Caribbean advice please

[DanyellasDonkey]

Really fancy going to the Caribbean next year but have no idea which places are best. DP and I are early 50s and would have a budget of around £1500 PP.

Any suggestions welcome

Anse Chastanet st Lucia is absolutely gorgeous. It's next to the pitons and it's secluded and like a little piece of paradise.

We loved st Lucia too.

What sort of things do you like doing?

I would say Barbados or Antigua

I like lazing around a bit and also a bit of sightseeing. I don't like the idea of hotels where you're in a kind of compound and don't venture outside at all

I'm going to Cuba next month it will be my 3rd time of going, it's beautiful there and lovely weather. I go to holgiun at playa pesquero hotel. But if you go to Havana there is a lot more to do and see.

Belize. not the traditional Caribbean but what has put me off of the Caribbean in the past is the hotel complex thing you described. couldn't think of anything worse than being stuck in one place.

I like the smaller Caribbean islands; Bequia and Nevis. Rent a villa and eat in local restaurants, drink rum punch or Red Stripe on the beach.

Totally agree moon. We like Virgin Gorda and Tortola. £1500's a slim budget though so don't expect much for that price - most of that will be airfare. To keep the cost down look for accommodation on main islands with direct flights or ones you can get to by ferry which are less commercial. Some of the Virgin Isldnds have reasonable rentals if you could wait until May. Prices are so much higher in the winter. Avoid all inclusive - you could be anywhere!

When? The Caribbean has all sorts of different monsoon seasons in different areas. The dates of your travel may well drastically limit your choice of destination.

Cuba - staying in Havana and not Varadero. Fascinating place with a great vibe and crumbling Spanish architecture. The food is vile though. I also liked Tobago a lot - great beaches, pretty in land and felt very safe (which I can't say the same of Trinidad).

Generally, the Caribbean has a high season from Christmas to the end of March-Easter. The hurricane season is August to October - roughly. From May to August it gets hotter and can rain more frequently but is unlikley to spoil a holiday. Prices are way cheaper though so staying somewhere better becomes a possibility. The seasons do not change much from this. There is no monsoon season. Late November/early December avoids peak season too and can be lovely.

Trinidad is not considered a holiday island. Tobago is and has direct flights. I like staying somewhere with ferries to nearby islands - hence the BVIs and USVIs. Lots of fun!

We went to Kitts and Nevis. Got a cheap package deal all inclusive to St Kitts for two weeks in but only stayed at the beginning and end on St Kitts and got a ferry to Nevis and stayed in the wonderful Hermitage Inn.

It felt incredibly safe on Nevis, we walked everywhere and drove around in a tiny hire car and it was quiet and friendly and beautiful. St Kitts was also very safe too. Lots of history to see, snorkelling and beautiful beaches.

St Lucia on the other hand we didn't like as much, stayed in a B&B and hired a car, but never really felt as safe as on Kitts and Nevis just bobbling about on our own away from the resorts. The roads weren't great, the towns weren't great (apart from the v touristy bits)...much preferred the freedom of Kitts and Nevis.

We have to go in school holidays so it would be July. Want somewhere that feels safe to do a bit of exploring on our own

Trouble with school holidays is that the flight prices go up, even though it's low season.
Friends have stayed here and highly recommend.
www.petiteanse.com

If you want to try Jamaica, Port Antonio has very few of those compound-like places (actually the ones they do have are not in the town and actually come highly recommended). Instead, they have a lot of low key boutique places like Frenchman's Cove And Blue Lagoon. Check out Kanopi House, for example. www.kanopihouse.com

We've stayed at Frenchman's Cove and the kids absolutely loved it. We explored the area a lot and went swimming with horses, but we were living in Jamaica at the time so we were not shy about exploring. Jamaica is truly beautiful.
www.frenchmanscove.com

I'm another lover of Jamaica. Amazing nature, lovely friendly people, great music.

Port Antonio is beautiful and you can go to the Blue Mountains.

Tobago is lovely, friendly people, beautiful scenery.

Dominica, if you like sightseeing, nature, diving/snorkeling, whale watching, and spectacular natural flord and fauna. It's quiet and not teeming with tourists. Not much nightlife or casinos.

Antigua is gorgeous....we stayed at Grand Pineapple beach.....( flew with Virgin ) beach front room, just metres from the most beautiful warm crystal clear water and white sandy beach. Very laid back resort....not the most luxurious of resorts but very reasonable ( all inclusive)and the location is perfect .....

Dominican Republic
Cuba
Jamaica
Antigua

I love Grenada and found it safe, easy to get around and friendly. It's very cheap to eat out and Grand Anse beach is gorgeous. Not sure how easy it will be to do on £3k tbh though

I too loved Grenada, st Lucia, Antigua and Barbados also the grenadines.
Never done all inclusive in any of them always been out and about locally.
However we haven't been for a few years and last time we went it was £1000 per person for flight and room only in a four star resort. So expect it's a lot more now.
How about Mexico, it's still the Caribbean, it's less expensive than the islands and there are lots of quirky boutique style places to stay around Tulum etc as well as Mayan ruins. World heritage site, jungle, eco parks, stunning beaches etc