Three shores I keep returning to
Saint Lucia, Dominica, or Costa Rica? How I match three of my favorite destinations to the traveler who will appreciate them most.
Some destinations are beautiful once. These three keep giving me reasons to return.
Saint Lucia, Dominica, and Costa Rica fall into that category for me. I've visited Saint Lucia four times, Costa Rica four times, and Dominica twice, experiencing different regions, properties, and styles of travel along the way.
And I've learned something: choosing the right destination has less to do with which one is "best" and much more to do with how you want to feel when you get there.
If you've been craving a real escape but don't have the bandwidth to compare islands, resorts, transfers, and endless lists of things to do, start here.
Saint Lucia: for the dramatic exhale
Nothing quite prepares you for seeing the Pitons rise from the water. I've visited Saint Lucia four times, and that view still gets me.
Saint Lucia is dramatic in all the right ways. Volcanic peaks rise from the Caribbean, rainforest covers much of the landscape around Soufriere, and experiences like the island's mineral-rich Sulphur Springs and waterfalls make it easy to combine exploration with restoration.
But what keeps bringing me back is that Saint Lucia doesn't make you choose between doing and being.
You can spend a morning exploring the island, sail beneath the Pitons in the afternoon, and still have time to retreat to your room, order something wonderful, and watch the sun disappear into the Caribbean.
That's why I especially like Saint Lucia for romantic escapes, milestone celebrations, and travelers who want wellness woven into their vacation without making wellness the entire vacation.
It's also where I'll return in December 2027 for The Exhale Experience | Saint Lucia, an intimate women's retreat built around something many high-capacity women rarely experience: having someone else thoughtfully handle the details while they simply enjoy what's been created for them.
Saint Lucia may be right for you if…
- You want extraordinary scenery, beautiful accommodations, meaningful experiences, and enough unstructured time to actually enjoy where you've traveled
- You appreciate a little indulgence but don't want to spend your entire vacation inside a resort
- You want to come home feeling like you truly went somewhere
Dominica: for the deep quiet
I've traveled to Dominica twice, and it feels different from almost every other Caribbean island I've experienced.
Known as the Nature Island of the Caribbean, Dominica is defined by rainforest, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, natural hot springs, and a coastline that still feels wonderfully untamed.
This is not the Caribbean destination I recommend to someone whose perfect vacation revolves around a sprawling beachfront resort and a packed nightlife calendar.
I recommend it to the traveler who wants to feel somewhere.
During my 2026 women's retreat, our days included waterfalls and hot springs, time on the water, local experiences, and plenty of space to simply be. We stayed on a hillside overlooking Soufriere Bay, surrounded by the kind of green that makes your shoulders drop before you've consciously decided to relax.
And that's the magic of Dominica. It isn't trying to entertain you every minute.
For someone whose everyday life is filled with meetings, notifications, decisions, and people needing something from her, that can feel surprisingly luxurious.
Dominica is also one of those destinations where thoughtful planning makes a noticeable difference. Where you stay, how you get around, which natural experiences you prioritize, and how much you try to fit into each day can completely change the feel of the trip.
This isn't an island I'd rush through with a checklist. Give it room.
Dominica may be right for you if…
- You've already experienced the traditional Caribbean resort vacation and you're craving something deeper
- You love nature but still appreciate comfort
- You're intrigued by waterfalls, hot springs, rainforest, hiking, wellness, and experiences that connect you to a destination rather than simply give you somewhere beautiful to sleep
- Most of all, you're ready for a quieter kind of luxury: space, nature, and permission not to fill every minute
Costa Rica: for the wide-open reset
Costa Rica keeps drawing me back.
I've now visited four times, experiencing three distinctly different parts of the country, from the Central Pacific coast near Jaco to the rainforest and volcanic landscape of Arenal and, most recently, the beaches of the Tamarindo area in Guanacaste.
That's one of the things I appreciate most about Costa Rica: there isn't just one Costa Rica experience.
In 2025, I hosted an intimate women's retreat in the Arenal region, where our days unfolded against a backdrop of rainforest and Arenal Volcano. We kayaked on Lake Arenal, crossed hanging bridges in search of wildlife, descended to La Fortuna Waterfall, soaked in the thermal waters at EcoTermales, and made room for massage, reflection, nourishing meals, and connection.
It was active, but never about filling every minute.
Some of the most memorable moments came from watching women try something new, slow down enough to notice what was around them, and simply enjoy being together without having to figure out what came next.
My most recent visit introduced me to another side of the country: the Tamarindo area of Guanacaste. The rhythm was completely different.
Pacific beaches. Catamaran sailing. Long walks through the property to the water. Journaling on my patio. Time in my private jacuzzi. Beautiful sunsets and mornings that didn't need an agenda.
Experiencing these different regions has reinforced something I've come to appreciate about Costa Rica: it doesn't ask you to choose between adventure and restoration.
You can build a trip around volcanoes, rainforest, wildlife, waterfalls, and hot springs. You can settle into one beautiful property near the Pacific and give yourself permission to do considerably less. Or you can thoughtfully combine regions and experience both.
That's also why I like Costa Rica for travelers who want wellness to be part of their vacation without necessarily taking a "wellness vacation." Restoration doesn't have to mean a schedule filled with yoga classes and spa appointments.
Sometimes it looks like kayaking beneath a volcano. An afternoon in thermal waters. A long breakfast. Time outside. A beautiful meal you didn't have to plan. Or an intentionally empty afternoon when no one needs anything from you.
Costa Rica may be right for you if…
- You want nature and adventure without sacrificing comfort
- You like having options and want a destination that can be shaped around your particular travel style
- You want the freedom to decide whether this trip needs to be active, restorative, or a little bit of both
For a first visit, I might recommend combining regions so you can experience more of Costa Rica's diversity. For a return visit, I may recommend exactly the opposite: choose one beautiful home base, unpack once, and give yourself fewer reasons to check the time.
Read my Insider's Guide to Costa Rica
Saint Lucia vs. Dominica vs. Costa Rica: which would I choose for you?
I wouldn't start with the destination. I'd start with you.
If you're craving beauty, romance, and a little indulgence: I'd look closely at Saint Lucia.
If what you need most is nature, quiet, and a true departure from your everyday environment: I'd introduce you to Dominica.
If you want flexibility, with the ability to combine adventure, wellness, beach time, and relaxation: Costa Rica may be exactly what you're looking for.
But sometimes, after hearing what you want, I'd recommend somewhere entirely different.
That's part of what working with a travel advisor should give you: fewer, better options chosen with you in mind, instead of another evening with twenty browser tabs open, comparing resorts and wondering whether you're making the right decision.