DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN |CONNECTING ISLANDS


ISLANDS ENJOY


to


Why it’s worth flying farther to discover the delights of these smaller isles


Barbuda: beaches, birdlife and a Nobu restaurant are the main draws on


Antigua’s sleepy sister isle.


Canouan: this little Grenadine island has big ambitions with a


golf course, superyacht marina, Mandarin Oriental resort and outpost of Soho House.


Eleuthera: a 20-minute hop


from Nassau, this skinny, beach- lined island in the Bahamas has a revived luxury resort, The Potlatch Club, where Paul McCartney honeymooned. Little Cayman: the smallest Cayman island has terrific


diving (pictured, below) as well as a tranquil boutique resort, the Southern Cross Club. Nevis: a quiet, old-school charmer with a magnificent


central peak, easily reached via BA’s link to St Kitts. Peter Island: the largest private island resort in the British Virgin Islands reopened in December with 52 rooms, a spa and hiking trails. St Eustatius: with a ferry


connection from St Kitts and the flower-filled Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort, this peaceful Dutch isle is the definitive in-the-know escape.


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Peter Island Resort, BVIs; Scotts Head peninsula; beach at Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; a pilot’s view PICTURES: Scott Sporleder; Shutterstock/Focused Adventures; Alejandro Amengual


that tie in with same-afternoon connections to some less-visited destinations beloved by discerning travellers. These include mountainous Dominica, which is ideal for walkers, and the British Virgin Islands, a high-end British Overseas Territory with excellent sailing. Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have interline


agreements with selected regional carriers, which means luggage can be checked through to the final destination, as long as local rules permit. Virgin works with Caribbean Airlines, Bahamasair and Cayman Airways, while BA has links with these plus InterCaribbean Airways, Tradewind Aviation and Winair. When booking a local connection, check if flights are non-stop. For example, in winter, Anguilla Air Services offers a 45-minute hop from Antigua to Anguilla three times a week, while Trans Anguilla Airways has a daily flight, but this takes twice as long because it makes two stops en route. There are more services during the peak season from December to April, so expect options to be more limited outside those months.


REGIONAL FLIGHTS For clients who are not based near London, consider booking Air France or KLM flights from UK regional airports that connect via Paris or Amsterdam to Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana airport, which completed a major upgrade in October. From here, they can continue on to party-loving St Barts, the blissful beaches of


44 20 MARCH 2025


33In some destinations there are useful connections by sea to the next island, which can be a fun way to start a holiday


Anguilla or the laid-back Dutch islands of St Eustatius and Saba, which are a good choice for divers. It’s important to look at the flying and waiting times for both outbound and inbound journeys – which can be lengthy – and to check the luggage allowance for the second flight, which will be on a smaller aircraft. Not all clients like flying via the US, but with


increasing connections available to many islands, principally through New York and Miami, this is often the most viable option. American Airlines serves 35 Caribbean destinations and JetBlue flies to 21. Aer Lingus also operates a year-round route direct from Manchester to New York, plus a winter service to Barbados.


HIT THE WATER In some cases there are useful connections by sea to the next island, which can be a fun way to start a holiday – especially if the captain has a bar on board. Examples are the eight-minute speedboat ride from St Kitts to


² travelweekly.co.uk


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