Ah, the USVI: a little enclave of Americanism balanced by bouts of reggae and saltfish, jackfruit and jerk. A small cluster of volcanic hills and jungle-dressed cliffs that rises to the east of Puerto Rico, the trio of Saint Croix, Saint John and large Saint Thomas that make up the bulk of the action for travelers. The first is famed for its multi-coloured coral gardens and snorkelling trails, which delve to join the rainbowfish in the Buck Island Reserve, while the island’s backcountry is a patchwork of historic plantations, all proudly looking eastward to Point Udall – the farthest mote in the Atlantic that flies the Stars and Stripes! Saint John, meanwhile, is a picture of untouched Carib paradise. Loved by yachters and beachcombers, it’s crowned by the Virgin Islands National Park and great swathes of wet rainforest and cocoa-scented valleys. Finally US Virgin Island tour guides point to the harbours and resort hotels of Saint Thomas. Home to the shopping strips of Charlotte Amalie, the Spring Break meccas of Red Hook and the shimmering sands of Magen's Bay – the perfect place to cure those rum-induced hangovers! – it’s simply not to be missed.