Crystal Cove Hotel

Highway 1, Barbados

Just 15 minutes’ drive from the capital, Bridgetown, Crystal Cove resembles a colourful, neo-traditional Bajan chattel house village. Eighty-eight guest rooms and suites overlook three lagoon swimming pools, the turquoise ocean, silver sandy beaches or fragrant herb and flower gardens, where you can chill under the shade of Bismarck palms, bergamot or breadfruit trees. Head chef Shontel Downes serves up coucou (smashed cornmeal and okra) plus locally caught snapper, swordfish and dorado – grilled, steamed or blackened – with spicy yellow pepper sauce. Swim through the waterfall into The Cave Bar to drain an exotic cocktail. All activities are included in the rate, and you can water-ski, surf, swim, jet-ski; the beach team are experts, as are the tennis, beach volleyball and yoga instructors. MK. Doubles from £270.