It’s a given that colder nights inspire dreams of sunny locations like Barbados.

If you’re looking for a place to shake off winter, why not look at Barbados? Barbados is known for many things: powdery white beaches, turquoise waters and world-class luxury resorts. But that’s just a drop in the ocean when it comes to all the reasons why Barbados is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.

The island is truly what you want it to be. If you want to be a boho beach bum on some of the world’s best beaches, Barbados is perfection. Who can argue with the restorative power of a holiday made up of beachside lounging, saltwater swimming, lunching on freshly-caught fish and luxurious spa treatments?

If your idea of a break falls into the get-up-and-go camp, there’s a wide selection of water-sports, including world-class surfing. There’s also biking, cricket, golf, horseback riding and running and hiking trails everywhere on the island.

History buffs can time travel through Barbados’ colonial history by spending an afternoon wandering around Bridgetown, a UNESCO world heritage designated capital city filled with cafés, art galleries and boutiques. Or visit  St. Nicholas Abbey (built in 1658) and Drax Hall – two of the three original Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere.

If you’re a culture hound, Barbados has a never-ending list of festivals.There’s opera, music and theatre at the Holders Season, the Classical Pops Festival, as well as Jazz and Reggae Festivals.

And then there’s the food. Over the years, Barbados has become a major destination for food lovers. The annual Food and Rum Festival was hosted by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten this year, and there’s no end to the luxury restaurants on offer. But it’s Barbados’ abundance of excellent homegrown food (think mango, guava carambola, grapefruit, pumpkin, plantain, lobster, flying fish and kingfish) coupled with Bajan hospitality that makes the island so different. Visit any Bajan fish shack, and you’ll find out exactly what we mean.

Of course, there’s the obligatory pilgrimage to honour the birthplace of rum at the Mount Gay Distillery as well as the islands ubiquitous, colourful rum shacks.

Kind of a dream come true, isn’t it?

For more info, go to VisitBarbados.org