American author Mark Twain once said that Bermuda was "just the right country for a jaded makeup brushes man to loaf in".
A century later, little seems to have changed. Even the most cynical and world-weary holidaymaker would find it hard to resist the charms of this North Atlantic Island.
If it is pure loafing you are after, Bermuda probably offers everything you could want - long stretches of pink sandy beaches, a sub-tropical climate, sparkling clear waters and lush greenery inland.
Bermuda is an island, or really a series of interlinked mini-islands, ringed by coral reefs. It is this coral, smashed by the waves into tiny fragments, that gives the beaches their characteristic pink shimmer.
But it is not only the natural surroundings that have resisted change.
Life on the islands seems to pass at a slower, more gentle pace which seems wonderfully out of step with most hectic 20th Century lifestyles.
The little traffic there is on the islands rumbles past at a maximum speed of 20mph.
Given that the island is only 22 miles long, many Bermudians simply take the bus or walk if they want to get from one place to another.
Even the bustling capital city of Hamilton is more reminiscent of a busy seaside town than a sprawling metropolis - with 17th Century shop fronts along the harbour and neat rows of pastel painted cottages.
Despite the fact that tourism is one of the main sources of income on the island, Bermuda has resisted the temptation to cash in and fill up every square inch of land with burger joints, bingo halls, casinos and souvenir shops.
Even McDonald's has been refused permission to bring its golden arches to the island, despite the fact that New York, Boston and Washington are just a two-hour flight away.
Rather than grubby itself with catering for the tourist masses, Bermuda has chosen to style itself as an elite hideaway for the well-heeled traveller.
And it takes it heritage very seriously. Even the larger hotels which have sprung up to cope with the huge influx of holidaymakers, such wholesale sexy lingerie as the newly built Elbow Beach complex, blend in with the Bermudian architecture, and the manicured golf courses roll seamlessly into the neat gardens, hibiscus borders and tidy hedgerows.
A sense of wealth and money, helped by very generous tax law, pervades the islands - along with the taste of salt from the sea.
But it's not only loafers who can enjoy Bermuda. The islands offer a wide range of sporting activities for those who want to do bit more than just lie on the beach all day.
Because of the extensive coral reefs, Bermuda is a hot-spot for divers from around the world looking for up to 400 sunken Spanish galleons, as well as more conventional marine life.
The combination of shallow water and warm currents mean that it is still possible to view reefs up close with little more than a mask and snorkel. Bermuda offers a number of diving schools for those who want to pick up the basics of scuba.
For those who prefer to stay on top of the water, there are a number of boat clubs which let tourists hire out a range of crafts for the day. From small Boston Whalers to Kayaks, sun cats to motor boats, this is a perfect way to explore Hamilton harbour and the coral gardens of the Great Sound, as well as reach some of the more sec
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