To get the best out of your Caribbean holiday, you can consider heading to Jamaica. So what makes Jamaica so special? Read on to understand why.

 The weather: The island witnesses warm tropical weather through out the year with average temperature hovering between 80 to 90 degrees F. Near the mountains it is somewhat lower but you could manage with a light sweater. So Jamaica is a year round destination and you can plan your visit to suit your convenience.

 The beaches: If it is Jamaica, it has to be the beaches. Negril boasts of plenty of beautiful beaches, notably the seven miles beach. Then there is Boston Beach where jerked food got its well-deserved fame. Talking about beaches, there are plenty of Jamaica accommodation rentals like the Silver Sands villas that encompass their own stretch of pristine white sandy beach.

 The great outdoors: From exploring the colourful underwater world to hiking up the peaks of the mighty Blue Mountains and exploring the countryside, caves, grottos in between, Jamaica provides the perfect playground for a whole range of land and water activities. You can go kayaking, white water rafting, snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing and deep sea fishing. On land explore rainforest trails, museums, parks, reserves, botanical gardens, plantations, estate houses….the list is endless.

 The atmosphere: The beaches and the weather combine to provide a tropical charm that is so very unique to Jamaica. It is because of this, Jamaica also has a well-established reputation of being one of the ultimate romantic destinations in the world, a fact that is evident from the number of people who come here to get married or for honeymoon. This is not to say that families don’t come for a holiday here. Indeed there are a number of Jamaica accommodation rentals that cater specifically to families.

 Jamaica is also a safe destination this despite the fact that it was in the news for the clashes that took place in Kingston over the arrest of a drug leader. These are stray incidences and can take place in any country. That being said it is always advisable to take certain precautions while travelling in foreign lands. While in Jamaica, avoid lonely areas at night or preferably travel in groups. Don’t flaunt your valuables and keep a low profile and you’ll be safe in the country.

Choosing a Caribbean Island Vacation is difficult because to the outsider the Caribbean is just the Caribbean, with each island being much like the other. The insider will however tell you that each island has its own identity, none more so than Antigua.

The island of Antigua is always associated with Barbuda, but this article isn’t about Antigua and Barbuda, but about what it is that should make you want to choose Antigua for your Caribbean Island Vacation.

Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, north of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the south and east of Nevis, St Kitts, St Barts, and St Martin. It is some fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide, totalling 108 square miles. This means with its 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, there is plenty Antigua to explore, and furthermore there is lots to see thanks to the close links with Britain and the British Navy in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

Visitors who have chosen Antigua for their Caribbean Island Vacation, also inevitably visit English Harbour which is Antigua’s evocative historical district, around Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. The whole harbour area was the headquarters of the fleet in Nelson’s time. There are historical buildings and fortifications to be seen around the park.

Antigua’s beaches are of course a huge reason for taking a Caribbean Island Vacation here. The majority of the beaches are on the west coast , which is the more sheltered calm and protected part.

All of the beaches are open to the public and each has different characteristics, so the main difficulty you will have is finding the perfect Antigua beach for you. One piece of advice is to never go to isolated beaches on your own, and another is to make sure you get good directions before you go.

On the northwest coast you will find Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, both highly developed and great resort beaches. Closest to St Johns are Fort James, and Deep Bay. In the winter surfers go to Galley Bay and the four beaches at Hawksbill are impressive, just beware that one is a nudist beach.

On the southwest and south coast of Antigua are where you will find the less visited and developed beaches because the area is quite hilly. A road winds along the coast here and you will find beaches like Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach, and the beaches around Johnsons Point.

Rendezvous Bay, and Doigs Beach are especially very quiet beaches but not easy to get to. If you are looking for an Antigua Beach to relax on after visiting English Harbour then try Pigeon Point.

On the east coast, the south east corner is Half Moon Bay, is a national park, and if you want a family beach, then this and Long Bay which is as far to the east as you can go are both outstanding. The beaches facing east are quite rough but great for beachcombing.

Whether it is history and sightseeing or beaches, Antigua has something for everyone as a Caribbean Island Vacation

For more information on Caribbean Vacation Spots go to http://www.caribbean-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

Many people only consider a Caribbean vacation during the months of November to April. This period, known as the winter season, is traditionally the peak period for Caribbean vacations. For many individuals it is a chance to escape the snow and ice of the northern hemisphere with a holiday in sunny climates. The other months are often called the summer season or as known in Caribbean vacation circles, the low season because of the low occupancy at vacation properties. Yet the summer and fall months are a great time for a Caribbean vacation with several activities that are only available during the summer.

One of the reasons some persons do not consider a vacation in the Caribbean during the summer months is a fear of hurricanes. This concern over hurricanes is however somewhat misplaced. In fact only a few islands are ever affected by hurricanes in any one year. Some islands because of their geographic position, such as Trinidad, Aruba, Tobago, Curacao, are considered below the hurricane belt and so are not hit by any hurricanes.

The summer months in the Caribbean are filled with music festivals. You can listen to world renown international artists under sunny skies with an ocean view or against a backdrop of star filled skies with balmy breezes. Among the more popular music festivals are the St Lucia Jazz Festival, Barbados Gospelfest and the Aruba Music Festival in May, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, the Bonaire Jazz Festival, St Kitts Music Festival and Grenada’s Spice Jazz Festival in June. If you are looking for music a little later in the year, there is Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica in July and Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival in October.

Summer is also the time for the pulsating rhythms and colorful costumes of Carnival on many islands. In July, it is Carnival time on St Vincent, St Lucia and Barbados, while Antigua’s carnival is in August. A summer holiday on any of these Caribbean islands gives you the chance to experience the splendor of the carnival costumes with the relaxation of a beautiful Caribbean beach.

The summer months are also ideal for Caribbean outdoor recreation adventure and each island offers a range of outdoor vacation adventure. Hiking is one of those outdoor adventures and in the Caribbean you can on the same hike alternate from untouched beaches to unspoiled forest. Within those lush untouched natural forests are tall cascading waterfalls, hidden fern grottoes, mountain lakes, boiling lakes, hot springs and mysterious regions of volcanic activity.

Summer is also the time of turtle nesting with May to September being the prime months. During these months thousands of giant marine turtles heave themselves out of the ocean and on to the sandy beaches to lay their eggs. Giant Leatherback turtles, some weighing as much as 1,000 pounds, along with Hawksbill and Green turtles visit these sandy shores. Viewing this rite of nature while on a summer vacation is an experience of a lifetime.

The waters of the Caribbean Sea are wonderful all year round but the warmest water temperature is during the summer, making it ideal for snorkeling. The sparkling blue water provides a world of adventure below its surface. The Caribbean is one of the top regions for scuba diving and snorkeling with breathtaking marine life, shallow coral reefs, new and old wrecks.

Probably the best reason of all for visiting the Caribbean during the summer months is that this is the time of the lowest prices at hotels and airlines have special reduced airfares, so you can have a vacation on a budget.

So if you are thinking of where to go for your summer vacation, consider the Caribbean, it’s great in the summer.