Okay, I need to know. What Caribbean destination has the best beaches, and is a safe destination? I'm not concerned with an active nightlife. I just want a REALLY nice beach-not rocky, with beautiful clear water-and fairly safe drinking water and nice restaurants. I know this is probably a redundant question and everybody is looking for these things, but do they actually exist?

Best beach we feel is Turks and Caicos. Very soft white sand, long stretches of no people, buildings, nothing. Water is very clear and calm. Great snorkeling and scuba there as well. Pure paradise!<BR><BR>St. Kitts also has very nice beaches.

I second Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales (Provo) in the Turks and Caicos. The beach consistently ranks #1 in Caribbean Travel and Life poll of best beaches. We ahve been to Provo 11 times. Really awesome beach and water

The Bahamas!

Shoal Bay on Anguilla. Sand like talcum powder...calm, beautiful water, clear as your own bath tub. It's fantastic.<BR>

Hands down it would have to be St. John. Very mellow and laid back with many beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling. Very little night life and restaurants are so so. Rent a jeep and explore this island. It's worth it!

I vote for St John but I beg to differ on the "so so" restaurant comment by Daniel. St John has some excellent dining from the fusion cuisine at Asolare and the continental menu at Chateau Bordeaux to the excellent seafood at the Lime Inn and Fish Trap, to the amazing cheeseburgers at Skinnylegs and the lip smacking bbq at Joes in Cruz Bay. <BR>The water in all the US and British Virgin Islands is safe to drink and the beaches are spectacular.<BR>

I just topped a thread called "Best beach/water in the Carribean?" that will be helpful for you.<BR>

Grand Cayman can boast about beautiful white powdery beaches and pristine water. It is a very safe and immaculate island. There is not a lot of nightlife, but we liked the easy access. It is a very developed island, so you are surrounded by great restaurants

It all depends what you consider a great beach. For me a great beach is long and wide and walkable.(At least a mile in each direction) That eliminates most of St. John. I don't really get off on those tiny spits of sand that are called beaches. Same with the 365 mini beaches in Antigua.<BR><BR>However, it leaves Palm Beach in Aruba, 7 Mile in Grand Cayman, Grace Bay on Provo, Rendezvous Bay in Anguilla just to name a few.

Oops, forgot Grand Anse in Grenada. Long Bay in Tortola is a nice walking beach, but a little short.

You have to drive to most of the beaches in St. John since very few accomodations have the luxury of the beach at your doorstep. And the water is not as clear as many other islands because of the runoff. If you been to a lot of islands, you would know that St. John is not known for its cuisine.

NEGRIL!!!<BR><BR>Seven miles of Beach and seven miles of cliffs. The water has a "swimming pool" quality - extremly calm, clear, warm, shallow slope, white sandy bottom with reefs/rocks/seagrass. <BR><BR>Negril is very laid back and safe. If you add Jamaican culture, food, music, and great sunsets - you can't beat it. <BR><BR>If you want an island with many great beaches, my vote is either Anguilla or St. John.

Oooopps! I ment to say Negril has NO reefs, rocks or seagrass near the beach shoreline for the entire seven miles. Only near Hedonism and Sandals will you find just little seaweed.<BR><BR>Noteable mention for great beaches:<BR>Culebra - Playa Flemeco<BR>Grenada - Grand Anse<BR>Isla Mujeres (Near Cancun) Playa Norte<BR>Peter Island - Deadmans Bay<BR>Aruba - Eagle/Palm Beach<BR>Anguilla - entire island<BR>St. John - entire north coast

My vote is Provo, Turks and Caicos. We did Boscobel, Jamica a few years ago. T & C was no comparison. Did Grand Cayman off a cruise ship, T & C is still my vote. We stayed at the Beaches resort, T & C. There was nothing to do at night. So we did late dinners, and made that our evening activity. But the beaches were awesone.We snorkeled every day. The reefs were right off the shore. So you could walk down from the hotel. Or the hotel did daily excursions, which you had to sign up for. <BR>

My two favorite choices are St. John, so many beaches to snorkel/dive from and Provo-Turks/Caicos, lots of beaches also, get a car, drive out to several on both islands.Both very safe, out almost every night, people in Provo so very friendly, great restaurants in Provo and several good ones in St. John. Beaches at both are very clean, easy access.