6 The Freshest Veggies

On an island with a dry climate like Anguilla, Dr. Howard Resh is your man. A hydroponics expert and author with a plant science degree from the University of British Columbia, he oversees the CuisinArt Resort & Spa’s soil-free garden, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean. Tour the garden or head straight for the Hydroponic Cafe to taste the freshest, crunchiest, most flavourful organic veggies you’ve ever had.

Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla 264-498-2000 www.cuisinartresort.com

7 The Fabulous Mrs. P.

She oversees every tiny detail at the stunning Villa Nova, a historic plantation house-turned-hotel, but Lynne Pemberton is still as cool as a poolside drink. A woman of the world, she’s a published author as well as a hotelier who has developed several other properties in Barbados (Glitter Bay and Royal Pavilion, now owned by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Grand Palazzo Hotel, now the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas). She also plays a mean game of charades and loves to share good conversation over a round of rum sours. Villa Nova is stunning, but it’s the host that keeps us coming back.

St. John, Barbados 246-433-1524 www.villanovabarbados.com

8 Howard stern, island-style

Anything’s fair game for Barbados’ most outspoken commentator, the Market Vendor. Every morning and afternoon, after the local news, the station manager puts on an exaggerated Bajan accent and dishes out pointed observations about local and international issues. You might just be offended – or, if you’re chilling like the locals, you’ll laugh out loud.

Love 104.1 FM, Barbados

9 Polite Drivers

On Tortola island in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), honking is happy, not angry. It’s not uncommon for locals to stop their cars on a roundabout to let friends in or out of traffic or simply to chat – even if there’s a lineup of cars waiting to get by. Nobody seems to mind. So leave your road rage at home.

10 celebrity central

“Keith Richards lives up there,” our yacht’s skipper informs us as we slide past the Rolling Stone’s home. Normally, we might be tempted to give a neighbourly knock on the door and ask to borrow some brown sugar, but this tiny island is so relaxing that any groupie reflex is soon dulled upon arrival. Parrot Cay automatically lulls the visitor into slo-mo mode. You can slowly head for the beach (your beach), slowly get sunburned from your little toes up to your hips, slowly amble over to Como Shambhala, the local holistic spa, slowly spend the entire afternoon “surfing” on Satoshi Hashimoto’s table (he’s a master of Balinese massage). You’ll get back to the beach eventually; it’s not going anywhere.

Turks and Caicos 649-946-7788 www.parrot-cay.com