The greenest of all the Caribbean islands, much of St. Lucia’s interior is covered in lush tropical rain forests, while the coastline offers serene bay beaches. Remnants of both the French and British colonial regimes are present in everything from street names to afternoon tea traditions.

SPLURGE The most elegant of St. Lucia’s all-inclusive properties, East Winds Inn has just 30 island-inspired rooms scattered across its green gardens and manicured grounds. Watch for the daily visit by local fisherman, who deliver dinner right from their boats. From $525/night; eastwinds.com

VALUE Located in Rodney Bay Village, the low-key Coco Palm has 89 rooms and 12 suites, some with swim-up pool access. Coco Palm’s restaurant, Koko Cabana Bistro, offers al fresco Caribbean cuisine. From $145/night; coco-resorts.com

GETTING THERE Direct flights from Atlanta (4.5 hours); Charlotte (4.5 hours); New York (5 hours); Philadelphia (5 hours)

For general trip-planning information, see our St. Lucia destination guide, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.