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ANTIGUA - Antigua is the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Island. The island boasts 365 glorious beaches, a
near-perfect climate and plenty to occupy the visitor. Antigua is home to St Johns, the island's capital, and the city's
skyline is dominated by the magnificently evocative white Baroque towers of St John's Cathedral. Built in 1845, the church
is now in its third incarnation, as earthquakes in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures. The towers are the first
sight of Antigua for about half of the island's visitors each year, many of whom arrive by boat. With its recently completed
cruise ship dock and many hotels, St John's is a lively hub for shopping and dining. Most tourist activity is confined to the
harbourfront complexes of Heritage Quay, a favourite for cruise ship passengers, and the more traditional Redcliffe Quay.
For those interested in the early history of the island, there is the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, housed in the colonial
Court House (circa 1750). The museum displays artefacts from the colonial period and from the earlier Arawak settlers who
lived on the islands between 35 and 1100 AD. On Friday and Saturday mornings, there is a vibrant farmers market on the
southern edge of the city, where folk crafts, colourful tropical fruits, and a buzzing crowd make for a lively morning.
Antigua's highest point is Boggy's Peak at 1,319 feet (402m), but the island is mostly flat and covered with sugar cane,
tropical fruit trees, palms and exotic flowers. For those tired of lazing on the beach, there is sailing, diving, snorkelling,
beachcombing and other leisurely pursuits on offer.

BARBUDA - Barbuda has been left largely undeveloped, open to be enjoyed in its pristine natural state. The island is
renowned for its long empty beaches where it is still possible to leave footprints in virgin sand. The breathtaking pink sand
beaches of the south-western shore stretch as far as 10 miles (16km) without interruption and are lapped by the gentle
Caribbean waters, while those on the island's eastern shore, facing the Atlantic, are somewhat rougher, although still
outstanding for beachcombing. Most of the island is surrounded by a coral barrier reef that provides a rich and colourful
marine life and is excellent for snorkelling. There are a number of small resorts on the island that offer watersports
facilities, golf and tennis. Nature lovers will find an abundance of wildlife on the island. The wooded interior is home to
fallow deer, wild pig and over 170 species of bird while in the island's north-western lagoon is the Bird Sanctuary. Here you
will find over 5,000 frigate birds, the most aerial of waterbirds, possessing a massive five-foot (2m) wingspan. Sometimes
known as the 'man o' war bird', the frigate bird harasses less agile flyers like pelicans, egrets, and cormorants until they drop
their catch. Barbuda can be reached easily from Antigua, either by air (a 20-minute flight, twice daily) or by boat (in three
hours).

ARUBA - Just 14 miles (25km) north of Venezuela, Aruba is the smallest and most Western island of the Dutch Antilles,
which, known locally as the ABCs, also include Bonaire and Curaçao. With its miles of white, sandy beaches,
turquoise-blue waters and guaranteed sun, Aruba is a great destination for sun-worshippers and a popular stop for cruise
ship passengers. Over a million visitors arrive on this tiny island each year enticed by its luxury resorts, first-class restaurants,
24-hour casinos and excellent watersports facilities.

Most visitors stay either in the capital, Oranjestad, or just to the north in one of the many resort complexes on Eagle and
Palm beaches. The remainder of the island is much less developed and in the arid interior there is nothing more
substantial than cacti, divi-divi trees, contorted by the consistently strong trade winds, and herds of goats. For those who
demand more than simply soaking up the sun there are plenty of activities available. There is good diving and snorkelling
along the reef on the protected leeward coast and windsurfing is excellent a little further north at Fisherman's Hut.
Deep-sea fishing can be arranged through many of the hotels.

BAHAMAS - Graced with extensive beaches bleached white by the year-round sun and surrounded by turquoise waters
filled with varied and colourful sea life, the Bahamas is a Mecca for divers, sailors and sun-worshippers alike. Although
often thought to be part of the Caribbean, the Bahamas is actually an archipelago of 700 islands with thousands of small
'cays' strung out in the ocean starting 55 miles (89km) from Miami in the Atlantic Ocean.

The islands' first inhabitants were the Lucayan Indians who lived there from the 9th century until after Columbus
discovered the islands in 1492, his first step into the New World. The resulting exploitation led to the native population
being virtually wiped out. For two hundred years until independence in 1987 the Bahamas was a British Crown Colony and
a strong British influence can still be seen in the architecture and culture. However, the mood of the island is now more
Caribbean with a strong American influence, particularly in the capital, Nassau.

Due to its proximity to the US, the Bahamas has become an offshore banking and financial centre. Tourism however
remains its most important industry. The long stretches of empty beaches, clear waters and excellent facilities have made
the Bahamas a popular destination throughout the year and the varied attractions of each of the islands ensure that there
is something for everyone.

BARBADOS - The pearl of the Caribbean, is the eastern-most Caribbean island. It is actually an enormous and ancient
coral reef that was formed approximately one million years ago. It has been dubbed 'the real fantasy island', an
appellation that points to its exotic resorts and glorious beaches. It enjoys 340 days of sunshine a year, numerous
well-developed amenities, a throbbing nightlife and friendly inhabitants, making it one of the most desirable holiday
destinations.

The islanders call themselves 'Bajans', West Indian by descent, although largely shaped by English custom and culture.
These 'influences' pervade much of the island, most evident in the Anglican stone churches (the island is divided into
numerous parishes) and in the many cricket games played on the village greens. The 'Little England' legacy dates back to
colonial days when the sugar industry reigned supreme. Barbados gained self-government in 1966, and now tourism rather
than sugar is the mainstay of the local economy.

The island is a pear-shaped, 20-mile (32km) stretch of soft coral, which is permeated by water and over time has formed
fascinating underground caverns. The coral reefs enveloping most of the island entice tourists to its picturesque shores.

BERMUDA - Britain's oldest colony, Bermuda, is a land of pink, sandy beaches, clear turquoise seas and picturesque
old colonial towns. It is hard now to imagine that sailors knew it as Devil's Island, but the combination of shallow waters
and coral reefs caused many a shipwreck in the past. Today, however, the reefs provide a wonderful playground for
swimming, snorkelling, and diving.

Bermuda is an archipelago comprised of approximately 200 coral islands and islets located 650 miles (1,045km) off the
east coast of America, in the Atlantic. The mainland consists of the seven main islands linked to each other by causeways
and bridges and stretches just 20 miles (32km) from tip to tail.

Most visitors to the islands are American citizens who think of it fondly as very English in character. British visitors on the
other hand feel that it has a strongly American flavour. In truth, Bermuda has a distinct atmosphere that draws its
influences from American and British traditions merged with local island culture. Business attire might constitute a jacket
and tie with Bermuda shorts, while bikinis are banned further than 25 feet (7.5m) away from the water!

With its mixture of colonial style and its proximity to America, Bermuda has become a centre of high finance as well as
one of the world's most coveted holiday destinations. Generous tax advantages and satellite communications have
induced a stream of major corporations to set up offices on the island, and have helped the country become one of the
richest, per capita, in the world.

CAYMAN ISLANDS - Renowned for beautiful beaches, excellent diving and offshore banking, the Cayman Islands
are a group of three islands situated between Cuba and Jamaica, only a 90-minute flight from Miami. Grand Cayman is
the largest and most developed of the islands and the location of the capital, George Town. It is hard to believe that
among the buildings that line George Town's harbour are 500 banks making up the world's fifth largest offshore financial
centre.

Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are 70 miles (113km) northeast of Grand Cayman and are much smaller and even more
relaxed. Visitors don't come here in suits; the little business that goes on revolves around diving and catering for the world's
best bone-fishing.

Discovered by Columbus in 1503 and explored by Sir Francis Drake in 1586, it was not until 1670 that the islands came
under British rule. They remain a British territory, and the Queen's picture is still displayed proudly, but the US exerts the
dominant influence over what it considers its backyard. For years the islands were a base for pirates who delighted in the
remoteness of Grand Cayman. A bonus was the island's absolutely flat topography, which ensures that its profile is
practically invisible against the horizon, making it the perfect hide-away for nefarious characters

CURACAO - Part of the Netherlands Antilles group along with St Maarten, Curaçao is the largest island in the
archipelago, an arid and largely flat island stretching about 40 miles (64km) in length. The southern coastline is scattered
with spectacular bays, beaches and secluded coves and is more inhabited than the rough northern shore where the
weather-beaten terrain takes the brunt of the wind, and cliffs are pounded by the rough surf. The best beaches are
scattered along the southwest coast where the calm, crystal clear water also makes it a tropical paradise for divers,
snorkellers and swimmers; towards the east are the largest bays, where the main port and historic capital city Willemstad is
situated.

Curaçao is an ideal holiday destination for underwater lovers, as the excellent visibility, warm water, active reef
conservation and variety of dive and snorkelling sites ranks the island among the most popular dive locations in the
Caribbean. On land there are also several interesting sites to visit, including the 'living' Hato Caves where centuries-old
stalagmites and stalactites are still being formed; the protected wildlife preserve of Christoffel Park encompassing Mt
Christoffel, the highest point on the island, with fantastic views over the island from among the park's exotic flowers, bent
divi divi trees and blue iguanas; and the dramatic caverns carved out of the limestone cliffs by the crashing waves within
Shete Boka National Park.

The capital city and seat of government for the Netherlands Antilles, Willemstad has been a major international trading
centre for centuries, its society a mixture of different nationalities, races and cultures and its shops filled with goods from
around the world. Old Willemstad dates from the 18th and 19th centuries and is one of the most remarkable historic areas
in the Caribbean with charming alleys and superb Dutch colonial architecture housing restaurants, museums, shops and
hotels. Many of the beautiful Dutch buildings have been adapted to life in a hot and breezy climate and sport
Caribbean-style shutters, porches and verandas, lending further charm to the cheerfully painted historic structures.

Whether the days are spent in sun-soaked relaxation or by taking advantage of the endless activities on offer, on land or in
the water, when the sun begins to set the trend is to slip into one of the bars, where happy hour is just the beginning of the
night to come.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - There are two sides to the Dominican Republic, just like there are two sides of the
Caribbean island of Hispaniola on which the Republic is situated. The Dominican Republic shares the island with
neighbouring Haiti. Inside the confines of the many resort hotels along the beautiful coastline, tourists languish in luxury,
sipping cocktails under the palm trees and bathing in beautiful blue lagoons. The other face of the Dominican Republic
can be found along the country roads, among the sugar cane, coffee and cocoa bean fields, where people labour in the
sun and men play dominoes outside tumble-down shacks. For the local people (there are 8.5 million people on this
well-populated part of Hispaniola island) tourism is an important source of income, and the thousands of visitors who come
to enjoy the resorts and explore the Spanish Colonial legacy in this country 'where America began' are welcome.

The South Coast contains some of the country's bigger cities and national parks. The capital, Santo Domingo, was the first
Spanish settlement in the Americas. Christopher Columbus initiated the first European New World settlement here in 1496.
His legacy is preserved in the bricks and mortar of the historic old section of Santo Domingo, which has been turned into
an entertaining and interesting Colonial 'theme park'. The other tourist spots in the Dominican Republic are the northern
Amber Coast region around Puerta Plata, the beautiful Samana Peninsula, and the resort communities of the east coast,
where stretches of pristine tropical beach have been bought and developed into all-inclusive resorts. However, those who
take the trouble to explore a little behind the scenes will find plenty of unspoilt tropical paradise off the beaten track in the
Dominican Republic, and locals ready and willing to offer warm hospitality.

JAMAICA - It is easy to wax lyrical about the island of Jamaica in the north of the Caribbean. The glorious glow of its
sunsets, the unique and engaging ways of its people, the alluring white sandy beaches and lush green mountains, the
sparkling waterfalls. All can inspire the poet in anyone. The beauty of this island paradise has drawn visitors for centuries:
first it was the wealthy few who were privileged to enjoy the unspoilt tropical delights of Jamaica. Today the northern and
western coastlines of the island bristle with tourist resorts and 'all-inclusive' hotels, and natural attractions have been
commercialised to cope with the crowds and make the most out of the tourists.

Somehow the commercialisation has not spoiled Jamaica, however. It still presents a magnificent kaleidoscope of colour
and beauty that makes holidaymakers sad to leave, and vow to return.

The name Jamaica originates from the pre-colonial native inhabitants, the Arawak Indians, to whom 'Xaymaca' meant
'land of wood and water'. There is little left of the Indian culture: after being discovered by Columbus in 1494 Jamaica was
ruled by the Spanish for 150 years, and then by the British for the next 300 years. Independence came in 1962 to the
Jamaican people who are now a warm blend of different cultures and nationalities, though significantly African based
because of the influence of the imported slaves, who endeavoured to keep their tribal traditions alive while being forced to
labour on the island plantations.

There is, however, a little trouble in paradise: the Jamaican people on the whole are poor, and very reliant on tourism for
their living. Some visitors object to being harassed by vendors, unlicensed taxi drivers, hair braiders and the like. Crime is
also a problem. These minor irritations however should not keep anyone away from savouring the spirit of Jamaica, which
is as rich as the lilt of the local patois and the rhythms of the reggae music for which the island is famous.