Caribbean

DESPITE being island-dwellers ourselves, there’s something much more exciting about a holiday abroad on one.

There’s the party islands of Ibiza or how about a trip to the Caribbean complete with pina coladas?

The Sun Travel team have certainly racked up the air miles when it comes to travelling the world, and have found their ultimate island holidays along the way.

That’s not to say there aren’t a few closer to home that we love, including ones across Scotland and Wales.

So here are some of our faves – and our top tips for finding a bargain.

Sicily 

Skip Tuscany or the Amalfi coast – if you want a cheap Italy experience, go to Sicily for £5 Aperol Spritzs instead of £15, or £4 takeaway pizzas.

I enjoyed an idyllic stay in Ad Astra, a villa right on the beach at Finale di Pollina, part of the hand-picked collection from Wish Sicily.

With four bedrooms, a gorgeous pool and wonderful outside eating areas, it would have been tempting to just laze around on the sunbeds, taking the occasional dip in the sea.

But there’s so much more to enjoy here with the nearby medieval hilltop village of Pollina, home to sleepy streets, ancient amphitheatres and £2 glasses of wine.

We escaped the crowds by taking a dip in the clear waters of the pebble bay of Spiaggia Torre Conca, tucked beneath the cliffs by Finale di Pollina.

Just minutes from the villa was the rustic Beach Club Costa Turchina, a family-run restaurant with £10 bowls of pasta, and massive dinner plate-sized steaks for £14.

For 2026, the owners are expanding and are offering yurt stays with private hot tubs in a field next to the restaurant, and you can hire bikes, scooters and boats from the club as well.

Sicily delivered great value, far less crowds and a slice of la dolce vita without the price tag! – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Golden Isles, France

The Golden Isles off the coast of the South of France – and made up of three Caribbean-like, unspoilt islands – offer an incredibly peaceful antidote to the crowds of the Cote D’Azur.

Porquerolles is the largest despite being just 7km long and 3km wide and is car free, with 50kms of cycle paths instead (you can rent bicycles in the main village).

There is the pine-fringed beach of Plage Notre Dame, or Plage du Langoustier on the island’s western-most tip has a strip of sparkling white sand to the north, and a black sand beach to the south (save time for Restaurant Porquerollais for traditional Med fish specialities).

Smaller Port Cros is a rugged haven for hikers and snorkellers, also with no cars, but also no bikes and absolutely no smoking allowed anywhere outdoors to protect this piece of paradise, France’s first marine national park.

(For the freshest seafood and colourful cocktails, reserve a table at Restaurant Hostellerie Provencale right next to the harbour.)

And finally Ile De Levant has yet another surprise up its sleeve.

While most of the island is inaccessible for military testing, Heliopolis is one of Europe’s oldest naturist villages, founded in 1931 and clothes are entirely optional everywhere on the island, except in the harbour and village square.

Getting to the islands is easy too, with regular ferries to Porquerolles from Hyeres taking just 15 to 20 minutes and other regular boat transfers to Port Cros and Ile de Levant from nearby coastal towns like Le Lavandou. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Eilean Shona

Did you know that Scotland has around 900 offshore islands and only between 94 and 97 of these are permanently inhabited? I would say that makes them more special to visit.

Eilean Shona is a tiny tidal island in the Inner Hebrides, about an hour from Fort William. 

To reach the island – where only nine people live – you need to take a small ferry and once there you won’t find cars or roads. 

Instead, you’ll find a green haven with abundant wildlife and cosy cottages to stay in.

In fact, the island inspired J.M. Barrie’s Neverland in Peter Pan.

To visit the island, you must be booked to stay in one of the various accommodations on the island – which cost from £1,100 per week for two people (so £78.58 per person per night).

There’s not much to do on the island itself – but for those who want a peaceful retreat or love hiking it is the ideal spot. 

And make sure to visit Shoe Bay at one end of the island – it boasts a white sand beach with crystal clear waters that looks like the Maldives. – Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Spinalonga

Spinalonga is a small island off the northeast coast of Crete known for its huge 16th century Venetian fortress that later became one of Europe’s last active leper colonies between 1903 and 1957. 

The fortress itself dates back to 1579 and when you visit the island, you can see some of the ruined buildings as well as others that are more intact. 

There are information points across the island as well, where you can learn about the history of Spinalonga.

The island is great for a half-day trip, the ferry only takes about 10 minutes to reach Spinalonga from Plaka – a pretty Cretian town with a few shops and tavernas overhanging the water. 

A round-trip boat transfer from Plaka to Spinalonga costs €12 (£10.28) for adults and €6 (£5.14) for children.

The boats run every 30 minutes. – Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Puerto Rico

Sun, sand, sea and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten – Puerto Rico is an island that I cannot fault.

Firstly off, even if you’re heading elsewhere on the island, its capital, San Juan, is not to be missed.

The colourful streets are ripe for exploring during the day filled with cafes and jewellery shops, then as night falls, the bars come alive enticing you in with loud music and cheap drinks.

Nearby is the trendy neighbourhood of Santurce which is known to be one of Bad Bunny’s favourites thanks to its huge street murals

My favourite part though was exploring the western region of the island to find its incredible beaches like Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla.

The popular family spot has soft sand perfect for sunbathing, and it’s Caribbean Sea so it’s warm to swim in too (the north coast of the island borders the Atlantic Ocean).

It’s tradition here to jump off the fishing pier too. Another is Jobos Beach in Isabela which is a prime surfing spot for both advanced and beginners.

Food in Puerto Rico is delicious, but don’t expect to be healthy – from mofongo (fried balls of mashed plantain) or tasty empanadillas… you’ll definitely be feeling the extra pounds on your way back. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Anglesey

Anglesey has all the ingredients for a Great British break – beautiful beaches, plenty of attractions and when it comes to nature, quite often you’ll see dolphins, grey seals and puffins off the coast.

During my visit, I set up camp in the little village of Moelfre which was incredibly quiet even during the height of summer.

It’s not the place for huge entertainment, but what you’ll find instead are gorgeous pubs, a cute little coffee shop called Ann’s Pantry and beach of its own called Taeth Moelfre.

If you’re after a longer stretch of sand to go out and paddle or sunbathe, then head to Traeth Lligwy for golden shores and a sandbank when the tide goes out so the kids can carry on playing without going too far.

To see more of the island, definitely take or hire a car so you can drive to Beaumaris to see its castle and pier.

If it’s not too windy then make sure to hop on the ferry to see Puffin Island – a small wildlife sanctuary for the birds on the eastern side of Angelesey.

I loved our cottage we stayed in called Bryn Awel and sleeps up to six people.

With seven nights costing £577 (or £13.74ppn each), it’s snug with a cosy woodburner to fire up in the winter months and a large suntrap patio for the summertime. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Ibiza

My deep-rooted love for Spain’s White Isle is shared among many Brits. It’s cheap and easy to reach from the UK, with plenty of flights, and is now littered with some of the hottest restaurants and chicest hotels in Europe.

While many come here to party (the island is home to UNVRS, the largest nightclub in the world, and Hï, frequently voted one of the best in the world) those in the know appreciate its quieter side and rustic beauty.

A holiday in Ibiza, for me, is rarely complete without a boat trip around the coast, stopping off at secluded coves where you’ll find nothing other than a few locals playing chess above the craggy rocks.

You don’t have to spend hundreds. SamBoat has some very affordable deals.

Beach clubs and bars are, of course, in abundance, but they come with a hefty price tag these days.

So if you’re strapped for cash, just lay a towel down and enjoy the vibes. Afterall, every beach in Ibiza is publicly owned, so no one can stop you enjoying the sands.

If you are willing to splurge a little, Beach House in Playa d’en Bossa is one of my all-time favourites.

The food is outstanding – think grilled king crab and sizzling rice dishes – while the atmosphere is mellow and rather unpretentious compared to some other spots. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Sri Lanka

I still lust over the meals I ate during my trip to Sri Lanka. Choose local and you won’t regret it – just make sure to alert the staff if you’re not good with spice.

Authentic restaurants will also charge you a much more reasonable price than the plush holiday resorts.

Keep your eyes peeled for hoppers, a traditional street food that’s essentially a spongy bowl-shaped pancake, often served with a soft egg at its centre and used to scoop up all manner of curries and saucy dishes.

The east coast is where to head for a more laidback and quieter scene, away from the crowded tourist areas in the south.

The sands here are so white and the waters so blue, it felt as close to paradise as I’ll ever get.

Don’t be surprised to spot cows strolling along the sands while you kip on your sunlounger or monkeys poised in the trees above, waiting to pinch your chips.

The wildlife is so spectacular here and another reason why I love this island so much.

In the more suburban areas you may even spot elephants casually crossing the road, bringing traffic to a halt. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Phuket

It’s no surprise to me that Thailand’s second largest island attracts up to 14 million visitors annually.

Phuket is home to beaches that look like those in the movies: fringed by swaying palm trees and overlooking a clear ocean that is teeming with colourful fish.

Ao Sane Beach and Kata Noi Beach are two popular spots where you can snorkel without needing to shell out for a boat trip.

It may cost you a wad of cash to fly here but once you’re on the island, basics are really budget-friendly.

Find your nearest night market and get fully stuck in, exploring the food stalls serving sizzling fish, meat and potatoes on a skewer or dancing to live music.

Food tends to be cheap and properly authentic and you can pick up local beers for around 60 baht (£1.34) or affordable, hand-made clothing – just be warned, Thai people tend to be tiny in comparison to Brits, so you’ll likely need to up-size.

For a bit of culture, make your way to the peak of the Nakkerd Hills to observe the Big Buddha, a 45-metre-high statue made from tiny marbles. Phuket Old Town is great to potter around, too.

Some of the trendy coffee shops wouldn’t look out of place in a sweet market town right here in the UK. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Ria Formusa

If you want Caribbean sands with Europe-length flights, then you’re going to want to head to Portugal.

Just off the coast of Faro is the Ria Formosa, a protected lagoon area with a number of tiny islands.

They’re easy to get to, with boats just a few euros and being no more than 45 minutes.

My favourite was Ilha Deserta, also known as Baretta.

We had the white sandy beaches all to ourselves, with the only thing on the island being the standalone restaurant Restaurante Estaminé (come for the panoramic views, stay for the succulent fresh fish).

Or there is the slightly, but barely more built up Ilha Culatra, with a few more beach shacks and cafes but just as stunning stretches of water.

You’re best staying on the mainland as most of these places are both car and hotel free, with hotels from around £65 a night.

Or splash the cash on 3HB Faro, the only five star hotel in town complete with rooftop bar and trendy, mod-conned rooms. Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Isla del Cano 

Some of my favourite islands around the world are the ones that make you feel like you’re the only person on the planet.

One that recently took my breath away was Isla del Cano in Costa Rica.

It’s a wildlife reserve, so you can’t stay on the island, but you can explore the waters by boat before hopping onto land for a drink and beach shower.

Having the place almost to ourselves, we saw everything from turtles and humpback whales to bright corals. 

For the best views, climb the wooden lookout platform to overlook the waters, where you can see the multicoloured waters mixing together.

They even limit the amount of daily visitors to just 200, to try and protect the ecosystem, and guides must have an official permit.

Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out.

Stay at Drake Bay, as this is where the boats leave for the island. You can find home stays and cheap hotels from around £30 a night. Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Escape to Jamaica for 7 nights with a stay at the stunning 5* Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios.

12:00, 03 Sep 2026Updated 13:11, 03 Sep 2026

We’re giving Premium subscribers a chance to enjoy a luxury five-star holiday for two in Jamaica!

The lucky winner can look forward to relaxing at the five-star Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in a standard room on an All-Inclusive basis, surrounded by tropical gardens, beautiful pools and that unmistakable laid-back Jamaican atmosphere. Spend your days soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the resort’s restaurants and bars, or simply relaxing with a cocktail in hand.

The prize will also include round-trip flights from London (via Miami) as well as resort transfers to and from the airport.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the holiday of a lifetime! To enter, simply fill out your details using the form below.

This competition is open until 23:45pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

Escape to Jamaica for 7 nights with a stay at the stunning 5* Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios.

08:00, 03 Sep 2026

We’re giving Premium subscribers a chance to enjoy a luxury five-star holiday for two in Jamaica!

The lucky winner can look forward to relaxing at the five-star Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in a standard room on an All-Inclusive basis, surrounded by tropical gardens, beautiful pools and that unmistakable laid-back Jamaican atmosphere. Spend your days soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the resort’s restaurants and bars, or simply relaxing with a cocktail in hand.

The prize will also include round-trip flights from London (via Miami) as well as resort transfers to and from the airport.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the holiday of a lifetime! To enter, simply fill out your details using the form below. This competition is open until 23:45pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

If you are unable to view the form below, please click here.

Terms and Conditions:

This competition closes at 23:45pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026. One winner will be selected at random from all submissions after the closing date and will be contacted by email within 7 days to arrange their prize. The winner has 48 hours to claim their prize. Failure to respond at this time will result in forfeiture of the prize/pick of another winner. The prize is non-transferable. The prize is a 7-night all-inclusive holiday for two to Jamaica. Flights will be from a London airport. This competition is only open to Premium/Plus/Gold Star Subscribers only. The winners’ details will be used to administer the competition and will be shared with the company’s prize fulfilment partner, Prizeshark to fulfil the prize. Prizeshark will contact the winner to further liaise on the fulfilment of the prize (please make sure all entry details provided are correct). The winners’ details (name and location) will also be published. Upon entering this competition, there is an option to opt in to receive various newsletters sent via email. If you do opt in, you will receive these newsletters in accordance with their sending schedule, for those who do not opt in to receive any email newsletters, your data will be solely used for the administration of this competition. By entering this competition, you are permitting Reach plc to use your personal data to contact you to arrange prize fulfilment only. Entry to the competition is restricted to one entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Automated entries, bulk entries or third-party entries will be disqualified. This competition is open to UK residents only. This competition is open to people over the age of 18, with the exception of employees of the promoter, their families, agents and anyone else connected with this promotion. This competition is syndicated across the following Premium Apps: Mirror+, Daily Express, Gold Star, Daily Record, MEN, Liverpool Echo, Wales Online, Chronicle Live, Birmingham Live, Belfast Live, Yorkshire Live, Bristol Live, Leicestershire Live, the Sentinel and Nottingham Post. By entering a competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. Entry implies acceptance of these rules. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes arising under these terms and conditions.

Brits already mourning summer holiday season can ditch the cold for the sun-soaked beaches of Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and more

The summer holiday season is officially at its end – but for those already dreading the return to the daily grind after their sun-soaked getaways, jetting off for a Caribbean cruise is sure to lift the spirits. And one cruise line has slashed prices on its autumn trips for the bank holiday weekend, with just hours left to save.

Ambassador is offering 5% off all of its remaining Caribbean cruise holidays in 2026, with prices including return flights from either Heathrow or Manchester Airport, to escape the dreary UK autumn/winter weather for golden sands and warm waters. Customers just need to book by midnight on August 31 using the discount code BANKHOL5.

First up is the Atlantic Horizons and Caribbean Discovery voyage, an epic 24-night journey sets sail from London Tilbury on October 29 and calls in France, Portugal and the Azores before crossing the Atlantic towards the islands of the West Indies. Priced from £1,709 per person for an ocean view room using the discount code – working out at just £71 per night – highlights of this trip include Antigua, Martinique, St Lucia and more, with a return flight from Barbados back to the UK included at the end.

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Next is the Tropical Treasures cruise holiday from November 22, a 14-night adventure sailing from Bridgetown, Barbados to visit the vibrant streets of Curaçao, the lush hills of Dominica, the coral reefs of Bonaire and the iconic peaks of St Lucia. Available to book from £1,614 per person using the August bank holiday discount code, there’s also the option to secure a half price premium drinks package and save on flight upgrades too.

Sailing at the start of December is the Island Rhythms and Blue Horizons trip, another 14-night holiday beginning in Barbados before heading to the likes of the lively port town of Pointe-à-Pitre, the colourful streets and bustling markets of Fort de France, and Kralendijk, Bonaire’s capital with calm beaches and rich marine life. The cheapest of Ambassador’s 2026 Caribbean cruises from £1,519 per person using the BANKHOL5 code, this voyage has eight ports of call in total to swap the depths of British winter for tropical island-hopping.

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Ambassador is offering 5% off its 2026 Caribbean voyages to customers who book by midnight on August 31 using the discount code BANKHOL5.

Rounding off Ambassador’s Caribbean cruise offers is the Christmas & New Year Caribbean Celebration, giving holidaymakers the chance to ditch the chaos of Christmas at home for a festive season with a difference. Priced from £2,469 per person with the discount and beginning a 14-night voyage on December 20, this trip will see passengers spend Christmas Day on warm sands and welcome the New Year with music, dancing and celebration at sea, exploring Grenada, Curaçao, Tobago, St Lucia and St Kitts.

Ambassador writes of its autumn/winter Caribbean cruise offering: “It’s a time of year when the Caribbean truly shines, with warm breezes, long daylight hours and a slower rhythm that invites you to breathe deeply. Whether you’re wandering colourful markets or unwinding on deck, each day brings something new.”

Ambassador isn’t the only cruise line offering Caribbean getaways as the UK weather begins to trend cooler and wetter. Fred. Olsen still has spots left for its Caribbean Christmas Island-Hopping holiday, a 31-night winter sun trip with Christmas Day at sea and New Year’s Eve in Antigua, priced from £5,799 per person with a special offer of £150 on board credit to spend.

Or for holidaymakers seeking a more budget-friendly option, TUI’s Marella has also slashed prices on some of its Caribbean cruise offers. One of the earliest deals sailing at the start of November is the Passage To Paradise trip travelling from Malaga to visit Antigua, Dominica and Barbados, now priced from £1,209 per person with a £776 discount.

Back at Ambassador, the price of each cruise includes return flights and transfers between the airport and ship, as well as full board dining while on board. Passengers will also have plenty to keep them entertained in between stops, including the use of the ship’s gym, swimming pool and hot tubs as well as a range of daily shows and activities from fitness classes, quizzes and crafting to plays, cabaret, music and dance.

Ambassador has earned an average rating of 3.9 out of five stars on Trustpilot. One passenger wrote in their review: “Fabulous Caribbean Cruise. Good food, excellent staff, great entertainment and lectures and a fantastic itinerary meant this was a fabulous holiday.”

Another fed back: “Our 45-day adventure on board Ambassador’s MV Ambition exceeded all our expectations! Sailing from Tilbury to the Caribbean via the Azores, calling at many beautiful islands. Escaping the winter weather and enjoying the beautiful Caribbean while being pampered and entertained.

“Our daily routine was very enjoyable, lectures, daily choir practice sessions leading to two shows towards the end of the cruise! Plenty of socialising, exercising on deck in the sunshine or relaxing in the spa, working out in the gymnasium with fellow athletes and trainers.”

They added: “MV Ambition is a comfortable ship with pleasant bars and restaurants, friendly and attentive staff that worked hard to make sure we had all that we required. The entertainment team were excellent, such great shows, musicals and fabulous performances!”

Not everyone gave their experience five stars, however, with one person commenting: “We were on a 46-day cruise to Cuba and the Caribbean and found the staff to be excellent, the cabins comfortable and facilities ok. I have marked the experience down due to the fact that despite saying that they cater for vegetarians we were disappointed with the food on offer.”

Aug. 27 (UPI) — The National Weather Service named Tropical Storm Dolly on Thursday, as it makes its way across the Atlantic Ocean toward the eastern Caribbean.

Dolly was located about 1,315 miles east of the Leeward Islands, which include the Virgin Islands, St. Martin and several others, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. AST update.

The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving west at a blistering 23 mph.

The NHC said Dolly should continue moving westward for the next couple of days over the central Atlantic and be nearing the Leeward Islands over the weekend.

“Although it will encounter warmer ocean waters, Dolly is likely to move into less favorable atmospheric conditions during the next couple of days,” the NHC said. “Some slight short-term strengthening is possible, but increasing vertical wind shear, relatively dry air and the fast forward motion of the system should begin to adversely affect Dolly fairly soon.”

It is forecast to be a post-tropical storm within 48 hours.

Heavy rain from Dolly could begin to affect the Leeward Islands late Saturday into Sunday, and the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola Sunday and Monday. The heavy rain may produce flash flooding, especially in areas of higher terrain, the NHC reported.

The name Dolly was chosen in advance and not as a tribute to the late Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday.

“The timing of the use of the name Dolly for this storm is purely coincidental,” the NHC said.

Aug. 25 (UPI) — The U.S. military killed four people Tuesday in its latest strike targeting an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, the second strike in a matter of days after a two-month pause.

U.S. Southern Command has killed at least 227 people in 68 publicly acknowledged strikes targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since the first strike on Sept. 2, according to UPI’s tally, which is based on SOUTHCOM press releases.

As with previous strikes, SOUTHCOM said intelligence confirmed the boat it struck Tuesday was involved in narco-trafficking and that it was “operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean.”

As it has done with previous strikes, SOUTHCOM did not provide proof.

A seven-second aerial video of the strike published online by SOUTHCOM shows a boat driving along the water before it is enveloped in a flash.

“We will hunt, disrupt and defeat these narco-terrorist networks,” Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, said Tuesday in a statement.

“SOUTHCOM is resolved to neutralizing cartel terror and violence throughout the region and into the U.S. homeland.”

Earlier this month, SOUTHCOM replaced Joint Task Force Southern Spear, which had carried out Operation Southern Spear, with the broader Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, a new command intended to provide unified command and control at the tactical and operational levels while integrating military capabilities with 18 partner nations of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, according to the Defense Department.

The Trump administration has said the task force’s purpose is to “synchronize” U.S. military operations with Caribbean and Latin American allies, such as Trinidad and Tobago.

Tuesday’s strike was the second by the joint task force after it killed two people SOUTHCOM accused of being narco-terrorists on Sunday.

The Sunday strike was the first since June 21. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data conflict monitor told UPI in an emailed statement that Sunday’s strike ended the longest interruption in U.S. strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels since the campaign began.

The cause of the lapse was not immediately clear and UPI has contacted SOUTHCOM for an explanation.

The strikes have been widely criticized by legal and civil rights advocates as well as United Nations experts as illegal extrajudicial killings under international law. The Trump administration has argued that it is in “armed conflict” with the drug cartels, though a Justice Department legal memo justifying the strikes against people allegedly affiliated with a secret list of designated groups remains classified.

Despite the Trump administration’s claims that all those killed are narco-terrorists, evidence suggests that at least some of them were fishermen. A lawsuit filed against the U.S. government by the American Civil Liberties Union states that two people killed in the same strike in September were returning to their homes in Trinidad and Tobago after working as farmers and fishermen in Venezuela.

Earlier this month, Sen. Tim Kaine echoed this sentiment after reviewing classified documents on the operation.

In a letter to Trump, the senior Democratic lawmaker from Virginia and a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees urged him to examine whether military leaders had exceeded his order by targeting people the Justice Department did not say in its memo could be legally targeted and killed.

FIFA boss turns up at event after CONCACAF chief Montagliani asked him to reconsider amid the global football body’s governance crisis.

Gianni Infantino has defied a request by one of his FIFA vice presidents to stay away from an Under-14 football event in the Caribbean and instead made a rare public appearance during the global furore over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

The FIFA president posted photos on his Instagram account on Saturday, showing his meeting with political and football officials from the Dominican Republic on the sidelines of a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) youth tournament in the Punta Cana resort.

On Friday, Infantino had been asked not to go by Victor Montagliani, the Canadian president of the Miami-based Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), to avoid being a distraction from the football games.

“I believe that considering the governance crisis surrounding FIFA as a result of your controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, the media will focus on this situation,” Montagliani wrote in an emailed letter seen by The Associated Press news agency, “which will unfortunately significantly take away from the technical nature of the CFU youth competition.”

“As such, I respectfully ask you in the name of football to reconsider your attendance as it will unfortunately undermine the technical nature of this important youth development activity,” Montagliani wrote.

FIFA declined to comment on Montagliani’s request, though it noted that it directly funds regional bodies like the CFU with up to $5m from each four-year World Cup cycle.

Montagliani has aligned with fellow FIFA vice presidents Aleksander Ceferin from European body UEFA and Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in seeking to end Infantino’s increasingly executive presidency, now in its 11th year.

They accused Infantino two weeks ago of “deception” in secretly planning over the past year to spin off FIFA’s multibillion-dollar commercial activities to a subsidiary 20 percent owned by investors led by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Infantino withdrew the project on August 1 amid a global backlash by football leaders and fans, and hours after his own chief operating officer published stinging criticism of the proposal and his leadership style in a statement to the AP. The Zurich-based COO, Kevin Lamour, was fired last week.

Caribbean member federations are seen as potential supporters for Infantino to peel away from their CONCACAF leadership. South American body CONMEBOL has backed Infantino as its best path to hosting more games at the 2030 World Cup it wants expanded from 48 teams to 64.

The FIFA leader has not taken questions publicly since the $20bn FFE project was revealed on July 28 by British daily The Times, and on Friday in Punta Cana he evaded a reporter from British broadcaster Sky News.

Asked by Sky reporter James Matthews whether he had betrayed the sport and should resign, Infantino said, “Thank you so much”, and made quips about both men being bald.

Infantino is aiming to be re-elected for a fourth and final term in office through 2031 at the FIFA election congress next March in Rabat, Morocco. FIFA has set a November 18 deadline for would-be candidates to enter the race.