Caribbean Travel - Is it For You?

You would exhaust your fingers and toes trying to count the good reasons to travel to the Caribbean. Among them is the presence of so many interesting activities you would not want to do anywhere else. Sailing, diving, snorkeling among coral reefs teeming with countless colorful fish. Great mountains with picturesque hiking, scenic rivers,  horseback riding the countryside. The championship golf courses and casinos, and five star all inclusive resorts with every facility, activity and amenity you can think of. The pulsating music and African -Creole food with spices that make your tongue sing. Great duty free shopping and charming local crafts waiting to become the memento of a perfect vacation. There is never a dull moment when traveling in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean is a complete vacation destination. It caters to all styles of travel from the hammock lovers and spa denizens to the active traveler. Even the culinary tourist finds great delight in the   Caribbean.

There is no other destination in the world that hosts so many interesting sights, sounds and activities all in one place. Where else can you go from sailing among secluded cays, to visiting an underground cave complex and then to a  professionally designed golf course. Then after having some jerk chicken from a rustic roadside eatery, you head to the casino of your all inclusive resort. Later that day is a bit of deep sea fishing. Then you return to land and sample some Creole cooking – Lobster, Stuffed Crab backs, Calalloo - before heading to a beach party complete with steel pans, limbo and fire dancers. Then its off to one of the several lively discos on the island. However you don't stay out too late; the Carnival opening parade is tomorrow; you have purchased your colorful costume from the local Mas Camp and must ensure you have the energy to keep up with the locals.

Though the Caribbean is full of great sights and sounds, and most islands have certain and most islands have many of them in common, it may be necessary for you to do a little bit of island hopping to more fully experience the region. The Caribbean airline LIAT (Leeward Islands Air Transport) is at your disposal. There are also smaller charter airlines which can whisk you among the smaller islands such as the Grenadines, south of St. Vincent.  Most islands are separated by about fifteen to  thirty minutes by air or a few hours by ferry.

There are a few tips you should observer in order to get the best value for your money when traveling in the Caribbean. One of the best ways see the Caribbean is by cruise ship. Doing so is a much more cost effective than paying for hotels and flights to visit several different islands. However proper planning is needed in order to get the best experience out of your single day or two day stay in each island.

The best time to travel to the Caribbean is in the low season between May to November, when the United States and Britain experience warmer weather. If you are not particularly price conscious, however, then you could travel in the high season which is between December 15 to April 15th. Even during the high season, some times of travel are more pricey than others such as Christmas week.

You should try to stay in an all inclusive resort when visiting the islands. With your flight, all meals and activities included in one package, you are less likely to go over budget. The downside an all-inclusive stay is that you may neglect to venture outside of the resort to sample the local culinary offerings. Alternatively, you could try to negotiate a group rate with an apartment, condo or villa when traveling in groups.

The Caribbean is a diverse melting pot of cultures forged over many hundreds of years of  French, Spanish and British influence. This has created diverse sites, sounds and tastes. If you participate fully in the Caribbean, you will have an unforgettable experience.

So what's are you waiting for? For more information on each of the islands and tips on getting your best Caribbean vacation deal possible for these visits caribbean-vacation-deals.com. One island that I highly recommend is the sailing-enthusiastic nation of Antigua & Barbuda. More information can be found at www.antiguanadvisor.com