St. Maarten, Tortola, San Juan & more

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.

The picture painted on television — clad with string bikinis, frozen drinks, and catchy 90s songs that echo its namesake — doesn’t quite do Miami justice. Sure, South Beach still radiates the colorful electricity of a gorgeous and multicultural beach not found elsewhere in the United States, but there’s so much more to uncover of Miami’s diverse identity.

The capital of Dutch St. Maarten stretches about a mile (1½ km) along an isthmus between Great Bay and the Salt Pond and has five parallel streets. Most of the village's dozens of shops and restaurants are on Front Street, narrow and cobblestone, closest to Great Bay. It's generally congested when cruise ships are in port, because of its many duty-free shops and several casinos. Little lanes called steegjes connect Front Street with Back Street, which has fewer shops and considerably less congestion. Along the beach is a ½-mile-long (1-km-long) boardwalk with restaurants and several Wi-Fi hot spots.Wathey Square (pronounced watty) is in the heart of the village. Directly across from the square are the town hall and the courthouse, in a striking white building with cupola. The structure was built in 1793 and has served as the commander's home, a fire station, a jail, and a post office. The streets surrounding the square are lined with hotels, duty-free shops, restaurants, and cafés. The Captain Hodge Pier, just off the square, is a good spot to view Great Bay and the beach that stretches alongside.

This vibrant, eclectic city is the ideal place for beach bums, shopaholics, foodies, and outdoor adventure enthusiasts alike.

Nestled in the sea of tiny islands that make up the British Virgin Islands, Tortola, the archipelago’s largest and capital island, stands out for all the right reasons. An idyllic blend of ancient ruins, iridescent lagoons, lush mountains and white-sand beaches, this Caribbean utopia is perfect for sailors from all walks of life.

St. Croix — whose charm is characterised by lush mountains, lively waters, and a rich history where piracy, art, and a mixture of cultures intertwine

If you associate Puerto Rico's capital with the colonial streets of Old San Juan, then you know only part of the picture. San Juan is a major metropolis, radiating out from the bay on the Atlantic Ocean that was discovered by Juan Ponce de León. More than a third of the island's nearly 4 million citizens proudly call themselves sanjuaneros. The city may be rooted in the past, but it has its eye on the future. Locals go about their business surrounded by colonial architecture and towering modern structures.By 1508 the explorer Juan Ponce de León had established a colony in an area now known as Caparra, southeast of present-day San Juan. He later moved the settlement north to a more hospitable peninsular location. In 1521, after he became the first colonial governor, Ponce de León switched the name of the island—which was then called San Juan Bautista in honor of St. John the Baptist—with that of the settlement of Puerto Rico ("rich port").Defended by the imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro) and Castillo San Cristóbal, Puerto Rico's administrative and population center remained firmly in Spain's hands until 1898, when it came under U.S. control after the Spanish-American War. Centuries of Spanish rule left an indelible imprint on the city, particularly in the walled area now known as Old San Juan. The area is filled with cobblestone streets and brightly painted, colonial-era structures, and its fortifications have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Old San Juan is a monument to the past, but most of the rest of the city is planted firmly in the 21st century and draws migrants island-wide and from farther afield to jobs in its businesses and industries. The city captivates residents and visitors alike with its vibrant lifestyle as well as its balmy beaches, pulsing nightclubs, globe-spanning restaurants, and world-class museums. Once you set foot in this city, you may never want to leave.

From the bioluminescent bay of Fajardo to the vibrant art scene in Santurce, every part of the island of Puerto Rico glows. Punctuated by El Yunque rain forest and crisp, white beaches like Condado and Isla Verde, San Juan is perfectly located to easily access all its geographical diversity.

San Felipe de Puerto Plata is the capital of the Puerto Plata province on the Dominican Republic’s Atlantic north coast. The city is best known for its beaches. Playa Dorada’s lengthy beachfront is backed by resorts and an 18-hole golf course. The city’s old colonial-era center is dominated by the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe, a Spanish fortress that now houses historical and military artifacts.

Tucked between the Cordillera Mountains and Atlantic coast, Puerto Plata embodies geographical duality at its best. A day here can include vegging out on the snow white beaches of Playa Dorado, or hiking through the jungle to the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua and careening down via natural slides. Or you can jump right in. We won't tell you how to live.

The lovely little dual islands of Bimini consists of two main islands—North Bimini Island and South Bimini Island— as well as countless cays. Located just 50 miles off Florida’s coast, Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the United States, and as such is the most “American” if all the Bahamian Islands. Yet, the miles and miles of pristine beaches are witness to the fact that yes, this is the Bahamas and yes, this is paradise indeed.

See-through water and sandy white shores punctuate this geographically poetic port. And like any good haiku, it's cloaked in seductive mystery. Besides having access to the island’s incredible biodiversity in marine life, boating, snorkeling and even historic shipwreck diving, sailors get exclusive access to The Beach Club — Virgin's private beach club experience. Peaceful mornings and restorative days or amplified afternoons at the DJ-led pool party —our club is designed to answer whatever your specific mood is calling for. But regardless of your energy level, the bonfire finale will be nearly impossible to pass on.

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.

The picture painted on television — clad with string bikinis, frozen drinks, and catchy 90s songs that echo its namesake — doesn’t quite do Miami justice. Sure, South Beach still radiates the colorful electricity of a gorgeous and multicultural beach not found elsewhere in the United States, but there’s so much more to uncover of Miami’s diverse identity.