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Mexico may highlight Americans’ preferred beach vacation destination, followed by the vivid blue waters of Punta Cana, but what about diving deeper into the Caribbean’s stunning islands?
Well, that seems to be the case for one island, which is seeing a record influx of summer tourists. No, it’s not The Bahamas or Jamaica, next in line following the Dominican Republic’s world-class beaches and resorts.
Speckled throughout the Caribbean Sea are hundreds of incredible islands that may be blips on the map, but many of them pack a punch.
The big surprise this summer is Saint Lucia, seeing 42% more vacationers than the same time period last year.
Those in search of new Caribbean adventures will be blown away by what St. Lucia has to offer.
Saint Lucia: The Caribbean’s Trendiest Summer Escape
Punta Cana and the Mexican Caribbean are cool and all, but Saint Lucia is the next best thing.
Like Tulum, Saint Lucia is benefitting from easier access, with multiple new flights having been launched in prior months.
Travelers are taking full advantage, and the numbers back it up.
Set in the middle of an open-sea triangle of Barbados, Martinique, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this island is shaped to be your best vacation yet!
No offense, Bermuda, but you don’t have the track record.
People are coming from all over the world not only because of the island’s volcanic beaches and stunning blue waters but also because of the island’s improved infrastructure and newfound appeal as a sports tourism destination.
Not only that, but this island is the perfect escape for a reset to splurge on yourself in paradise in a more exclusive setting.
Think St. Barth’s 2.0
You may see a celeb sighting where you can hobnob with the rich and famous, unlike, say, Cancun, where you may be fighting for elbow room with the average Joe or Jane.
Lavish Resorts And Astounding Nature Await
If you want to vacation like 1-percenters, St. Lucia is just the place.
Brimming with lavish resorts dispersed across the scenic island, there is a treasure trove of high-end resorts to unwind and relax.
Most notable is Jade Mountain Resort, a 5-star haven for the ultimate paradisal vacation set along Anse Chastanet Beach, overlooking gorgeous blue waters.
Guests rave about these stylish digs with one recent vacationer going as far to say, ‘This place was the sanctuary I didn’t know I needed’.
Next door, slashed down to one-third of Jade Mountain’s eye-popping rates is 4-star Anse Chastanet, where recent guests exclaimed it was ‘by far the best vacation we have taken’.
This is just the tip of St. Lucia’s nonexistent icebergs, so let’s say it’s the tip of their otherworldly Pitons.
These towering volcanic plugs are a sight to behold and were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
If you choose to leave your beach chair, one of the most common activities here is hiking up the Pitons for epic, sweeping views of the island and open sea.
The Pitons may have plugged up any lava flow, but it hasn’t always been this way. St. Lucia is home to beautiful volcanic black-sand beaches, Anse Mamin being the most popular, according to TripAdvisor.
St. Lucia’s New Flights Have Paid Off
One key reason St. Lucia has soared to new heights this summer is it’s no longer just another stop on a typical Caribbean cruise itinerary.
Plus, there is far more to this island than the immediate vicinity of the port, as it is vastly underrated.
Now that there are ample nonstop flights from the U.S., St. Lucia is suddenly much more enticing to visit as a premier Caribbean vacation spot.
Over 40,000 seats have been added for summer vacationers, and so far, a total of 38,394 tourists have flocked here and summer’s not close to being over.
Coincidence? I think not. Between new flights launched by both American and JetBlue, you can’t go wrong with daily service to this incredible island.
Delta also flies nonstop here from Atlanta.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
