3. Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica This is a great little pocket beach in a narrow-necked and utterly gorgeous cove near Port Antonio on the east side of the island. Part of it is fresh water where a stream fl ows into the beach offering bathers a cool dip. Lush rainforest surrounds the cove, a quietlocation offering simplicity, peace and tranquillity. Frenchman’s Cove Resort, with its spacious and charming villas, offers comfortable, moderately priced accommodation, and is ideal for children. Queen Elizabeth II stayed there (at number 18) in the 1970s. Many regard this uncrowded cove as a small corner of paradise. A small restaurant by the beach offers largely Jamaican fare.

 4. Godahl Beach, Canouan Until it started winning awards last year, this was one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean. It was named ‘Beach of the Year’ by Andrew Harper, the travel writer who visits incognito, while the Travel Channel voted it number fi ve of its ‘The World’s 21 Sexiest Beaches.’ Open only to guests at Raffl es Resort, which owns a quarter of the three-square-mile island, it offers not just a serene location but also privacy and own space. Delicious Cuban–Caribbean cuisine is available at the open-plan restaurant. The sand is silkily soft while the sea’s colour is that gorgeous mix of aquamarine, fluorescent and navy blue. As you look out from Godahl, you see two thatched huts built into the sea and reachable only by boat. These are spas, offering not just fabulous massages and other treatments but also views through the glass fl oors of the coral and fi sh below – for one of the largest coral reefs in the world surrounds Canouan. Its golf course also offers magnifi cent views up and down the Grenadines.

5. Grand Anse Beach,Grenada This famous beach at the southwestern end of the island is nearly two miles in length, and notable for a variety of reasons. Apart from the quality of its sand and the excellent swimming in its calm, clear and sheltered waters, it has stunning views of the capital St George’s to the north as well as the beautiful mountainous scenery behind it. The beach, easily accessed by road or water taxi, is also very strong on its water sports. A scuba dive centre will take you to many good dive and snorkelling sites nearby; you can water or jet ski; and banana boat or tube rides are readily available. Moreover, it’s a lovely beach to walk along, giving you the chance to meet the famously friendly Grenadians who visit the beach in numbers, especially at weekends. The string of good hotels situated off the beach offer dining for all sizes of wallet, and there are some fun beach bars for modestly priced drinks or snacks. A local craft market sells Grenada’s plethora of spices, such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger.