Travel

For a truly special holiday, it's hard to beat a gorgeous tropical island. However, many of these beauties across the world are now besieged by tourists who've all had the same idea. Mercifully, though, there are a few stunning getaway islands that remain relatively unspoilt paradises.

Where: Eastern Caribbean Sea

See: St Kitts is one place that manages to deviate from the Caribbean's usual sun and sand image. For the British and the French, this was the mother colony, the island from which all the other Caribbean islands were conquered. To delve into the convoluted history, the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park (www.brimstonehillfortress.org) is the place to go. A huge military instillation, this was known as the Gibraltar of the Caribbean for a good reason. Today there are museums, exhibitions and video presentations about the Fortress, but the main reason to go is the absolutely incredible views of the island's east coast. Nearby St Eustatius can also be spotted on the horizon.

Do: A large proportion of St Kitts is taken up with sugar cane, but not for much longer. The sugar industry finally died off in 2005 and the land has been nationalised, with much of it earmarked for development. Within a few years, therefore, it will be a very much changed landscape, and it's best to get in early. The ubiquitous taxi tours don't veer off the main road much, but it's possible to take a jeep safari along all the dirt tracks and through all the cane growing wild. Greg's Plantation Tour (www.gregsafaris.com) also visits old plantations, and explores the dark history of the island's slave trade.

Hang out: From on top of a hill, looking out over the South-West Peninsula, there are few better views in the world. A narrow strip of (rather bumpy) land separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. The island's best beaches are down here, and visitors can have them pretty much to themselves (well, apart from the wild monkeys and goats wandering past). Alas, the Peninsula is about to undergo a facelift – get there before the work starts on the resort complexes.

Stay: Rawlins Plantation Inn (www.rawlinsplantation.com), on the quieter north side of the island, manages the golden combination of sophistication, relaxation and romance. Set amongst extensive gardens, old plantation buildings (such as a windmill) have been converted into quality accommodation. LetsGo2 (www.caribbean.letsgo2.com/st-kitts-and-nevis or 0871 208 0093) is offering seven nights at Rawlins for from £719, including return flights from London Gatwick and transfers.

More information: www.stkitts-tourism.com

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