DESTINATIONS — CARIBBEAN
It’s known for winter sun, but the Caribbean sparkles in summertime too, writes Jo Cooke
A West Indian Summer C
ome summer, holidaymakers can take their pick of destinations. Those seeking guaranteed sun, with the obligatory sea and sand, only have to hop as far as Europe to get their fix. And if the British weather holds, staycations are also a good alternative. Yet summer holidaymakers could be missing a trick by ruling out the Caribbean. Sure, it’s a tad warmer and they might get a few more showers (a good excuse to seek shelter with an extra cocktail in the bar, surely) but the weather – and the prices – might be better than they expect. Here’s our guide to the pros and cons of going tropical for summer.
l MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK Summer is low season in the Caribbean, and as demand for accommodation falls, so do prices. “Hotels lower their rates, sometimes by up to 50%, which means families can secure great deals, even at top hotels,” says Caribtours product manager Katherine Hobbs. It’s also a good time for added
value, such as one or two free nights, according to Helen Tabois, senior product and marketing manager at ITC Luxury Travel. She says: “Our travel specialists
always look to negotiate little extras such as a complimentary room upgrade or a spa treatment. Flights may be more expensive in
school holiday periods, but not in early summer. If you’re not bound by school holidays, May and June are ideal to take advantage of lower air fares, too.” Changes to Air Passenger Duty mean flying to the Caribbean with a family is cheaper this year. Funway Holidays marketing
executive Rebecca Evans says: “Many families will benefit from recent changes to APD. On economy flights, the cost of getting to the Caribbean has been reduced by £71 for under-12s.”
l WEATHER WATCH Hurricanes are an understandable cause for concern, but while the official season runs from June 1
to November 30, big storms are much less likely at the start of the season. Western & Oriental’s head of product, David Pointer, says: “If they do occur, they often happen later in the year than the school summer holidays.” And not all islands are equally
vulnerable. Those in the south of the archipelago, such as Barbados and Aruba, lie outside the ‘hurricane belt’ and get hit only once every 20 and 28 years respectively. It’s worth warning clients, though, that the weather is more humid at this time of year, and they are likely to experience sudden bursts of so-called ‘liquid sunshine’. But that isn’t necessarily a
28 May 2015 —
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