Bridgetown, the captivating capital of Barbados, combines faded colonial history, captivating tradition, and vivid white beaches plucked directly from your richest imagination of Caribbean perfection. Recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its beautifully preserved colonial architecture, Bridgetown’s mask of modernity covers a core of complex history and fascinating culture. Sherbet coloured buildings line up to overlook the waterfront of the Constitution River at the ‘The Careenage’ - where gleaming ships bob on the blue water, and peaceful strolls along a wooden boardwalk await. 

Craggy rocky peaks jut upwards at Union Island, making it the most scenic of the Grenadine islands. The peaks are solidified lava which remained after softer volcanic rocks were worn away. The highest peak is Mount Taboi at 304 meters (999 feet). Union Island is little known to most tourists and remains low-key and relaxed. Many visitors that do make it to Union are connecting with yachts and dive boats at the charming port town of Clifton. Others want to explore or unwind on land. Union Island is approximately 4.8 x 1.6 km (3 x 1 mile) wide. Rain only falls from June to December and vegetation is drier than on many other islands in the Caribbean. Traveling by foot or local bus leads you to quiet beaches for swimming and snorkeling. Coral reefs of the Grenadines receive few direct human pressures, and the coral is in good condition. Some of the best snorkeling experiences on Union Island are seeing the huge schools of resident fish. Smaller and slower fish stay close to the reef for protection, while fast swimming schools use speed for safety. You may even spot sea turtles and sharks if you are lucky. Union is one of the southernmost of the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Cotton growing lured French and then English plantation managers to the island. When the British left the island, enslaved workers gained the freedom to adopt a farming and fishing lifestyle. They developed a Caribbean flavor of music, color, and food. Try the amazing fried flying fish if you get a chance.

Raise a glass to the immaculate surroundings of Roseau, where beautiful beaches - alive with fine bubbles fizzing upwards from the geothermal activity below - wait for you. Dive into extraordinary snorkeling and diving experiences, amongst thriving marine life, active corals and live volcanoes concealed below the waves. With attractive volcanic sands to relax on and glorious, jungled mountains to explore, Roseau is an intoxicating welcome to Dominica's Caribbean island appeal. Nestled on the west coast, Roseau is the island’s capital and a city surrounded by sprawling banana plantations, and cocoa fields. First taken by the French, then the British, a strong colonial imprint mingles with the local flare. Nowadays Old Market Square is crammed with locals trading huge vegetables, colorful fruits, and handmade jewelry - but the square has a darker past, and was the center of the island's slave trade. Head up to the former British fort, which offers a panoramic, postcard-perfect view from the top, of Roseau and the lush green mountains behind. The large botanical gardens offer more magnificent views, and you can walk amongst thriving tropical plant life, as parrots flutter, and add splashes of color to the greenery. The rainforest around the city conceals rich wildlife and waterfalls spilling into splash pools, while plantations give a taste of the island's heritage. You can also discover the second-largest hot spring in the world - Boiling Lake - which brews with angry volcanic activity in the steamy Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The hiking and snorkeling can take its strain - so simmer away any stiffness in a mineral-rich hot pool, or by indulging in a rum punch or two.

Barbuda makes up half the name of the country of Antigua and Barbuda, but it is smaller and less known than its partner island. Barbuda is a low limestone island with shallow lagoons, coral reefs, and sandy beaches like reef-lined Spanish Point and North Beach. Some beaches have a slight pink hue. Barbuda was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017, with 95% of the buildings destroyed. All 1600 residents were evacuated to Antigua afterward but returned to rebuild the only village on the island, Codrington. The village was founded by two British brothers of that name who brought African enslaved people to the island. Many were born on the island and “exported” to Antigua. Several rebellions occurred, and secure lockups were built around the island for runaways. Freedom arrived in 1834. The Caribbean may be known for its pirates but the most elegant and effective pirates at Barbuda are the Magnificent Frigatebirds. These large long-winged fork-tailed birds harass other flying seabirds until they regurgitate recently caught fish. The frigatebirds then snatch a free meal in an act of ‘aerial piracy’. You can visit the nesting colony in the Magnificent Frigate Sanctuary at Codrington Lagoon, which boasts the largest nesting colony (with an estimated 100,000 birds) in the western hemisphere. These magnificent birds travel between the Caribbean and Galapagos islands during the varying mating seasons. You may see males on low mangroves inflating red balloon-like throat pouches to attract females.

Compact, but utterly gorgeous, the third biggest of the British Virgin Isles is one of the region’s most spectacular - and a truly indulgent Caribbean escape to rejuvenate the senses. Sprinkled amid the mansions and private islands of the rich and famous, Virgin Gorda has somehow retained its secluded, castaway paradise atmosphere. Translating as Fat Virgin, the island was given its unusual name by Colombus, who noted the protruding stomach of the island's shape. Visit to dive deep into the island's relaxed essence, and to gorge on endless expanses of idyllic beaches and dreamy coastline. Visit a trademark white sand beach - like the slice of paradise at Savannah Bay - or rise to the perspective offered from the elevated heights of Gorda Peak. At its southern end, Devil’s Bay National Park provides a haven of relaxation, amid geothermal pools and mounds of scattered boulders. Secluded caves and rock pockets fill with seawater at the Baths, forming the perfect spot to sink into the welcoming water and unwind. Whether you choose one of the beaches here or head to the island’s plethora of other options, chances are you'll only be able to resist the call of the waves for so long. With tempting temperatures and electric blue overtones, the seas here are the quintessential Caribbean experience. Snorkelers also have rich pickings among crystal clear diving sites - blossoming with colorful fish and sea life.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Conception Island is an uninhabited island in the Bahamas, and a protected Bahamas National Land and Sea Park. The approximately 3 square-mile island is pristine, with idyllic powder white beaches and crystal-clear water. Conception island is an important nesting location for seabirds and a hatching site for green sea turtles. Snorkelers and divers will see a wide array of tropical fish, among them Queen Anglefish, Nassau Groupers, Rainbow Parrotfish and Blue Tangs. Lucky visitors may get to see wild dolphin that frequent the area at times.

It’s time to channel your inner Moneypenny and James Bond, as there is no more romantic destination in the Bahamas than Harbour Island. Little has changed on this tiny slip of a place since the 1960s when Ian Fleming (and, of course, Sean Connery) made it famous in the iconic Thunderball. So if you come here looking for action and after-dark activities, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Harbour Island is just three miles long and half a mile wide. This tiny paradise, located 88 kilometers (and several decades) away from Nassau is the epitome of exotic. The tropical heat, coupled with the gentle sea breeze – not to mention the almost evangelical approach to island life – makes Harbour Island unforgettable. It is impossible not to love everything it offers – from the quirky jumble of shops, cafés, and restaurants to the town’s two streets. Modernity has arrived in one form, however; recently some smart boutique hotels have popped up, adding a touch of St. Barts chic to the otherwise charmingly archaic island. The long swathes of pink sand beaches, the east of the island, with their occasional wild, galloping horses are enough to make anyone’s heart sing with joy, and give Harbour Island the edge over its other Bahamian sisters. The pink hue comes from a microscopic organism (foraminifera) with a reddish-pink shell that tinges everything around it. This, coupled with the sea (which comes in every color of blue and green), gives Harbour Island the feeling of being in a vintage postcard. Or James Bond film.

Miles of sandy beaches, lively outdoor events, and a charming web of waterways help to make Fort Lauderdale a relaxed, vacation capital of Florida. The excitement is palpable, as cruise ships and gleaming yachts gather in the harbour ahead of adventures and luxury journeys across the waves. Soak up the relaxed atmosphere in the canal-laced 'Venice of America,' as you enjoy big label shopping on Las Olas Boulevard - or visit fancy restaurants and bustling art galleries. For a wilder experience, the swampy wetlands of the Everglades sprawl away nearby. Fort Lauderdale Beach is a lively stretch of sand, bordered by palm trees, and sprinkled with crowds enjoying the Sunshine State's generous weather.