Bahamas

Once the stamping ground of pirates and bandits, Nassau has shucked off its swashbuckling past to become a city of glitz and glamour with a real Bahamian kick. Strains of Calypso music harmonise with the clip clop of the colourful horse-drawn surreys against a backdrop of sun-speckled beaches, resorts and markets.

However you spend your day, whether exploring the reefs or checking out the high-rolling action at the casinos, by the time the sun creeps over the yardarm you'll be ready for that all important glass of Bahama Mama.

There's nothing more exotic than a country composed of some 670 uninhabited islands and their shipwrecks, underwater caves and beautiful coral reefs. Unsurprisingly, the Bahamas are a haven for divers and snorkellers, as well as sun-seekers in general.

Possibly the most beautiful of the islands is the shoestring-shaped Eleuthra. Lush rolling hills, quaint fishing villages and large silky expanses of empty beaches, make it the ideal retreat. Further north is the dame of the islands, Grand Bahama, home to a staggering array of must-dos. Topping the list is exploring the 'blue holes' in Lucayan National Park, frolicking with dolphins in Sanctuary Bay or taking a boat trip to the spectacular reefs of Peterson's Cay.