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The Caribbean – unquestionably glamourous, if in parts a little rough around the edges, but regular visitors have discovered a magic that draws them back time after time. For the uninitiated, the impression for those of a certain age is probably memories of Ursula Andress, the most famous of Bond girls. For others pirates, treasure and swaying palms are the vision. Thinking the islands are all the same is a bit like thinking of Europe as one. These islands only have one thing in common – great weather. Of course, the only way to unravel the mystery is get on a plane and go and discover your own private paradise.

Anguilla – From Prickly Pear Cay, just a few miles off the coast on Anguilla you have a glorious view of St Martin rising on the horizon. But Anguilla, sat in between and all of 26 miles long by 3 miles wide and just 213 feet at its highest, hides below the earth’s curvature. In other words, it’s very flat. But in the Tropics flat means fantastic beaches and Anguilla has amongst the best in the world and probably best of all is Rendezvous Bay with just glorious soft soft sand, clear lapping waters, beach bars and restaurants and, St Martin in the background with its twinkling lights at night.

There is of course far more to this precious little island reached by air from Antigua, or by ferry from St Maarten and from St Martin. The choice of restaurants and bars which suit all budgets and tastes make this a surprisingly great choice for foodies, especially those with a penchant for lobster.  There’s great golf, just don’t let the views distract, all manner of water sports and some very pristine dives sites are to be found.

A car to explore is well worthwhile; its very easy drive but just keep your expectations in check; there are no shopping centres, no cathedrals  or palaces, no mountains to climb but there are some really friendly people to meet, great food and who seriously has ever tired of gazing out over the sea?

Antigua – famed for the suggestion that it has 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. There is a great history and not purely naval, but most travellers look to the island for its relaxed laid back atmosphere. For the sophisticated traveller, the south coast is the side to head for as English Harbour is home to some of the most beautiful yachts, and with beautiful yachts come great restaurants and bars and they’re not all priced for the millionaires whose yachts are moored close by. There are two distinct seasons in this area: the winter is buzzy and the summer is quieter (not dead) as most of the yachts have sailed to the playgrounds of the Mediterranean in the summer.

Antigua is not a shopper’s paradise so don’t come looking for the latest designer labels at discount prices, but definitely plan to explore. Fortunately, the island is small enough for you to always be able to find your way home as you can’t rely on signage.

Antigua is a gateway to many other Caribbean islands not directly served from Europe such as the BVI. So, consider combining time in Antigua with perhaps a stay in the BVI which is less than hour’s flying time by non-stop flights.

Barbados – probably the best known island in the Caribbean and in the winter home to the famous and infamous alike. The south coast is home to Oistin’s fish fry – a huge outdoor market full of stalls all selling mainly fish. It’s noisy and brash atmosphere is probably more appealing to those looking for an active night life with lively bars and clubs nearby. The east coast is wild with Atlantic waves crashing along its length creating some spectacular scenery. This is where Barbadians go to get away from it all. The west coast has in the past been nicknamed the Platinum coast more for the jewellery worn as opposed to its stunning white sand beaches.  This is the side that boasts designer shopping, the finest hotels and the best restaurants with some vying with London and New York in terms of quality and price. Then of course you have the beach bars that serve some of the freshest and best fish and at great, great prices. Service is deliberately a little slower on the beach to allow you more time to contemplate what you might be doing if you were at home or in the office as opposed to sipping a rum cocktail with fine grains of sand tickling your toes.

The British Virgin Islands – Lobster anyone? It’s a big thing in the BVI and they even have a festival to celebrate (held in November). Some people return to the BVI year after year, they’ve found their Nirvana. For others, it’s on the bucket list and there are fewer more spectacular scenes than watching the haze lift and islands (there are some 60 of them in the BVI) appear as if emerging from the sea. Exploring is necessarily by boat, be it a day sail, a yacht charter or jumping on local ferries. The BVI is the ultimate indulgence now reached daily from London over Antigua. Breakfast in London and cocktails before dinner in the BVI thanks to the new near daily non-stop service from Antigua. So, what to do apart from relax on pristine soft white sand beaches? There’s sailing in all shapes and sizes of vessel, diving – the reefs are pristine and the Rhone is still considered one of the top 5 wreck dives in the world.  There’s not much need to hire a car but there’s hiking and exploring and a visit to the ‘Baths’ is included in every good guide book.  Dining out in local restaurants by day is a great past time but because of ferry schedules you’ll probably just rely on your hotel for dinner. Like much of the Caribbean dining in the BVI is always a pleasure with young and energetic chefs combining local and international flavours to create exciting twists on old international favourites and local dishes as well.

St Lucia –For those old enough to remember long car journeys for summer holidays that brought on a certain unpleasant feeling, St Lucia’s roads will bring those memories sharply back into focus. Just 27 miles long and 14 wide, the roads on this most delicious of volcanic islands twist and weave their ways up and down the dense rain forest covered slopes.  The rewards for exploring outside your hotel include dining on fresh fish cooked in people’s front gardens, walks through the rain forest before swimming in pools of tingling (cold) water topped up by a constant flow of clear mountain water cascading down from waterfalls above.

Dining is likely to centre around your hotel except in the Rodney Bay area. But don’t be put off. If you charge premium prices you have to produce food to match and boy do they? Shopping is just not an option, although the island does boast a small boutique style casino. This is an island about lounging on the beach surrounded by incredible vistas, or mixing it up a bit with walks, biking, some of the best diving the Eastern Caribbean has to offer, bird watching, zip wires. For parents with children that have school projects to hand in after the summer holidays, St Lucia is on the curriculum. Drive-in volcanoes, rain forests, local markets, not to mention the towns are all great material for those projects. Then the history! The French and British spent so many years fighting over the island it changed hands 14 times!