10 best Caribbean island vacations

St. Vincent the Grenadines, coming it at No. 5, is a more “under-the-radar Caribbean getaway,” according to Shields, with plenty of beaches and boating and snorkeling opportunities.

For its methodology, U.S. News World Report analyzed more than 700 destinations, combining travelers’ opinions with editor and expert analysis, Shields tells CNBC Make It. Each destination is scored in 10 categories, “from sights, culture and food” to “value, adventure and nightlife,” Shields says, with a comprehensive evaluation of each destination.

A “beach” score was also factored in for the Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean for 2019-20, according to Shields. Factors considered for the beach score include cleanliness, natural beauty, remoteness, sand and water quality, average days of sunshine and temperatures at the destination.

U.S. News World Report’s full top 30 list can be found here.

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