Caribbean Tour

Antigua and Barbuda is an country found in the Caribbean Sea and located in the middle of the Leeward Islands. These islands are perfect for vacationing in a warm, tropical paradise and are near to other great island chains, such as Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Anguilla. Because of Antiqua and Barbuda's proximity to the equator, the weather here is warm all year round, and tourists love the seasonal sun.

The country of Antiqua and Barbuda is made up of a number of small islands close to one another with the island of Antique being the largest and most populated. The island of Barbuda is slightly north of Antiqua and is also relatively large compared to the other islands in the chain. Redonda, a small island with large phosphate reserves, is also part of Antiqua and Barbuda. Most of the islands here are either privately owned or uninhabited government property. Large towns in this country include St. Johns on Antiqua and Codrington on Barbuda.

Antiqua and Barbuda used to be a part of the British empire, so if you travel here you'll still see a heavy British influence, as well as an America one, since the United States brings many tourists to this country every year. Like most of the other Caribbean islands, tourism is the main industry in Antiqua and Barbuda, and most places you go in this country will have people who speak English as a first language and will accept the American dollar.

If you decide to visit Antiqua and Barbuda, one of the best times of year to do so is during August when Carnival is occurring. Carnival is a national celebration that historically celebrates the abolition of slaver and includes a number of great events. You can take a break from the beaches to see parades and pageants, try great festival foods, and even participate in fun contests.

However, if you simply enjoy beaches, you certainly have your pick in Antiqua and Barbuda. Locals like to joke that there are 365 beaches-one for every day of the year. They aren't far from the mark. You can head to the local public beaches, look for a hotel with its own private beach, or even take a charter to one of the small islands away from the larger islands for your own beach paradise.

Sporting events are also great if you want to travel to Antiqua and Barbuda. Cricket is extremely popular, and the 2007 Cricket World Cup found a home in this county. The island of Antique features the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which houses many of the main sporting events and is newly build within the last few years. If sports and beaches both seem a bit boring to you, there's always shopping, museums, tours, and plenty of other things to do in this country, so it is a great destination for Caribbean travel.

The Caribbean islands are beautiful treasures for you to visit, with this region in the world being one of the most popular tourist sports. Trinidad and Tobago and just two islands you can visit while your Caribbean vacation. Its' own nation, Trinidad and Tobago has between one and two million year-round inhabitants and welcomes people from all nations. Both of the islands are great to visit.

Trinidad is located very close to the coast of Venezuela. It is the large of the two islands, and most agree that it is also the more exciting of the two islands. The exciting nightlife you find on Trinidad rivals nightlife found anywhere else in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico's San Juan. Tobago, on the other hand, is the serene and secluded tropical getaway. You can reach Trinidad in only 15 minutes by air or two hours by sea, and the pink sand beaches are perfect for rest and relaxation.

Like many of the other islands in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago celebrate Carnival, which is a large two day festival right before Lent begins and comparable to New Orleans' Mardi Gras. Carnival season brings thousands of visitors to Trinidad and Tobago, since the country is known for holding one of the largest and most exciting festivals in the world, filled with culture dancing, cuisine, contests, and parades.

However, even if you don't visit during Carnival, you can still enjoy a number of wonderful activities. Bird watching is very popular here, with the Caronia Swamp being a secluded home of the Scarlet Ibis. Other natural areas to visit include the Arima-Blanchisseuse Main Road and the Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust in southern Trinidad. Visit some of this county's many beach as well, including Pigeon Point, Manzanilla Bay, Chacachacare, Mount Irvine, and Store Bay. You can enjoy surfing, fishing, digging for shell fish, boating, and snorkeling at these locations. Just a few of the fish you may encounter are barracudas, whale sharks, manta rays, and porpoises. Of course, you can also spend the day relaxing on the beach as well. From wind surfing to sun bathing, there is something for everyone in Trinidad and Tobago.

You can even get away from the beach and check out the calypso much at the local pubs and dance halls. A number of musicians even cater to tourists and let them try playing, so you can enjoy learning a tune on the steel pan or simply watch costumed dances take the stage. Before leaving, make sure you get time to do everything you want-you may have to extend your vacation another week!

If you are thinking about traveling to the Caribbean, St. Lucia might be the perfect place for you to visit. This sunny island nation is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, between Saint Vincent and Martinique. It is known as the "Helen of the West Indies," making reference to Helen of Troy because this treasured paradise switched hands between the United Kingdom and France many times. However, in 1979, Saint Lucia gained her independence and remains independent today.

Saint Lucia was formed by a volcano, so it is more mountainous than most other islands in the Caribbean. There are eleven districts which you get visit while there: Anse la Raye, Castries (where the capital city of the same name is found), Gros Islet, Dennery, Micoud, Vieux Fort, Laborie, Choiseul, Soufriere, Canaries, and Forest. Just looking at these names, you can see the strong French and English influences in this country.

While traveling around St. Lucia, you will experience a tropical climate, with plenty of sun. The island experiences the typical dry and rainy seasons often found in this region, with the dry season lasting from January to April and the rainy season lasting from May to December. Trade winds from the northeast combat the hot sun, so visiting the beaches is usually a fun and pleasant activity.

If you visit the Caribbean during carnival season, you will find lots of fun festivals on Saint Lucia. Carnival traditionally occurs right before lent, but the island found that it was in competition with the large Carnival held on Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival is now part of Saint Lucia is mid-July. In May, St. Lucia is also home to a world-famous jazz festival. Some other popular tourist attractions include the world's only drive-in volcano at Soufriere, the Botanical Gardens, Pigeon Island National Park and Fort Rodney, the rain forests, and the shopping centers and beaches, especially those in Castries, Soufriere, Marigot Bay, and Gros Islet.

Saint Lucia is a great place to visit for your entire vacation, but if you want to travel throughout the Caribbean to see a number of islands, you can also take a cruise that simply stops at this island for the day. You won't regret visiting Saint Lucia to enjoy their beautiful beaches and fantastic tourist attractions. The best time to visit is between January and April, during the dry season, but Saint Lucia can be a very pretty vacation destination any time of year.

The fastest way to ruin a beautiful paradise vacation is to find out that the weather forecast is calling for rain in the Caribbean during your entire stay. There's not much you can do to change the weather, but there are a few things you can take into consideration when planning a Caribbean vacation. Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy beautiful sunny weather during most of your stay.

Obviously, the Caribbean is often hit hard by hurricanes. Therefore, your first and foremost plan is to not book a Caribbean vacation during hurricane season. Hurricanes and tropical storms can occur during various times in the year, but most fall during the official hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Most of the storms happen specifically between August and October, with September being an especially volatile time. Try heading to the Caribbean during a different time of the year.

However, if you must plan your trip during hurricane season, try visiting islands that usually do not get hit. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, which are sometimes known as the Netherlands Antilles islands or the ABC islands are rarely in the path of the storm, and you can avoid a direct hit by traveling to Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados. If you want to learn about a specific island's weather report, contact a travel agency dealing with travel to this location or a tourist center on the island itself.

In fact, before you plan your island vacation, learning about the weather on specific islands is crucial. For example, if you plan to visit Dominica, you should be prepared for some rain. The wildlife there is beautiful, but they get over 300 inches a year, more than anywhere else in the world. Another example would be Bermuda. It's actually a northern Caribbean island and has a climate close to that of North Carolina, so if you visit in the winter, you won't want to lie on the beach or swim in the ocean. You'll have to head south for warmer weather there.

About a week or two before you leave, track the storms and weather happening on your island. Remember that every storm hits not every island. If you work through a travel agency or buy a packaged deal, sometimes you can get your money back if a hurricane hits your island and you can't fly in for your vacation; otherwise, make sure that you know some of the indoor activities to do as well, like spending time at the resort or touring local museums. These will help battle your rainy day blues.

Like any other vacation, Caribbean travel can be fun or stressful depending on how well you pack. When you are going overseas, it is a good idea to learn about all of the things you'll need and to plan you clothing and personal belonging carefully. Packing well can make your trip extra special and less hassled.

First, pack all of the important things you need in a place that is secure, yet accessible. If you are traveling with your family, have all of these things in the same place to prevent confusions. Important documents to keep on hand include airplane tickets, passports, IDs, boarding passes, copies of prescriptions, and other things you could need quickly to help your time in the airport go smoothly.

You should carefully plan out what to pack in your carry on. All airports have special rules as to what can and cannot be take. These rules change frequently, so your best bet is to call the airline about a week before your flight to be sure you are up to date on the rules. You can also check the airline's website. A general rule of thumb is to not carry anything that could be considered a weapon, including nail clippers, lighters, and pocket knives.

Also when packing your carry on bags, be sure to stick in your bathing suit and a change of clothing. Often times when traveling to the Caribbean, your luggage will arrive on a flight other than the flight on which you came or it will be delayed somewhat on transit to your hotel. It is better to be able to wait by the pool instead of becoming stressed and having nothing to do while you wait for your luggage to arrive! You should also carry a small amount of money on you for this reason.

Think of function when you're traveling. Airports can be very busy, so if you'll have small children, consider packing extremely lightly or having your luggage shipped straight to the hotel. Wheeled luggage is also a good idea, and to save space and prevent wrinkles, trying rolling your clothing. Remember, if you forget something you can always pick it up when you get there. Spending a few extra dollars for shampoo or sunscreen is no big deal-and while we're on the topic of shampoo and sunscreen, remember that pressure changes due to air travel can cause bottles to burst. Store them in plastic bags so that you can be sure you belongings will be safe from spills. Packing for your Caribbean vacation is not hard as long as you follow these tips.