Barbados

Barbados wears its history as the Caribbean's grande dame lightly, and hosts like nobody else in the region. The west coast, the fabled platinum coast, lines up calm turquoise water, powder beaches and hotels that have been perfecting service since the golden age of travel. The east coast answers with wild Atlantic surf and cliffs made for long lunches with a view. In between: rum. This is its birthplace, and touring Mount Gay or St Nicholas Abbey, then arguing about the best rum shop, is essential fieldwork. Fridays mean the Oistins fish fry, where the whole island gathers over grilled marlin and music. Add turtle swims, catamaran days, cricket chat with strangers and a genuinely warm Bajan welcome. Barbados is polished without being precious, lively without being loud.