I've been to 30 tropical islands. From Bora Bora to Barbados, here are the 5 I'd definitely visit again.

After visiting 30 tropical islands, some of my favorites have been Bora Bora, St. Barts, Curaçao, Barbados, and St. Martin.

Mar 17, 2025 - 21:56

I've been to 30 tropical islands. From Bora Bora to Barbados, here are the 5 I'd definitely visit again.

The writer wears a long floral dress and holds a cocktail in front of palm trees and a beach. — I've been to more than 30 tropical islands around the world.
Kelly Magyarics

I've visited more than 30 tropical islands around the world, but five stand out from the rest.
Bora Bora and Curaçao's beautiful beaches make them the perfect places for a relaxing vacation.
Barbados has many activities, like touring a rum distillery and visiting Rihanna's childhood home.

As a travel writer specializing in tropical destinations, I've been lucky enough to have visited 30 islands around the world. Because of my extensive travels, people often ask me which islands I'd return to.

Each island I've been to has been idyllic and unique, but a few lingered in my salt-spray-tinged memories long after my tan faded.

Here are the five islands I always recommend to other travelers.

I couldn't get enough of Bora Bora's beauty and great cuisine.

A dock leading to at least seven bungalows with straw rooves sitting above a bright aqua lagoon in Bora Bora. — I loved the idyllic shoreline and bungalows in Bora Bora.
Kelly Magyarics

This South Pacific haven screams "paradise." Though getting there was a long journey — I had to take a 16-hour flight from New York to Tahiti, followed by an hourlong flight to Bora Bora — the island was absolutely otherworldly.

Formed by an extinct volcano, Bora Bora is surrounded by a calm turquoise lagoon that's basically a huge wading pool. I remember marveling at rows of romantic bungalows with glass floors and thatched roofs overlooking the water.

The local cuisine combines French and Polynesian cultures. I enjoyed meals like poisson cru, a ceviche-like dish made with coconut milk, tomatoes, and cucumber. It was truly heaven on earth.

I loved the luxurious vibes in St. Barts.

A beach with several canoes on the shore and a small boat near the shoreline in blue-green water. A palm tree sits in the foreground. — When I wasn't window shopping or out on the water, I was lounging on the beach in St. Barts.
Kelly Magyarics

Glittering St. Barts is full of fancy spots, with a yacht-filled harbor, designer shops along the pristine streets of Gustavia (the island's capital), and luxurious hotels.

I found a lively day-drinking scene at Nikki Beach, a destination that's attracted celebrity guests like Mariah Carey, and restaurants with menus and wine lists to rival any Parisian hot spot.

However, you don't have to be a multimillionaire to soak in the island's beguiling swankiness. During my visit, I spent an afternoon on a catamaran ride and did some window shopping.

Visitors can also find elevated cuisine at various price points — I had tuna poke and chilled rosé from Ti' Corail on a laid-back beach, and it was one of my favorite meals.

I was blown away by the many local beaches, such as the sandy Gouverneur Beach and the secluded Colombier Beach, a spot accessible only after a steep (but worth it) hike.

If you're a Francophile who adores fabulous food and an upscale feel, I highly recommend St. Barts.

St. Martin is the perfect destination for plane and food enthusiasts.

A beach with deep-blue water next to a pathway surrounded by palm trees and greenery and houses and mountains in the background. — St. Martin had plenty of things to do, like visiting Maho Beach.
Kelly Magyarics

St. Martin is split into two distinct French and Dutch sides. I thought the French side had a quiet, relaxed vibe during my visit.

I laid on the beach at Orient Bay (referred to as the Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean) and shopped at the luxury boutiques in Marigot, the capital of the French collectivity on St. Martin.

I found the Dutch side much livelier as I clubbed at the Soggy Dollar Bar in Simpson Bay and sipped rum cocktails while watching the sunset at The Rusty Parrot.

The island is also the ultimate destination for aviation geeks, as the Princess Juliana International Airport is steps away from Maho Beach. I spent hours watching planes fly directly above me.

Visitors can also island hop to nearby St. Barts and Anguilla, easily accessible by ferry or plane.

I was blown away by Curaçao's beautiful beaches and scenery.

Several colorful houses, from blue to yellow to pink to green, lined along a waterfront. — Colorful buildings line the waterfront in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Kelly Magyarics

Curaçao is known for having more than 35 beaches, so every sun-worshipper can find their perfect spot.

During my visit, it seemed like some beaches, like Playa Piskadó, were mainly frequented by locals, so they were uncrowded and relaxed. Others, such as Grote Knip and Playa Kalki, in quiet coves, were very tranquil.

During my stay, I sipped my way through the gin and tonic menu at Zest Restaurant & Beach Cafe on the lively Jan Thiel Beach and, of course, tried the island's namesake bright blue liqueur.

Handelskade, a row of brightly colored Dutch colonial buildings lining the water in Willemstad (the island's capital), was the perfect photo op.

As an added bonus, Curaçao is part of the ABC islands (the other two being Aruba and Bonaire), which are unlikely to be severely impacted by hurricanes.

I enjoyed Barbados' lively events and rum distillery.

Several blue and white striped beach chairs with umbrellas made with palm tree leaves on a beach in Barbados. — Barbados offers beautiful beaches.
Ina Meer Sommer/Shutterstock

The Caribbean is synonymous with rum, but in my opinion, no island offers as authentic an experience as this destination.

Based in Barbados, the iconic rum producer Mount Gay has been selling the spirit since 1703. Touring and tasting at the company's distillery is a must-do for any fan of the sugarcane-based spirit.

Visitors can also make their way through Barbados' flavorful cocktails (and cuisine) at lively bars and restaurants. I loved the potent rum punch and local fish cakes at Oasis Beach Bar, as well as the seared jerk tuna and butter beans at Calma Beach Club.

The island was perpetually vibrant — it seemed like a party, festival, or concert was always happening. The snorkeling in Carlisle Bay was also amazing, as I saw parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, and seahorses.

Plus, Rihanna fans can snap a selfie in front of the Barbadian native's colorful childhood home, where her name adorns the doormat.

This story was originally published on August 9, 2024, and most recently updated on March 17, 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider