IF YOU WANT TO SEE, BE SEEN,
AND DO PLENTY OF SHOPPING:ST. BARTS
The playground of fashion designers, models, and megastars
(Olivia Palermo, Channing Tatum, and Marc Jacobs, among oth-
ers), this stylish French isle is the place in the region to upgrade
your beach wardrobe. Hit capital Gustavia, a duty-free shopping
mecca, to browse through swank stores like Tod’s and Hermès
and indie boutiques like Poupette, with its endless supply of
boho-chic sundresses. Unpack your Vuitton luggage at the ultra-
luxe LVMH resort Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France (doubles
from $650; chevalblanc.com), situated on Flamands Beach, one
of the isle’s prettiest swaths. Rather save your money for more
fancy togs? Rent a private villa instead; St. Barth Properties
(stbarth.com) has elegant options starting at $1,870 per week.
Then break out your teeniest new bikini for the all-day party that
is Nikki Beach, a major celeb fave. (Hi, Beyoncé!) —J.M.#SOUVENIRGOALS
Aged Caribbean rum
is the It liquor right
now, so bring back a
bottle of Plantation
Grande Reserve
Rum from Barbados,
Ron del Barrilito
Three Star from
Puerto Rico, or Zaya
Gran Reserva from
Trinidad to sip—plus
a couple bottles of
the regular stuf f for
an island-themed
cocktail party
back home.ST. BARTSIF YOU WANT TO HONEYMOON WHERE
NO ONE YOU KNOW HAS HONEYMOONED BEFORE:CUBA
This being the Caribbean, you will find sparkling white sands
and palms. If that’s your jam, stay at the Melia Buenavista (all-
inclusive doubles from $454; meliacuba.com) on Cayo Santa
María. It offers butler service and three sun-baked beaches. But
the heart of the country is Havana, and now’s your chance to
explore it, before U.S. travel restrictions relax further and the
tourist hordes arrive. Expect cool locals, sexy clubs, and, thanks
to trade embargoes, gleaming 1950s cars. Take a sunset drive in
a classic Cadillac convertible, sip mojitos on the rooftop bar of
Havana’s La Guarida, then soak in the back-in-time vibe at Art-
edel (doubles from $75; cubaguesthouse.com), a mod residence
plucked straight out of the mid-20th century. —Claire BoobbyerHAVANATRIP TIP Instead
of trying to
navigate Cuba’s
travel restrictions
yourself, sign up
with a company
that knows the
ins and outs, like
Black Tomato
(blacktomato.com).336 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 6GETAWAY
FROM TOP: JOHN DEPRISCO/COBURN PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF THE HOTEL; AARON DYER(continued on page 340 )