St Croix is a popular desination for many people, including the Biden family who have spent three successive Christmases there. The small Caribbean island saw an increase of 16.5% in tourism numbers last year and is starting to become more well-known to intrepid travellers.

The island has appeal because it is not inundated with tourists and remains untouched by major hotel chains. Cruise ships don't often visit the location which is barely half-the-size of the Isle of Wight, despite the fact the destination is full of history and character.

The island is more hospitable than when Christopher Columbus landed there in 1493, welcomed by the arrows of indigenous tribes who called the island Ay Ay. The island was rechristined Santa Cruz, and later named as part of the Virgin Islands after the 11,000 virgin handmaidens of St Ursula.

St Croix's history has been touched by many civilisations after being colonised by the Dutch, British, French, Spanish and Danish. Even the Knights of Malta occupied it during one period of time and the island became known as a hub for sugar cultivation. It was a part of teh slave trade until it was purchased by the United States, along with the rest of US Virgin Islands in 1917.

The island's past means that today it is a pot of melded cultures and visitors will see this in a variety of different aspects on offer including food and architecture.

The main draws of the island are its sandy beaches and clear waters. But, there is so much more to see including beer-drinking pigs in the rainforest, and snorkelling in an underwater marine garden that was protected thanks to former US president John F Kennedy.

The island also enjoys average highs of 30C in October.

There are no direct flights to St Croix from the UK, but various airlines fly from Miami, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Charlotte in the US (and, from December this year, from Chicago too). A connecting return flight from the UK will set you back roughly £800.

St Croix is a natural wonderland, with lots to see and do, the terrain features rugged green mountains plus plantation flatlands to the south.

There is very little in the way of public transport offered on the island. The sensible thing to do is to hire a car - Centerline, Hertz or Budget are all reliable options.