ranking easily: the cheapest rooms in Hawaii, the most flights and no need for a car. Kauai's rooms average less than Maui's or the Big Island's; Lanai is the most expensive island in the state.The best Hawaiian island to visit in DecemberDecember brings the first whales, big North Shore surf, new winter flights and the most expensive weeks of the year. Maui leads, Oahu is the value and events pick, and Kauai slips on rain and closures.The best Hawaiian island to visit in JanuaryIn January every Hawaiian island is warm, so the ranking turns on whales, which shore is calm, rain and price. Maui wins; Oahu is the value pick; the Big Island has one of its best months.The best Hawaiian island to visit in JulyJuly is hot, dry and, on Maui, cheaper than winter. Maui and Oahu lead, Lanai climbs to third on calm seas, and the Big Island sinks on Kona rain. Hurricane season is open; plan for it.The best Hawaiian island to visit in JuneJune gives Hawaii its calmest north shores, its driest weeks on Maui and Oahu and the King Kamehameha Day parades. Maui wins with its top score of the year; the Big Island falls to last on Kona rain.The best Hawaiian island to visit in MarchMarch is the tail of whale season and the start of spring break. Maui wins again, Kauai falls to last on rain and closures, and the Big Island is the pick if you want hula's biggest week.The best Hawaiian island to visit in OctoberOctober is shoulder season: an 81°F sea, the North Shore surf season starting, and food festivals on three islands. Maui wins, the Big Island is a strong third, and Kauai is still reopening after Lowell.The best Hawaiian island to visit soloOahu is the clear solo pick: Waikiki is walkable, TheBus goes around the island and rooms start at $139. Maui and the Big Island work alone too, but only with a rental car.The best Hawaiian island to visitMaui, Oahu and the Big Island sit within half a point of each other; Kauai is fourth while Lowell closures last. Here is what separates them, island by island, with hotel prices and the 2026 storm damage.The best Hawaiian island with teensThe Big Island is the best Hawaiian island for teenagers: lava, night snorkels with manta rays and volcano hikes. Kauai and Maui follow; Oahu is the pick for surf lessons and a city.The best islands in AsiaSeven Asian islands on one scale. Bali wins on things to do, Palawan on lagoons, Phuket on easy logistics. None has a US nonstop, so the season and the entry fees matter more than the flight.The best islands in EuropeEighteen islands in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal scored on weather, beaches, things to do, access, value and crowds. Crete wins; Tenerife is the best Atlantic pick for winter; the Azores are closest.The best islands in the USPuerto Rico tops the US list on flights, price and variety; Maui and Oahu follow. The US Virgin Islands are cheaper than you think, and Key West and Hilton Head trade beaches for easy access.The best islands in the worldPuerto Rico tops our 64-island ranking for American travelers: no passport, 41 US nonstops and San Juan rooms near $120. Curaçao and Jamaica follow. Every score is shown, factor by factor.The best islands to visit in AprilApril is the last month of the Caribbean dry season and the first good one in Bali. Jamaica leads on value, Maui scores a near-perfect 9.8 for weather, and Zanzibar's long rains take it off the list.The best islands to visit in FebruaryFebruary is the driest month on much of the Caribbean and the heart of the dry season in Thailand and the Maldives. Jamaica edges Curaçao; Fiji, Bali and Europe fall out.The best islands to visit in JanuaryJanuary's top islands mix dry Caribbean weather, Hawaii's whale season and Thailand's peak months. Curaçao leads on weather and price; Fiji, Bali and the Mediterranean drop out.The best islands to visit in JuneJune is when the list changes shape: Maui and Oahu peak, Fiji is dry, Sicily, Crete and Mallorca warm up, and the Caribbean enters hurricane season. Thailand's Andaman coast and Palawan drop out.The best islands to visit in MarchMarch is the last full month of the Caribbean dry season and the best of the year for Palawan and Koh Samui. Jamaica leads on value; Fiji and Mauritius are still in cyclone season.The best islands to visit in MayMay is the quiet sweet spot: the Caribbean is still dry before hurricane season, Maui is at its driest and Fiji's cyclone season is over. Thailand and the Maldives turn wet.The best islands to visit with kidsTen islands where young children get calm, shallow water and easy logistics, ranked by our overall score. Crete wins on beaches and value; Barbados, Antigua and St. Thomas win on short flights.The best Mediterranean island to visitTwelve Greek, Italian and Spanish islands scored on weather, beaches, things to do, access, value and crowds. Crete wins on the mix; Sicily on sights; Rhodes on price. Santorini and Mykonos miss the top 10.The best Thai island to visit in AprilApril is Thailand's hottest stretch and the month the Gulf coast overtakes the Andaman side. Koh Samui moves to first, Phuket is close behind, and Koh Lanta drops to last on rain and heat.The best Thai island to visit in DecemberDecember is when the Andaman coast takes back the lead. Phuket and Phi Phi share the best December weather, Koh Lanta follows, and Koh Samui is still in the tail of its rainy season.The best Thai island to visit in FebruaryIn February the Andaman monsoon is months away and the Gulf rains have ended, so all four Thai islands score well. Phuket wins by a tenth of a point; here is how to choose.The best Thai island to visit in JanuaryJanuary is the Andaman coast's month. Phuket, Koh Lanta and Phi Phi are dry and calm, while Koh Samui on the Gulf side is still in its rainy tail. Here is the order and the January prices.The best Thai island to visit in JulyJuly is monsoon season on the Andaman coast and a dry, calm month in the Gulf. Koh Samui wins by a wide margin; Phuket is the cheap runner-up if you can live with rain and red flags.The best Thai island to visit in OctoberOctober is one of the weakest months for Thai islands: all four score between 5.9 and 6.4 for weather. Koh Samui wins by a hair, but the Andaman side improves as the month goes on, so your dates decide.The best Thai island to visitFour Thai islands scored on the same six factors. Phuket wins on beaches, day trips and price; Koh Samui wins on weather from spring to fall. The month you travel decides more than the island.The best Caribbean island to visit in FebruaryFebruary is the driest, most reliable month across most of the Caribbean. Jamaica tops the ranking on perfect February weather, cheap rooms and flights, but check that your resort has reopened after Hurricane Melissa.The best islands to visit with teensTen islands where teenagers get surf, reefs, volcanoes and real days out, ranked by our overall score. Puerto Rico wins; Curaçao is the value pick and the Big Island is the volcano pick.The best US Virgin Island to visitSt. Thomas is the easy base, St. John has the national park beaches and the prices to match, St. Croix is the quiet diver's island. No passport for any of them.The best Caribbean island to visit in MarchMarch weather is close to perfect from Jamaica to Grenada, so spring-break crowds, Easter week and passports matter more than the forecast. Jamaica edges a three-way race at the top.The best islands for a family tripTen islands that work for mixed ages, groups and villas, ranked by our overall score. Puerto Rico wins on access and variety; Martinique and Crete suit families who drive; Maui is the Hawaii pick.The best Virgin Island to visitTwo countries, five islands, one patch of sea. St. Thomas is the easy base, Tortola the boat base, St. John and Virgin Gorda the beach islands, St. Croix the quiet one.The best Caribbean island for familiesSix Caribbean islands that work for mixed-age family trips, ranked on our scores. Puerto Rico for range, Barbados and Antigua for calm water, Aruba for summer.The best Caribbean island to visit in AprilIn April the Windward Islands hit their best weather, the ABC islands stay bone dry and Puerto Rico's rains begin. Jamaica tops a close ranking; Antigua hosts Sailing Week from April 21 to 25, 2027.The best islands for couples and honeymoonsTen islands for couples, ranked by our overall score rather than brochure photos. Curaçao wins on weather and value; St. Lucia is the view pick, Maui the no-passport pick, Exuma the empty-beach pick.The best Caribbean island for couplesCuraçao for reefs, a real city and $62 rooms; Jamaica for all-inclusives and waterfalls; Martinique for French food; St. Lucia for the Pitons. Six islands ranked for two.The best Caribbean island to visit in MayMay is shoulder season: warm seas, thinner crowds and no hurricane season yet. Curaçao returns to first, St. Martin enters the list, and Jamaica falls to tenth as its rainy spell begins.The best islands for solo travelersTen islands where one person can get around without a car, meet people and stay safe, ranked by our overall score. Puerto Rico, Barbados and Oahu lead; Zanzibar, Bali and Palawan are cheap but far.The best Caribbean island to visit in JuneJune opens hurricane season, but early-season risk is low. Curaçao leads again, Aruba joins the list, and Martinique, St. Lucia and Grenada drop out as their rainy season starts.The best Caribbean island with teensTeenagers need more than a calm beach. Six Caribbean islands ranked for surf, snorkeling, hikes and day trips, from Puerto Rico's bio bays to St. Lucia's Gros Piton.The best islands to visit with a dogTen islands where a dog from the US needs paperwork but no quarantine, ranked by our overall score. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are simplest; Curaçao, Martinique and the EU islands follow clear rules.The best Caribbean island for solo travelersTraveling alone, you want a walkable base, buses or tours instead of a rental car, and people around. Puerto Rico and Barbados do that best; four others work with caveats.The best Caribbean island to visit in JulyOur summer hotel prices were checked for July 14, 2027, so this is the month the value numbers describe best. Curaçao leads, Jamaica is second, and Exuma and Bonaire join the list.The best islands to visit in JulyJuly is dry season in the Mediterranean, the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and early hurricane season in the Caribbean. Crete, Fiji and Curaçao lead a list built from ten years of weather data.The best islands to visit without a passportThe ten best of the 13 islands Americans can visit with a REAL ID instead of a passport, ranked by our overall score. Puerto Rico wins on variety and value; Maui and Oahu are the Hawaii picks.The best Caribbean island to visit in AugustIn August the storm deduction in our scores more than doubles, and the three ABC islands off Venezuela take the top three places for the first time. Grenada's Spicemas and Barbados's Kadooment are the month's big festivals.The best cheap islands to visitTen islands where a good room is cheap and the island is still worth the trip, ranked 60% on hotel value and 40% on overall score. Jamaica and Curaçao lead; the Asian and African picks are cheap to sleep in but far to fly.The best islands to visit in AugustAugust is peak summer in the Mediterranean and peak dry season in Bali and Zanzibar. It is also the month Atlantic hurricane risk climbs, which is why no Caribbean island made our top ten.The best Caribbean island to visit in SeptemberSeptember is the riskiest month of hurricane season and our lowest-scoring Caribbean month. If you must go, pick an ABC island south of the main track; if your dates can move, move them.The best islands to visit in SeptemberWarm seas, fewer crowds and the hurricane peak: September splits the map. Greece, Italy and Mallorca take six of our top ten places, and no Caribbean island makes the list.The best Caribbean island to visit in OctoberOctober is late hurricane season, not the end of it: Hurricane Melissa struck western Jamaica in late October 2025. Curaçao leads again, Aruba is second, and the sea is at its warmest across the region.The best islands to visit in OctoberOctober is when Hawaii moves to the top: summer weather, falling prices and the tail of the hurricane season. Maui, Oahu and Bali lead; Crete and Rhodes hold on as the Mediterranean cools.The best Caribbean island to visit in NovemberNovember is a hinge month: the hurricane season closes on November 30, the Bahamas dry out first, and the ABC islands have their wettest weeks. Curaçao still leads, with Exuma and Jamaica close behind.The best islands to visit in NovemberNovember is Hawaii's month on our numbers: dry, warm and past the storm risk, before the holiday price peak. The Caribbean improves as hurricane season ends, and the Indian Ocean has its last dry weeks.The best Caribbean island to visit in DecemberDecember brings the dry season back and the holiday rush with it. Curaçao leads a top five separated by 0.11 points, two no-passport islands make the list, and new winter flights start mid-month.The best islands to visit in DecemberDecember is when the Caribbean comes back: the hurricane season is over and the dry season begins. Curaçao, Antigua and Jamaica lead, with Hawaii, Zanzibar and Thailand's Andaman coast close behind.
ISLANDS
The islands
Each island's scores, climate table, costs and verdict.
Islands
BaliTemples, rice terraces, volcanoes, diving and food make Bali the most varied island on the site, at some of the lowest prices. Its beaches are surfy and uneven, and traffic is a daily cost.BarbadosOne of the most complete Caribbean islands: calm swimming on the west and south coasts, rum, cricket and a UNESCO-listed capital, easy buses and nonstops from 8 US airports. The east coast is for looking, not swimming.BermudaBermuda is not in the Caribbean: it sits in the Atlantic off North Carolina. Short flights from 12 US airports, a Level 1 advisory and pink-sand coves from May to October; cool and quiet in winter.BonaireBonaire is built for divers and snorkelers: a protected marine park along the whole coast, reef you can walk into from the road and very little crowding. Beach lovers and non-divers will find it thin.Bora BoraOne of the most famous lagoons on earth, ringed by motus and overwater bungalows, with Mount Otemanu in the middle. You fly to Tahiti, then hop over. Resort nights started at $865 in January and $1,467 in July.CozumelA diver's island with cheap rooms and nonstops from 8 US airports. It is also Mexico's busiest cruise port by far, and its calm west coast is mostly rock and beach clubs.CuraçaoMore to do than Aruba and usually cheaper: the colorful UNESCO capital Willemstad, dozens of small cove beaches and easy shore snorkeling. You need a car, and the beaches are coves, not long strands.ExumaA long, quiet chain of cays with shallow sandbars, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and the swimming pigs. Few flights, few hotels, and nothing much to do on land, which is the point.Fiji (Viti Levu and the Mamanucas)The most accessible South Pacific trip from the US: nonstop to Nadi, cheap rooms near the airport, and the Mamanuca islands a short boat ride out. The mainland beaches are average; the islands are why you come.Grand CaymanOne of the calmest, simplest family beaches in the Caribbean, a Level 1 US advisory and nonstops from 20 US airports. Not much to do beyond the water, and rooms start well above $300 in January.GrenadaGreen, unhurried and good value: Grand Anse beach, rainforest waterfalls, an underwater sculpture park and real cocoa estates. Its sister island Carriacou is still rebuilding after Hurricane Beryl in 2024.IbizaA small island with a split personality: superclubs and beach bars around Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, pine-backed coves and farmhouse hotels in the north. Expensive in July, half-shut in January.JamaicaMost of Jamaica is open again after Hurricane Melissa. Negril and Ocho Rios are the easy picks this winter; Montego Bay's biggest all-inclusives reopen from December 2026 into 2027.Koh LantaThe calm, cheap alternative to Phuket and Phi Phi: long sandy beaches, family bungalows and an old fishing town. Few sights, no airport, and a wet season that shuts down boat trips.Koh Phi PhiThe limestone cliffs and Maya Bay are as dramatic as the photos, and so are the crowds. Stay a night or two to see the bays before the day boats arrive, then move on.Koh SamuiThe Gulf of Thailand's resort island has calm, sandy east-coast beaches and good value villas. It is the best Thai pick for summer and the worst for the late-year monsoon.MaldivesTwo ways to do the Maldives: a private resort island with seaplane transfers and resort prices, or a local island like Maafushi from $43 a night. The reef is superb either way; there is little to do beyond it.MallorcaThe most complete island in the Mediterranean for a first European island trip: a walkable capital, a UNESCO mountain range and family bays in the north. Crowded in August, quiet and cheap in January.MartiniqueFrance in the Eastern Caribbean: euros, baguettes and rhum agricole, a UNESCO-listed volcano, rainforest and good southern beaches. Getting there from the US means Miami or a connection, and you need some French and a car.MauiThe most balanced Hawaiian island: long sandy beaches on the west and south shores, Haleakala, the Hana road and winter whales. It is not cheap, and Lahaina is a town under reconstruction, not a sight.MauritiusThe Indian Ocean island with the most to do beyond the beach: reef-sheltered lagoons, Le Morne, Black River Gorges and Port Louis. Rooms in Grand Baie from $60. The catch is the trip there and summer cyclones.Nassau and Paradise IslandThe easiest Bahamas trip from the US: 23 nonstop airports, Atlantis on Paradise Island and day trips to the Exuma pigs. Expect cruise crowds, a Level 2 advisory and resort prices once you leave the cheap end.PalawanEl Nido's limestone lagoons, Coron's shipwreck dives and the Underground River make Palawan the beach-and-boat pick in Asia. It takes effort: domestic flights, long vans and a December-to-May window.PhuketThailand's biggest island has the most flights, beaches and hotels, and some of the cheapest 4-star rooms on the site. The catch: crowds in Patong and rough west-coast seas from May to October.RoatánThe cheapest good reef-and-beach island on this site, with nonstops from 6 US airports. The trade-offs: a Level 3 advisory for Honduras, limited medical care and big cruise days.SantoriniThe caldera view, the Fira to Oia cliff path and a Bronze Age town buried in ash. Beaches are dark volcanic sand, July is crowded, and there is no US nonstop.SardiniaThe beach island of the Mediterranean: white sand and pale water from the Costa Smeralda to Chia, plus 7,000 Bronze Age towers. You need a car, a booking app for some beaches, and a summer date.Seychelles (Mahé and Praslin)Mahé, Praslin and La Digue have some of the most photogenic beaches anywhere, plus the Vallée de Mai and giant tortoises. Rooms near Beau Vallon started at $139, and your stay must be on the official licensed list.SicilyThe Mediterranean's biggest island is a culture-and-food trip with beaches attached: Greek temples, Arab-Norman Palermo, baroque towns and an active volcano. Rent a car, and do not try to see it all in a week.St. BartsSmall, French and very expensive. Good beaches in every direction and excellent food, but Kayak's cheapest qualifying room was $1,161 in January and you need a connection.St. LuciaThe most dramatic scenery in the Eastern Caribbean: the twin Pitons, rainforest, a drive-in volcano and steep bays. Beaches are modest, and the main US airport sits at the far south end, a long drive from most hotels.St. Martin / Sint MaartenHalf French, half Dutch, with the most US nonstops in this corner of the Caribbean, good beaches, Grand Case restaurants and ferries to Anguilla and St. Barts. Cruise days are crowded.TenerifeThe biggest Canary Island: Spain's highest peak, a UNESCO old town, family water parks and cheap winter hotels. The catch for Americans is the connection in Europe and a sea that never gets warm in January.TortolaThe British Virgin Islands' main island and charter-boat hub. Steep roads, a few very good beaches and the best day trips in the Virgin Islands, with Miami nonstops now.Turks and Caicos (Providenciales)Providenciales has the best beaches in our Caribbean set: Grace Bay, Taylor Bay and Sapodilla Bay. It is pricey, flat and quiet, and one stray bullet in your bag can mean prison.Virgin GordaGranite boulders at the Baths, calm bays like Savannah and Spring Bay, and a yacht-filled North Sound. Getting here takes a ferry or small plane, and winter rooms are scarce and costly.ZanzibarZanzibar mixes Stone Town, spice farms and reef trips with beaches where rooms start under $50. Budget $144 per person for the visa and the island's mandatory insurance, and pick your coast by the tide.Gran CanariaLong sand beaches at Maspalomas, a city beach in Las Palmas and a UNESCO-listed mountain interior an hour inland. Pricier than Tenerife in January, with the same cool winter sea and a connection in Europe.MykonosGolden sand on a sheltered south coast, the ruins of Delos a 30-minute boat ride away, and the best nightlife in the Cyclades. July rooms start near $200, and the wind is real.OahuHawaii's easiest island: Honolulu's airport has the most US nonstops, Waikiki has the cheapest decent rooms we found, and you can skip the rental car. You trade quiet for a real city.CreteGreece's largest island packs Minoan palaces, Venetian harbor towns, gorges and some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean. It is big: pick a base, rent a car, and do not try to see it all.KauaiKauai has the Na Pali cliffs, Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay, and fewer resorts than Maui. In September 2026 it took Hawaii's first direct hurricane hit since 1992, so check what has reopened before you book.LanzaroteBlack lava fields, white villages and César Manrique's art in the landscape, plus sheltered sand coves in the south. Rooms cost more than on Tenerife, and the trip from the US needs a connection in Europe.Big Island (Hawaii Island)The Big Island is for volcanoes, stargazing, manta rays and Kona coffee, not a week of beach hopping. It is huge, so plan on driving, and know that two 2026 hurricanes left damage on the south and east sides.FuerteventuraLong white and golden beaches, dunes at Corralejo and some of Europe's best kitesurfing. Rooms are cheap. Wind, a cool winter sea and a thin list of sights make it a beach-and-water-sports island only.NaxosLong sandy beaches with shallow water, a marble mountain interior with real villages, and food grown on the island. July rooms from $122, and no nonstop from the US.LanaiA small, quiet island that is almost entirely a luxury resort plus one plantation town. Hulopoe Bay is superb, but rooms start near $2,000. Most people should see it on a day trip by ferry from Maui.MadeiraSteep green mountains, irrigation-channel walks through UNESCO laurel forest and a lively capital in Funchal. Winter is mild and rooms are cheap. Swimmers should look elsewhere: the coast is rock, pebble and sea pools.ParosTwo lived-in towns, Parikia and Naoussa, sandy bays on every coast, and a ferry hub for the central Cyclades. July rooms from $89, but the wind is strong in high summer.CorfuA Venetian-built old town on the UNESCO list, wooded hills, coves on the west coast and day trips to Paxos and Albania. Greener and less windy than the Aegean, with more pebbles than sand.MolokaiMolokai is farm towns, sea cliffs and Kalaupapa, not beaches and resorts. It suits travelers who want quiet and history. Most visitors should not make it their first or only Hawaiian island.São Miguel (Azores)Green volcanic craters, lakes, tea fields and hot springs, a few hours from the East Coast. Winter rooms are very cheap. Weather changes by the hour, and the beaches are black sand with cool water.Key WestThe southernmost town in the continental US: Old Town inns, Mallory Square sunsets and the Dry Tortugas ferry. Come for the town, not the sand, and go in winter if you can pay for it.RhodesA walled medieval town built by the Knights of St John, the clifftop acropolis at Lindos and a sandy, sheltered east coast. Good value and open all year.MilosA volcanic island of colored cliffs, white rock coves and sea caves you reach by boat. Quiet villages, no big resorts, few rated hotels, and a car is close to essential.NantucketCedar-shingle town, harbor beaches and bike paths 2 hours off Cape Cod by ferry. Superb in July, very expensive, and largely closed from November to April. Go in June or September.Hilton Head IslandA drive-to island in South Carolina with flat, wide beaches, bike paths, golf and villas. Cheap for a US beach island and easy with kids, as long as you are not expecting Caribbean water.Puerto RicoOld San Juan, El Yunque rainforest, bioluminescent bays, surf in Rincon and ferry trips to Culebra's Flamenco Beach. The best-value Caribbean trip for Americans, if you are willing to drive.St. ThomasThe busiest of the US Virgin Islands: nonstops from 16 US airports, Magens Bay, duty-free Charlotte Amalie and a 15-minute ferry to St. John. Easy and good value, but cruise crowds are part of the deal.St. JohnMost of the island is Virgin Islands National Park, with calm north-shore beaches, reef snorkeling and real hiking trails. Quiet and expensive, reached only by ferry from St. Thomas.St. CroixTwo Danish-era towns, Buck Island Reef, wall diving at Cane Bay and the lowest prices in the USVI. The beaches near the hotels are average and nonstop flights are thin since Spirit's shutdown.
GUIDES
Guides
Method, seasons and paperwork.
