The 27th Barbados Gold Cup takes place on Saturday, March 1st, 2008, and, for the past 12 years, has been sponsored by Sandy Lane, an exclusive five-star resort located on the western coast of the island of Barbados. Sandy Lane offers rooms, suites, penthouses and even a villa. The resort has four restaurants, including the signature restaurant L’Acajou. There are five bars, a large spa and, here’s the piece de resistance, three distinct golf courses, two of which are Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole courses, including the Green Monkey Course. Sandy Lane even offer airport transfers in a lovely Bentley.

Sandy Lane have a limited number of seats in their hospitality box for guests who might be interested in watching the Gold Cup. ITC Classics offer 7 nights at Sandy Lane from £3,345 per person, in an Orchid Room, with breakfast, including BA flights from Gatwick and return transfers.

Fancy it? See you at the races.

The Riviera Maya stretches along the eastern coast of Mexico for a full thirty kilometres, providing soft white sands fringed by the sort of lush tropical vegetation that suggests paradise. Add to this some perfect turquoise waters, and you have the real essence of the ideal romantic beach holiday.

Besides swimming and just lazing in the sun, this coastal region offers plenty of activities too. You can try your hand at windsurfing, which is truly exhilarating, once you have learned how to stay on the board. There is also deep sea fishing on offer throughout the Riviera, and you will find that there are some interesting fish to be caught in these waters.

As for food, the cuisine of the region has an abundance of influences, ranging from the traditional Mayan, to more international styles. There is the full range of exciting Mexican cuisine, and yet you can also find Argentinian food and Italian dishes.

Most of the hotels of the Riviera are all inclusive, and provide a variety of bars, restaurants, and entertainment within the hotel complex. Most of the hotels now incorporate spas too, where you can receive soothing massage, facials, and enjoy jacuzzis and saunas.

There are a great number of five star hotels, indicating a high standard of accommodation for the whole area. Hotels offering you five-star comfort include the Aventura Spa Palace, which has an amazing complex of swimming pools, The Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa, with its beautiful, tropical landscaped gardens, and the El Dorado Royale, which welcomes you with a glass of champagne.

Eugenia’s beautiful palace is now the world-class Hôtel du Palais, which has a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, some top-class restaurants, and luxurious and relaxing rooms. There is even a gym where you can get toned up.

If you visit Biarritz, don’t forget to take a look at the Asiatica Museum which has a fantastic collection of Asian art from Nepal, India, Tibet and China. Also well worth a look is the Museum of the Sea, which has aquaria with fish, sharks, seals, and all manner of aquatic life. And while we are talking romance, don’t forget to check out Biarritz’s very own Museum of Chocolate – chocolate being a gift often given by lovers. Why is giving chocolate such a familiar courtship ritual? The rumour is that it acts as an aphrodisiac. But then, if you are on holiday in Biarritz, that may be aphrodisiac enough.

The name means literally, The Promenade of the English, and this is because it was constructed in the 1820’s by the English community.

Along this famous promenade are some very chic hotels, so stay in one of these, and you don’t have far to go to the beach.

If you feel like going out to sea – try one of the tours in a glass bottomed boat, where you will see an impressive underwater world of fish and sea plants.

At the weekends, and at the height of summer, the prom becomes very popular, so much so, that like many areas where there are throngs, the street entertainers appear, and some of them are very good. Rollerbladers glide past, joggers flit by, cyclists pedal their way along, everybody is out. It’s all happening here, under the palm trees and by the Côte d’Azur, that it is just the ideal place to be in the spring and summer.

Hey, look – Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and perhaps now is the time to give some thought to those lovely romantic beaches where you might spend a wonderfully relaxing vacation with your loved one – perhaps it might even be a second honeymoon.

Even if you and your significant other don’t get chance to go away for Valentine’s, because, let’s face it, we all have to work, imagine what a great Valentine’s gift it would be to present your partner with tickets for a short romantic break. Or perhaps on Valentine’s Day you could start to make plans for your summer holiday while you have your Valentine’s dinner together?

So, where are the best romantic beaches to be found? Well, a bit of research and asking around has led to the following recommendations:

France has always had a reputation as a place for lovers – and it certainly has some romantic beaches and resorts. St Tropez has always been popular with the jet set, and is a wonderful place to enjoy the sun of the South of France. Further along the coast, we have the upmarket city of Nice, with its fabulous art museums and chic shops. Here you can walk arm in arm along the lovely wide Promenade des Anglais, enjoying the boutiques, and the street cafes, as well as the fabulous beach and the azure sea. Still in France, but turning our attention to the west coast there is the fashionable French resort of Biarritz on the Bay of Biscay.

Mexico has its share of romantic beaches, including the sandy beaches and coral reefs of the Riviera Maya, or even the remote resort of Majahuitas on the Bay of Banderas, where you can go scuba diving and snorkeling together.

Romantic resorts abound in the Caribbean, for example the Bahamas with its many islands has an abundance of secluded beaches for the perfect holiday, and Happy Bay of the tropical island of Saint Martin is still relatively secluded and unknown.

In the run up to Valentine’s Day let’s give some thought to romantic beaches, and perhaps give you some ideas for where to go with your loved one.

Going back to Byzantine times, Antalya is steeped in history, and this shows in the wonderful architecture, the medieval walls, and the crooked back streets, where you can lose yourself in all the exciting little shops and inviting cafes.

There are hand-woven carpets for sale in the Old Quarter, and the patterns and colours are absolutely gorgeous. If you get the chance to visit a carpet weaving workshop, do so, but don’t allow yourself to be pushed into buying unless you want to.

It is wonderful to experience a Turkish bath right in the very country where it originated, and you will feel so warm and clean at the end of it.

Antalya has a fabulous marina, where you can walk along the promenade and fantasise about which yacht you would most like to own. Or find a cafe on the promenade and sip cocktails while you dream.

Antalya has a really good nightlife, which is based mainly around the area by the harbour. There are restaurants to cater to all tastes, lively bars, pubs, and cosy cafes.

The nearby resort of Side has a pebble beach and plenty of watersports. If sand is your preference over pebbles, then you could head for Lara Beach which has soft golden sand that looks so beautiful next to the azure Mediterranean.

Recommended hotels are the Hillside Su Hotel, and the Sheraton Voyager Antalya Resort and Spa, which offers all the greatest spa treatments for a relaxing holiday where the cares just slip away.

For beaches and watersports, a sense of history, and amazing food and nightife, Antalya makes a great destination for beach lovers.

Like many beach resorts, Sanur was originally a fishing village, but then later became the location of Bali’s first large scale hotel, The Grand Bali Beach.

Sanur has a reef which creates a sheltered lagoon which is ideal for families, but swimming is only really possible at high tide.

Sanur has a relaxed and friendly nightlife in the evening – there are no noisy nightclubs, and the entertainment is based around the bars and restaurants. The restaurants are mainly open air, and you can’t help but get into the holiday mood when you are in one of them, enjoying some of the delicious local cuisine. One of the things to watch out for are the traditional Balinese dance performances, and these are often to be found in the restaurants in the evening.

Recommended for its live music and bonhomie is the pub known as the Cat and Fiddle, where you can even find the occasional Irish band playing, as well as some excellent local musicians.

In Sanur you will find Shops and street stalls in abundance, where you can buy holiday clothes, arts, crafts and souvenirs. One of the most popular souvenirs is the brightly patterned sarong.

Sanur is excellent for those who like a quiet resort, and is ideal for families.

Corsica is so beautiful, you wonder why Napoleon bothered to leave at all, and Santa Giulia, is especially delightful, with its radiant blue waters, pale creamy sands, and its surroundings of mountains and scented pine trees. When you are tired of sunbathing or wallowing in the warm waters, then it’s time to try sports such as sailing, kayaking and windsurfing. In the surrounding area there is horse riding and quad biking available, and the area itself is lovely for refreshing walks in the scented pinewoods, with a view out over the twinkling blue sea from in between the trees. Take a picnic and a bottle if wine with you to really enjoy the view at your leisure.

The resort is very peaceful and quiet, as there are only a few bars and restaurants. For the occasions when you feel like a bit more of a nightlife, you can go to nearby Porto Vecchio, which has some popular and stylish restaurants, fashionable shops, and a marina full of white, shining yachts. The whole island, not surprisingly, specialises in fresh seafood, and you can enjoy some real culinary delights. If you like shellfish, one of the recommended dishes is mussels done in white wine and garlic – I have tried this, and it is really delicious.

It is not surprising that the beach at Santa Giulia is regarded as one of the best beaches of Corsica.

With its location on a beautiful thirteen-mile-long peninsula, and its fabulous long beach of soft white sand, Varadero is one of Cuba’s top beach resorts. Many of the resort’s hotels are on the beachfront, and almost all of them are all-inclusive, and offer the ultimate in relaxing environments. If you holiday here, you might be tempted to hardly stray away from your hotel, but you would be missing something if you did not venture out, as Varadero provides not just a lazy beach holiday, but also plenty to do in the way of interesting activities as well.

Varadero has a golf club, which is in fact Cuba’s only full golf course. There is plenty of diving available, though make sure that the diving centre that you choose is recommended. If you are into fishing, then how can you resist some of the deep sea fishing that is on offer? And you can explore this relatively safe area by renting a scooter, or taking the open air tourist train or bus.

Downtown you will find the fleamarket, and plenty of characterful bars where you can have the traditional Cuban cocktail known as mojito, which is a superb drink made from white rum, syrup, refreshing mint and tangy lime.

In downtown Varadero you will also find some really great nightclubs, as well as eateries of all varieties. One popular restaurant is the appropriately named Casa de Al, which is actually housed in the villa that once belonged to Al Capone, and specialises in paella.

So, if you feel like heading for that lovely sandy stretch at Varadero, recommended hotels are the Club Puntarena and the Riu Turquesa, both of which are right on the beach.

With its great reggae music, tasty jerk chicken and beef, Red Stripe beer, friendly people, and sensational coastline, Jamaica is a place not to be missed if you are in search of that perfect beach holiday.

So, with an excellent reputation for hospitality and relaxation, what better place to unwind than the Gran Bahia Principe Jamaica? Having the appearance of a grand castle, this five star hotel is situated by a gorgeous stretch of white sand, and there is an inviting lagoon pool right on the beachfront, where you can laze in the water and gaze out to sea.

The hotel has a wonderful terrace which is a paradise of shaded and secluded areas where you can read a book, chat and watch the world go by. Should you be in need of refreshment, the hotel has two swim-up bars, where you can get a tropical cocktail or soft drink. If you need to relax even further, there are spa treatments available too.

This resort is not just for lounging either – there are sports available such as horse riding, tennis and watersports. The local walks at sunset are recommended, when the sky turns the most beautiful pink and orange hues.

No holiday is complete without some really fabulous cuisine, and here you have plenty to choose from. The main restaurant is an international open buffet, from where you can enjoy the sea views while you eat. There is a gourmet a la carte specialty restaurant, a fish and seafood restaurant, a Japanese sushi bar, and a meat grill.

The resort offers evening entertainment, and the rooms are not just rooms, but spacious suites, and needless to say, the views from these are stunning.

For good all-round relaxation, recreation and great vistas, the Gran Bahia Principe offers Jamaica at its best.