I've visited over 30 tropical islands around the world, but five stand out from the rest. Bora Bora and Curaçao's beautiful beaches make them the perfect place for a relaxing vacation. Barbados has tons of activities, from touring a rum distillery to visiting Rihanna's childhood home.

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You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Advertisement As a travel writer specializing in tropical destinations , I've been lucky enough to have visited 30 islands around the world. Because of my extensive travels, people often ask me which islands I'd return to.

This isn't surprising, considering how many people plan to travel across the globe each year — in fact, 30% of Americans have international travel plans in 2024. However, it's not always easy to figure out which tropical destination is the best vacation spot for you. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in . Each island I've been to was idyllic and unique, but a few lingered in.