British Virgin Islands: my own private Treasure Island My day job for Sky News means a 3.15am rise, so my priority for the first few days of any holiday is catching up on sleep. The slow pace of Peter Island was ideal for that. We eased ourselves gently into island life by sunbathing at Deadman's Bay, which was only a few steps from our room. We didn't even have to stir ourselves to order a drink - we simply raised the flag at the bottom of our sunloungers. There are five beaches to choose from, and it's well worth visiting the more remote White Bay Beach . It's a short drive from the resort and, once there, you have your own beach hut for the day and are served a picnic lunch with chilled white wine. We borrowed snorkelling kits to explore under water and saw turtles, conches and brightly coloured fish darting between the reefs. For the more energetic, there are plenty of water sports to try, such as kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. You can also explore the island's 1,800 acres; only a fraction of it - 300 acres - has been developed. It's ideal for hiking, jogging or biking, and there are convenient water stations along the routes where you can refill your bottles. The island's owners are "committed to preserving paradise," and have installed a water purification plant, as well as the first windmill generators in the BVI. For those who like a physical challenge, however, try the "Island-Athlon ." This is a triathlon with two different levels of difficulty. I took the beginner's version, which involved half a mile of kayaking, five miles of cycling over steep terrain, and a two-mile run to finish. Chris, the fitness instructor, was on hand all the way through to help with practical tips and much-needed words of encouragement. I am proud to say my name is now up on the leaderboard (although I was only the second person to take part). To recover from my exertions, I headed to the spa for a signature massage, and enjoyed a soak in the hot tub, which overlooks the sea. But it was a heady rum cocktail in the bar, aptly called a Painkiller, that proved to be the most effective cure for my aching muscles. If you develop a taste for Caribbean food along with the rum, you can take some of Peter Island's culinary secrets home with you. Lisa, the head chef, offers classes in authentic barbecue cooking. We marinated steak, grilled lobster and made our own rum punch, which we devoured afterwards at a candlelit dinner on the beach. Peter Island isn't straightforward to reach - you fly to Antigua, then island-hop by small plane and travel the final leg by boat. It's best, therefore, to break up the trip, and stop off in Antigua for a night or two. After a long international flight, the Inn at English Harbour couldn't be a more welcome sight: an elegant, light-filled, colonial-style resort, with beachside cabanas and large suites with four-poster beds. If you're lucky enough to stay here on a Sunday night, take a trip to the highest point of the island, Shirley Heights. A steel band plays all night long and no one is shy of dancing - the endless supply of rum cocktails must have something to do with that. Charlotte Hawkins was a guest of ITC Classics (01244 355 527; itcclassics.co.uk). Stay seven nights, pay for five, plus receive complimentary return transfers and a private beach dinner for two, exclusively for Telegraph readers. Prices from £1,599 per person based on two adults sharing an Ocean View room for seven nights on a room-only basis including return economy-class flights with British Airways, inter-island flights to Tortola and transfers - saving up to £490 per person. Valid for travel completed between June 15 and October 31, 2014. Book by December 31, 2013. Reference number: 734931 for readers of the Telegraph.