When we’re travelling, it’s always smart to think about which season you are travelling in. When I talk here about ‘seasons’ I do not necessarily mean winter, spring, summer and fall. Even though they do impact the ‘seasons’ that I am referring to, for the sake of this article, when I say ‘seasons’, I am referring to high and low tourist season, and hurricane/rainy season.
Let’s start with high and low tourist season. The Caribbean has become a year-round travel destination. This is not to say that there aren’t better times to go than others, but that all depends on what you want out of your travel experience. If you are looking to roam the beaches with droves of people flocking in from the miserable weather in the Canada and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest, then you’ll want to hit the Caribbean at its high time (from mid-December to mid-April). During this time (especially at Christmas, March Break and Spring Break) hotels charge their highest prices and you will have to make your reservations well in advance. If you want many people and wild parties, then you’ll have to pay the high season pricing.
The off season in the Caribbean, running from mid-April to mid-December, is a perfect time to travel for those who enjoy a little bit more quiet time, not to mention cheaper hotel costs. Think of this time as one big summer sale in which hotels dash 20-50% off of their regular high season rates. This is the perfect time to explore the Caribbean if you are looking to travel on a budget, however, remember that many restaurants and even parts of hotels close as it is a perfect time for off season construction.
Now, let’s talk about hurricane/rainy season. Even though I already made the sweeping statement that the Caribbean has become a year-round travel destination, there are certain times of the year when the islands can be just plain miserable. It is important to remember that different islands get different amounts of rain. On Aruba, it hardly ever rains…score for the mid-summer traveler. On other islands, you can have overcast skies for your entire vacation. The curse of the Caribbean is the hurricane season. Hurricane season officially lasts from June 1to November 30th. Talk about a major bummer for the budget traveler. Even though it seems that summer is not the time to take a trip to the Caribbean, don’t forget that modern technology has given us satellite forecasts. You can get a general overview of how the weather is going to be before you snag a last minute vacation to your favorite island!
Even though there are several different ‘seasons’ to consider, think about what kind of trip you have in mind (quiet, wild, cheap, luxurious), and then start doing your research to pick your ideal vacation.