Best Caribbean Spas

Many Caribbean spas are simple affairs -- a place to get a massage while you're staying at the beach. Even if the Caribbean spas are more lavish, therapist quality can be a problem because it doesn't require training and licensing. However, the best Caribbean spas try to hire spa therapists who have trained in the states. And some are clearly a cut above.

Here are my picks for some of the best spas in the Caribbean.

The Spa at Sandy Lane on the Platinum Coast in The Barbados is known for its highly skilled therapists and top-quality aromatherapy. Like the island, Sandy Lane has a strong British feel. It's also known for its 45 holes of golf. Anguilla

CuisinArt's Venus Spa in Anguilla is a state-of-the-art resort spa with 15 treatment rooms, including a VIP/couples suite, a Men's Club Room, and a spectacular "Healing Waters Pool" for aqua reflexology and aqua massage (a less intimate adaptation of watsu). This small luxury resort with a white-washed Mediterranean look has an INCREDIBLE location right on the sugary white beach, with spectacular views of the volcanic mountains of nearby St. Maarten.

Cap Juluca in Maundays Bay Balinese and Thai massage, Reiki, aromatherapy, reflexology, facials, regression therapy and kinesiology, private yoga sessions, personal training, circuit training, meditation and massage lessons for couples as well as spa rituals making use of the island's flowers, exotic scents, herbs and other plants.

Malliouhana Hotel & Spa in Meads Bay has a 15,000-square-foot oceanfront, full-service spa offering massage, body care, and facials. Outdoor Jacuzzi and fitness center, separate saunas and steam rooms for men and women, fitness trainers and advanced gym equipment. Guests can choose between Malliouhana's ocean-view, private spa day suites or specialty rooms for luxurious spa rituals.