Antigua
Home to one of the Caribbean’s most attractive coastlines, with miles of white sand beaches flanked by palm trees, this island attracts a cosmopolitan crowd and is particularly popular with the yachting set, drawn by the chic harbours and sailing events aplenty.
Stay like a prince With a private beach, golf course and tennis courts, Carlisle Bay has 82 huge suites and views of Montserrat. Seven nights’ B&B costs from £2,300pp, including flights and transfers (01306 856109, kuoni.co.uk)
Stay like a pauper Perched on a hilltop — with views down to the ocean — Inn La Galleria is a basic 12-room B&B, with rooms ranging from a windowless single to a studio apartment with kitchenette. B&B doubles are from £30 a night (001 268 460 6060, innlagalleria.com)

Barbuda
To the north of Antigua, little Barbuda has one main town and few roads, but plenty of virtually deserted beaches. For laid-back Caribbean charm, friendly people and great bird-watching, it’s hard to beat.
Stay like a prince The island’s newest property, Barbuda Belle, opened on a secluded beach last year. It’s home to seven cool bungalows — all with four-poster beds — and a gourmet French restaurant. A week’s room-only stay is from £4,095pp, including flights and boat transfers (020 3588 6130, westernoriental.com)
Stay like a pauper Simple yet well-kept, Palm Tree Guesthouse is a small eight-bedroom guesthouse in Codrington with spacious rooms and one two-bedroom suite with a small kitchen. Rooms are from £64 a night (001 268 722 5496)

Paradise Beach on Nevis has seven villas, each with a private butler

St Kitts and Nevis
The more popular resort destination of the two sibling islands, St Kitts has undergone a building boom in recent years, while Nevis is more intimate, with jungles to explore and converted plantation houses to stay in.
Stay like a prince Paradise Beach on Nevis has seven villas, each with a plunge pool, fitness studio and private butler. Rooms are from £705 a night (0800 0482314, slh.com)
Stay like a pauper Despite its name, Seaview Inn has no sweeping views of the ocean. This basic guesthouse on St Kitts sits above shops in Basseterre, but is a great choice for budget travellers wishing to stay in the heart of the town. Rooms are from £60 a night (00 1 869 663 6554, www.seaviewinnstkitts.net)

St Lucia
Arguably home to the most dramatic scenery in the Caribbean, St Lucia — with the volcanic cones of the twin pitons rising from the ocean — is more than just a fly-and-flop island, with plenty of activities, from zip-wiring to chocolate-making. Of course, that’s not to say it doesn’t have fabulous beaches too.
Stay like a prince Owned by Hotel Chocolat, the chocolatier, the Boucan hotel near Soufrière, with its drive-in volcano, is on a working cacao plantation. You will find a spa and open-air showers, but you can also learn how a cocoa pod is fashioned into a bar of chocolate. B&B rooms are from £400 a night (0844 5441272, hotelchocolat.com)
Stay like a pauper With high-quality rooms and a vast swimming pool, Coco Palm is a great option in the centre of Rodney Bay Village, in the north of the island. There’s a bar, restaurant and spa — leaving you feeling every bit the pampered pauper. Rooms are from £83 a night (00 1 758 456 2800, coco-resorts.com)

St Vincent and the Grenadines
Picturesque St Vincent is the largest of this chain of islands. Volcanic beaches and fishing villages are dwarfed by the mountainous interior, with its lush, green rainforest. It’s a great spot for hiking and bird-watching and is popular with divers, who come to explore the colourful reefs.
Stay like prince The luxurious Pink Sands Club opened its 26 suites and six villas, all offset with flashes of pink, last month. Seven nights’ B&B costs from £5,495pp, including flights and inter-island transfers (0161 826 9760, carrier.co.uk)
Stay like a pauper A stone’s throw from the beach, overlooking Villa Bay and its yacht harbour, the Rosewood Apartment Hotel may be a tad dated, but is a great base for budget-conscious travellers. Rooms are from £62 a night (001 784 457 5051, rosewoodsvg.com)

Grand Anse beach, near Grenada’s capital, is on Prince Harry’s schedule

Grenada
Famed for the potent mix of spices — including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace and allspice — that grow on the island, Grenada offers visits to traditional plantations alongside its beaches. The two-mile arc of white sand that is Grand Anse — near St George’s, the capital, and a feature on Prince Harry’s schedule — is perhaps the most famous beach, while others, such as Levera in the north and La Sagesse on the east coast, are best for crowd-free tropical island vibes.
Stay like a prince On Grand Anse beach, the Coyaba Beach Resort has 80 guest rooms, but with vast grounds it rarely feels busy. A week’s room-only stay is from £919pp, including flights and transfers (01342 886333, tropicalsky.co.uk)
Stay like a pauper Jenny’s Place is right on Grand Anse beach and has seven simple rooms and apartments, as well as a beach restaurant and bar. Rooms cost from $85 a night (00 1 473 439 5186, jennysplacegrenada.com)

Barbados
Home to some of the best hotels and restaurants in the Caribbean, Barbados is a vibrant island, and its capital, Bridgetown — with its 17th-century British colonial architecture — is a Unesco World Heritage Centre. The west coast is home to most of the chic resorts, while the lesser-populated east coast is more rugged, less manicured and great for surfers.
Stay like a prince One of the Caribbean’s best small hotels, the Sandpiper is tucked away among tropical gardens with a private beach. There are laid-back bars and restaurants and a gorgeous spa. Beach House Suites are from £860 a night B&B (00 1 246 422 251, sandpiperbarbados.com)
Stay like a pauper With its bright airy rooms, balconies and sea views, Sea-U Guesthouse is a cool budget option. Expect whitewashed walls, four-poster beds and hammocks for afternoon snoozing. Rooms are from about £90 a night (00 1 246 433 9450, seaubarbados.com)