Holidays in the Caribbean may be characterised by powdery white sands and swaying palm trees but just because these idyllic islands are the ultimate destination when it comes to relaxation, needn’t mean a trip here be all about lounging on the beach, cocktail in hand.

The Caribbean islands have it all and whichever one you choose as your base, you’re sure to find watersports, boat trips and other more adventurous activities are just a pebble’s throw away, with Caribbean hotels offering a truly exhausting range of things to do for those seeking a little more than a simple week in the sun.

Take Barbados. The island may be known predominantly for its laidback atmosphere but Barbados hotels are some of the liveliest in the Caribbean, offering numerous activities to keep guests occupied.

The Palms Resort on the island’s west coast has floodlit tennis courts and complimentary scuba diving lessons on-site, while at the nearby beach a huge range of watersports including parasailing, high-speed powerboat rides and snorkelling are available.

The resort is also perfect for golfers, offering easy access to three of the island’s top courses: Sandy Lane, Royal Westmoreland and Green Monkey.

If windsurfing is more your thing, you won’t find a better resort than Silver Sands on the south coast where the windsurfing centre offers advanced surfers challenging conditions in which to hone their skills. With a constant breeze, this is also the resort of choice for boogie boarding and kitesurfing so guests can pick up some new skills – or simply watch the action from the freshwater pool.

A little further north, Antigua hotels offer an equally vast range of activities, from sunworshipping to sailing. Head out to sea on a catamaran trip around the island or pop over to the fascinating neighbouring island of Barbuda to explore the Frigate Bird Sanctuary, a paradise home to over 5,000 frigate birds and only accessible by boat. Resorts here are packed with amenities and the all-inclusive Halcyon Cove is one of the best with its on-site tennis, aqua aerobics, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing and snorkelling. There are also weekly beach BBQs accompanied by a steel band and the resort is home to one of the island’s most romantic dining options, the Warri Pier, a candlelit restaurant set over the water.

For truly high-spirited atmosphere it has to be Jamaica, where lively bars and vibrant music venues stand shoulder to shoulder along Montego Bay’s ‘Hip Strip’.

Almost all Jamaica hotels offer superlative facilities with some even boasting on-site water parks. Families will love Sunset Beach for its Pirates Paradise or the Rose Hall Resort, home to Sugar Mills; while couples should hole up at Sandals Negril Beach Resort and Spa for swim-up suites and opulent spa treatments or Couples Swept Away which offers unlimited golf and free scuba diving lessons.

Despite its reputation for laidback lounging, whatever you like to do on holiday, the Caribbean can provide – so get off that sun lounger and get out there.

2 July 2010