Caribbean Airlines

Spending time in Kingston is a city experience rather than sun-sand-and-sea. Jamaica’s capital city and business center lies on the southeast coast, between the Blue Mountains and a huge natural harbor. It’s one of those cities with an energy and atmosphere all its own, stemming largely from the reggae music and its offshoots that are heard everywhere, and the influence of the Rastafarians, both indigenous to Jamaica.

Barbados has been a favorite with visitors for more than a century, and has long experience in pleasing its guests. Orderly and well organized, it provides more tours, activities, events, festivals, sports on land and water, golden beaches, historic sites and fine restaurants than anyone could cover in a single vacation. This is the birthplace of rum and Rihanna, which shows that only good things come out of Barbados.

There are 700 islands in The Bahamas, and 2,000 tiny rocks and cays stretching from the Florida peninsula almost to Haiti, across more than 100,000 square miles of shallow tropical ocean. Visited by 6 million visitors a year, many on cruise ships, the main islands – especially New Providence, site of the capital Nassau, and Grand Bahama – are well prepared to entertain them.

St Lucia is a dramatic, mountainous island, its steep forested hillsides rising to 3,117 feet at their highest point and ringed with dazzling beaches and great diving waters. Its long list of activities ranges from snorkelling and cycling to turtle, whale and dolphin watching. Its season of festivals lasts from Jazz Week in May, through a three-week carnival season, to a creole and heritage festival in November.

Grenada has often been called the “spice island”, because that’s what it produces. It’s the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg; cinnamon, mace, coriander, ginger and cloves are among its other products. It’s also a very beautiful island, with 45 great sandy beaches, thick forests, dramatic waterfalls, and volcanic mountains almost 3,000 feet high. It is a popular retreat for divers and sailors, hikers and birders, as well as sun-seekers.

For those in pursuit of sun, sand and sea, Antigua is a perfect destination. With its fabulous beaches, upscale resorts, water-sports and regattas, fine food and nightlife, it attracts visitors year-round. Only 108 square miles in area, Antigua’s jagged coastline creates hundreds of bays, inlets and beaches to explore. Serene Barbuda, its smaller sister, is just as lovely.