For many people, an island holiday equates to lying on the beach for a week and doing little else. But when you’re travelling with a group that has disparate interests, this can lead to tensions. The solution? Pick an island that has a bit of everything, and keep everyone happy.
The island: Cyprus
Where: South-eastern Mediterranean
Party: The hedonism and all-nighters at Agia Napa are legendary, and this beach resort is still one of the hottest gigs on the international DJ circuit. Mercifully, there’s a nice beach for sleeping off the hangovers on.
City life: Nicosia is the world’s only divided capital, meaning there are two distinct sides to explore. The modern Greek southern side contrasts with the mosques and older buildings of the Turkish northern half.
Quirky: The UN-controlled Attila Line acts as buffer zone across the country. However, it’s possible
to look over on ghost cities and old houses that have been left eerily abandoned since 1974.
History: Cyprus boasts an impressive array of ancient ruins, from the cities of Salamis and Kourion to the World Heritage-listed archaeological site at Paphos.
The island: St Martin/ Sint Maarten
Where: Leeward islands, the Caribbean
Culture: People of over 100 nationalities live on this tiny island. The northern half is French and the southern half is Dutch, but everyone speaks good English and immigration from Cuba and the Dominican Republic have lent a Latino air.
Gourmet: The town of Grand Case on the French side is a foodie paradise. Just about every building is a top grade restaurant or a beach shack selling delicious (and less expensive) local goodies.
Beaches: If you like your sand white and your water a crystal blue, then Baie Longue and Orient Beach on the French side should do the trick nicely.
Nightlife: The Dutch southern side of the island is the nightlife capital of the Caribbean. There are plenty of bars, clubs and casinos in Philipsburg and Maho Beach.
The island: Majorca
Where: The Balearics, in the Mediterranean, to the east of mainland Spain.
Package deals: Mallorca is one of the world’s package deal hotspots – perfect for families who want a simple sunshine bargain without the hard work.
City culture: Ignore the tourist throng and Palma de Mallorca is a first rate, gorgeous Spanish city. The cathedral, Museum of Modern Art and Arab Baths are amongst the highlights.
Walking: The north-west of the island is largely undeveloped, rugged terrain, and it’s a major destination for hikers.
Hedonism: Magaluf is notorious, but it’s hard to beat for a non-stop party and the chance to, er, ‘meet’ other holidaymakers.
The island: Malta
Where: The Mediterranean, just south of Italy.
Beaches: The twin stretches of Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha in the north-west of the island are gorgeous – perfect territory for laying out the towel.
History: Discover the story of the Knights that built the huge fortifications around Valletta at the high-tech Great Siege of Malta exhibition in the capital.
Quirky: At the Saluting Battery in Valletta, you can learn how to operate and fire a cannon.
Active: Malta is a diver’s paradise, and the aquatic life around Cirkewwa in the north-west is astonishing.
The island: Madeira
Where: The Atlantic Ocean, near the Canary Islands.
Walking: Madeira is highly mountainous, and is criss-crossed by water channels and footpaths. Perfect for stretching the legs.
Wine: Madeira is famous for its sweet wines, but is branching out into other varieties. The capital, Funchal, has a whole host of wine outlets where you can go tasting, while there are local wineries around the island.
Quirky: It’s possible to ride in a wicker toboggan from Monte, down the hill into Funchal, pushed by two men in boater hats.
Old-style luxury: The island has plenty of Quintas, which are old mansions with extensive gardens turned into four and five star hotels. Quinta Bela Vista and Quinta Perestrello are particularly good choices.
Copyright David Whitley
This article was originally written for AOL UK.
