Palm trees, sandy beaches, turquoise waters, great music… you’ll find all that, and more, throughout the Caribbean. Most islands are easy to get to, and easy to vacation at, but even so, there are some things every traveler needs to know before going to the Caribbean. These helpful tips will help you decide when and where to go, what to expect when you’re there, and what you might like to do.
Montego Bay
As home of the north-shore airport and a busy cruise pier west of town, Jamaica's second-largest city is the first taste most visitors have of the island. Travelers from around the world come and go year-round, drawn to the bustling community's all-inclusive resorts and great beaches. Montego Bay’s relative proximity to resort towns like Ocho Rios and Negril also make the town a popular choice. Adventures and one-of-a-kind experiences, not to mention interesting colonial sights, await in surrounding areas.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana encompasses Juanillo (home of the Cap Cana development), Bávaro, and continues all the way around the peninsula to Uvero Alto.
The stretch between Club Med, the Westin, and the Puntacana Resort & Club is one of the most beautiful. Farther up the coast to the Playa El Cortecito section of Bávaro is more how life used to be, with fishermen bringing in their catch, and it is where the wild and crazy restaurant Capitán Cook's is located. About 20 miles (32 km) from Punta Cana International Airport, it's an area brimming with coconut groves and the location of many resorts.
The Hawaii of the Carribean
Imagine yourself reclining on the sandy white beaches, soaking in the volcanic mud baths of Soufrière, ziplining through lush rainforests, indulging in authentic island food, club-hopping on the Rodney Bay strip, and riding ATVs through the countryside. Envision exploring abandoned sugar plantations, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, chasing brightly colored fish in the shadow of the Pitons, or experiencing a live sea turtle hatching in the last light of dusk.
Grand Turk
With water so turquoise that it glows, you may find it difficult to stray far from the beach in the Turks and Caicos. Museums, ruins, and other area attractions may not seem nearly as compelling as the beaches, which are among the most incredible you will ever see. Don't be surprised if you wake up on your last morning and realize that you didn't find a lot of time for anything else.
Just 7 miles (11 km) long and a little more than 1 mile (1½ km) wide, this island, has been a longtime favorite destination for divers eager to explore the 7,000-foot coral-encrusted wall that drops down within yards of the shoreline. This tiny, quiet island is home to white-sand beaches, and a small population of wild horses and donkeys. A cruise-ship complex at the southern end of the island brings about 600,000 visitors per year.
Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta or Cancun
Mexico offers enough seaside fun, splashy resorts, and piña coladas to fulfill anyone's sunny dreams. But travelers who dig a bit deeper discover a multifaceted country of ethereal cloud forests, colorful coral reefs, and stark deserts.
From ancient archaeological sites and colonial-era cities like Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende to the pulsing modern metropolis of Mexico City, the country presents thousands of years of history and abundant up-to-the minute style.
Maui
Hawaii overflows with natural beauty with mild year round temperatures. Piercing the surface of the Pacific from the ocean floor, the Hawaiian Islands are garlanded with soft sand beaches and dramatic volcanic cliffs.
Long days of sunshine and fairly mild year-round temperatures make this an all-season destination, and the islands' offerings—from urban Honolulu on Oahu to the luxury resorts of Maui to the natural wonders of Kauai and the Big Island—appeal to all kinds of visitors. Less-developed Lanai and Molokai are quieter, but all the islands are rich in Hawaiian culture.
Whether you are wanting to experience Italy or parts of Greece. It is a beautiful country awaiting for you!