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Are you thinking about ringing in the New Year on a Caribbean island? Well, we have some excellent recommendations for you in this article.
Christmas and New Year are special times in the Caribbean.
Many of the islands have strong religious roots and practices and hence numerous festivities are centred around Christ as well as celebrating with friends and family.
In this article, we summarize the best Caribbean islands to spend in the New Year.
So let us dive into each of them.
1. St Barths
Our first recommendation is the luxury Caribbean island of St Barths. This destination is outstanding for persons seeking a private island getaway.
Typically, on New Year’s Eve there are numerous parties with a firework displays. Yacht owners often sail to the island for celebrations in the capital city of Gustavia.
Where To Stay In St Barths
St Barths provide a range of accommodation options for villas to apartments and hotels.
These are mainly concentrated in the capital city of Gustavia.
For more budget friendly options, we recommend Les Villas de Sweet Hill and Maison Palmier Blanc.
Alternatively, if you prefer to stay near the beach, Pearl Beach Hotel is an excellent choice.
For luxury and high end accommodation, we suggest Villa African Queen and Ocean Views Villa Lo Scoglio.
2. Aruba
Fondly known as One Happy Island, Aruba is another remarkable destination to welcome the New Year.
Fireworks are an essential part of the celebrations. Families can be seen lighting ‘pagara” which is Chinese fireworks.
Parties are prevalent and they begin at midnight and end at sunrise.
New Year Celebrations will not be complete without experiencing the Dande. This is a tradition than began around 1880 when King Willem III freed the slaves.
In celebrations, they played the tambu and went house to house wishing persons a Happy New Year.
This tradition is still rooted and is still the way that Arubans celebrate the New Year.
Where To Stay In Aruba
The best place to stay in Aruba is the capital city of Oranjestad or at a resort on the famous Eagle and Palm beaches.
To enjoy the white sands and turquoise waters of these above beaches, we recommend Coconut Inn, MVC Eagle Beach and Board Walk Boutique Hotel Aruba.
For high end accommodation on Eagle and Palm beaches, The Ritz Carlton, Aruba and Bucuti & Tara Boutique Beach Resort are two premium options.
For accommodation options in the capital city of Oranjestad, we recommend, Wonders Boutique Hotel and Hyatt Place Aruba Airport.
For a private island escape where you can take instagrammable pictures with the pink flamingos, we recommend Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort.
3. Bermuda
Bermudians fondly call themselves onions as it was a chief export crop of the island during the 1800’s and forms a major part of the identity of the locals.
As a community, the island welcomes the New Year with a traditional onion drop. The celebration takes place at St George’s Town Square when the onion drops at midnight.
St George’s Town Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the event is free for everyone to attend.
Where To Stay In Bermuda
The capital city of Hamilton is an excellent place to stay at it is near many historic and cultural sites on the island.
Royal Palms Hotel, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club and Edgehill Manor Guest House are perfect locations to consider for your stay in Hamilton.
Alternatively, if you enjoy the beach then Mount Pleasant is the best place to stay. We recommend Pompano Beach Club and Bermuda Connections Guest House.
4. Bequia Island
For persons interested in ringing in the New Year with fireworks on a small Caribbean island, Bequia is an outstanding option.
Bequia is known to have magnificent fireworks over Admiralty Bay to ring in the New Year.
The island is nine miles away from mainland St Vincent and is seven square miles in size.
Where To Stay On Bequia Island
Ijeoma House
This is a luxurious villa with each bedroom ensuite with a fully equipped kitchen.
The property has amazing views of the sea and island and is within walking distance to restaurants and bars.
Bequia Plantation Hotel
Located on Admiralty Bay, this hotel has amazing views of the sea. There are villas and suites some with self-contained facilities.
Crown Point House
This property is located just a few short steps away from the shores of Crescent Beach and Spring Beach.
Both beaches have fine restaurants and amenities to make your time at the beach comfortable.
5. Cuba
The Spanish speaking island of Cuba is one of the Caribbean islands filled with traditions to celebrate the New Year.
One of the common traditions is eating 12 grapes starting at midnight.
Each grape represents a month for the New Year and individuals make a wish with every grape consumed.
Another custom around the Cuban New Year is cleaning your home on old year’s day and throwing the bucket of dirty water in the streets at midnight.
This tradition is rooted in the principle that the dirty water washes away all the bad. So if you visit, you will see Cubans throwing dirty water into the streets at midnight.
Where To Stay In Cuba
Cuba is such a diverse country that where you stay is largely defined by your interests.
Havana is great for historical visitors and Varadero is excellent for persons who love beaches.
For wildlife enthusiasts, Cayo Santa Maria is the best place to stay and for promenades and tours, Trinidad is the best location.
Casa Pedro- Maria and El Candil Boutique Hotel are great places for stay in Havana.
6. Turks & Caicos
New Year in Turks & Caicos Islands is often greeted with fireworks and celebrations at Grace Bay Beach.
The award winning Grace Bay Beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand with turquoise waters.
Many other resorts on the island often host their individual parties and fireworks.
Furthermore, December 26th which is also a bank holiday in many of the Caribbean islands including Turks & Caicos is a festival called Maskanoo.
This is one of the largest on the island and is hosted in Providenciales and involves local food, music, street parade and live entertainment.
So if you are considering the Turks & Caicos for the New Year, it is a great idea to visit the island a few days prior.
Where To Stay In Turks & Caicos
Turks and Caicos is loved for the iconic Grace Bay Beach which is ideal for beach bums and families.
For stay on the beach we recommend, Windsong on the Reef and Wymara Resort and Villas. For an all-inclusive stay on the beach, we recommend Alexandra Resort.
The capital city of Providenciales is another excellent location to consider. We recommend, Zenza Boutique Hotel and Rock House.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa is an ideal all inclusive hotel to consider in the capital city.
7. British Virgin Islands
The island of Jost Van Dyke which is part of the British Virgin Islands has been hailed as one of the best places to ring in the New Year In the world.
Foxy’s Bar which is popular entertainment spot on the island is known for having an epic Old Year’s Night party that attractions locals as well as celebrities from all over the world.
Additionally, Foxy’s Bar also has a well-attended Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day Lunch event.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a group of 60 islands. The four main islands are Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.
Where To Stay In The British Virgin Islands
The best place to stay is the capital city of Tortola which is Road Town.
For stay in the city, we suggest Fort Burt Hotel and Sebastian’s On The Beach Hotel. For an all-inclusive, private island experience, we recommend Aerial BVI.
Jost Van Dyke does not have a wide range of accommodation options. Nevertheless, you can consider staying at Ocean View Villas or Jost Van Dyke, BVI 3 Bedroom Villa with Caribbean views and pool.
8. Puerto Rico
The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico is known for its entertainment and lively nightlife atmosphere.
Several hotels, restaurants and bars have parties filled with confetti and fireworks to welcome the New Year with friends and families.
As an overseas territory of the United States of America, no visa and passport is required by US Citizens for entry and exit to Puerto Rico.
Furthermore, US dollars are the official currency used for financial transactions.
Where To Stay In Puerto Rico
The capital city of Old San Juan is a great place to stay for sightseeing, soaking up the culture, and visiting historic landmarks.
We recommend Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel and CasaBlanca Hotel for your stay in San Juan.
Alternatively, if you are thinking of spending time at the beach and enjoying fine dining, we recommend that you stay in Condado.
For accommodations in Condado, we recommend El Canario Lagoon Hotel and Acacia Boutique Hotel.
For a more upscale experience, we suggest AC Hotel By Marriott San Juan Condado and Condado Palm Inn San Juan and Tapestry Collection By Hilton.
Final Thoughts: Best Caribbean Islands To Ring In The New Year
We trust that you found this article helpful as you consider ringing in the New Year in the Caribbean.
As you can see from the list above, there are many special events that you can share in several of the Caribbean islands during that time of year.
This will truly aid in you appreciating and understanding the history and culture of the Caribbean.
We are confident that you will have an amazing and unforgettable experience.
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