The Caribbean - the Most Exotic Winter Destination
The chain of islands variously known as the West Indies, the Windward Islands or the Lesser Antilles are possibly a little slice of heaven here on Earth. Warm all year round yet cooled by the Atlantic breezes, they are a fabulous and exotic destination. The abundance of verdant vegetation inland and soft white sand along the shores is captivating.
The bigger islands are the most developed for tourism, and they have many top class centres with restaurants, bars, shops and nightlife. Every island has it quiet spots too, where visitors can relax in beautiful surroundings in utter tranquility, then pop into a beach bar for a beer, some delicious local cuisine and the exciting music and dance of the islands.
Someone once told us there are 365 beaches on Antigua: one for every day of the year. It seems unlikely, but it would be nice to spend a year testing the theory. However many beaches there may really be, there is an infinite variety. One day you could be sampling exclusive places like English Harbour and Jolly Harbour, where the super-yachts moor. The next day you could be on a deserted strand with only the crabs and pelicans for company. No matter which, the weather is warm,the food is good and the locals are friendly.
Sailing is BIG on Antigua so there are many important regattas during the year, like Antigua Sailing Week and the Classic Regatta, and many of the Trans-Atlantic races finish in Antigua. A visit to English Harbour could satisfy every desire: a tour of the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, stopping-off at an exclusive bar or restaurant, gaze at the beautiful yachts backed by the green hills and blue, blue water, and finish it off with snorkelling at Pigeon Point beach.
A little further south is St Lucia, an island of enchanting little towns, stunning beaches and bays and countless banana plantations. A spectacular landmark of St Lucia visible for miles around are Petit Piton and Gros Piton, twin volcanic spires majestically soaring out of the sea with waves crashing around their bases. A great way to see them is from the water, so take a boat trip along the coast to the Pitons. Soufriere town is located in the caldera of a dormant volcano and the surrounding area is geo-thermally active. A walk around the Soufriere Sulphur Springs and the associated fumaroles is a great way to get up close and personal with the forces of nature that created St Lucia.
Towards the bottom of the island chain is St Vincent and the Grenadines. The biggest island is St Vincent, yet it is relatively undeveloped and has a vast area of unspoilt beauty. Black sand beaches line the leeward (west) coast While the white sand beaches on the south coast and the wild rocky shoreline of the windward (west) side of the island with its secluded pools are all worth the visit. The remaining islands are tiny, yet so, so beautiful you feel you have to pinch yourself. 
Perhaps the jewel in the crown is the world-famous Tobago Cays: three uninhabited islands joined by shallow turquoise water filled with vibrant coral and colourful fish; a snorkeller’s paradise. The tiniest island of all is Mopion where your boat skipper will pick his way carefully between the coral heads to land you on a sandy island just 20 metres long and occupied by nothing more than a single palm umbrella.
A little way off from the main island chain is Barbados, set a little way out into the Atlantic. Drawing on its English, African and West Indian roots, Barbados has a distinctive cultural identity. This is found in the historical sites (take an island tour), the music (just pop in to any bar), the food (everything from Michelin Stars to beach barbecues use the rich harvest of the sea) and the various festivals and events that take place throughout the year.
One island we list that is not part of the Windward Islands is the Dominican Republic, the second largest country in the Caribbean, with a history going back 500 years. Most famous for the big all-inclusive resorts, the Dominican Republic has room enough for everyone, so lovers of little hotels are well catered for. There’s opulent luxury and back-to-nature simplicity, but every hotel on our pages is carefully chosen to provide a top-quality holiday experience. The beaches are long, sandy, palm-fringed and mostly deserted. Yet this is more than just a place to chill-out, so visitors can take a trip into town and dance with the locals to the pounding beat of the merengue, explore the ancient buildings of the island’s colonial past, enjoy the unique gastronomy or go on an eco-adventure in the national parks, mountains and rivers of the interior.
Apart from the distance there can only be one downside to the Caribbean and that is "hurricane season". We don't recommend visiting between June and November, although we've done so at least twice ourselves and never had a problem.
28 Dec 2022, 10:45