Many resorts decided that they might as well make some improvements while they were at it: Palm Island, a private-island resort in the Grenadines, for example, which suffered minor damage, has added a new lookout bar, upgraded its restaurant and pool and refurbished its rooms.

The only island where it's not quite business as usual is Grenada, which bore the full force of Hurricane Ivan. Grenada's Spice Island Resort, for example, will remain closed for the forseeable future - though owner Royston G Hopkins has promised that when his hotel does reopen, it will be "better than ever". Keith Mitchell, Grenada's prime minister, has said much the same about Grenada itself.

"Better than ever" has become something of a mantra in the Caribbean. Even before the terrible weather hit, hotels and resorts were busily refurbishing, renovating and expanding.

In St Barths, for example, the owners of Eden Rock have spent nine months - and some £6 million - on refurbishments, which include a fabulous Howard Hughes Loft apartment and two new bars.

In St Lucia, the lovely rustic Anse Chastanet hotel is about to open what promises to be one of the world's most dazzling all-suite properties (each room will have its own infinity pool and view of the Pitons).

New hotels include the fabulous Raffles Resort Canouan Island in the Grenadines and The Palms, an all-suite hotel in the Turks & Caicos, while right across the region, spas have been added, rooms upgraded and world-class chefs brought in to improve cuisine.

Keep your eye on St Lucia, too, where several new hotels are opening this year, plus a new "tourism village" at Rodney Bay, on the north-west coast, and a new marina village, at Marigot Bay, on the west coast.

New flights from the UK mean the islands are even more accessible this year: Bmi has already launched its new non-stop flights from Manchester to Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia; while in July, Virgin will begin flying into Nassau and Havana.

All this and the continued strength of the pound against the US dollar make the Caribbean a fabulous spot for a holiday in 2005.

To help you choose the perfect hotel or resort, I have selected my favourite properties in six categories (I have not included any resorts in Grenada, as it seems unfair to make comparisons at this stage). For each, I have given the published rate, per room, based on two sharing, for the current season, without flights. Note that better deals are likely to be available through specialist operators.

By: Telegraph