Travel Advice: Caribbean

Getting there

Unless you have time to sail your yacht across the Atlantic, you will find yourself flying to the Caribbean.
In addition to the many charter flights, British Airways fly to Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia and Tobago; Virgin Atlantic fly to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia and Tobago.
Smaller aircraft also fly from the airports of South-eastern USA. Miami is only a short hop from much of the Caribbean.

Getting around

Local flights will take you on to islands that transatlantic jets cannot reach, while there is an occasionally shambolic network of ferries that criss-cross the sea.

Also jostling for position on the turquoise waters, a fleet of cruise ships move their passengers from island to island for a day of shopping here, swimming there and snorkelling somewhere else. Cruise ships form one of the most popular ways of getting to know the Caribbean.

Island Guide

There are many stereotypical images of the Caribbean. Lazy, sun-kissed beaches; turquoise seas; coral reefs; clapboard houses and old sugar plantations; cricket and reggae and soccer and rum. All are true – but there is much more to the islands than that.

Various islands have Spanish, French, Dutch, North American and British political heritage, together with the African and native cultures of many of their peoples. Geography and climate further influence the lifestyles of the islands, which vary considerably.

Anguilla Small, relaxed and off the beaten track: ideal for a get-away-from-it-all holiday.

Antigua On the leeward side, has a beach for every day of the year. Not surprisingly, life here centres on the beach.

Bahamas With 700 islands to choose from, there’s something for everyone here, from the bustling market in capital city Nassau to Sandy Lane, playground of the rich and famous. Golf, diving and food are all highlights.

Barbados Prides itself as the perfect beach holiday destination – with a lively nightlife on offer in towns and resorts. Tourism has brought money to the island, and the standard of living generally is high.

British Virgin Islands For the most part these volcanic islands are quiet and undeveloped – including Richard Branson’s very own Virgin Island. They attract many divers and sailors.

Cayman Islands It’s the wildlife - birds and iguanas on land, the variety of marine life underwater – that makes the Caymans special. Scuba- divers are particularly well catered for.

Cuba Politics and recent history ensure your visit to Cuba will be unlike any other Caribbean nation. The tourist industry is growing quickly and while you can find sun, sea and surf there, Cuba is a favourite with those in search of music, cigars, dancing, old American cars and rum.

It is the one Caribbean destination that requires a visa of British passport holders.

Curaçao Largest island of the Netherlands Antilles, the Dutch influence (language, architecture, food) makes this a refreshing change for old Caribbean hands. UK tourists are relatively few in number.

Dominica Both black and golden sands fringe this mountainous island, largest of the Windward islands and dominated by the rainforest which, makes this an ideal hiking or eco-tourism destination.

Dominican Republic Shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti; this Spanish-speaking nation looks to the US in the way it is developing, but remains a quintessential Caribbean destination.

Grenada Revolution and invasion have blighted this island, a member of the Commonwealth, and home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Nevertheless, tourism is making inroads in a country where agriculture remains central to the way of life.

Guadeloupe There’s much to explore on the largest island in the French West Indies, though knowledge of French or Creole will help you to make the most of the island.

Jamaica There’s much more to this exciting, beautiful island than reggae, the well (or over) developed resorts of Montego Bay and Negril, the white-sand beaches and the friendly people – enough, in fact, to keep many tourists coming back again and again.

Martinique The volcanic island that Columbus called "the most beautiful country in the world" boasts mountains and hills, beaches, bars and museums – and resorts that have been springing up all over the island.

Montserrat Known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, this volcanic island features lush tropical vegetation and black sandy beaches.

Puerto Rico The island has made the most of its status as a US dependency, but you can escape quickly from the rampant Americanisation of the capital, San Juan, to some of the region’s best hiking, diving and caving.

St Barthélemy (St Barts) No buildings in the capital, Gustavia, may be built taller than the palm trees. That’s the kind of place St Barts is – quiet, secluded and protective of its status as a playground for the rich and famous.

St Kitts and Nevis A glimpse of the old Caribbean, – before the arrival of big jet planes, the huge resorts and even larger tourists. Laid-back and friendly, the two islands are separated by the Narrows Channel.

St Lucia A beautiful, mountainous island with low-key development that still manages to cater for all tastes and budgets.

St Martin/ St Maarten French to the north, Dutch to the south, this small island of two separate nations is one of the most developed in the Caribbean. It’s also one of the most crowded. You either love it or you hate it.

St Vincent and the Grenadines St Vincent is varied in itself, craggy on one side, gentle and relaxed on the other, while the nearby Grenadines offer still more – from untouched Canouan to ultra-rich Mustique.

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad has grown relatively rich on oil revenues. As a consequence, the island has not had to rely on tourism and the developments that usually involves. It’s an exciting, vibrant place with a world-famous carnival and year-round sense of fun. Nearby Tobago is much quieter with superb coral reefs to tempt scuba- divers.

Turks and Caicos Islands Quiet and deeply fashionable, this collection of 40 or so islands only started to attract visitors in significant numbers in the last few years. Most tourists will find themselves on the island of Providenciales.

US Virgin Islands The three main islands are all very different: unspoilt St John is mostly a national park; quiet St Croix is proud of its Danish heritage; bustling St Thomas is a cruise ship magnet with duty-free shopping and luxurious resorts.