Travel Guides: All Countries, Caribbean.
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| | | Every adventure under the sun |  | Why go on holiday to the Caribbean?
For every kind of outdoor amusement, from trekking through dense rainforest in Grenada and St Lucia, to swimming with sting rays in Grand Cayman and scuba diving among tropical fish in turquoise waters off Tobago, and lazing carefree on dazzling white sand beaches in Antigua and Barbados.
Partying in costume at Trinidad's carnival is an unforgettable thrill, while venturing inland to visit historical sites and spot local wildlife also offers a fascinating peek at island life elsewhere. With dozens of locations to choose from, there are holidays to suit all budgets.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary enormously depending on the time of year. In Barbados, expect to pay from about £750 for a week's holiday and from about £30 per night in a small hotel.
St Lucia flights from London start at about £550 in low-season, while a week's room-only package break starts at around £1,000. The Dominican Republic is a cheaper, all-inclusive destination. Two-week package deals are typically under £1,000.
When should I go?
Daytime temperatures hover around 30C/86F in the Caribbean. May to November is generally the wettest time of year, and the hurricane season runs from June to November, with most activity in August and September.
Year-round breezes take the edge off the region's heat and humidity. Carnival takes place in February/March. Accommodation and costumes, particularly in Trinidad, sell out quickly and should be booked several months in advance.
*Feeling inspired? Book a break to the Caribbean here.
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| | | Get out and explore | | Where is it?
The picture-book smaller islands are mostly in the eastern Caribbean, or Lesser Antilles. They occupy a 600-mile sweep from Anguilla in the north to Trinidad in the south. Internal flights and ferry services make island-hopping possible, although inter-island flights can be pricey.
Which island should I choose?
Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Antigua, Cuba, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and the Cayman Islands are the 10 Caribbean islands most visited by British holidaymakers.
Each one has its own personality. Barbados, for example, is famous for its golden sand beaches and a five-week summer event called the Crop Over Festival, with floats, music, parades and dancing. Honeymooners like laidback St Lucia's lazy days and Antigua's many 18th century colonial forts make it a good option for history buffs.
What about the rest?
Trinidad has hundreds of bird species to spot and nature reserves, as well as good hiking and sightseeing and a famous carnival. Tobago and Grenada suit couples and families with younger children seeking a calm holiday in unspoilt surroundings.
Tourists of all ages are drawn to Cuba, the largest Caribbean isle, for its pre-Columbian and Spanish cultures, the crumbling grandeur of Old Havana and to visit the bars once frequented by US author Ernest Hemingway.
Budget holidaymakers like Dominican Republic's all-inclusive deals, Jamaica is a good all-round Caribbean destination and the orderly Cayman Islands attract young, well-off holidaymakers and cruise ship passengers.
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| | | Hideaways and beaches | | Exclusive hideaways?
St Kitts and Nevis, St Barts, St Croix, St Thomas and St John in the US Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos islands and Curacao are developing destinations.
Holidays there are at the pricier end of the scale, but if peace, quiet and sharing beach space with only a smattering of other tourists are what you want, then consider these islands.
Flop on a beach.
Most of the islands mentioned have stunning sandy beaches, but Antigua, St Martin, Anguilla, Barbados, St Barts and some of the Grenadine islands are notable beach destinations.
Antigua, for example, has 33 beaches. Shoal Bay is the most famous of them, while Rendezvous Bay is the longest.
Is there much culture?
Certainly. Most of the islands were colonised by the French, English and Dutch in the 17th century and although some are now independent, evidence of European rule is still seen today in their architecture, food and language.
African and Indian cultures are also widespread in the islands. In Mexico, Spanish colonial towns and ruined Mayan temples still stand.
I want to get out and about
In Dominica try some good hiking. Walk to Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls or take a shorter hike in Cabrits National Park or through a parrot reserve in the north.
Off St Lucia, Pigeon Island has ruined forts to explore and decent hiking, and Fort Stanley and working cocoa and coconut plantation Morne Coubaril Estate on the mainland are worth leaving the beach for. Guided tours on horseback are available in about half of the larger Caribbean islands, as are jeep safaris to the interior.
What's the wildlife like?
Mongoose, agoutis (furry rodent-like creatures), iguanas, snakes, sea turtles, dolphins and pilot whales are found in most of the islands. Green monkeys, brought from Africa in the 17th century, also live in remote parts of Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada.
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| | | Party under the sun | | Where can we party?
Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad are among the liveliest islands for nightlife. Cuba's cabaret clubs stage glittering 1950s-style shows and elsewhere in the islands nightclubs and bars tend to stay open until the early hours.
What is there for children to do?
Tours and boat trips with snorkeling should go down well with older children and watersports are available on most bigger beaches. Children of any age are generally well-liked in the Caribbean and received very warmly by local people.
What's the food like?
Fresh seafood, fish, root vegetables and meats cooked in rich, spicy sauces are found throughout the islands. Creole food, using French and West Indian flavours, is also typical. Crepes and croissants are sold in French islands such as Martinique and St Martin, while Barbados has lots of fish and chip places.
Fast-food chains are commonplace throughout the region. Other snacks include the roti – curry wrapped in a thin bread flap – and patties.
What should I buy?
Locally produced arts and crafts, such as batik and shell jewellery in Tobago, rum from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad. Seasonings and curry powders and snacks are good lightweight options. Duty-free shopping is especially good in St Martin and St Thomas.
Tourist information
For details about all of the Caribbean islands, contact the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RR. Telephone: 020 7222 4335.
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| | Fact File : Caribbean |
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| | | Caribbean | | Did you know?
Carriacou's local drink, iron-jack, is so strong that ice sinks in it, and that unlike many Caribbean islands, French St Martin allows nude or clothes-optional sunbathing on some beaches.
Language
English is widely spoken throughout the Caribbean. French, Dutch and Spanish are official languages in certain islands.
Visas
British passport holders only need a valid passport for most islands. The exceptions are Cuba and Suriname, which both require a tourist card, obtainable from the relevant high commission or embassy before departure.
Getting there
Direct scheduled or charter flights from London to Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic and Cuba. Flights to other islands go via a gateway destination.
Flying time from London
From nine to 14 hours depending on the destination
Getting around
Buses, shared minibus taxis, private taxis, shared taxis and hire cars are the quickest, cheapest ways around most islands. Frequent domestic flights connect the islands, but fares can be pricey. Ferries operate between some destinations.
Currency
Several local currencies circulate in the region. US dollars command a good exchange rate on most islands, particularly if converting from travellers' cheques. Use local currencies for everyday use.
Costs
Prices vary greatly according to the island, but as a guide: bottle of beer 50p-£1; moderate restaurant meal £5-£10 on most islands, £15-£30 in Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, St Kitts, St Lucia and the Turks and Caicos Islands; roll of camera film from £1.50-£7; four-mile taxi ride £2-£8; litre of petrol 30p-£1.
Weather
The Caribbean lies in the humid tropics, where seasons are split between rainy and dry periods. Months for these vary greatly from island to island, but expect year-round daily averages from 24C/75F-32C/90F. July and August tend to be hotter months with more rain in several destinations. Hurricane season runs from June to November, although not every island is affected.
Time difference
Four hours behind GMT, five hours during daylight saving time
International dialling code from the UK
Dominican Republic 001 809, Jamaica 001 876, Barbados 00 1242, St Lucia 00 758, Grenada 00 473, Trinidad and Tobago 001 868, Antigua 001 268, Cuba 00 53, Cayman Islands 001 345
Voltage
In the French islands, the current is 220V and a rounded, two-pronged plug is used, as in France. In Dutch islands the current is 110V and a flat, two-pronged plug is used, the same as in the US. The former British islands use 220V on the whole, although some use 110V, and a rounded two-pronged plug. Cuba uses 110V and the Dominican Republic uses 115-125V.
Opening hours
These differ from country to country, but on most islands, businesses open from 8 or 9am to 4 or 5pm on weekdays. Banks usually open for limited hours on Saturdays. Shops and stores typically open from around 9am to 5 or 6pm during the week.
Health - Before you go
The Department of Health recommends jabs against hepatitis A, typhoid and polio for Aruba and the Cayman Islands and typhoid, polio and tetanus shots for the British Virgin Islands, but inoculations are not obligatory. The Bahamas requires visitors to have a yellow fever jab if they arrive within seven days of visiting a country where there is a yellow fever threat, such as Bolivia or Brazil.
Health - When you are there
Take care with what you eat and drink and stick to bottled water unless used to the local tap water. Wash all fruit before eating it. In the Bahamas, avoid sitting under manchineel trees as raindrops can cause blisters. In some cases mosquito bites can cause dengue fever, so use a good insect repellant daily, particularly around water and at dusk. Bilharzia is endemic in St Lucia – avoid wading or swimming in fresh water without accurate local advice.
Warnings
Most trips to the Caribbean are trouble-free but beware of petty theft on most islands. Trinidad's capital Port of Spain has a reputation for crime and women should avoid walking around alone at night. Modest dress is recommended when you leave the beach in the British Virgin Islands. The reef is protected in the Cayman Islands and anyone who removes or damages coral risks a hefty fine. In the Dominican Republic women should avoid taking taxis alone and be vigilant outside hotel complexes. Gay travellers should be aware that homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica.
Emergency
Dominican Republic: British Embassy, Edificio Corominas Pepin, Ave 27 de Febrero No 233, Santo Domingo. Tel. 472 7111. Emergency services 911. Jamaica: British High Commission, 26 Trafalgar Rd, Kingston 10. Tel. 926 9050. Ambulance 110. Barbados: police 112, ambulance 115, fire 113. St Lucia: police and fire 999. Accident and emergency Victoria Hospital, Castries, St Jude's Hospital, Vieux Fort. Grenada: British High Commission, 14 Church St, St George's. Police and fire 911. Trinidad and Tobago: British High Commission, 19 St Clair Ave, St Clair, Port of Spain. Tel. 628 1234/2748. Police 999, fire and ambulance 990. Antigua: British High Commission, Price Waterhouse Centre, 11 Old Parham Rd, St John's. Tel. 462 0008. Cuba: British Embassy, Calle 34, No 708, at Avenida 7, Miramar, Tel. 33 1771. Police 116, fire 115. Cayman Islands: emergency services 911.
Customs
Nudism and topless sunbathing are generally discouraged on Caribbean beaches, except in parts of French St Martin. Casual clothes are acceptable throughout the region but dress properly away from the beach, particularly when visiting churches or going out for meals. Do not attempt to smuggle marijuana out of Jamaica, where it is plentiful, or any of the islands, as penalties for doing so are severe.
Pets
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guadeloupe, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Martinique, Montserrat and St Vincent are included in the PET Travel Scheme. Pets taken to other islands will be quarantined on arrival there, back in the UK, or both.
Tipping
A 10-15% service charge is added to restaurant bills in some islands, others leave it to the discretion of customers. Tipping is more commonplace in the Cayman islands, Cuba and the US Virgin Islands. All-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic do not expect tips.
Tourist office
For details about all of the Caribbean islands, contact the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RR. Telephone: 020 7222 4335.
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| | Available rental properties in Caribbean |
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| |  | | 619 Club Rockley Golf Resort
This lovely Garden View Studio is located on the picturesque Club Rockley Golf Resort on Barbados' South Coast near beaches, pubs, shops and more.
|  | | 611 Club Rockley Golf Resort
This lovely Garden View 1 bedroom is located on the picturesque Club Rockley Golf Resort on Barbados' South Coast near beaches, pubs, shops and more.
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Two bedroomed house close to St Johns, and Dickinson Bay. Sleeps 2-4 people and is air conditioned with cable tv, stove, fridge, internet
|  | | 19a Fairholme Gardens, Christchurch
19a & 19b are identical 3 bedroom/3 bathroom townhouses in quiet residential area on South Coast. 5 mins walk to beach, bars and local amenities
|  | | 19b Fairholme Gardens, Christchurch
19a & 19b are identical 3 bedroom/3 bathroom townhouses in quiet residential area on South Coast. 5 mins walk to beach, bars and local amenities.
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Holiday Rentals in Caribbean |
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