For sheer atmosphere, St Kitts and Nevis' rambling plantation inns offer, bar none, the islands' most captivating getaways. If you want to spend your days relaxing on a verandah with a good book, surrounded by old-world charm, head for St Kitts' northern section, and Nevis Gingerland region, where you'll find the largest concentration of inns.

With the exception of Nevis' Pinney's and Nisbet , the islands' beaches are nowhere near as grand as the sandy stretches found in other parts of the Caribbean, and many of St Kitts' are black volcanic sand. Still, there are a good number to choose from, especially in St Kitts' Frigate Bay area, and the marvellously undeveloped South-East Peninsula . Nevis' options are fewer, but less crowded, and ideal if privacy ranks high on your list - the island is popular with celebrities for exactly this reason.

Brilliant marine life and submerged shipwrecks provide excellent diving conditions off the islands, particularly on the Caribbean side. Exhilarating hiking trails head into inland rainforests and up to the summits of Mount Liamuiga and Mount Nevis.

Basseterre and Charlestown , St Kitts' and Nevis' respective capitals, hold some interesting Caribbean heritage, including charming traditional skirt-and-blouse style houses, as well as British and French influences.