Featured holiday Nevis and Antigua two-centre holiday Caribbean

You fly from London to St Kitts with British Airways. At St Kitts you are escorted by car and boat for the journey from the airport to your hotel on Nevis.

You have four full days on the island of Nevis. Montpelier Plantation & Beach is a chic plantation house with a modern twist, offering a historical setting in the mountains as well as a private Caribbean beach. This former sugar plantation is surrounded by exuberant flowering shrubs and features the Great House. The walls of which are adorned with huge pieces of modern art containing a shady drawing room, library and outside dining terrace. Three restaurants serve an enticing combination of Nevisian and European cuisine, using local produce, lobster and fish. A choice of guest rooms are dotted along the hillside. The elegant Plantation Rooms offer a little more luxury than the Premier Rooms and have recently been updated. At the hotel are a good-sized swimming pool, sun terrace and bar where lunches are served. Montpelier has its own beach area on a beautiful stretch of Pinney's Beach, reached by complimentary shuttle, with six private shady cabanas, a new bar lounge and complimentary snorkels, kayaks and mountain bikes. Re-energise during the day with a swim, cycle or kayak and, as the sun sets, step back in time to a simpler way of life. The Spa at Montpelier embraces the tranquillity of the location where the energy from the mountain helps rejuvenate both mind and body. In recent years, a great deal of updating has made the hotel more contemporary without losing its traditional cosy feel. On Nevis seek out the Green Vervet Monkeys who live in the mango trees on the estate or watch and listen for the Green-throated Carib Hummingbirds. Hike or cycle along rainforest trails to the top of Nevis Peak. On Pinney’s beach ride horseback across white sand, or at Indian Castle Beach, watch the beachfront horse racing. Snorkel or scuba-dive over reefs, shipwrecks, and underwater caverns, marvelling at the colourful tropical fish and the intriguing landforms. Combine relaxation with outdoor activity at the Robert Trent Jones Jr. Four Seasons Golf Course, which follows the undulations of the hilly landscape, with the sea and volcano as your backdrop. Perhaps visit the botanical gardens near Charlestown, set very close to Figtree Church, in which Horatio Nelson married Fanny Nesbit, the former owner of the Nisbet Plantation. Ponds, fountains, and fruit terraces are hidden amidst dense tropical foliage, and authentic Thai cuisine is served in the gardens’ restaurant. On a Saturday morning, head into Charlestown for the lively Farmer’s Market, which provides an excellent insight into island life.

You will be transferred by car and boat to St Kitts airport for the Liat flight to Antigua. There is generally a flight from St Kitts to Antigua at about 15.00 hrs. The flight takes 30 minutes. When you reach Antigua, you’re transferred by private car to Blue Waters.

You have four full days on Antigua, staying at Blue Waters. This resort prides itself on the effortless blend of luxury and elegance, achieved through its combination of modern and historic architecture, light and airy rooms, and the pervading sense of privacy. Dotted around the 17-acre estate of tropical gardens, are hidden gems such as serene freshwater pools, an old sugar-mill, and secluded beach coves. Guests are free to use the complimentary water-sports facilities to explore the sea. Choose from snorkelling, windsurfing, and kayaking, or try all three. Motorised sports can also be arranged upon request, at a charge. After a thrilling morning on the water, relax in the hotel’s indulgent spa, which aims to establish a sense of relaxation for mind as well as body. The spa’s pool overlooks the sea, encasing you in a bubble only disrupted by the sea-salt breeze and birdsong. Many tours and excursions are available through the hotel, suiting the avid angler as well as those looking to see Antigua from the water. Choices range from sunset sails to lobster lunch cruises and sea-fishing trips. The rest of the island offers much in the way of attractive beaches and cultural sights, and we would recommend organising private travel to allow you to see the highlights. One unmissable port of call is Nelson’s Dockyard in the National Park of the same name. Forts dot the hilly landscape, including the eight-acre Fort George, whose battlements enclose over 30 cannons, as well as 18th and 19th century buildings and lookouts. This valuable insight into British and Caribbean maritime history is the perfect continuation from your earlier visit to Figtree Church. Be sure to spend time down by the harbour or take to the water to see the miraculous Pillars of Hercules. To pick up some traditional Caribbean souvenirs, take a trip to Heritage Quay and St John’s, Antigua’s capital, where there is a colourful fruit and vegetable market and boutique-style shops. The St John’s Museum will also be of interest to those interested in the geographical and human history of Antigua and Barbuda.

You have most of the day free before your transfer to Antigua airport for the return flight to London, arriving the next morning.