When should you visit the Caribbean?

The Caribbean has become a year-round holiday destination which is great if you like to bag an off-season deal or have a favourite luxury Caribbean villa you like to keep going back to. There is still a peak season and those times of the year a visit isn’t recommended and we’re taking a closer look here as when the best times to visit are.

The Caribbean season is said to run from mid-December until mid-April which is when the area is at its driest and warmest. In these times you’ll see the highest prices as everyone from America and Canada wants the chance to get a bit of sun when they’re drenched in rain at home.

The off-season on the other hand runs approximately from mid-April to mid-December where you’ll see prices fall and though the climes may not be as inviting they’ll still be much balmier than you’re used to at home and if you’re living it up in luxury villa comfort you may not notice the weather at all anyway!

The main thing to remember when booking a Caribbean holiday is the hurricane season. It’s perfectly possible to book holidays during this time but keep an eye on the forecasts just in case anything appears on the horizon and you’ve got enough time to change your booking. The hurricane season runs from approximately June 1^st to November 30^th and this is the shortest it will be.

You will find drastically different prices in hotels on and off season so this is why villa holidays are always recommended. Yes, prices may differ but not so significantly and you can make savings in other places.

Essential Jamaica: Must Dos on your Jamaica Holiday

Planning a trip to Jamaica may be a once in a lifetime experience so you better be ready for it. Getting the most out of each and every day will be essential to ensure you remember it for a lifetime. Begin by booking into a luxury Jamaican villa rental and plan your itinerary keeping in mind our must dos from below.

Swim with Dolphins

There are plenty of places you can swim with dolphins but a visit to Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios will stay with you forever. You can enjoy all the fun of the jungle trail and take a dip in the crystal clear waters with the dolphins or even join the stingrays for a slower, more relaxing dip.

Tour the Canopies

See Jamaica from the tops of the trees with a swing through the jungle canopy. Make like a monkey and be amazed by the stunning scenery in both Montega Bay and Ocho Rios. Both places also offer exhilarating quad biking if being up so high isn’t your cup of tea.

Head to Rick’s

Rick’s Café is a Jamaican legend. You can tuck into an infamous Monster Rum Punch and settle down to watch the burning hot sun set in the sky. Before getting too sozzled you could even take a thrilling dive off the cliffs.

Try Scotchie’s Chicken

Scotchie’s Jerk Chicken has been named the best in Jamaica time and again. In the heart of Montego Bay it offers your simple, no-nonsense Jamaica jerk at great prices and with the warm welcome you’ll feel across the isle.

These are our top tips for getting the most out of your Jamaican holiday. Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife and the cuisine.

Experience Amazing Animals in Turks and Caicos

Turks and Caicos are known for their outstanding natural beauty, luxurious resorts and popularity as a honeymoon destination. Look a little closer and you’ll soon see that the beautiful countryside is home to some fascinating wildlife. Venture out of your luxury Caribbean villa and enjoy some naturally beautiful sights and sounds.

Bird Watching

You can bird watch at home that’s true but the salt ponds and marshlands of Turks and Caicos are awash with fascinating species. Look out for both resident and migratory birds including Great Blue Herons and Pelicans. Over 170 species of bird can be found in the Islands and it is home to the rare West Indian Whistling Duck – though you may need a guided tour to pick one out.

The Rock Iguana

You will only ever see the Rock Iguana on the Turks and Caicos archipelago. He’s much rarer than he once was and a completely harmless reptile who can still be spotted occasionally. They’re most famously spotted in Little Water Cay where over 2000 still thrive. As one of a kind it’s a stunning sight to see and you can honestly tell people you’ll never see anything else like them.

Humpback Whale

Whale watching is always a fantastic way to celebrate the scenery of an island whilst hunting a beautiful, elegant sea creature. North Atlantic Humpbacks are seen regularly around the main island of Turk and Salt Cay – mainly between January and April. It’s a key spot on their annual migration for mating and birth. If you book onto a tour you may spot some of these majestic mammals as well as hearing all about their lifespan, history and if you’re lucky you may hear their unique call.

Seeing wildlife in its natural state isn’t something that happens too often these days so grab the opportunity to do so if you visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Hidden Caribbean Gems for your Winter Break

Visiting the Caribbean in the winter is one certain way of getting away from the colder climes in the UK. Choosing the golden sandy beaches of the West Indies is truly going to be a fantastic way of getting away from it all. You can book into one of many luxurious Caribbean villas but once you get there, it’s sometimes nice to see things a little differently. Check out these hidden gems which will make your winter break even more memorable.

Culebra

Culebra is in Puerto Rico and can be reached via a ferry ride of approximately 90 minutes from Fajardo. Culebra is far more rural than its next door neighbour Viegues. You may see all kinds of naturally beautiful sights including wild horses and it’s rumoured to have the best beaches in the world. Expect unrivalled levels of hospitality from the isle’s friendly restaurant owners and bar staff.

Saba

Saba is actually affiliated officially to The Netherlands. It sits to the south of St. Maarten and has just one beach but its quality really is of the highest, stunning quality. The population of the whole area has yet to hit 2000 and you can explore some absolutely awe-inspiring rock formations.

Eleuthera

Situated in The Bahamas, Eluethera offers a truly laid back, slowed down pace of living. Just two miles long you can enjoy the unique pink sandy beaches and jaw dropping cliffs where the oceans meet the rocks. The southernmost point of the island is worth visiting for a truly intimate and secluded beach experience. 

12 Best Kid-Friendly Destinations

When you’re planning on going on a family holiday with children you’ll need to make sure you choose a kid friendly destination otherwise the family holiday you’ve dreamed of could turn into a disaster. Going somewhere where the kids are going to get bored easily will be the wrong choice as the whole holiday will consist of the children moaning and whining to you, and that is enough to ruin anyones holiday.

Choosing a destination which is suitable for kids isn’t hard as there are a lot of family friendly ideas, but here are 12 that I have come across: Colonial Williamsburg, VA, Washington DC, London, Boston, Berlin, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Barcelona, Niagara Falls, and St Augustine. So you have your destinations (to check out why they’re kid-friendly visit here), now there are all the other factors, what are you going to do there? Accommodation? Food, so on and so on. Most of these factors are easily solved but choosing the right accommodation isn’t always easy.

Villas are a very popular choice for family holidays. Firstly, because they are self-catering, meaning that mealtimes and bedtimes can be whenever as you will not be waiting on a certain time to have to go and get meals. Also, you can make the villa feel a bit more like home by bringing along lots of toys and their favourite blankets, making the children feel more comfortable about being somewhere different.

So there you have it, you have a choice of perfect destinations and the right accommodation in order to book your family holiday and know its going to be good!

Where to go on holiday in January?

Going on holiday in January isn’t always the most popular time to go on a holiday, but why shouldn't it be? January is the best time to get yourself a bargain holiday, plus its quiet so if you’re looking to go on a relaxing short getaway just to take some time out January would be the perfect time. These are just a few of the advantages of going on holiday in January, another plus is that the weather isn’t too hot but isn’t cold either making it just right.