It’s the stuff dreams are made of. White sandy beaches, crystal blue water and sundrenched palm trees. Flick through any holiday brochure and the Caribbean conjures up countless pages of magical images.

But until you see it for yourself and realise the camera doesn’t lie – you’ll finally understand the true meaning of the word paradise.

With over 70 miles of smooth white sands and perfect azure seas it’s hard not to be transfixed by the beauty of Barbados.

But the stunning coastline is not the only thing that is appealing – inland you’ll find green fields and rolling sugar cane plantations, dotted with colourful wooden chattel houses and churches.

Our hotel Treasure Beach was located on the west coast of the island renowned for it’s impeccable coastline.

The 35 room all-suite hotel is an intimate hideaway set in glorious tropical gardens on the beautiful Paynes Bay beach.

The resort is designed around its suites which form a horseshoe shape around the fresh water pool overlooking the sea, it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Its friendly staff add to the resort’s appeal and make your stay even more enjoyable, management even host a complimentary cocktail evening every Tuesday along with cold towels and fresh fruit kebabs brought direct to your sun-lounger every morning and afternoon tea on offer every day.

On our first day my nephew Bradley and I decided to take it easy and take in the delights the hotel and beach had to offer.

With just a few steps from the pool to the sea we were never short of a place to take a dip and cool off from the scorching sunshine.

We decided to make the most of the complimentary snorkel equipment on offer by the hotel and explore the beautiful warm waters.

Once you start exploring the crystal clear seas you certainly get the snorkelling bug, with so much to see we found ourselves swimming for hours while we became fascinated with the masses of colourful fish so close to the shore.

This year was the second year the island hosted the Barbados Sports Camp offering children aged between nine and 17 the unique opportunity to enjoy coaching lessons from iconic sports stars.

The sports camp is organised by the Barbados Tourism Authority and is free of charge for local and visiting children.

This year’s sports were football, cricket and netball. Being a keen cricket and football player, the camp was a must for my nephew, Bradley.

The camp runs throughout August with a different sporting star coaching each sport each week. We signed up for two days of cricket with Bajan legend Desmond Haynes, followed by two days of football with former Scotland and Liverpool player Alan Hansen.

The camp takes place at the University of West Indies and is extremely well organised, yet relaxed, with the children split into age groups, where they participate in training sessions, games and even get a chance to quiz their idols.

With the camp taking place from 10am-2pm each day, I decided to spend some of my time watching and some exploring the island.

First stop was the Mount Gay Rum distillery to discover the history behind the islands favourite tipple, watch as it’s made and even sample some of the range on offer.

Next it was time to relax with a visit to the famous Sandy Lane resort and enjoy the delights of its spa.

The resort, popular with the stars, is breathtaking from the moment you drive through its gated entrance.

The spa is an adult only area with 11 personalised treatment suites each with shower, bathroom and either outdoor garden, private hydro pool or sky light.

From start to finish my visit was totally luxurious, from taking some time out in the lavish relaxation room to the treatment itself.

I chose the Sandy Lane full body massage, which was an hour of complete bliss. Designed to ease away tension and relieve stress.

It was from one extreme to another for me as we decided to head to the thriving capital, Bridgetown. If you fancy a bit of shopping, Broad Street is the main area where visitors can pick up goods taxfree. All you need to do is show your passport and departing air ticket.

On our final day we decided to explore the seas once again, this time on one of the islands many organised catamaran cruises.

The cruise departed from Bridgetown and headed up the West Coast where we made three stops, one of which was almost directly outside our hotel Treasure Beach.

Two of the stops offered the opportunity to snorkel one over a shipwreck and the other to swim with sea turtles.

Our skipper encouraged the turtles to surface by throwing in chunks of local fish, but it was unbelievable just how close they came to the group, close enough to touch!

After lunch on board we made our third and final stop where we could swim to a secluded beach or, like my nephew and the other children on board, spend your time jumping off the catamaran into the sea.

This excursion was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for both of us.

The entire holiday from the hotel and beautiful beaches to the sports camp and catamaran cruise was an experience of a lifetime for both of us which left us not wanting to return home.