One of the first significant decisions when planning your perfect trip across the Caribbean is when you will fly out.
From there, you can browse its many unique destinations, such as St. Lucia, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, and many more!
But back to that all-important question of when to book those flights, pack those cases and check in to the luxury lounge in the airport.
What type of Caribbean Holiday do you Want?
If you’re after a quiet, cheaper alternative to the five-star Holidays that the Caribbean offers, jetting out between May to November will be your ideal time frame. The weather during this time is less than perfect, but we’ll discuss that more in the next section.
Do you want to live a life of luxury for the week, sunbathing with your all-inclusive poolside bar snacks and drinks?
Then the tourist-busy months of December to April are our suggested months as you will be among the crowds of tourists, enjoying a busy and entertaining experience. They’ll be no shortage of families to mingle with during these months, so if you’re a social butterfly, get booking!
Timing your Holiday Perfect for the Sun
The hurricane season in the Caribbean is no joke, and although you might find a cheaper flight from May to November, expect some turbulence on your journey. We’d love to tell you that the shaky journey would be worth it, but the odds are you will arrive in a cloudy and humid Caribbean.
To avoid the higher chances of rain and hurricanes during this season, avoid flights during the months of August to October, as there won’t be many moments of sun or paddle boarding time!
One Caribbean island that breaks this trend is St. Lucia. During the usually off-peak month of July, St. Lucia’s accommodations fill up quickly, and despite the greater changes of heavy rains, the streets are still lively! But why is this the case?
St. Lucia gains its tourist traffic during July due to the St. Lucia Island Carnival. This collection of cultures, costumes, dances, and music creates a flood of vibrant colors and sounds throughout St. Lucia’s streets and is worth missing out on that January-hot weather.
So July might be your decision after all if that piques your interest!
Scuba Diving
If while planning your ideal Caribbean holiday, water sports and activities such as scuba diving becomes a priority, it’s important to understand when the best time to catch a glimpse of the more interesting underwater sealife is!
Generally, the best time to Scuba Dive follows the trend of the sunniest weather, December to April. It is a great idea to visit the Bahamas during this time as it has some of the best dive sites across the Caribbean. Here are a few to get your Caribbean Holiday guidebook started.
Andros Island is home to the third-largest barrier reef worldwide. You will find many dive sites here, including the infamous Blue Hole, known for its 200 feet underwater cave.
Exuma Cays broadens your scuba diving experience to coral reefs, and the Thunderball Grotto, an underwater cave is a magical experience as the openings at the top of the cave create a stream of dancing rays of light in the water
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, offers Periwinkle Reef and the Goulding Cay Wall.
Grand Bahamas Island is perfect for those who want to explore a shipwreck, as it is home to one of the most popular wrecks among tourists. Theo’s Wreck sits upright on the sea floor and has been there since 1982, making it a frozen snippet of history!
But if you’re searching for that exotic life beneath the water’s surface, we recommend going during the shoulder season. The shoulder season is between May and November and has higher humidity and a chance for rain throughout the Caribbean, but it offers the opportunity to explore marine life to its full.
Public Holidays
Public holidays throughout the Caribbean are a great way to experience an engulfing cultural trip to your Caribbean destination of choice. For this reason, studying your chosen island’s public holiday calendar is important.
For example, the locals celebrate various public holidays in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Here are a few that you might experience during your trip, depending on when you decide to fly out.
Maskanoo is a holiday that is dedicated to the conch, the island’s favorite seafood, and takes place on the last Saturday of November each year.
Fisherman’s Day takes place on the first Monday of August, celebrating the island’s impressive fishing heritage.
National Heritage Day celebrates the Turks and Caicos Islands’ cultural elements on the last Monday in October.
Annual Events
Plenty of annual events take place across the many Caribbean Islands, all as vibrant and welcoming as each other.
Carnival is one of the most popular Caribbean celebrations that is home to music, dance, and culture. To experience streets filled with extravagant costumes and parades of colors, visit the Crop Over Festival in Barbados from June to the first Monday of August.
St. Lucia’s Jazz and Arts Festival is another annual event that is worth planning your trip around. This event has been running since 1991 and draws immense crowds of tourists each year. Visit St. Lucia in May to experience the beautiful performances of music and art that this festival provides.
Another must-see music festival, especially if your holiday destination is Jamaica, Montego Bay, is the Reggae Sumfest. This festival celebrates everything reggae, including local performances and even world-known reggae singers! Visit Jamaica during July to sip some rum and party on the beach at this fantastic atmosphere-creating event.
About Us
A Caribbean Holiday, to us, means the best holiday that money can buy.
This is why we pride ourselves on creating the best pocket of knowledge to help aid you in those all-important decisions of where and when to fly. And with 40 years of expertise behind us, we’re confident that we are the best help you can get to plan your perfect trip away.
Get ready to pack those sandals and sun cream because you’re almost on your way!
