Best time to go to the Caribbean?

[Helmlover1]

Just wondered when the best time is to go to the Caribbean to avoid the rainy periods, but still hot?

Also, if you have been to the Caribbean before, which month did you go, which island and what was the weather like?

Sorry about all the questions but I’m trying to get ideas for next year, and I’ve never been personally..

Avoid September as tends to be storms / hurricane season.

I went nigh on 25 years ago, and went in August as that is when I could get my holiday, but it was very hot. I went to Jamaica, which I loved, but was chosen as I was going to stay with someone there, not through comparative research.

We have been in October when storms and rain is possible, April which is fantastic and July which is a bit humid! Also February which is perfect but high season. December through to March is high season and if you get rain, it’s a quick squall. Not prolonged. I would tend to avoid August, Sept and early October. However prices will be cheaper for those months. Overall I like April - not high season prices but still perfect weather.

We have been to St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, BVIs, USVIs, Tobago Cays, Bequia etc. It’s always hot!

Weather is the same pretty much across the Caribbean - 28-32 degrees 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year. Only difference is rainfall and humidity. Showers possible any time of year and you can be washed out for days at a time even in high season, likewise you can strike lucky and have breezy sunny days even at height of hurricane season. Only time to definitely avoid is September into early October - on the island I go to that’s when everyone undertakes repairs/refurbs ahead of new season and I understand it’s similar on most of the smaller islands - you don’t want to sunbathe on a building site.
Choice of island depends on your own preference. Do you want authentic Caribbean experiences like hanging out with locals drinking rum to a thumping reggae beat? Or beautiful white beaches and peace? Or loads of activities for kids? Do you want to dress up for dinner? Eat tuna on the beach straight from the sea, or lobster Thermidor with chilled Chablis in posh beachside restaurant? Hotel or villa? If you work out the character and budget of the holiday you want, then you’ll be able to narrow down your search much better.

November - April/May. Summer time is hurricane season so either stormy or extremely hot.

Went to Barbados late November, weather was fab! High 20s/low 30s. I think in tropics you can expect some rain all year round but I don't remember it being very wet.

My favourite time is in the depths of our winter, all that sunshine when it's cold and gloomy at home.

We always go in July as we can only go in the summer hols. We go at the very start to lessen the hurricane risk.
Jamaica - loved it, lots to do. Avoid the touristy Montego Bay and Kingston.
Grenada - very untouristy, very beautiful rainforest, very safe, lots to do but less organised tours, we hired a car.
Bahamas - Nassau not up to much but fly to one of the out islands for a great experience-we did Exuma and loved it. Atlantis also fun for the kids.
Mexico -ok not Caribbean but close. Been twice, heaps to see and do, can be very active or laze on beach.
Next year we head to Bermuda which is also not actually Caribbean but most folk think it is!
As you can see, we love that area, we dive and do lots of outdoorsy stuff, not so much the lazing around. Guaranteed hot and any rain is usually only occasional.

June to beginning of December is hurricane season - we arrived in Antigua on honeymoon in September, to find a Hercules on the tarmac, which was being used to track the hurricane heading for us!

We were last there late December/early January, and it was fabulous weather. Loved Grenada.

I’ve been to Antigua twice late May, early June which was wonderful. Short bursts of rain very occasionally which just freshened things up. Dominican Republic in June/July, there was no rain and v hot.
My sister went to Antigua in August due to school holidays and felt she had preferred the climate in May/June, less oppressive.
Anytime you go, you’ll have a fantastic time.

We love St Lucia best out of the ones we have visited. It is absolutely beautiful. The north is full of resorts and could be anywhere, but the west coast is wild and beautiful with amazing beaches. Nice hotels just less of them, stay near Soufriere and the Pitons. Have gone in late December, February and March/April.

We usually go in April or the first two weeks in May - the later it gets in that window you sometimes get a downpour early evening but it dries up quickly (we've been to Mexico a few times, Jamaica and Dominican Republic)

I went in first 2 weeks of July and it rained every day I think, 27 years ago.now.

Firstly temperature varies very little throughout the year with the main seasonal difference being wet or dry season when the amount of rain varies dramatically. You need to decide where you are going then Google the year round rainfall. Avoid hurricane season at all costs.
We prefer the southern Caribbean, Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua and always in the dry season which is from January onwards (varies a bit from island to island). There is a Petite Careme or little dry season in our Autumn but this varies by weeks every year.
Our top choice is Tobago where, according to locals, it doesn't rain! They call it "liquid sunshine". Have a wonderful time.😀

Whenever you go high factor sun cream is a must, Carribbean sun is very strong - deceptively so sometimes because of the rain

We go to the Dominican Republic every July. In our 6 visits for 2 weeks at a time we have had maybe 4 days that were rainy for the between 2-4 hours. We also went in December last year and had 1 day were it rained for 3ish hour.

Easter is usually the most reliable weather IME
We go to Tobago/Grenada/Carriacou/Bequia
I don't know about the islands further north, but Feb half term can be much wetter than Easter some years.

We're looking at either Antigua or Barbados end of September. I'm finding it hard to pick between the 2. Looking for recommendations please and also hotels. We're going as a couple to celebrate significant anniversary and birthday. Looking at 4/5 * resorts, never done AI before but have done half board in Sardinia which we enjoyed so not against AI. Thank you 😊

Personally I don’t think the best hotels are AI. Both islands have great hotels but if you do AI you won’t really care much about what you can see on the islands and the fabulous restaurants! You will miss out!

Antigua has a lot of beaches. English Harbour and Shirley Heights is great and St Johns is interesting. Barbados has plantation houses to visit, Bridgetown, beautiful gardens and great beaches but feels more built up. Both will have snorkelling and boat trips which are worthwhile.

I prefer Antigua.

Thanks for your reply @BubblesBuddy. You're the second person today who's said they prefer Antigua to Barbados. It must be a sign! Now all I need to do is choose a hotel

Jamaica will always be my favourite, been in Oct and Feb, great weather both times
Barbados in Nov, great weather again
Antigua and St Lucia, Dec, ditto

Thank you @user764329056. Can I ask anyone for accommodation recommendations for Antigua too please? Thank you 😊

Should have said any recommendations for accommodations in both Antigua and Barbados would be greatly appreciated. It's going to be booked quite last minute so will have to keep my options open!

Have you got flights booked? You could add on a hotel to the flight. That often gets you a decent saving. We have never done AI so don’t have recommendations. However Carlisle Bay would top my list of hotels.

Thank you @BubblesBuddy I'll have a look at Carlisle Bay. AI not essential, we've never done an AI, but did have breakfast and evening meal included in Sardinia resort last year, which we quite liked. Not sure we would get value from AI tbh but not adverse to it. Just looking for a completely relaxing break. No flights booked as yet, hoping to get this done at the weekend.