BARBADOS

What: A rum punch-packed adventure in the Caribbean

Where: The Crane, Barbados

How much: From £205 per night, staying in a junior suite; thecrane.com. Return flights from £390; virginatlantic.com

Barbados? Isn’t that where Simon Cowell goes on holiday? Yes, but don’t let that put you off. Focus instead on the fact that this small idyllic Caribbean island is where Rihanna calls home, has year-round sunshine, breathtaking white-sand beaches and amazing cuisine.

Sold. So, what should I get up to?

Start exploring, stat. Adventure Island Safari does exactly what it says on the tin – the off-road experience takes you along the wild and rugged East Coast and into secret spots you’ll have all to yourself. Next, it’s all aboard for a Silver Moon cruise. If you’re emphatically not a cruiser, don’t be fooled. This is not a cruise liner but a luxury catamaran, upon which you’ll have the chance to swim with sea turtles, deep dive into a shipwreck or unwind with a rum punch on deck. If hiking is more your vibe, try Forest Bathing at Coco Hill, a 53-acre forest of bamboo groves and royal palms where you can stock up on bananas, coffee, cocoa, herbs and spices.

Tell me more about The Crane...

The Crane’s recently renovated Serenity Spa makes it a great choice for a beach break with a side of wellness. I opted for a 95-minute Traveller’s Paradise full-body massage on arrival – and this traveller was in paradise. By the time I visited the resort’s Serenity Bar and sipped on a signature smoothie, I was well and truly on Barbados time.

Am I in danger of getting bored?

Bored? Behave – you’re in Barbados. There are six incredible restaurants to try, from award-winning Japanese to hearty Italian. For a more authentic Bajan dining experience, try L’azure, where I Oded on authentic local dishes for brunch, like cou-cou with flying fish, macaroni pie, fried plantains and locally caught mahi-mahi, washed down with a rum punch (naturally). If you need any further persuading, the resort boasts five (count ’em) outdoor pools to keep you busy, a tennis court (including a pro to partner with), a gym and a casual 40 acres of coast-adjacent gardens to explore. A word of warning: the clifftop yoga with on-site instructor Donna will basically ruin yoga for you forevermore. Once you’ve done downward dog with the ocean breeze in your hair and the sunset in your eyeline, nothing will ever compare.