I am looking for a great tropical spot – any suggestions?

I am Canadian and curently staying in New York. I want to travel to a tropical spot easily accessible from NY. I would like a great place to swim and prefer quiet. A place with decent hotel rates would be a bonus – I may stay for more than a month to do some writing.

I prefer a place relatively safe and where I am not harrassed by men or people selling their wares (tho the latter I can probably deal with). In the past I went to Jamaica, which I really like but I am not up for being bugged by men and worrying about my gear being stolen – which did happen.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am thinking somewhere in the Caribean but not sure where. I will research spots once I get a few suggestions. Thanks.