Cuba.

The structural outlier. Cuban all-inclusives are state-administered in partnership with foreign operators — Iberostar, Meliá, Sol, Bahia Principe-branded units — which makes the product different in ways the brochures don't admit. Pricing is genuinely lower than the rest of the Caribbean — the index lists multiple sub-$1,000-per-week Cuban properties scoring 85-plus — but consistency, internet, and US-style amenities all run a tier behind.

Five Cuban resort regions matter. Varadero on the north Atlantic coast is the volume destination, closest to Havana, with the most options at every price tier. Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo on the northern cay chain are smaller, quieter, and premium-leaning. Cayo Santa María slightly west is newer, with less crowded beach. Cayo Largo on the southern side is the most remote and dive-oriented. Holguín province on the southeast coast (Guardalavaca, Pesquero) is the budget end. Varadero and the cays absorb roughly 90% of foreign demand.

What works in Cuba: the score-to-price math is the most favorable anywhere on the index — full stop. The beaches at the cays are first-rate. And there's a quiet, less-Americanized resort feel here that travelers who've burned out on Riviera Maya-scale crowds genuinely prefer.

What to weigh: US travelers face additional restrictions; the OFAC "support for the Cuban people" license category is the practical workaround, but the rules change with administrations — check current State Department guidance before booking. Internet on-resort is metered, slow, and often non-functional. Food consistency is the most variable in the region; what the website advertises and what the buffet line actually serves don't always match. And the off-resort tourism infrastructure is the thinnest in the Caribbean — excursions are doable, but rougher than the comparable trip from a Mexican or DR resort.

The honest filter: Cuba is correct for the value-first buyer who doesn't need American-style internet, food, or stability. Stick to recently-renovated 4- and 5-star properties; the older 3-stars often have rooms that haven't been touched since the early 2000s.