St Kitts, and its trailing little brother, Nevis, have a small town charm that is the flip side to the brash and excitable character present elsewhere in the West Indies.
Neither island rely on tourism as their mainstay, which might explain the refreshing lack of hard sell. Most visitors are on their second or third stay, having found here something exciting enough to be labelled foreign, but familiar enough to feel homely.
The two islands are just a few miles apart, and the scenic Pinney's Beach alone makes a visit to Nevis a must.
The jealously guarded British colonies of St Kitts and Nevis were prized for their highly productive sugar and tobacco plantations. It's this same fecundity - largely due to their volcanic nature - that attracts visitors today.
Ecotourism has created a sustainable tourist industry around the islands' intact coral reefs, rocky coastlines and deep rainforests.
Make sure you hire a guide to take you through the tangled vines of the cloudforest, habitat of the green vervent monkey, at the foot of the dormant volcano of Mount Liamuiga.
The waters around the islands are littered with wrecks, many of which are hundreds of years old. Visibility is excellent, particularly on Coconut Tree Reef and Monkey Reef, and the numerous beginners and intermediate dive sites are known for their thriving coral beds and the regular appearance of sting ray, turtles, nurse sharks and lizard fish.
More urban pleasures can be enjoyed in the towns of Basseterre and Charlestown. Excellent fish restaurants serve island cuisine and in spite of the provincial Georgian architecture and Catholic stone churches, there's the opportunity to enjoy a Carribbean sunrise after a sleepless night of calypso if your visit coincides with the week-long December carnival.
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