Romance in paradise with a winter trip to Antigua

The festive period can be far from relaxing. Often you need a break to recover from the seasonal maelstrom. It was for this very reason that we headed for Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa to recharge our batteries and top up our tans.

This luxurious all-inclusive resort is situated on the picture-perfect Dickenson's Bay beach on the northwestern side of the island. Sandals is exclusively for couples, so we were in for a week of peace and quiet, with no children or demanding in-laws. We could simply unwind and embrace the laid-back Caribbean way of life.

After a seven-hour flight from Gatwick, and a mercifully quick 15-minute drive from the airport, a troupe of friendly staff were on hand to take our luggage and ply us with chilled champagne. Already the stress had started to melt away!

The mantra at all Sandals resorts is ‘Luxury included', and here it was exemplified. Sandals have moved away from the ‘all-inclusive' cliché to create a stylish holiday destination that's a shrine to opulence and comfort.

We stayed in a lavish concierge suite in the brand-new Mediterranean Village, the latest extension to the resort which comprises the Caribbean village, several gourmet restaurants, and the Red Lane Spa. All rooms in the Mediterranean village have private balconies where you can relax, sip iced rum and ginger ale, and admire magnificent views of the sunset.

However, after the long journey we immediately collapsed onto the huge mahogany four-poster bed, barely noticing the immaculate mosaic-tiled bathroom with Jacuzzi and walk-in shower, and fell asleep to the sound of crickets and the distant sea. Pure bliss.

The following morning we were raring to go - but not before a hearty meal at Mario's Restaurant, an Italian-style eatery that served a mean buffet breakfast. We tucked into hot banana fritters, fresh pineapple, melon and passion fruit, washed down with strong coffee.

Antigua is renowned for stunning white beaches, coral reefs and clear turquoise waters, and the catamaran island cruises are an absolute must for viewing the coastline in all its tropical glory. We rode the sapphire-blue waves, snorkelled among shoals of multicoloured tropical fish and coral reefs, and sailed past the homes of the rich and famous, including Eric Clapton and Giorgio Armani's beach pads.

All that fresh air and exhilaration was tiring, so afterwards it was on to the award-winning Red Lane Spa where we could indulge in a wide range of exotic treatments, from the West Indian full body massage with heated stones, to various mineral mud baths, body wraps and aromatic facials. I had an energising 'Hit the Spot' back massage that saw off last of the Christmas stress and even eliminated a persistent crick in my neck!

In the evening we dined at Barefoot by the Beach, right by the sea. After sampling local cuisine - fresh crab and mahi mahi, followed by creamy black bean soup - we took an evening stroll along the beach to watch the sun set over the ocean.

Dickenson's Bay is remarkably safe, with discreet security guards around the Sandals resort and few pedlars on the sands, most of which were friendly and didn't pester.

Romance was certainly in the air. Newlyweds, couples celebrating their anniversaries, and people renewing their vows flock to this romantic destination, and it's not hard to see why. With the black sky illuminated by starlight, the balmy ocean breeze on our (sunburned) faces, and the crash of the waves on the shore, we meandered back to our room without a care in the world.

The beauty of this holiday is that you can do as little or as much as you want. Most watersports such as snorkelling, kayaking and sailing are included in the package, but are weather-dependent. Catch the tail-end of the hurricane season and you could miss out due to blustery weather. But worry not, there's so much more on offer.

The ‘Best of Antigua' tour takes you inland to explore the island by car. With our guide we travelled through the island's rainforest, past tiny brightly coloured villages and pineapple plantations, to the historic Nelson's Dockyard, the world's only functioning original Georgian dockyard.

We also visited St John's Cathedral in the island's capital. Built in 1681 by slaves, the wooden church was crafted entirely by hand. It was destroyed by an earthquake and was re-built in 1848. The cathedral is beautiful, and the history is chequered, which made for a fascinating and moving visit.

Finally, we visited Shirley Heights, a former garrison on one of Antigua's highest points. Every Sunday hordes of party-goers gather to watch the spectacular sunset over nearby Montserrat, and dance the night away to live reggae in the open air.

We ended the evening back at the resort, at the award-winning Kimonos Oriental restaurant for some spectacular table-side teppanyaki action. Our chef's knife-wielding cookery left us lost for words. Although that didn't stop us eating so much that we had difficulty walking back!

After two action-packed days, we spent some time lounging by the pool, wandering through the landscaped gardens, and sunbathing on the beach. We were never far from a bar serving cocktails or cold beer, and there was plenty of live entertainment; from reggae bands to limbo dancers and fire eaters.

Although all good things must come to an end, living the life of luxury in the Caribbean sun was just the tonic we needed. And yes, we were very sorry to leave, but the memories of Antigua will be enough to warm us on the coldest of winter nights.

Travel details

Seven nights in Antigua with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick direct to Antigua, including transfers included, starts from £1,709 per person. Visit www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/sandals or call 0844 557 3859.

However, Sandals frequently offer great deals throughout the year, and booking early can often lead to reduced prices. For further information, visit www.sandals.co.uk.

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