Travelguru Catherine Leech says:

With her lush green mountains, rainforests, waterfalls and pristine reefs, to travel to St Lucia simply to laze on the beach would be like driving to the Lake District for a pub lunch! I would thoroughly recommend a two-centre holiday to experience the best of the island - tear yourself away from the beach to enjoy some of the many activities on offer.

In the more scenic south west, the hotels ooze rustic charm, set against the stunning backdrop of the Pitons and pristine reefs. Further north, the Rodney Bay area is more lively with a vibrant restaurant scene and sweeping beaches.

To drive from one end of the island to the other only takes an hour or so but the contrasts are striking. Getting there is also now much easier thanks to BA direct flights.