The Caribbean - Which one is best?

In your opinion, which Caribbean island is generally best in terms of safety, water clarity (prefer pebble beach to sandy beach if possible), child-free (or relatively so), and being unspoilt but with a nice (min Westin-level) hotel?

St. John, USVI

St. John, USVI

I'd agree, I've always liked St. John.

BTW, are there any pebble beaches in the Caribbean? One that would meet the above requirements?

Near East End on St. john, Haulover (on the coastal side) is perhaps best described as rocky rather the pebbly, but has great snorkeling.

St. John has a Westin and a more luxurious option, Caneel Bay.

Thanks very much everyone. It looks like everyone's agreed on St John, so that definitely seems like the best choice.

Is Westin there nice enough in your opinion?

...Is Westin there nice enough in your opinion?Define nice enough ... you started this thread by requesting "min Westin level" and got a Westin ... now you want better ... so define how much better. It is one of the nicest Westins in NA, fwiw. But NA standards are much lower than Westin in Australia or parts of Europe, for example.

You may also want to consider Bermuda if you're coming in the summer... pretty good safety, beautiful water, beautiful sandy (sorry) beaches, and not too many kids running around. It won't be quite as hot as USVI (but will still be more than warm enough).

Only downside is Bermuda's stupidly expensive.

Vieques, PR

Martineau Bay Resort

Grand Cayman has a nice Westin - the Westin Casuarina. Crime is negligible. The diving is great. There's also a Westin on the Dutch side of St. Maarten/Martin although I haven't been inside that one yet. Nice beaches and duty-free shopping, also you can get over easily for day trips to neighboring islands (Anguilla, St. Barts, Saaba).

Peter Island. they will drive you to the back side of the island. big island pretty isolated. no people. great for adults. good food, good hotel, nightly dancing to steel drum band.

if you want a pebble beach, i think you have to go to europe. lot of sand in the Caribbean.

the only safety issue i can imagine is hurricane.

My favorite would be Virgin Gorda. Hotel-wise, there are a handful of places that are definitely a cut above Westins (Little Dix Bay, Biras Creek, Bitter End Yacht Club), and several clusters of cottages (Mango Bay, Nail Bay, Guavaberry) that are beautiful, but less full service than a typical Westin Resort - but also less costly in the sub $200/night range).

As for beaches, sorry, they are all powdery sand - although the Baths and Spring Bay do have lots of nice round rocks - albeit somewhat bigger than pebbles (more like 4-20 foot diameter boulders).

My favorite would be Virgin Gorda. Hotel-wise, there are a handful of places that are definitely a cut above Westins (Little Dix Bay, Biras Creek, Bitter End Yacht Club), and several clusters of cottages (Mango Bay, Nail Bay, Guavaberry) that are beautiful, but less full service than a typical Westin Resort - but also less costly in the sub $200/night range).

As for beaches, sorry, they are all powdery sand - although the Baths and Spring Bay do have lots of nice round rocks - albeit somewhat bigger than pebbles (more like 4-20 foot diameter boulders).
Agreed. Although Peter Island is a great escape if you can afford it.