Caribbean is hot to trot
JAMES HENDERSON reviews some of the islands ready to welcome tourists again following last year’s hurricanes
THE BAHAMAS
Made up of 700 slivers of emerald land – islands, cays and sandbars that disappear at high tide – set in an electric blue sea, the Bahamas have limitless, extraordinary sand.
Head for Nassau and New Providence, where Atlantis Resort’s Dolphin Cay is offering new snorkelling, paddleboard and kayaking with dolphin experiences in their 11-acre lagoon with beaches and connected pools.
But the most famous Bahamian animals nowadays are the swimming pigs. You can now wallow in the shallows with these friendly porkers on Rose Island (sandytoesbahamas.com), just 25 minutes from Nassau by boat.
● Travelbag (0203 139 7030/travelbag.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau from £1,599 (two sharing), room only. Price includes return flights from London Heathrow to Nassau. Bahamas tourism: Bahamas.co.uk
ANTIGUA
With blindingly white sand shelving gently into a jade sea, Antigua has superb beaches and a host of places to stay ranging from friendly inns, through lively all-inclusives to swanky super-luxury.
Once a base for the Royal Navy (definitely visit the atmospheric Nelson’s Dockyard), it is also a centre for sailing. But the way to explore is on the new beach-bar trail.
Trace your way around the island, from elegant restaurants on secluded coves to buzzing bars on lively strands, but be sure to end up in the southwest, where Turners and OJ’s, with its rustic wooden deck and fishing net decor, have the finest sunset view.
Antigua is definitely open for business, as seen before Christmas with the revamped UB40 classic Come Back Darling, filmed on the island.
● Kenwood Travel (020 7749 9245/kenwoodtravel. co.uk) offers seven nights at the Starfish Jolly Beach Resort from £825 (two sharing), all inclusive. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick to Antigua. Resort transfers, £95 return. Antigua tourism: visitantiguabarbuda.com
ST LUCIA
St Lucia is the Caribbean’s romantic isle – in the colonial wars it was so
desirable it changed hands 14 times. The top honeymoon destination is loved for its physical beauty and incisor-shaped Piton mountains.
The latest way to explore is the See St Lucia Topless Mini Cooper Road Trip (minicooperroadtrip.com) from £95, which will pick you up at your hotel and guide you to the island’s finest sights – with audio guide, binoculars, entrance fees, lunch, cold towels and onboard wifi.
Hayes & Jarvis (hayesandjarvis. co.uk) offers seven nights at The Body Holiday from £2,099 (two sharing), all inclusive. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to St Lucia and transfers. St Lucia tourism: stlucia.org
GRENADA
Grenada is one of the gentlest and prettiest islands in the region and the coves in its scalloped southern coastline have some of the region’s best beach bars.
Try the Aquarium for a lively afternoon and La Sagesse in its own perfect, undeveloped, palm-fringed cove – but don’t miss the island’s incredibly fertile interior.
Grenada was known as the Spice Isle and you will find groves of nutmeg, cinnamon and particularly cocoa (Grenadian beans are used by chocolatiers the world over).
See the forest from above with the zipline at Grenada High Wire (grenadahighwire.com) at Seven Sisters Falls.
Just Grenada (01373 814 214/ justgrenada.co.uk) offers seven nights at La Sagesse from £1,380 (two sharing), room only. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Grenada. Grenada tourism info: grenadagrenadines.com
BARBADOS
With its impeccable climate, Barbados has been a favourite British getaway for decades.
This year its Sugar and Rum season, which runs until April, includes everything from sugar and rum-based spa treatments and cooking classes, through factory visits, to Great House dinners.
There are even historical lectures – sugar was its most vital crop and the drink rumfustian its first export.
Explore the island’s back roads in dune buggies with Off Road Fury Barbados or fly across the waters of Carlisle Bay with a jet pack through Jet Blade Barbados (jetblade barbados.com).