Where to go in the Caribbean Islands in May or June but not on a cruise

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This was published 8 years ago

Where to go in the Caribbean Islands in May or June but not on a cruise

By Michael Gebicki
Jake's Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

Jake's Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

WE ARE THINKING OF VISITING SOME OF THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS IN MAY/JUNE NEXT YEAR BUT NOT ON A CRUISE. WE THOUGHT TO VISIT A FEW EXOTIC RESORTS AND ISLANDS AND FINISH IN MIAMI. SINCE THE ISLANDS ARE OWNED BY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, IS ISLAND HOPPING COMPLICATED AND SHOULD WE LIMIT OURSELVES TO ISLANDS OF JUST THE USA AND UK? ANY TRAVEL AGENTS THAT YOU COULD RECOMMEND? G. GARDEN, WHALE BEACH

May to about mid-June is ideal. The weather is great but you're outside peak holiday periods, which means less crowds and lower accommodation prices. Most of these islands are independent, a few like Guadeloupe and Martinique are part of the French West Indies, others like Bermuda and Anguilla are part of the British West Indies. Almost all the islands make much of their living from tourism, and hopping from one to the next presents no real difficulties as far as visas and immigration requirements go. The biggest problem is deciding which islands to visit, as the Caribbean is a rainbow of scenery and cultures. At one end of the spectrum you've got islands like St Barts, a favourite sandpit for megastars and moguls; at the other, there's budget-friendly Jamaica. If you want beaches, cigars, Detroit chrome-mobiles, weird Afro-Christian cults, music and all-night dancing, Cuba is for you. If you want pink-sand beaches and golf courses the colour of a billiard table, Bermuda. Or maybe Mustique, nicknamed "Billionaires Island," and so exclusive it has only one hotel.

The person to speak to about travel in the Caribbean is Ted Dziadkiewicz of Contours Travel (contourstravel.com.au) in Victoria. Contours' Caribbean brochure will help you decide which island you might want to visit, but call Ted on 1300 135 391 and set the ball rolling.

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