While choosing a citizenship by investment programme based on a country’s shoreline isn’t recommended, among a sea of CBI Programmes that are similar in nature, the beauty of its beach could be the deciding factor. Enter Grenada’s Grande Anse and Antigua & Barbuda’s Pink Sand Beach, deemed two of the world’s best beaches.

According to Conde Nast Traveller’s 30 Best Beaches in the World 2020, Grenada’s Grande Anse and Barbuda’s Pink Sand Beach are among them.

Of course you will find no shortage of beautiful beaches across the Caribbean islands, with plenty on both Grenada and Antigua & Barbuda (in fact, Antigua & Barbuda boast 365 separate beaches, that’s one for each day of the year), but these two award-winning beaches really do stand out from the crowds (in fact, there are no crowds and that’s the beauty!)

While Grenada claims as many as 45 different beaches, none compares to the now-famed picturesque Grand Anse beach, a sheltered and tranquil beach of sugary white sand and warm Caribbean waters. It is, as Conde Nast Traveller describes, “two miles of milky-white sand on the western, leeward side of the island” that is a “short water-taxi ride from the capital of St George’s”.

As well as being overlooked by some of Grenada’s finest hotels, the beach is also packed with activities, from water-skiing and snorkelling to parasailing and kayaking.

While Antigua & Barbuda claims to have a beach for every day of the year (with 365 beaches), and all are stunning and open to the public, sister island Barbuda delivers one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, a stunning pink beach.

Now recognised as one of the top 30 beaches worldwide, Barbuda’s Pink Sand Beach is not just often empty, but is “endlessly photogenic” states Conde Nast Traveller. Made from crushed corals that have been ground into fine silk-like sand, the beach “glows candy-floss-pink in the sun” and “is less crowded than most of the Caribbean, meaning you may find you have this eight-mile swathe of sand entirely to yourself”. And while there are not many facilities, part of its beauty, there are a few beachside cafes scattered along the surf.

Choosing a citizenship by investment programme that’s right for you, your family and your investment portfolio can be difficult especially when the CIP offers are so similar. That’s when the little things become important, things like where the best beach is, and especially if you’re investing in a tourist property to rent out to travellers.

From the citizenship by investment programme point of view, both Caribbean countries are similar in nature, both delivering the option of a low-cost contribution to the government (US1$00,000 for Antigua and US$150,000 for Grenada) as well as an investment option that requires investment in a government-approved real estate project.

However, while Grenada offers just two pathways, Antigua offers four with the unique option of donating to the University of the West Indies Fund (US$150,000 for a family of six) in exchange for citizenship for all family members plus a one-year tuition-only scholarship for one family member at UWI. However, though initial costs are lower with Antigua, additional heavy government fees end up making it not much more affordable.

In terms of processing, both take 2-3 months, and neither require an interview or business experience and there’s no need for applicants to reside in in Grenada or Antigua before, during or after citizenship is granted.

From a global mobility point of view, while Grenada’s passport allows visa-free access to 144 countries, Antigua is offering access to 151 countries. However, Grenada’s passport does offer greater possibilities in that it is the only CBI country to offer visa-free access to China as well as being the Caribbean CBI country to offer a gateway to working in the US. Its multiple E-2 visa treaty with the US means citiznes can live and work there with the majority of the benefits of a resident.

Grenada also has an edge when it comes to its excellence in educational standards and offerings and it’s also the safest of all Caribbean islands.