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General Overview

  • In most Caribbean destinations, US travellers receive a free visa (the duration is 30 days), in general. Visitors from other countries are usually allowed to enter a Caribbean nation with their passports. Kindly check the visa requirements for your country prior to travel, though.
  • There is no single official currency in the Caribbean as it varies by island. However, the US dollar is widely accepted across all Caribbean destinations.
  • As for credit cards, the largest hotels, resorts, and restaurants accept the major ones. Travellers’ checks are also quite well accepted. However, smaller establishments, such as gas stations and street vendors prefer cash, so it would be wise to carry some cash with you.
  • The climate in the Caribbean is tropical with dry and rainy seasons. Some regions also experience a strong hurricane season.
  • Although many Caribbean citizens are non-denominational, the primary religion is Christianity.
  • The most widely spoken language is English. However, you will find out that almost every Caribbean nation speaks its own Creole language. Spanish and French are also well-spoken across the islands.
  • Please be very polite with the locals who appreciate a “good morning” and a “good evening” when entering or leaving a room or greeting them with a nod of the head, and are always friendly and ready to help you in any way they can. Kindly refrain from touching, kissing on the cheek or shaking hands with a local woman as part of a getting-introduced move, though, unless she gives you permission to do so.
  • It is highly recommended that you visit a Caribbean nation with a travel insurance policy, which should be taken out when you book your trip. That way, you will be fully covered in case of an unforeseen event, such as a flood.


Caribbean Festivals

The Caribbean is a vibrant place with always something going on, inviting locals and tourists alike to join unique festivals and events throughout the year. Perhaps the most celebrated and anticipated event is the Carnival, which usually starts in February and can last up to several months in some Caribbean countries (until Lent begins). The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, as well as the Jukanoo Carnival in the Bahamas, the Sugar Mas in Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Jamaica Carnival, the Aruba Carnival, the Crop Over Festival in Barbados, and the Spicemas Carnival in Grenada are among the top 10 celebrations you definitely want to experience for yourself.

Other major events in the Caribbean are Christmas and New Year, with each island featuring a different festival, the Pirate Festival in November in the Cayman Islands, and the Drum Festival in Grenada which is held every May. However, every month is home to a different set of celebrations, so you will certainly not have a single dull moment here!


Wi-Fi and SIM Cards

You will find great internet connectivity in almost all Caribbean destinations with a few exceptions (i.e., the most mountainous and remote areas). It should also be noted that the overwhelming majority of large hotels, resorts, and restaurants provide complimentary Wi-Fi to their guests and tourists. As for a SIM card, if you own an unlocked phone, you can pick up a local SIM card (most airports across the Caribbean have shops to enable you to buy a SIM card) and have data the same way you would if you were back home. Of course, you can visit a Caribbean nation with a universal SIM card installed that will allow you to visit multiple Caribbean countries without having to change SIM cards in between.


Transportation

Buses and rental cars are the most popular methods of travel around Caribbean destinations. The first option is available across almost all Caribbean islands and provides fairly stable and reliable services. They (the buses) can be crowded, though, and may also not run on time, in some countries. They are, nonetheless, way cheaper than taking a taxi or renting a car.

When it comes to driving in the Caribbean, for the most part, it is a bit challenging due to the poor road infrastructure and local drivers’ driving habits. For example, they may stop their car in the middle of the road to lower their window and talk to a friend or grab some fruit from a street vendor, or get irritated if a driver is too slow. That aside, driving is usually on the left-hand side of the road.

Other popular means of transport are the inter-island ferry for transfers between islands, and taxi services. The first connects several islands, such as many islands in the Bahamas, as well as Antigua and Aruba. There are not many available options, though, if you want to explore many islands. Alternatively, you could do that via a yacht cruise that could even be a private experience, and hop on and off the Caribbean destinations of your preference.

The second option (taxi services) comes in handy and is available across most Caribbean islands. You will find taxi stations outside the major airports, ports, popular beaches, and other touristy areas.

Depending on the Caribbean country you visit, the taxi bears a characteristic letter on its licence plate so that it is clearly recognised as a taxi. Please refer to your intended destination’s regulations for more details.

Also:

  • Cruises – They offer you the chance to see many different Caribbean islands in a short space of time through an incredibly varied and diverse itinerary. Some cruises just take in one side of the Caribbean (usually either the eastern or the western part of the region), while longer cruise options reach a much greater plethora of destinations (usually the most popular, inhabited islands).
  • Flights – Light aircraft generally connect the Caribbean islands – the majority of them, at least – and include stops to different airports across the region. The bigger Caribbean destinations are covered by traditional air carriers, such as Caribbean Airlines and LIAT. As for the islands with big, international airports, they are usually connected to Europe, South/North/Central America, and the UK.