I had some free time over the summer holiday last year and was desperate to swim in the best possible sea – that just had to be the Caribbean but where to go? I was travelling with two children and didn’t fancy staying too still, so we decided on Barbados and Grenada and it was the best choice we could have made.

Barbados has a bit of bling going on, it is very well established as a British travel destination and therefore there is a great deal happening, enormous choices of restaurants, bars – in fact you name it there is choice and a real buzz. We enjoyed our week zipping around Barbados and then really easily took an hour’s flight to Grenada to quite a different, calmer island. We didn’t realise, but the location of Barbados within the Caribbean islands means that the waters stay warmer for longer as the seasons begin to change through July and August. As real sea swimmers I really appreciated that – I also loved swimming out to the turtles and snorkelling around the bays.

Barbados is very well adapted to the needs of the European holiday-maker and as a small Caribbean island it does it very well. Perhaps one thing which isn’t on the tourist trail but as a non-church go-er I got a lot out of, was going to a Baptist church. It was exceptionally happy and jubilant and I got to meet all the locals in their finery, and the congregation were really welcoming. Not for the feint hearted though – you have to enter into the spirit of the church, and I found myself handed a microphone and I had to introduce myself and sing a bit. Laugh out loud embarrassment but a great memory!

Eating out in Barbados is an experience enjoyed by all visitors to the island – you don’t necessarily need deep pockets, there are some great local Creole dishes to be had, but if you are looking for fine dining there are so many fab places, attracting some very bejewelled VIP’s and celeb’s. Right along the west coast you will fine good recommendations, so here we offer good experiences that we have had, and simply hope that you will also enjoy them too!

Daphne’s is part of the Elegant Hotels Group which offers Italian fine dining adjacent to the beach. It is good for lunch and romantic at night and the food is pretty good too. The pricing is London standard and you can make a reservation online. Azul Restaurant also offers breath-taking views of the ocean and the twinkling lights of Oistins Bay by night.

With a diverse and creative menu encompassing both Asian and traditional Caribbean cuisine, Nishi offers a sophisticated blend of informal eating and drinking in a sleek and stylish setting. The piece de resistance is the Sushi Bar featuring top Sushi Chefs from the Far East.

Hidden within lush fern covered patios and cascading water gardens Brown Sugar offers a wide selection of local and Creole dishes. Casual yet elegant, the garden setting is ideal for superb a la carte dinners, or just try their cocktails.

For a treat evening meal try The Cliff; the restaurant hugs the edge of a cliff at St James. Again, quite pricey but try and book ahead for a seat at the edge, overlooking the sea. You might even consider booking the whole restaurant out for a private party!

There are many people who return year after year to Barbados, they love the climate, the beaches, the international cuisine and restaurants and there is a real familiarity about the place. I’ve spoken to people who can remember being able to walk or horse ride the whole west coast by beach, from north to south. Nowadays that is no longer possible but you can enjoy the beautiful coves and white sand beaches scattered up the west coast. The East coast is rockier and the waves coming in from the Atlantic are more treacherous therefore there are fewer tourists and the spectacular cliff top walks aren’t so busy.

Over the years Barbados became a real hub for the British holiday-maker and the locals reacted with friendliness and entrepreneurship, which means that there are so many amazing things to do and well established international events taking place throughout the year.

Barbados has something for all levels of golfer, from the inexperienced or recreational to the more serious and professional players. In the past, Barbados has hosted world tournaments at the Sandy Lane Golf course (also the location for Tiger Woods’ wedding). The Royal Westmoreland Course regularly hosts the PGA European Seniors Tour. Barbados and Rockley Golf Clubs offer a challenge, testing all abilities of golfers. Apes Hill Golf Club in the north central part of Barbados offers an alternative environment to the coastal greens. For simply introducing the family to your game try the nine hole at Almond beach Village.

In most resorts and indeed on all the larger beaches, there is the opportunity to join in with water sports, both wind and motor powered! Try seeing the coastline from the air as you get attached to a kite at the back of a boat and take to the skies. (Let me know what it feels like, I was far too much of a chicken to participate myself!) There are opportunities to take boat trips out to visit the resident turtle population which hangs out just off the coast from Holetown. Top tip – take one of those long foam tubes with you so you can hang in the water for longer watching the turtles. If the idea of bunching up on a boat all morning doesn’t appeal, it is possible to swim off the beach which runs adjacent to Treasure Beach and reach the turtles. I’ve done it both ways and enjoyed the experience. Take out a little Opi and learn to sail; there is often tuition available or it comes included with an All Inclusive deal. At least when you capsize it’s in warm water. There are glass-bottomed boat tours to check out the variety of marine life, or take your diving certification and see for yourself. There are some good dive sites and it is also a great island to qualify as a diver because there are no extremities.

If all that action sounds a bit busy, just lay still in the shade on the beach and take the occasional temperature-restoring plunge into aqua seas. There is usually a swim platform to float out to and it is often sandy rather than weedy underneath you therefore nippy/stingy marine life can’t hide. I think it’s one of my favourite seas to swim in for exactly this reason; it offers very calm and clean water.

So away from the coastline what is there to do? Getting around is probably most accurately done by car, the roads are well-made and the directions are good. If you just want to amble around, try local busses. The defining history of Barbados, after it emerged from the industries of tobacco and cotton, was sugar cane. By growing vast amounts of the stuff and milling it, Barbados was able to export sugar. Go and visit one of only two restored and intact sugar mills in the Caribbean, Morgan Lewis, open from December to April when the Barbados National Trust demonstrates grinding of sugar canes. For nature lovers try Welchman Hall Gully Flower Forest, way up in the green interior of the island, packed with tropical flowers and winding footpaths. One of the things I love to do is just to wander, and Barbados is a great place to do just that, I’ve never felt particularly threatened or intimidated. For shopping try strolling around Bridgetown, you can get duty free goods, but as a keen shopper I don’t go to Barbados to shop.

Whilst wandering around Bridgetown, you may head to Kensington Oval, the home of West Indies cricket. Home to many cricketing legends, the atmosphere on a match day is electric – it is its’ own mini carnival, complete with calypso bands and colourful flamboyant characters. It is located on the outskirts of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados and you will find plenty of historical points of interest and accompanying tours in that area, so you could easily make a day of it, before chasing back for an early evening swim. Enjoy!

Has January been all that it promised to be in terms of health and well-being? Did you opt for healthy foods and drinks and exercise daily? Probably like most of us, some of your grand plans worked and some didn’t and hey-ho there’s always next year! Or maybe it worked fantastically well and you are one of the lucky ones who have experienced the natural high which comes from exercise and healthy living. Either way, you may be looking for help to stick with your new regime or perhaps to give you a second chance at this year’s resolution.

This is where a Tropical Sky Wellness Holiday could answer your requirements. There are a number of different approaches to such an undertaking, but essentially you should be clear with yourself, if you are opting for the more focussed style of wellness holiday, you are looking to create change which will last or to help you further along with the changes you have already made to your life. The equally relaxing but less forceful health and well being holidays will simply leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go. In all respects, the Wellness and Spa holidays available through Tropical Sky aim to point you in the right direction with the highest standards of instruction, coaching and facilities.

LaSource, Grenada

At LaSource in Grenada, located on the beautiful Pink Gin beach, a holistic approach which refocuses the mind but provides a functional approach to fitness is the wellbeing route taken. In this five star, luxurious resort, Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation help restore the monkeys of the mind bringing an inner peace and calm, which with the practise learnt at LaSource Grenada, will become part of your daily routine. Your complimentary daily spa treatment and a wide variety of health-aware food choices make this an ideal destination for de-stressing. It really isn’t hard core though – it is simply very relaxing, therapeutic and calming.

Indeed, during June 2012, the UK specialist Dr Guy Meadows will be running the Caribbean’s first sleep seminars. This seven day workshop aims to demonstrate with good practise how to “do sleep”. For all insomniacs, this is surely your klaxon call. The highly regarded Alison Kynaston Jones will be running one of LaSource Grenada’s master classes entitled “Holistic Life Coaching, Meditation and Psychic Awareness”.

The BodyHoliday, St Lucia

A popular resort with both Conde Nast and Tropical Sky holidaymakers, The BodyHoliday St Lucia is an adult’s only wellness centre, focussing on relaxation, restorative beauty, exercise and the underlying principles of a good diet. The idea is that by helping you to establish positive routines and food habits you will take these new guidelines home with you and back into your busy life. There certainly is a kind of freedom in being looked after and cared for in this way, all you have to do is turn up and commit. The restaurants here are good and the food delicious; it is so easy to eat well when it is cooked with such attention to detail and thought for who is eating it.

The range of activities at The BodyHoliday St Lucia mean that you can combine the many highlights of this fantastically green isle with as much instruction and motivating classes as you choose. A really useful feature of the programme is that you can plan a schedule online before you arrive and then simply go and discuss it with the team on arrival to ensure you are making the most of your time and energies. From group exercise to personal training with every stage in between, you are guided and supported in your goals and a real dynamic builds between you and your coach. A number of clients have raved about this resort and repeatedly visit for rest and relaxation.

Buccament Bay Resort, St Vincent & The Grenadines

For a whole family, rejuvenation can come in all shapes and forms and a resort we are  fond of at Tropical Sky, because it never fails to live up to expectation, is Buccament Bay in St Vincent. This is a place where everyone can relax as there truly is something for everyone; Soccer School coached by Liverpool FC luminaries run on all major UK holidays, or try the Pat Cash Tennis Clinic running 2-11 April 2012. For budding performers and simply those interested in theatre why not take instruction from big name London stage actors.

If you’d rather chill out around the resort and make the most of the many group or individual activities going on that’s fine too! With high international standards around this luxury resort, all served up with a genuine Caribbean smile, it is a difficult combination to replicate; maybe it is just the St Vincent way! From 21st May 2012, Buccament Bay Resort will be hosting a number of Fitness Boot Camps which promise to be a magic key to fitness.

Shandrani Resort & Spa, Mauritius

In Mauritius, look no further than the Shandrani Resort & Spa for the kind of holiday which leaves you calmed, focussed and ready to get back on with your real life! A range of land and water sports are on offer and as a five star all-inclusive resort the overall feel is that of care-free, time-off indulgence for the whole family. The Serenity Plus offering at the Shandrani ties in with the ethos of the resort; there is no signing for bills, or need to tip throughout your day, everything is designed around your needs and what you would prefer to do on holiday. To help you make the most of your holiday time, there are two Clarins spas, both with multiple treatment rooms and a wonderful array of traditional and newer procedures are available. With a mini-club for the 3-12 year olds and a babysitting service available this resort will suit young families who enjoy the very best.

Bali is an enchanting country with stunning natural landscape, beautiful beaches and a fascinating culture. What better country could you choose to get married in? The locals are particularly friendly and with even the smallest of details they aim to please. Bali also has the reputation of being a romantic idyll and it certainly lives up to that with swaying palm trees and gently rolling waves. Enjoy your wedding breakfast on the beach in the gentle breeze of the early evening and watch the sun go down over a glass of champagne, toasting your future life together.

Renewing your vows in such a dreamscape is the perfect way to re-establish your intentions. There are such fabulous hotels at good rates in Bali and you are sure to find something which suits your tastes and budget. You can be certain that whichever package you choose, when you have left for Bali and arrived in your resort, you will be in safe hands which genuinely want you to have a wonderful, memorable wedding or renewal of your vows.