Caribbean

Beaches Lapped by calm Caribbean waters, long ribbons of golden sands broken only by coral outcrops, line the glittering Platinum Coast on the west of the island. Barbados' most luxurious and upmarket hotels also cluster here so it is difficult to find an uncrowded spot. By contrast on the surf-splashed Atlantic shorelines to the east, you'll find beautifully rugged coastal cliffs concealing remote bays and beaches and large ocean swells more suited to surfing than swimming. Out and About In Barbados' capital of Bridgetown, Lord Nelson stands in National Heroes Square, the statue erected in 1813 and older than the one in London's Trafalgar Square. Another attraction in the capital is the massive Baobab tree, supposedly brought over from Africa in the 1700's and for shopping the busy port brims with duty-free shops. The islands Mount Gay rum distillery is the oldest in the world, its produce the main constituent of Barbados' excellent rum punch. One of Barbados' most visited attractions is the unique phenomenon of Harrison's Cave; an amazing gallery of stalactites and stalagmites, spectacular pillars, crystal-clear waterfalls and deep emerald pools. Dining and Entertainment The luxurious oceanfront restaurants of the Platinum Coast offer some of the island's finest gourmet, creole and seafood dining. Often mooted to be Barbados' most expensive restaurant, The Cliff boasts staggering ocean views and visitors flock to Payne's Bay for a taste of the Blue Monkey's coco shrimp and lobster burgers. But if you just fancy chilling out with the locals, check out the Bajan staple of fried chicken or head for St Lawrence Gap and along Bay Street for some of Barbados' coolest nightclubs where local bands play calypso, reggae and R&B most nights of the week. Activities Barbados boast the perfect conditions for a full raft of holiday water sports; swim with the turtles, feed tame tropical fish, or descend to the depths on an Atlantis submarine dive expedition viewing the coral reef and a sunken shipwreck. Trek out to some of Barbados' hidden bays and beaches on a 4x4 adventure touor across to the eastern and north eastern coast with swimming stops and visits to Edge Cliff, the pretty fishing village and surfing spot of Bathsheba and Joes River Forest, home to the Barbados Green Monkey.

Best Beaches Antigua's beaches are some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean with fine white sands lapped by clear turquoise waters. With so many from which to choose, it's always possible to find an uncrowded spot to yourself - in general, secluded beaches are more the norm than the exception. Those seeking active water sports should try the vast swathes of Dickenson Bay, Runaway Bay or Jolly Beach, all on the west coast and close to St John's. Also close to the capital are the unspoiled sands of the Five Islands, including Deep Bay and Galley Bay, home to nesting sea turtles. Across on the east coast, Long Bay Beach is popular for snorkelling and Half Moon Beach boasts beautiful fine soft pink sands and wonderful cooling breezes. Out and About Most holidaymakers tend to stay close to their hotel; public transport is practically non-existent, but if you do want to get out and about, the best way is to hire a car for a few days. Visit the neat little town of St John's with its colourful Saturday market and boutique stocked with British made duty free goods. If you're looking for gifts then locally grown sea island cotton, attractive straw goods and red clay pottery are all authentic purchases. In the 1780's, Nelson found a safe haven for the British fleet at English Harbour and today the sympathetically restored Nelson's Dockyard affords a picturesque glimpse of naval life in the Admiral's day and a perfect spot for an evening stroll or a leisurely lunch. Survey the scene from Shirley Heights nearby - white yachts now moored where once warships lay at anchor. Dining and Entertainment Antigua's seafood and fresh deep-sea fish are excellent - especially the crayfish. Sample local pepperpot stews, tropical fruits and vegetables or simply relax with a refreshing local rum punch. Evening entertainment is generally limited to the hotels; barbecues with island music accompaniment, al-fresco dinner dances and beach buffets are all on the menu with romantic wining and dining on ocean terraces a feature in many of the hotels. Activities Water sports are abundant - while the novice takes gingerly to the windsurfer in the transparent shallows, the more serious yachtsman is making for the deep water anchorage and international yachting centre of English Harbour.

Christopher Columbus once claimed that Jamaica was the most beautiful island he had ever seen and we're sure you'll agree. Discover beautiful sandy beaches, hidden coves, verdant landscapes, gushing waterfalls, deep lush valleys and majestic mountains. One of Jamaica's most popular natural attractions, Dunn's River Falls, located near Ocho Rios, is a stunning 600 foot waterfall which cascades down to the beach. Guided tours take you on a challenging and refreshing climb to the top. Other popular attractions include the Luminous Lagoon near Falmouth, bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae river and the Dolphin Swim at Ocho Rios. Of course, music is everywhere and Jamaica is the birthplace of Reggae's most famous son, Bob Marley. Take a trip to his birth town of Nine Miles to learn more about the life of this local legend. Golf lovers will be pleased to hear that Jamaica is home to several world-class golf courses, including the Caribbean's oldest at Manchester Club. A PGA-quality course can be found at Breezes Runaway Bay.

An island of extraordinary natural beauty, St Lucia's dramatic twin coastal Pitons soar sheer from the sea swathed in a carpet of brilliant emerald, her steep coastlines and unspoilt reefs perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving in the crystal clear waters. St Lucia is a beautiful natural paradise, her spectacular underwater reefs home to rainbow-hued tropical fish, huge barrel sponges, soft corals and sunken ships. In the magnificent rainforests of the interior the air trills to the call of brilliantly plumed tropical birds including the rare St Lucian parrot, the Jacquot. All this natural unspoilt scenery is fiercely protected with access to the rainforest and all offshore reefs strictly controlled by permit.

Cuba, the Caribbean's largest island, is located 90 miles south of Florida. You must visit Havana, the islands capital, which has beautiful old colonial buildings and a sense of faded grandeur. The old part of the city and its fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage site and form the backdrop to many a photoshoot. Havana is also famous for its 1950s American cars, rum and cigars. Located 2 hours east drive from Havana you'll find Varadero which protrudes out on a long, thin peninsula and has over 20km of stunning soft white sand beaches.

A third of the world's nutmeg is grown here as well as copious quantities of cloves and mace, justifying its nickname the Spice Isle. Visit the spice markets on a Saturday at the capital St Georges and then see how they are processed at the Douglaston Estate. They even sprinkle nutmeg on top of the cocktails in the island's bars! The island is only 22-miles by 12-miles, and the interior is largely lush and tropical with stunning forests and jungle to explore. The most spectacular is the Grand Etang National Park where you'll pass the volcanic crater lake after which the park is named and the gorgeous Concord Falls, and spot some of the exotic birds that live there. Obviously the beaches are another great attraction, with lots of secluded coves to discover, and colourful coral reefs for snorkelling. Visit the neighbouring isle of Carriacou and lunch in a waterside restaurant overlooking the schooners.

An unspoiled Caribbean gem, this is the island that is said to have inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. There are plenty of beaches to visit here including Great Courland Bay where you can witness giant leatherback turtles hatching at certain times of the year, Castara Bay, which has 2 swimming beaches, Englishman's Bay and Pigeon Point, a stunning, much photographed sandy peninsula which is well worth a day trip. Tobago's also home to the oldest legally protected tropical rainforest, home to many endangered flora and fauna. Evening entertainment is low key and centred around the all-inclusive resorts but if you want a livelier night out then try Sunday School, no it's not a religious experience but a loud, raucous street party held on Sunday evenings in Buccoo. Steel bands sound the start of the proceedings followed later by a sound system playing soca, hip hop and R&B. Tobago also has its own 2 day Carnival held in Scarborough, the island's capital, and is scheduled for 7-8 March 2011 and 20-21 February 2012 (to be confirmed). Golf aficionados will be pleased to hear there are two 18-hole championship courses on the island; the Mount Irvine Bay Hotel & Golf Club has views of the Caribbean Sea and the newer Tobago Plantations Golf & Country Club is situated on the Atlantic coast so benefits from cooling breezes. There are great dive sites in Tobago including an arch named London Bridge, the rock strewn Boulder Valley, pretty Japanese Garden and the wreck of the MIV Maverick, which was deliberately sunk in 1997 to create an interesting dive site.