Category Archives: Caribbean

Where are you going? Not all islands in the Caribbean are identical! Some of them get quite cool at night. Others are more up-scale and therefore have a casual smart dress code. Some of them allow naturalist bathing; others expect you to be more demure and covered up. Some will have restaurants that expect you to turn up for your dinner reservation in a jacket/cocktail style dress, others are happy for you to arrive in whatever you wore at the beach. Read up a little in advance see what kind of attitude to dress your island has. If you can’t find any information, then take a cautious approach and take a little of both!

Don’t assume that one bathing suit is all you need. You can wash and dry it, but the sultry weather on some islands may mean that it isn’t completely dry the next morning when you put it on again. Take at least two so that you can wash and wear in comfort. Also, make sure you pack one of them in your on-flight luggage. It won’t take up much room and if your checked-in luggage doesn’t arrive at your Jamaican destination on the same plane as you, at least you’ll have something to wear and can get on with your holiday instead of waiting for your bags to arrive.

Even in the Caribbean it can get cold at night. Ocean breezes while refreshing can feel more “bracing” once the sun goes down. Take a light sweater or jacket to wear for those outdoor cocktails or midnight walks along the beach.

Even if you’re not going to a destination that requires you to get dressed up, you should take at least one smart outfit. You’re on holiday; you never know what might happen!

Comfortable shoes are a must. Ladies, take your heels if you must but you’ll probably only wear them around the hotel and restaurants. If you’re doing any kind of walking you’ll need sturdy shoes that will support your feet on dusty terrain.

Remember that much of the Caribbean is rainforest area. Even out of hurricane season there’s a possibility for tropical downpours. Pack a raincoat that you can fold up into your beach bag or day hiking backpack so that you’re covered should an unexpected downpour occur.

When it comes to accessories, there are two things you must remember to pack for your Caribbean vacation: a pair of sunglasses (or two) for that brilliant sunshine, and a hat. Whether you go for the floppy feminine type, or a more hip baseball cap, you need to protect your head from the heat of the sun if you’re to avoid sunstroke.

As with all vacations, packing for your Caribbean vacation is best done a couple of days before you travel so that you’ve got time to buy last minute items that you hadn’t realized you needed. If you’re less hurried, you’ll also be able to make a list of the items you’re packing (and take photos of anything valuable) so that if a bag goes missing in transit, or an item is lost/stolen once you arrive, and you need to claim for it on your insurance, you have a record of what you took.

Take the time to pack essential items before your holiday begins and you’ll find that this pays off once you get there because you’ll have the right kind of clothing to cope with any kind of situation you find yourself in.

Dominica

This island has a volcanic landscape that is combined with rainforest areas. The world’s second largest bubbling hot water lake (Boiling Lake) is located here, as are the spectacular twin waterfalls, Trafalgar Falls. For a true back-to-nature vacation you should spend at least some of your vacation in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park.

Grenada

Also known as the “Spice Island”, Grenada is a major exporter of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Apart from the glorious beaches, you’ll find hiking trails in the Grand Etang National Park, a water-filled volcano crater, and don’t forget swimming at the base of the breathtaking 15 metre high Annandale Falls. Make sure you find time to explore St George, the capital, which has been built up around a volcanic crater.

Guadeloupe

On this butterfly shaped island, you’ll find vast natural beauty despite the areas frequented by the Club Med resorts (such as Caravelle Beach), the beaches of St Ann or Pointe de la Grande Vigie, for example. Visit the place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean with stunning rock formations at Pointes des Chateaux. Or on butterfly’s western wing, take time to explore the natural beauty of the Basse-Terre mountains. Not only will you find a glorious array of flora and fauna, but also the underwater glory of the Reserve Cousteau located around the Ilets Pigeon.

Martinique

On the mountainous island of Martinique garden lovers should visit the Jardins de Balata botanical gardens. In this tropical paradise you’ll find a huge array of unusual plants and flowers. Mount Pelée, the volcano that erupted in 1902, can been seen from St. Pierre. Although what remains of the former thriving society is little more than a shadow of the town that was destroyed by the volcano, the ruins and Musee Vulcanologique document the power of volcanic devastation. Experienced climbers will enjoy the challenge offered by the peak of Le Morne Rouge, whereas hikers will enjoy walking along the River Falaise with its canyons and waterfalls.

St Lucia

The Pitons, Gros Piton and Petit Piton, are the most famous natural landmarks of St Lucia, but despite their impressiveness, there’s more for the nature lover to explore on this island than their woodland beauty. For example, there’s also the Sulphur Springs outside of Soufrière. Close to this are the Diamond Botanical Gardens where hot water gushes out of the ground into waiting basins. If you like a bit of adventure then a guided hike through the rainforest, such as the 6 mile long Central Rainforest Walk, might be a perfect choice of activity. Alternatively, at the Fregate Islands Natural Reserve you can watch the mighty frigate birds in flight, or take a boat trip to the Maria Islands Nature Reserve where bird watchers will find a feast of exotic birds to observe. You might even catch a glimpse of a whale or two off the coastline!

Wherever you go in the Caribbean you’re sure to vacation in a beautiful location, but make sure you read up on your chosen destination before you leave home so that you’re sure not to miss the real natural highlights of the island amidst the commercial tourist attractions.

When you are in your chosen resort, make sure you know what the hurricane procedure is. Ask at the hotel reception what you should do. Some resorts have good hurricane policies that include offering additional nights stay should your flight be cancelled due to a hurricane, and offering a voucher for another stay with them at another time.

Remember you should have a few days to make your hurricane escape plans. Many tourists will opt to take an earlier flight; others ride out the storm and hope for the best. If your island is issued with a hurricane warning, check with your nearest Consulate office or Embassy. They should be able to advise you of what action to take, and your contacting them will alert them to the fact that you are on the island. Keep a copy of the Consulate number with your travel documents so that you can get to them in a hurry if necessary – but remember that once a hurricane hits, you may find yourself unable to contact anyone by telephone until communications are reinstated.

It is possible that any vacation can be hit by some disaster or another, the beauty about the Caribbean is that there is a lot of information available about when and where this is most likely to occur. There’s even a few days of warning that allows you to make up your mind whether or not you choose to stick around or cut your vacation short. Just remember that once you arrive on any Caribbean island during the hurricane season to follow the advice of the people who live there, they’ve probably been through it before, and act upon any instructions issued by your national Consulate. Find out what the local procedures are, make sure you’re in a position to follow them if necessary, and then enjoy your Caribbean vacation safe in the knowledge that if something happens and a hurricane does move in your direction, you know exactly what measures to take to get out of there as quickly and safely as possible.

While it is possible that you will encounter some storm conditions during your Caribbean vacation, this is more likely going to be of the tropical storm variety than a hurricane. Hurricanes that are reported on the news do happen, but they aren’t as common as the news reports may imply. There are hundreds of Caribbean islands, and you will usually hear of a few that are hit by hurricanes. Some islands such as Aruba, Barbados and St Vincent are not as likely to be hit by severe weather as some of the other parts of the Caribbean and would therefore be a good choice if you want more reassurance that your vacation won’t be spoilt. On the other hand there are some other steps you can take to ensure that your holiday plans aren’t wrecked by Mother Nature at her most destructive.

Take a Caribbean cruise rather than staying in one particular resort. Hurricanes don’t develop overnight and so cruise liners have the opportunity to get out of the way if they find they’re in the path of an on-coming hurricane. They will change their itinerary and alter its course so that it moves into a safer area. This can mean that you end up with a totally different vacation than you intended, but at least you’ll be safe from the storm.

Do some research on the Caribbean islands you are considering and find out which months are the most likely for them to have hurricanes, and try to avoid these periods. You could also check out the hurricane statistics for these areas to find out how many times the island has been hit by hurricanes in the past. Choosing an island that doesn’t have a history of many hurricanes in the past isn’t a guarantee, but it is some assurance that there’s less probability of your vacation being disturbed than there would be on a different island with a more active hurricane record.

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Beaches, rainforests, volcanic terrain, oceans (Caribbean and Atlantic) and mountains offer a variety of landscapes from dry desert like atmospheres to lush green forests hiding spectacular waterfalls. The Caribbean offers color from both nature and history. The various nations who’ve settled within the Caribbean over the centuries have created islands which are similar to each other in some respects and yet completely different in culture and traditions.

Choosing to visit the Caribbean for your holiday means that you’ll have the opportunity to do many things you might dream about at home. Whether it’s lying on a white sanded beach in the Dominican Republic, hiking up St Lucia’s Pitons, or white water rafting in Jamaica, you’re sure to have a vacation thats full of excitement. If you get a chance, do some island hopping and discover the diversity of the islands up close. You may find that the next island to the one you’re staying on offers a black sanded beach rather than a white sanded one. Perhaps you enjoy a round of golf but the island you’ve picked doesn’t have a great golf course – another nearby island could have an award winning course that will be just what you’re looking for. Are you someone who wants to swim with dolphins or learn about the roots of Reggae music? The Caribbean offers the chance to do all of this, and much more, against a stunning natural background.

If you haven’t booked your next vacation yet, take a look at the many islands of the Caribbean. You’ll find you’re spoilt for choice!