SCOTT EDDY

As we strolled slowly towards our bungalow we could see the ragged, jagged, ridiculously green peaks of Mount Otemanu rising above Bora Bora island, just across the sparkling, crystal-clear lagoon that separates the main island from its surrounding atolls, where you’ll find some of the top hotels, including the Four Seasons. Bora Bora might be the most beautiful island on the planet, the subject of countless photographs, paintings and almost pointless descriptions by authors like me who can’t come close to capturing the serenity of those green, spiky mountains and the myriad, magical shades of water, which switch from turquoise to baby blue to navy and back again. But I think it was when we walked into the room and saw the subtle Tahitian touches and the stand alone bath tub overlooking the water and how our bungalow was perched directly over the lagoon with a large deck and a ladder for clambering in that my wife went from extremely impressed to utterly gobsmacked. The FS Bora Bora breakfast buffet at Tere Nui restaurant is as good as anything you’ll find; a massive display that offers fruits bursting with flavour, tropical juices, sparkling wine, yogurt, bircher muesli, smoothies (some are an extra charge), breakfast meats, eggs, smoked fish, omelettes, croissants and even chilled coconut water served inside the coconut.

It’s one of hundreds of delightful rum bars in Barbados, and Harrison wants us to try some simple Bajan cuisine; spicy fish cakes and a cold Banks beer, brewed on the island. Chef Michael Harrison shows off the Barbados Parliament buildings on his Island Markets and Food Vibes tour. We stop in at a place called The Bay Tavern in Martin’s Bay, where Harrison has arranged to have a massive amount of food prepared for us; roasted mahi mahi, whole snapper, fish cakes, macaroni and cheese pie and lots more. Harrison explains that, if we were at a casual rum bar, we would take a few drops and spill the liquid on the floor as “a memory to friends and family gone by.” Fresh grilled fish at The Bay Tavern in St. Martin’s, Barbados.

Fast forward through a lot of research on plane safety and air circulation, a number of panicked texts to travel industry experts that I trusted (mainly to Scott Eddy (@mrscotteddy) and Valerie Wilson (@trustedtravelgirl)) and some serious Instagram stalking, and I am booked to travel to Antigua on January 14 with my dad, brother and boyfriend. We formally checked in at the Diamond Club, which is automatic when you are staying at the bungalow, but an additional upgrade charge if you’re staying in the main hotel. The three room bungalow features a small wet bar, complete with a wine fridge and minibar, a spacious living room with a partial glass floor, a king bed and oversized bathroom, complete with walk in-closet, double rainwater shower and jacuzzi bath tub. There are lots of benefits to staying in the Bungalow, including personalized service from a butler, a spa discount, private in-room romantic dinner and much more.

I was staying at a family run lodge/hotel called Fare Vai Nui on the west coast of this beautiful, quiet island, which is about a 40-minute flight from Tahiti island. , so we enjoy the quiet as we roll past majestic mountain peaks swathed in deep green jungle and small, roadside homes that back right onto the island’s beautiful lagoon. ” Vetea points out a sacred mountain on the island of Raiatea, called Temehani, and tells us it’s one of the most important in all Tahiti. an attractive fruit stand a few steps away, and they have tons of bikes you can use to ride around this part of the island, which is quite flat around the edges and offers stunning views of Raiatea’s lagoon and rugged, green mountains Unit five at Fare Vai Nui on Raiatea.