Despite its reputation as a tax-free haven, Grand Cayman isn't as affluent as some of its Caribbean cousins, making it a surprisingly affordable island destination.

Only 25 miles long, tourists are drawn by the promise of constant sunshine, warm waters, a colourful colonial history and the world-class diving. Much of the island's beauty is marine-based but Georgetown's historic buildings, Seven Mile Beach's pristine sand and the island's lush botanical gardens make it an all-round crowd-pleaser.

Highlight: A deep-sea dive in The Seamobile, a pressurised James Bond-style glass bubble built for two. Your pilot will weave you through reefs and wrecks offering you 360-degree views of the ocean.

Best time to go: It's hot and tropical all year, with short rains from May to October.

Getting there: Tropical Places offers seven nights B&B from 1,299 in the three-star Comfort Suites on Seven Mile Beach, travelling in May or June. Contact 01 4331029, www. tropicalplaces. ie Easter Island Best for: Sleuths and solitary souls. If remote and mysterious are your thing you'll love the drama and isolation of Easter Island. Lying 2,300 miles from Chile's coast, this volcanic terrain is home to the mysterious 'moai' . . . legions of puzzling stone heads standing sentinel. Scale Rano Kau's gaping crater fringed with grass and greenery or visit Easter Island's two beautiful beaches with safe swimming.

Highlight: The magical, mysterious moai, whose existence puzzles to this day.

Best time to go: Most people visit Easter Island while holidaying in Chile, which is best visited between November and April.

Getting there: LanChile flies from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Santiago in Chile and then on to Easter Island. It's cheaper to book both legs together. Check www. lan. com Maldives Best for: Luxe-loving lovers. Lying like a string of snapped pearls in The Indian Ocean The Maldives is made up of over 1,000 islands, characterised by icing sugar sand and swishing palms. Most of these islands are exclusive resorts offering the best of creature comforts. Protected by atolls, the waters lapping the beaches are as gentle as the ripples of a swimming pool.

Beneath the turquoise waves you'll find a kaleidoscopic world of tropical fish and coral gardens making for some of the finest diving and snorkelling in the world.

Highlight: Night fishing under a fiery sunset. Back on shore hand your catch to the island chefs who will barbecue it on the beach before you tuck in. Fish has never tasted so good.

Best time to go: The dry season (also high season) runs from December to April. It's warm year round, but expect higher humidity and some rain from May to November.

Getting there: Escape2 offers a selection of luxury packages to the Maldives. Check out www. escape2. ie or call 01 808 5464.

Newfoundland Best for: Outdoor adventurers. Newfoundland is North America's most easterly point lying off Canada's coast and boasting North America's oldest city, St John's. The fishrich seas off Newfoundland attracted European fishermen in the early days and many settled in the inlets and bays, accessible only by boat. In summer visitors can look out for icebergs and whales off shore while a road trip inland will reveal miles of deserted roads, dense forests and dramatic fjords.

Highlight: Camping in Gros Morne National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site, where everything from moose to bald eagles, beavers to salmon, osprey to caribou can be seen.

Best time to go: Spring to autumn. Getting there: Air Canada (0044 871 220 1111;

www. aircanada. ca) offers daily flights direct from London Heathrow to St John's.

Morro de Sao Paulo Best for: Backpackers and hippy hedonists.

Bahia is one of Brazil's most relaxing regions but should you favour an even lazier escape Morro de Sao Paulo is a short catamaran ride away from the state capital of Salvador. There's no transport on this tranquil island with locals favouring wheelbarrows for transporting heavy goods! Morro is located on the northern tip of the island of Tinhare and has excellent beaches. This lush, green island has one village with good restaurants where tracks lead from the main square to the beaches.

Highlight: A night of dancing and cocktails on the beach, surrounded by Brazilians and holidaymakers.

Best time to go: August, when temperatures are in the low 20s.

Getting there: TAP Portugal (www. flytap. com) offers fares from Dublin to Salvador return for 809. Morro de Sao Paulo is a 15-minute flight from Salvador.

Tasmania Best for: Nature lovers and walkers. Over one-third of this temperate wilderness is a designated Unesco World Heritage Site, making it home to a wealth of wonderful wildlife and fabulous flora. Then there's the wine region up north, the miles of deserted beaches on the east coast and the brilliant restaurants in hip Hobart, where the bustling weekend market brings to life the sandstone warehouses of its handsome harbour.

Highlight: A visit to Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula. Voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world, this half moon bay is ringed by jagged peaks of pink and grey granite. The vigorous forest trek to reach the bay makes a swim in the waters all the more memorable.

Best time to go: Tasmania is a year-round destination but can get pretty cool in winter.

Getting there: Daily ferries operate overnight services from Melbourne and Sydney to Devonport. Tasmania's many airports are serviced by connections from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.