I've been to 20 Caribbean islands — these are the 5 I'd return to and the 2 I'd skip despite having great experiences.

I've visited 20 islands in the Caribbean. Mariette Williams

• After visiting 20 islands in the Caribbean, I have lots of favorites and a few I wouldn't return to.
• St. Lucia offers wellness activities, fun nightlife, and great food.

There's a misconception that all Caribbean islands are the same. However, as someone who's been traveling to the Caribbean for almost two decades, I've found that each island has its own distinct food, festivals, and cultural traditions.

After visiting 20 Caribbean islands, I can see why the area is such a hot spot for tourism. In fact, travel to the Caribbean is already off to a strong start this year, with many destinations seeing an uptick in visitors compared to 2023.

As someone who's spent a lot of time in the Caribbean, these are the five islands I'd love to return to and the two I'd skip.