Best beaches for Caribbean vacation packages

Let's face it - while the food is great, the shopping fun and the resort's top-notch there are really only two great reasons to visit the Caribbean: the beaches and the water.

Caribbean beaches are, arguably, among the most beautiful and traveler-friendly stretches of sand anywhere in the world. Nowhere else in the world will you find such an abundance of clear, startlingly turquoise blue waters combined with powdered-sugar sand. Caribbean vacation packages offer a wealth of opportunities for savoring the region's greatest assets of surf and sand.

Websites like Travelocity make it easy to find flights and plan your Caribbean beach getaway. Here are some of the Caribbean's must-see beaches:

Aruba - The smallest island in the Dutch Caribbean, Aruba is just 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, but much of that acreage is awesomely beautiful beachfront property. Aruba resorts are famous for pristine ocean views and outstanding private beaches. Virtually any beach in Aruba offers an exceptional experience, but among the island's top draws are Palm Beach, where calm waters make for excellent swimming conditions, Malmok Beach where shallow waters and abundant sea life make it a popular snorkeling spot and, for the adventurous and self-confident, Manchebo Beach, where tops are optional.

Jamaica - A Jamaica vacation is one of the most relaxing getaways you'll find, and the island's many beaches epitomize Jamaica's laid-back, no-worries attitude. For families and anyone who wants to spend a lot of time in calm walters, Doctor's Cave Beach on Montego Bay is a 5-mile stretch of joy. If you're more interested in dramatic beauty and less committed to swimming, check out Treasure Beach on the South Coast with its pounding surf and inspiring beachscape.

Puerto Rico - Luquillo Beach in this U.S. territory is the quintessential Caribbean beach, with sugary sand, a crescent-shaped bay, coconut trees and a coral reef. Surfers throng to Playa Higuero, a former site of the world surfing championships, where 16-foot waves are a common sight and the surf lasts from November to April. Abundant coral and a wide variety of sea life draw snorkelers to Playa Esperanza.

Barbados - From beaches frequented by celebrities to secluded shores off the beaten path, Barbados has ample beaches to suit whatever experience you seek. If you fancy a bit of celebrity watching, check out Sandy Lane Beach, home of the luxurious Sandy Lane Hotel, a favorite destination among the celebrity jet set. For a quieter, more secluded beach experience, visit Miami Beach, which is more remote from Barbados' bustling towns and busy resorts.

Despite their wide variety of amenities and experiences, Caribbean beaches all have two things in common - enticing water and beautiful sand. If you're looking for a beach experience like no other, you need look no farther than the calm waters and pristine sands of the Caribbean islands.