Stars flock to the Caribbean for some Christmas sun (again)... but which island is the biggest A-List haunt?

Every Christmas, like clockwork, stars flock to the Caribbean to celebrate the festive season in the sun. 

You can almost set your watch by the arrival of Sir Philip Green and Simon Cowell, who bed down at the exclusive Sandy Lanes resort in Barbados for the whole of Christmas and New Year. 

But Barbados isn't the only magnet for celebrities in December, neighbouring locations including St Barts, Turks And Caicos and Jamaica are also hotbeds of showbiz activity during the busy winter month. 

While Barbados is one of the showier attractions, places like St Barts and Montego Bay are more likely to attract bonafide A-List stars like Paul McCartney and Beyonce.

Five-star luxury villas, private beaches and extravagant seafood restaurants are just a few of the draws for rich stars looking to wind down after a busy year.

Then on New Year's Eve, some of the richest stars like Roman Abramovich and P Diddy try to outdo each other with lavish parties where millions are spent on fireworks displays and food and drink.

So which is the best Caribbean island for a celebrity Christmas getaway? Read on to find out... 

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Barbados 

Celebrities flock to the sandy beaches and warm waters of Barbados every year for Christmas 

Barbados is the most well-known Christmas destination among the Caribbean islands, with scores of celebrities flocking there for the entire festive season. 

Christmas almost isn't Christmas these days without several paparazzi pictures of Simon Cowell riding a jet ski or walking his terriers across the beach. 

The X Factor mogul has already decamped to the island with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman and their son Eric, although his harem of ex-girlfriends including Sinitta, Jackie St Clair and Mezhgan Hussainy have yet to be seen. 

Simon Cowell, Lauren Silverman and son Eric, left, and Chloe Green, right, all go to the island for the festive season 

He has been joined by another Barbados regular Sir Philip Green, who decamps to the island's five-star resort Sandy Lane every Christmas with his wife Tina, daughter Chloe and son Brandon. 

Made In Chelsea's Jamie Laing is also a regular visitor during the festive season, as is fellow reality star Lizzie Cundy.

The most famous face on the island has to be Rihanna though. The pop star is a Bajan local and she never fails to return to her home country during December to spend time with her family.  

Rihanna, left, is a Bajan local, while Jamie Laing, right, also visits every year at Christmas 

Last year, Stephanie Pratt rang in the New Year in Barbados with boyfriend Josh Shepherd, as did Mark Wahlberg and his family.

In 2013, Cara spent the Christmas period with her family in Heron Bay in The Pink Cottage, a pink villa that had previously hosted the likes of Bill Clinton and Sir Winston Churchill.

St Barts 

St Barts is the less flashy cousin of Barbados, attracting a higher calibre of celebrity

St Barts is the less flashy cousin of Barbados, attracting a higher calibre of celebrity during the festive season. 

Many of the A-List clientele prefer to rent private villas instead of a suite in a resort and they tend to keep themselves to themselves once there, avoiding the crowds in the waterfront restaurants. 

Russell Simmons owns a home there and hosts an annual Christmas party on the island for the last 16 years, which has been attended by everyone from Leonard DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire to Rita Ora.

P Diddy, left, and Russell Simmons, right, both held fancy parties on the island of St Barts last Christmas 

Russell held the bash at Eden Rock, a resort that is owned by the family of Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, who also heads out to the island at Christmas.   

On New Year's Eve last year, Roman Abramovich, who owns a multi-million pound villa on the island, and P Diddy both held enormous parties on their yachts that drew in guests from all over the world. 

The year before, Denzel Washington, Victoria Silvstedt and Bjorn Borg all visited during the festive season and Donatella Versace, Jon Bon Jovi, Jay Z,  Beyoncé, and the actress Naomi Watts have all made the trip in previous years. 

The draw for the big names is said to be the small size of the island - it has a population of just 35,000 - and how difficult it is to get to, which makes it less of a target for paparazzi and celebrity spotters than Barbados.  

Jamaica  

Jamaica is one of the biggest Caribbean islands and has long been a magnet for celebrity visitors 

Jamaica is one of the biggest Caribbean islands and it attracts more than its fair share of celebrities over the festive season. 

Emma Thompson and her husband Greg Wise have enjoyed trips to Round Hill Hotels and Villas in Montego Bay in the run up to Christmas, as has Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams and Lance Armstrong. 

Caroline Flack went to the island for a holiday last Christmas 

The Beatles star Paul McCartney loved the resort so much that he booked a villa every Christmas when married to his first wife Linda. 

Last year, Caroline Flack celebrated winning Strictly Come Dancing with a three-week holiday, flying out straight after Christmas and staying until well into the new year with One Direction stylist Lou Teasdale.  

Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos 

Parrot Cay is a luxury private island resort in the Turks and Caicos

Parrot Cay, a luxury private island resort in the Turks and Caicos, has long been a favourite holiday destination of celebrities.

The secluded location means A-Listers can enjoy the crystal-clear waters, whitewashed villas and laid-back Caribbean atmosphere without having to worry about paparazzi. 

Bruce Willis, Keith Richards, Christie Brinkley and Donna Karan all have homes on the island, which they head to for the festive season. 

Justin Bieber spent New Year on the island last year and Christie Brinkley owns a home there 

In 2012, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and their six children spent their Christmas holiday on the island.

The family headed to the resort, with a string of nannies in tow, and stayed at Donna Karan's beachfront villa.

Last December, Justin Bieber took a trip to the resort with his friend Hailey Baldwin to ring in the New Year, renting out a villa near where Christie Brinkley and her family reside for a week.

Bahamas 

The Bahamas are relatively quiet on the celebrity front at Christmas time 

The Bahamas hosts many celebrity homes, but Christmas and New Year are relatively quiet on the showbiz front for the island.  

Last year, Cara Delevigne rang in the new year with stars including Zoe Kravitz, whose father Lenny owns a villa on the little-visited island of Eleuthera. 

Cara Delevigne rang in the new year in the Bahamas last year