Sail into the sunset – Caribbean

The idea of drifting across gently lapping waves into a shimmering orange sun is a perennial honeymooners’ fantasy. But where can you live the dream – especially if you’re not a sailor?

Head for the Caribbean, says Feona Gray, co-founder of The Definitive Caribbean Guide (www.definitivecaribbean.com).

"A romantic way to explore is by bareboat yacht charter - you hire a boat plus a skipper, perfect for couples who want to sail but don't have the confidence to do it alone. The foredeck always gives a good amount of privacy while the skipper melts into the background at the stern.

"You're responsible for feeding the skipper but you don't have to eat together - somehow it just works. There is always the option to hire a cook too, or just go for a crewed yacht instead. Another option is to book a stay-and-sail holiday: pick a great hotel and add on a romantic three-day sail-away, crewed or bareboat.

"The British Virgin Islands (BVIs) are without doubt the best sailing grounds in the Caribbean - wonderfully romantic, clear water for snorkelling and diving, and well suited to novice sailors. You can island-hop in short reaches from one deserted cay to another and find wonderful anchorages, sometimes with just a single bar - which can often become quite lively, so it doesn't all have to be about seclusion.

"For the ultimate in romance, visit coral-fringed Anegada Island, where you can feast on fresh lobster at Loblolly Bay."

3 more super sails

• Board a dahabiyya(19th-century wooden vessel), the most romantic way to sail down the Nile, Egypt.
• Pootle around the karst outcrops of Halong Bay, Vietnam, on an overnight cruise.
• Join a flotilla to explore the Adriatic coast and abundant isles of Croatia.