The Caribbean Islands offer a relaxing vibe suitable for travelers looking for sandy beaches, crystal blue waters, and activities galore. The Caribbean has been a honeymoon hot spot for decades. With white sand beaches and crystal blue waters, the alluring islands offer visitors a chance to relax and enjoy the way nature intended. Some islands in the Caribbean are considered not gay-friendly and are highly recommended to avoid. These islands you should be mindful of are: Jamaica, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands.

St. Barts

With its laissez-faire French culture and a myriad of private villas to choose from, St. Barts is has been called the most gay-friendly island in the Caribbean. This is the place to get lost in the Caribbean for a few days, far from the cruise-ship crowds.

St. Martin / St. Maarten

Both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin have long had a gay-friendly reputation, with many private villas for rent and beaches and bars where gay and straight couples peacefully coexist. St. Maarten's reputation was sullied somewhat by a 2004 incident where a gay couple was assaulted near a popular beach bar, but island tourism officials were quick to apologize, and the island remains near the top of the list for many gay Caribbean travelers.

Puerto Rico

Gay travelers in Puerto Rico will find the Caribbean's only real gay nightlife scene: San Juan highlights include the Atlantic Beach Bar (with a weekly drag show) and clubs like Eros. On both the mainland and the island of Vieques you can find gay-friendly resorts, and gay travelers in Puerto Rico have the benefit of protection by U.S. antidiscrimination laws.

U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands -- St. Croix, in particular -- has become a mecca for gay travelers, many of whom wind up at the welcoming Sand Castle on the Beach Resort in Fredericksted. Gay travelers can expect a friendly and tolerant attitude throughout the U.S.V.I., and if public displays of affection are not exactly embraced, the reaction is not likely to be more than a second glance.

Curacao

While some Caribbean island privately welcome gay travelers, Curacao has been the most public in its embrace: "With exceptional gay friendly hotels and attractions, [Curacao] encourages gay and lesbian travelers to visit the island and experience its 'live and let live' atmosphere for themselves," says the Curacao Tourist Board, which has launched a marketing campaign aimed at gays and lesbians and includes information on gay-friendly hotels and clubs on its website.