Imagine the Caribbean, and a certain picture comes to the mind: clear turquoise waters along the unblemished white-sand beach. We all can agree that this picture in the mind is the most calming one. The beaches are delightful to visit. There are many reasons to vacation in the Caribbean. Millions of travelers come to the Caribbean to learn, explore, exercise, relax, or eat. Explorers who come to the Caribbean independently usually visit one island country.
Traveling between the countries can be difficult and expensive. We have listed some travel tips to keep in mind when traveling to the Caribbean.
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Book your tickets early
It is a fact the cheapest flights are available when booked early, especially 25 days in advance. If you are traveling within the Caribbean on a Caribbean-based airline, you are less likely to benefit from flash sale seats closer to your travel dates. Flights must be booked at least 2 to 3 months in advance to benefit from discounted, restricted fares before they are all sold out.
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Be mindful of delayed flights
If you are planning a trip to many different islands, there is a great possibility that you might experience delays. This has to do with the logistical challenges, as well as weather changes. As most Caribbean island airlines use small airplanes, flying through bad weather is rarely practiced. Severe changes in weather can therefore lead to flight delays, having a ripple effect on future connections. Keeping this inevitability in mind can help minimize disappointment if you have contingency plans in place in the event of delays. Be prepared for anything and you will be surprised by nothing at the Caribbean Islands.
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Plan the route wisely
While your first instinct in planning an island-hopping trip would be to simply travel from one island to the nearest island along the chain, keep in mind that this does not always offer you the cheapest options. Caribbean island airlines plan the routes based on several factors, demand is one of them. Therefore, if the Caribbean Island you are thinking of traveling to is not a popular one, the airline will most likely fly over it, stopping at other islands first, before you’d eventually land there. This can be a time-consuming as well as an expensive affair. Thus, make sure that you plan the routine wisely with lots of research.
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Make sunscreen your best friend
Caribbean islands are quite close to the equator so the sun gets pretty intense and high. Add the high frequency of sunny days and you can imagine that this is not good for the skin at all. Getting a tan does look healthy, but too much sun is not good for the skin at all. Go for outdoor sports and get some sunlight but not too much. It is best to use sunscreen lotion with factor 50. That means you can get a tan but won’t burn that much. It also helps to wear UV-protected rash guards or tees. A genuine tip would be to apply a new round of sunscreen every hour. Wait a while after applying sunscreen to jump into the ocean. Not absorb lotion is bad for the fishes and the coral reefs.
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Take the Caribbean ferries
Many island chains offer ferries between islands as an alternative to flying within their own regions set such as the Bahamas, British and US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and twin island states such as Tobago and Trinidad. For travel between many of the major Islands, L’Express Des Iles is the largest ferry service operating in the Caribbean Islands. It is definitely the most cost-effective option to travel between the islands, with one rate offered regardless of how far up or down the chain of islands you travel.
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Carry light summer clothes
The weather is mostly always warm. The weather keeps changing around the area. Stay away from packing fabrics like synthetics that don’t breathe. Linen and cotton are preferred fabrics in the Caribbean as they are lightweight and breathable. You will be more comfortable and thankful that you thought ahead. Plus, they tend to fold up small and take less space in the luggage.
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Keep enough money on you
Things on the Caribbean islands are a little more expensive because of the simple fact that a lot of food and goods are imported from abroad. In the small populated islands, just producing electricity and running water is expensive and difficult. It all adds up to higher prices in the stores and restaurants. It’s all a part of Caribbean Island life. Thus, it is best to make a budget and look for shortcuts.
We at TravelGooru, work by the motto to help you make your travel easy. We keep reading interesting posts about traveling and expand our horizons to meet your expectations. At TravelGooru, we help with all the logistics that precede international travel. We are here to make all your reservations, compare the costs of various flights and hotels to make sure that you get the best deal. We search, compare, and save on your travel expense.
If you wish to take a trip to the Caribbean Islands anytime soon and are scared of the process, you can simply contact us. We will make sure that your trip is one filled with pleasure bereft of the stress of planning.
