This tiny atoll in the mid-Atlantic is as pretty as a picture. Nature blessed it with blue-green waters flanked by pinksand beaches and man contributed pastel-coloured buildings topped with white limestone roofs. The island’s love affair with cricket and afternoon tea reveals its British colonial heritage, whilst its enviable infrastructure and high standard of living is evidence of its close ties with the United States. And although it’s a surprising 800-miles away from the Caribbean, calypso music, gombey dancing and plenty of rum cocktails add the required exotic element.

It’s sub-tropical rather than tropical, however, so plan a summer visit if you want to hit the beaches and work on your tan. Of course, golfers can come any time of year and experience a different course every day of the week – why not play like a local in knee-length Bermuda shorts? Otherwise there’s water sports, sailing, scuba-diving and shopping in Hamilton to keep you entertained and just the right amount of cultural attractions to keep your brain active. Don’t forget there’s no car hire here, so you’ll have to rely upon taxis or scooters if you want to get to that World Heritage Site at St. Georges.

The hotels tend to be traditional rather than trendy, the finest ones either perched above stunning pink sand beaches or convenient for all the harbourside activity of Hamilton. Choose between quaint cottage colonies or elegant grande dames and let yourselves be pampered by switched-on people who’ve been welcoming overseas visitors for decades.

BRITISH AIRWAYS OFFER DAILY FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE HIGH-SEASON SUMMER MONTHS OF APRIL
AND OCTOBER, REDUCING TO FIVE TIMES A WEEK IN THE WINTER. THE FLYING TIME IS ABOUT 7½ HOURS NON-STOP. YOU MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER COMBINING THIS RELAXING ISLAND WITH AN EXCITING FEW DAYS IN NEW YORK, THE BRIEF 2 HOUR CONNECTING FLIGHT MAKING THIS OPTION PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE.