Virgin Islands

There is little that can top the visual appeal of an island archipelago and the Virgin Islands are no exception. Diminutive individual islands follow one after the other, their lush and hilly interiors yielding quite breathtaking views, their alabaster sands and turquoise waters heaven on earth for beachcombers, scubadivers and yachtsmen.

These are definitely islands where one tends to rise and retire early, the pleasures of the great outdoors and romantic candlelit dinners cancelling out any need for satellite TVs or lively nightlife. And thanks to the recent arrival of some money-no-object spas, you’re guaranteed to return home feeling far more together than when you arrived.

Equally irresistible, not to mention unique, are the island-hopping opportunities that abound here. Sailing yachts, motorised Boston Whalers and even scheduled ferries enable one to flit happily from one island to another, most yielding nothing more than a rustic beach bar, but some like sleepy Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and bustling St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands offering quite a lot more.