The islands Antigua and Barbuda are small, sandy oases at the eastern edge of Caribbean. If you're hunting blue seas, brighter than the skies overhead, with a green palm tree fringe and white beaches, don't look further. St. Johns, Antigua's main city, bustles with boat-related activity and tourist amenities to make your stay on the island a pleasant one.

Rugged rocky promontories drop away into blue seas tipped white, the rough side of the lovely lush island of Saba. Red-roofed houses punctuate the green flanks of Saba's mountainous topography, nearly the same vibrant shade as the Bougainvillea and Pink Ginger that sprinkle the tropical foliage with color. Don't expect big resorts or crowds here ? this is definitely a retreat for those seeking solitude, beauty and outdoor attractions.

Feast your sensory palette with a trip to St. Barth‚lemy, where the sight of white sand sliding into warm salty sea in the pink flush of sunset will nourish your soul, and skilled chefs whip up culinary delights in the sophisticated city of Gustavia to feed your body. Absent the developed resorts and fast pace of many popular island retreats, St. Barth, aka St. Barts, St. Barths or St. Barth‚lemy, is a laid-back favorite amongst those in the Caribbean know.

When what you're after in a holiday is a taste of history and absolute escape from worldly pressures, St. Eustatius has a rural vibe that may be just what you're looking for. Cows munch contentedly on grass that paves the flanks of St. Eustatius right down to the surf on the mountainous ends of the island. Waves crash on rocky shores, hanging salt-spray rainbows in island air, yours to enjoy in relative solitude.

Divided between the French and the Dutch, this tiny island is either St. Martin or Sint Maarten depending on whether you're standing north or south of the border. White sand beaches powder both sides, and seas rimming the island stay a steady bright blue. Choose from 37 palm-shaded beaches when you are ready to settle down for a day on the sand and in the sea.