I’ve been to New York a few times now, but this trip still felt different: five nights in the city at our own pace, followed by a relaxing stay at Atlantis in the Bahamas. If you like the idea of combining a big city break with proper beach time, this is a twin-centre that genuinely works.

In New York, we treated the stay like a “greatest hits” tour. We did the big views — Summit One, Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. Each offered a different angle on that familiar skyline and, even though I know the city well, it still has the power to stop you in your tracks. The children loved debating which view was best, while I enjoyed having the time to simply stand still and take it all in.

We based ourselves around some of the neighbourhoods I always return to. In Tribeca, we wandered along cobbled streets, found easy-going cafés and spent plenty of time people-watching. Brooklyn showed us a more laid-back side of the city, with walks across the bridge, afternoons in the parks and those classic brownstone-lined streets that feel worlds away from Midtown.

Evenings were a mix of sport and theatre: an ice hockey game that everyone got surprisingly invested in, and MJ on Broadway, which had us all humming songs on the way back to the hotel. There was plenty more in between, but nothing ever felt forced or rushed.

Then we swapped taxis and skyscrapers for palm trees and sea views and flew down to the Bahamas. Arriving at Atlantis felt like stepping into a completely different kind of holiday. The water slides quickly became the centre of our days. We tackled the bigger, more daring rides as well as the gentler ones, drifted around the lazy river and were never far from a snack or a sunlounger. It was fun, easy and exactly the right follow-on from a busy few days in New York.

Whenever we wanted a quieter pace, we headed to the beach. The sand was soft, the sea clear and calm, and it became the perfect place for long, slow afternoons spent reading, chatting and watching the children move endlessly between the shoreline and the water.

In the evenings, we focused on the food. Atlantis has an excellent range of restaurants, including Michelin-level dining, so we used the opportunity to try a few different places. The seafood stood out in particular, and the overall standard made dinner feel like part of the experience rather than simply a refuel at the end of the day.

What made this twin-centre work so well was the balance. New York gave us full, memorable days packed with variety, but because know the city, it never felt overwhelming. The Bahamas then offered a complete change of pace: sunshine, warm water, good food and the space to properly switch off together.