Trips of a lifetime: a Caribbean escape from Miami

By Amanda Statham

December 29, 2022

Enjoy a relaxing Caribbean escape, from the sun-kissed shores of Miami to Canouan’s white-sand beaches.

Golden beaches and year-round sunshine are what the Caribbean’s famous for, yet the archipelago is blessed with far more than sun, sea and sand.

Award-winning restaurants, world-class golf courses and luxurious spas make the region a dream getaway for discerning travellers. Start your trip in exciting Miami to experience the best of both worlds.

Welcome to Miami

With the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world, high-end shopping, dazzling nightlife and a lively arts scene, Miami is just the place to start your adventure. Mandarin Oriental, Miami is perfectly positioned on Brickell Key, a private island between South Beach and downtown.

You’ll switch to holiday mode the moment you arrive, lounging by the rooftop pool and relaxing in the spa – try the Digital Wellness Escape, which eases tension in the head, neck and shoulders. Come sundown, dine on fresh ceviche at La Mar by Gastón Acurio, the hotel’s waterfront Peruvian restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay.

Explore Miami's art scene

The next day, head straight to Ocean Drive – an Instagrammer’s dream with its pastel Art Deco buildings – and grab an artisan coffee and pastry from Shepherd in the effortlessly cool Faena district.

For a farm-to-table brunch, head for the courtyard at Orange Blossom, for salsa-laced huevos rancheros or berry-piled Belgian waffles. If you prefer street art to architecture, take a trip to the vibrant Wynwood Arts District, booking a place on a walking tour to get the full picture.

If the infamous Miami showers hit, take cover at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, with its vast trove of contemporary art and much-Instagrammed hanging gardens.

Retail therapy

Miami is a shopper’s paradise and. When it’s time to hit the stores, browse Louise Vuitton, Cartier, Hermès et al at the upscale Design District, between Midtown and Wynwood, or stroll on foot from Mandarin Oriental to Brickell City Centre, where you’ll find Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora and more.

For laid-back surf and beachwear (ideal for your Caribbean jaunt), Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach has everything you need, along with an open-air promenade where street artists perform.

Once you’re suited and booted, join Miami’s party crowd at MO Bar + Lounge, backdropped by the city’s glittering skyline.

Jet, set, go

After the buzz of the city, it’s time to slow the pace on Canouan, a tiny island (just five miles wide) in the southern Caribbean.

Fans of MO can board a private jet in Miami, organised by NetJets, touching down on the island less than four hours later. Alternatively, catch a commercial flight to Barbados or Grenada, then hop on Mandarin Oriental, Canouan’s six-seater jet for a blissfully swift transfer.

Set by Godahl Beach’s white sands and fringed by lush forest, Mandarin Oriental, Canouan is a Caribbean dream. With just 13 sites and 26 villas, the service is exemplary, with a personal butler to unpack your bags and take care of dining reservations. Choose a lounger, set below a vivid pink parasol, and contemplate the bright blue of the sky and infinity pool. Before you know it, it’ll be time for dinner – red snapper from the grill, perhaps, at Tides Bar + Grill.

Castaway on Canouan

Frankly, you’ll be in no rush to leave your suite or villa, whose in-room goodies run from yoga mats to enormous oval bathtubs. But, once you do emerge, there’s plenty to enjoy, from snorkelling and water sports to cooking and cocktail-making classes. Kids can enlist for the Pirates of Canouan club, while grown-ups take in a leisurely 18 at the Jim Fazio championship golf course, or sink into slumber-like bliss at the spa’s hillside treatment suites.

Spend the afternoon basking in the balmy waters of nearby Shell Beach, where hammocks are strung between the trees, before heading back to Godahl for cocktails at Turtles. End your getaway with a Castaway dining experience, with a table set up in your spot of choice. Think a candlelit supper, barefoot on the beach – or a boat-ride to an island of your own, for a barbecue like no other.

About the Author

Amanda Statham

Amanda is travel editor of Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan and regularly contributes to the Telegraph.