Just the word "Caribbean" conjures up palm-lined beaches, loungers on powder-soft sand, orange-red sunsets, and lots of tropical drinks (frozen with a paper umbrella, preferably). You might be surprised to learn that there are close to 30 Caribbean islands, each with its own distinct flavor, vibe, even landscape. Here's a primer on some of the best Caribbean islands and what each has to offer.

Barbados is a sophisticated island with sandy stretches dotted with upscale resorts, especially along its west coast, dubbed the Platinum Coast. Known as the "most British" island, you can enjoy afternoon tea and watch a cricket match, but the island also has its own distinct West Indian vibe, including casual rum shacks and its famous Friday-night Oistin's fish fry, with live steel drum music.

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The Bahamas, a string of 700 islands, has it all: miles of Insta-worthy beaches, casinos, craft markets, and endless water activities. On the main island of Nassau are high-end resorts like the new Baha Mar complex, along with dining and nightlife, while Harbour Island is known for its pink-sand beaches and pastel-hued houses, and the Exumas chain is remote and super laid-back.

Curaçao, 35 miles north of Venezuela (part of the ABC island chain along with Aruba and Bonaire), is the largest of the Dutch Antilles. The capital of Willemstad has shops, museums, and waterfront cafes, while nearby beaches include Knip Bay for snorkeling and Playa Kalki, a great spot to catch the sunset. Nature-lovers can hike in Christoffel National Park, home to the island's tallest peak.

You'll never tire of gazing at St. Lucia's gorgeous Piton Mountains. Luckily, these twin peaks are visible from all over the island, including from the comfort of your room in high-end resorts like Jade Mountain. St. Lucia also has a lush rainforest - hike or bike amid mango and guava trees to natural hot springs, and in Castries, shop for spices, tropical fruit, and crafts in the market.

St. Kitts, one of the Caribbean's lesser-known islands, is ready for its close-up. New resorts, such as the Park Hyatt St. Kitts, have opened with others in the pipeline. You can also visit Brimstone Hill Fortress, take a ride on the 18-mile-long Scenic Railway tourist train, and sip rum punches beside a bonfire at one the casual beach bars on the Strip in Frigate Bay, which also has live music and DJs.

Puerto Rico was hit hard by Hurricane Maria, but San Juan's resort areas are very much up and running (the island welcomes tourism dollars). Hotels like the Courtyard by Marriott Isle Verde are right on the beach, while the Hotel El Convento, in a former convent, is located in Old San Juan, known for its Spanish colonial architecture and El Morro Fort. You'll also find buzzy restaurants, casinos, rum bars (the Bacardi Distillery is nearby), and salsa clubs.

One of the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with St. Thomas and St. Croix, St. John steals the limelight from its siblings with its natural beauty - the majority of the island is a national park. There are scenic hiking trails on forested hills and beaches like Trunk Bay, one of the Caribbean's prettiest strands. The only town, Cruz Bay, has a handful of laid-back restaurants like The Longboard Coastal Cantina.

On Anguilla there are no casinos, high-rise hotels, or historic forts to poke around in. But what it doesn’t have in bells and whistles, it has in miles of unspoiled beaches like Shoal and Mead’s Bay, excellent snorkeling, and rustic bars with live reggae music and ice cold beer. It also has first-rate restaurants, including Straw Hat and Blanchards (reopening in November after Hurricane Irma).

Saint-Barthélemy, or St. Bart’s, in the French West Indies has long been an exclusive and decadent playground for the rich and famous, who tool around town on golf cart-like Mini Mokes (after mooring their mega yachts, of course). They come for beaches like Grand Salines and to stroll in the capital Gustavia, filled with designer boutiques and chic cafes straight out of St. Tropez.

Turks and Caicos is famous for its beaches - and in the Caribbean, that's really saying something. The top strand is Grace Bay, a 7-mile stretch of super soft white sand, where you can go swimming and kayaking, and board a catamaran for a half-day snorkeling cruise to uninhabited cays. The island is also known for its luxury resorts like The Palms, with pampering spas and beachfront suites.

Aruba, the A in the ABC islands (along Bonaire and Curaçao) has plenty more to offer than just pretty beaches. In the capital of Oranjestad, you'll find duty-free shopping and gourmet restaurants, while its arid interior has rock formations and prehistoric caves. Throw in golf courses, buzzing casinos, and all-inclusive resorts - and you have one of the Caribbean's most well-rounded islands.

While the Caymans might be known as an offshore banking haven, it's definitely not all work and no play on this Caribbean isle. Kick back on dreamy beaches like Seven Mile, one of the Caribbean's sweetest strands, swim with stingrays, dive to shipwrecks, sip rum punches, well, just about everywhere, and stay in beachfront hotspots like the recently renovated Westin Grand Cayman.