Miami to Miami

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.

Located closer to Havana than Miami Key West is synonymous for all that is fabulous. Whether it’s beaches back country or just a brilliant time that you’re after Florida’s most southern point holds a wealth of intrigue both past and present. Famed for its unique originality Key West is a condensation of the best of the sunshine state – fantastic weather laid back attitude deep-rooted history and masses of fantastic fresh seafood it’s little wonder that nobody ever wants to leave.Floating in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico the island has two very definite personalities: bookish and bizarre. On the one hand the literary festivals exquisite Caribbean architecture and splendid art galleries attract the bourgeoisie while on the other the eccentricity and reticence to be associated with “the mainland” attracts all kinds of “happies” –new era hippies. The two dichotomies live peacefully side by side and have done ever since travellers started arriving in the 1960s — Key West being one of the three big K’s on the hippie path to enlightenment (Kuta and Kathmandu are the others).But past the idiosyncrasies of the Key Westers and you will find an island that is literally brimming over with spectacular sights and wonderful wilderness. From Henry S. Truman’s Little White House and Ernest Hemmingway’s house and studio to botanical gardens and marine sanctuaries visitors will leave this fascinating island wanting more.Best seen by foot bike or boat this is an island to be explored al fresco.

Like so many of the islands in the Caribbean, 2017’s double whammy of hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated much of St. John. However, as relief funds get funnelled into rebuilding, normality is gradually being restored, and St. John version 2.0 is emerging - bolder, brighter and better.St. John’s small size might just give it the edge over other desert islands. The US purchased the tiny landmass (at just nine miles long, the island is the smallest of the three American Virgin Islands) from the West India and Guinea Company in 1917 and it remains under US govern to this day. Historically speaking however St. John is Danish, who colonised it for almost 250 years before its sale to America. The Virgin Island Nation park covers almost two-thirds the island, meaning visually St. John is stunning, and will remain that way for generations to come. This ‘gift’ to the world comes thanks to Laurence Rockefeller who in 1956 gave the 5,000 acres of lush forest to the people of the island, with the caveat that it become a national park. Thus, velvety green hills slope into picture perfect white sand beaches, which are ringed by turquoise seas.One very definite winner of the tourism hiatus since 2017 has been the marine wildlife. Underwater life was barely affected by the storms and the subsequent lack of tourism has allowed the eco-systems to propagate. The island’s abundant coral reefs were not overly affected by the storms and today the waters are teeming with sea turtles, reef sharks and sting rays.

Lush and lively, Antigua is a bedazzling Caribbean destination, gorged with sunshine and crisp white sand beaches. Historic forts, sparkling coastline, and dense rainforest all contribute to Antigua’s land of thrilling natural beauty. With its bright blue to turquoise sea gradients – the beaches are vibrant and plentiful and the island has no shortage to choose from, with a rumoured 365 options. Experience the beauty on horseback, as your ride pounds across the sands, and the wind whips through your hair. Choose to loll in a catamaran offshore, or lie back on a bed of the softest sand to soak it all in. Beach shacks cook up fresh seafood and spicy goat meat curries if you're feeling hungry. St John’s glows in the sunshine, with flamingo pink and baby blue paints boldly coating vivid Georgian buildings. Lively markets offer an authentic slice of Antiguan life, while museums celebrate the island’s revered cricketers like Viv Richards, and the story of independence. The whacks and whoops of makeshift cricket games hint at the island’s British history, and you can see more of this heritage at Falmouth Harbour - which was the centre of the British presence in the Caribbean. The area is still filled with sailers and dallying yachts, as well as the only working Georgian dockyard in the world. Built in 1725, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nelson's Dockyard, was led by the admiral Horatio Nelson himself and is a fascinating time warp. Hike up to viewpoints here, which reward with glorious views of the forest-clad inlets, craggy cliffs and pointed hills. The stone towers of sugar mills dot the island, and hint at the tragic history of slavery, amid the island's sugar trade past.

Stretching just over 20 km, Anguilla is the discrete gem of the Caribbean. Still to be feature in the spotlight of Caribbean tourism, the white-sanded beaches, pristine waters and palm trees of the island make it a paradisiac destination that regularly attracts the likes of many American actors such as Denzel Washington, Robert de Niro and more recently Brad Pitt. A must-see for the avid traveller.

St. Kitts verdant volcanic slopes rise from crystal clear Caribbean waters, promising a land of escape, relaxation and rejuvenation. A place for ‘limin’ - the local word for kicking back, Caribbean style, you’ll be welcomed to an island paradise blessed with swarming reefs, hidden white-sand beaches, and irresistible shallow seas. Bigger sibling to nearby Nevis, St. Kitts is a place of unrestrained natural beauty. Soak up the dreamy Caribbean bliss, or explore sprawling island rainforests, teeming with hummingbirds and the distant sounds of waterfalls, as you walk the island’s vine-tangled paths. A ride on Basseterre’s scenic sugar train is a rumbling, immersive journey through the heart of this Caribbean island of culture and vivid unspoiled scenery. Carriages that once transported crops of sugar cane to the city sweep around long curving bends, revealing a spectacular introduction to St. Kitts. The landscapes here are beautiful, and things are no less spectacular offshore, where glorious crystalline waters invite you to dive with turtles, and explore doomed wrecks like the River Taw ship – which has now exploded with marine life. In Basseterre itself, stop off to see the pea-green Berkeley Memorial clock, which stands in the Circus, surrounded by busy St. Kitts life. Independence Square is also waiting among the city’s charming Georgian buildings. Renamed from Pall Mall on the 19th of September 1983 - to celebrate the island’s independence - the pretty square gravitates around a colourful burbling fountain, and has a dark history, as a former slave market. Wary canons watch out over the waves far below at Brimstone Hill Fortress, a site of significant history, which dates back to 1690. Known as the ‘Gibraltar of the West Indies’ due to its importance at the heart of the British empire, St. Kitts was one of the first island in the West Indies to be colonised. Nowadays, its World Heritage Site fortress offers panoramic views along the coastline it was built to defend.

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 up 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. Snorkellers also have rich pickings among crystal clear diving sites - blossoming with colourful fish and sea life.

Beach masterpieces of silky white sand and sparkling water shifting from turquoise to royal blue welcome you to idyllic Grand Turk. Underwater ramparts of coral teem with vibrant marine life while tranquil beaches reward with a haven of relaxation. Part of the Turks and Caicos islands group an enchanting string of islands that share jaw-dropping natural beauty Grand Turk is a truly divine Caribbean escape. Your first port of call is always likely to be the blissful sand beaches that roll down to that trademark intense sea. Governor's Beach is a vision of pink sand lapped by teal waters and a perfect rendering of your most lavish imagination. Pillory Beach is another favoured option nestled a little further to the north. Graceful stingrays slide through the waters at Gibbs Cay and you can wander among huge queen conch shells strewn over its sands. Later sunset will burn and boom above as you taste fresh barbecued snapper mahi-mahi and lobster platters. The stunning coral reefs that attract keen divers from across the globe have been far less welcoming to ships historically and the wrecks that rest on the seabed attest to their hull-shredding credentials. Flashing out warnings and standing tall since 1852 Grand Turk Lighthouse is a true icon of this island. Wild donkeys and horses may join you as you roam below the rusting cast-iron tower which gazes out protectively over the North Reef.

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.