Antigua

What to do

If you like your history intermingled with a nice friendly dollop of sunset drinking, Antigua is the place to go. Start your day with a trip to the Antigua and Barbuda Museum in the country's capital of St John's, before heading to the island's south side to check out the old port of Nelson's Dockyard – a Georgian Naval dock which is atmospheric, historical and great for a beer with the locals.

Where to stay

If you're looking for a romantic getaway, you're in luck. Voted 'World's Most Romantic Resort' for many years, the six-star, all-suite Sandals Grande Antigua sits on the island's most famous beach, Dickenson Bay. It's part garden oasis, part hillside Mediterranean village.

Saint Lucia

What to do

St Lucia’s lush green hills make it the perfect playground for sports lovers. You can try anything during a holiday on the island – zip-lining if you’re feeling a bit tame, or mountain-biking for something much sweatier. And that’s no problem: the beaches are just the place to cool off. We’re not talking about sunbathing, obviously – get in that sea, because there’s kayaking, windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding and much, much more to try. Tired yet? You’ll find some cool little places to relax after all that exertion: head to the southern end of Reduit Beach for lively drinks with locals.

Where to stay

Sandals has three incredible resorts on the island of Saint Lucia. Try Sandals Regency La Toc for glamour and golf, Sandals Halcyon Beach for a unique escape to a romantic tropical utopia and Sandals Grande St. Lucian for an exclusive stay on a private peninsula, complete with nightly entertainment and world-class watersports.

Barbados

What to do

On this island, rum is more than just a spirit – it’s at the heart of the sun-drenched culture. Start at John Moore Bar in Weston – the front sits on a potholed road while the back looks out over a beach so dazzling you’ll put money on it having been Photoshopped. Just 1,799 to go – there are over 1,800 rum shops on this island, and at a couple of dollars a drink you’ll be able to take down a few...

Where to stay

Set to open this December, Sandals Royal Barbados will be one of the most luxurious, innovative and exclusive all-inclusive resorts in the world. With stunning ocean view infinity pools, a huge Red Lane® Spa, swim-up suites and some of the best butlers in the Caribbean, it's the perfect place to soak up the laid-back vibe of the region without having to lift a finger.

Jamaica

What to do

Of all the Caribbean islands, Jamaica is the place to go for music. It spawned reggae, dancehall and ska, all of which made their way to the UK and the US, but it’s also home to roots Caribbean styles such as calypso and mento. Today, the scene in Jamaica is completely eclectic, and the best place to go to experience as much of it as you can is a music festival. The biggest is Montego Bay’s Reggae Sumfest (reggaesumfest.com), which takes place every July and features a huge line-up of acts from Jamaica and beyond.

Where to stay

With seven adults-only Sandals resorts and two family friendly resorts by Beaches, Jamaica's very well served for white-sand luxury. Stay at Sandals Montego Bay for famously eclectic food from nine gourmet restaurants, and visit the other resorts when you fancy a different vibe, because with Sandals, you can Stay at One and Play at All.

Grenada

What to do

Grenada is known as one of the best places for deep-sea fishing in the entire Caribbean, the waters surrounding the island teeming with tons of marlin and yellowfin tuna. There’s a conservation aspect to this, too – all marlin and sailfish are released back into the sea. Struggling to catch anything? Don't worry, you can have a snooze on the deck while someone else gets on with it, and you might just run into a pod of dolphins or a whale along the way.

Where to stay

Opened in 2014, Sandals LaSource Grenada is a paradise of cascading waterfalls, meandering river pools and balcony suites with super-luxe infinity-edge plunge pools. Sitting at the heart of Grenada's tropical Pink Gin Beach, it's one of Sandals' most captivating places to stay.

Bahamas

What to do

With more than 700 islands, the Bahamas is a great place to island-hop and explore, but its relatively shallow waters also offer some of the Caribbean's best spots for a spot of scuba action. Head over to the idyllic island of Nassau and explore the culture of the nation's capital before putting on your flippers and diving into the warm, crystal-clear waters which are home to plenty of living reefs, blue holes and eerie cave dives that are great for both beginners and seasoned divers.

Where to stay

Set on the northern coastline of Nassau, Sandals Royal Bahamian is the perfect place to make the most of unlimited scuba diving if you're already PADI-certified. As well as plenty of stunning swim-up suites, the resort has an exclusive offshore island with two beaches which you can reach by kayak, sailboat or motor launch in minutes.