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No wonder Nelson fell in love here: Actors Sharon Maughan and Trevor Eve share why they adore the beauty and peace on the Caribbean jewel of Nevis

By Sharon Maughan and Trevor Eve For Mail On Sunday

Published: 11:00 EST, 23 September 2015 | Updated: 13:55 EST, 23 September 2015

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We chose to travel to Nevis via Miami.

You can fly direct from London to the neighbouring island of St Kitts but we were seduced by the idea of first sampling the pleasures of the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, the perfect curtain-raiser to an unforgettable Caribbean holiday.

Nevis was somewhere Trevor and I have long wanted to visit.

'There’s no shortage of things to do, however. There are lots of great walks, you can go into the rainforest, for example, which we did'

Many years ago we were on Antigua where an older couple we got to know told us it was their favourite island.

Nevis is probably best known for its connection with Lord Nelson; his wife Fanny was born there and what is now the Montpelier Plantation Hotel witnessed the marriage of Horatio Nelson to Frances ‘Fanny’ Nisbet, niece of the then President of Nevis, John Herbert.

The historical link struck a chord. Trevor and I have family connections to the Napoleonic wars – we both have ancestors who fought in the Battle of Waterloo, which is quite a thing, apparently, and something to be very proud of.

Given that Nelson had a very hard life in the Navy, it must have been wonderful for him to get married in the Caribbean, which is extremely romantic.

The Montpelier is a lovely hotel. It’s very quiet – if you’re looking for something lively you’ll be disappointed. There’s something of a ‘retreat’ about Montpelier which we adored.

There’s no shortage of things to do, however. There are lots of great walks, you can go into the rainforest, for example, which we did.

But our main aim was to relax: we are great believers in the three S’s – sun, sea and sand – you have all these in abundance in Nevis. Food is also important – we had great meals at Montpelier’s excellent Restaurant 750.

You can eat out on the terrace with stunning views over the capital of Charlestown and towards nearby St Kitts.

Perfect port: The couple loved visiting Nevis's capital Charlestown (above) with its pretty harbour

DREAMS DON'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE

If you are dreaming of a Caribbean holiday but are on a tight budget, the Dominican Republic is one of the best-value destinations. With its stunning beaches, colonial cities and rugged peaks, there is a wide range of activities for all.

Holidaymakers with a sense of adventure can go diving among coral gardens or white-water rafting down the Yaque del Norte River. There are whale-watching trips on the Samana peninsula and treks through the rainforest in the mountainous interior.

If you are into culture and history, head for the Zona Colonial, a Unesco World Heritage site in Santo Domingo.

The walled city claims to be the first European settlement in the New World and you can spend a day visiting its churches, forts and museums.

Thomson (thomson.co.uk) is opening a new Sensatori Resort in May, 40 miles north of Punta Cana, and will have an adults-only section, honeymoon suites with Jacuzzis and spacious family suites. Guests can choose from eight restaurants serving food from the Far East to Sicily.

There will be water-sports such as kayaking, boogie boards and stand-up paddle-boarding. Children aged between three and 12 can join the Sensatori Playhouse, and evening entertainment includes an open-air cinema.

Meanwhile, on the south-east coast, a new luxury family-friendly resort will open in Bayahibe next year. The Dreams Dominicus La Romana will be set in gardens on its own stretch of white-sand beach and rooms will have private balconies. Facilities include a luxury spa and restaurants serving Italian, Mexican and Asian cuisine.

To book, visit Tropical Sky (tropicalsky.com).

After dinner, guests are invited to enjoy a coffee or sample the hotel’s aged rum collection in the Great Room, or simply stay outside and relax under the stars, which look close enough to touch in the inky dark Caribbean night.

The Great Room was one of my favourite places – a grand, brilliant, stone-built room that was part of the original building Nelson would have known.

If I had any quiet time, it was the perfect place to read a book.

If you want to get to know your fellow guests, there are plenty of social events organised by the hotel, such as a cocktail party and a ‘drinks by the pool’ night.

There were also opportunities to do something a little different.

The hotel has a tower which you can dine in on your own at the very top.

If I’d gone up there I would have felt like Rapunzel and tossed down my long tresses to attract a passing knight.

We preferred something a little less sensational, such as having lunch by the pool.

Nevis is part of the Windward Islands, so you should be ready for a few breezes – the pool has a wind barrier built at the side.

It’s a fine exercise pool, offering a challenging length for keen swimmers.

On the day we arrived, suffering some serious jet- lag, there was a guy in the pool systematically doing his daily 82 lengths – that’s commitment!

The accommodation is plush, dotted around the property. Our room felt very African, reminding me of when I filmed the TV series The Flame Trees Of Thika a few years ago.

After that filming Trevor and I went to Lamu in the Indian Ocean, which was wonderful.

There’s a bit of a divide these days between people who like the Caribbean and those who prefer the Maldives and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. I’m happy with both destinations.

Wherever I go, I’m looking for ‘wellness’.

They arranged a yoga class for me at Montpelier, which meant that for duration of my stay I had a yoga teacher all to myself, and she was excellent.

High fliers: Trevor and Sharon with the pilot after their trip to St Baarts

Our stay was perfect. We met some lovely people, and the hotel took wonderful care of us. We did one overnight trip, to St Baarts.

I hadn’t realised it was so near – half an hour away on a plane. The trip gave me a kind of flying fever – I suddenly wanted to be a pilot.

That short hop up close to the pilot was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my life. That might be my next holiday: learning how to fly a plane.

So we had a rest and did a bit of sightseeing as well – in the course of the week we saw the entire island. It’s not big, it’s not flash, and it’s not glitzy, but I loved Charlestown.

What is it the Americans say about places? ‘It’s so authentic!’ Charlestown was absolutely authentic.

TRAVEL FACTS

ITC Luxury Travel (itcluxurytravel.co.uk, 01244 355 527) offers seven nights at Montpelier Plantation & Beach (montpeliernevis.com) from £2,049pp. This includes return flights, transfers and B&B accommodation.

Rates at Mandarin Oriental Miami (mandarinoriental.com/miami) start from £170 per night on a room-only basis.