With so many paradise islands to choose from, the hardest decision for travellers booking cheap flights to the Caribbean will be which one to visit. Dropped like pearls into the Caribbean Sea, the islands are bywords for luxury, but with flights and accommodations ranging from cheap to five-star there is something for everyone.
Most popular with Canadian travellers are Aruba, known for the Divi Divi trees blown sideways by the trade winds, Saint Martin with a lively Dutch side (Sint Maarten) and a beachy French side, and Cuba, the largest island, famous for its beaches and its rich and stirring heritage.
Jamaica, laid back and lovely, is one of the most popular Caribbean islands, for good reason - it's the birthplace of the all-inclusive resort.
The Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola (it shares it with Haiti) was described by Christopher Columbus in 1492 as "a beautiful island paradise" and not much has changed since then.
Cheap flights to the Caribbean will deliver you to other wonderful islands such as Curacao, Antigua, Bermuda, Barbados and the Bahamas. All bake gently under an endless sun, with cerulean seas and soft white-sand beaches and offer memorable vacations whatever you're into.
Search and compare: cheap flights to The Caribbean
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Caribbean temperatures usually range between a very comfortable 24 C and 30 C year round. It might be a bit cool in the early mornings and late evenings, but it warms up quickly. It can be humid, but the cooling trade winds make the climate very comfortable. The rainy season is in the fall, and the amount of rain varies across the islands. Winters are dry, but you may encounter the occasional shower. The mountains see more rain. Hurricane season lasts from early June to late November.
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Peak Season
Winter - from mid-December to mid-April - is the peak season for flights to the Caribbean, with the highest travel times around Christmas. Hotel rates and flights to the Caribbean are at their highest and reservations must be made in advance.
Off Season
The low season generally runs from mid-April through mid-December and when most travelers can find cheap flights to the Caribbean. If you can tolerate the hot and humid summer, there are some remarkable deals to be had on flights and hotel rooms. However, many restaurants are closed for the season, and some hotels offer fewer facilities and catch up on any construction or remodelling work during the off season.
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For getting around an island you can take a taxi or rent a car, and there’s usually a bus system. The buses usually cover all main and several minor destinations as the locals take the buses, too. Depending on which island you are visiting, the buses may run on a when-the-bus-is-full schedule rather than a timetable. Many of the islands also have rental mopeds, motorcycles, and bicycles that you can use for sightseeing and getting around.
There are also small island airlines for cheap flights around the Caribbean as well as the larger commercial carriers for inter-island flights.
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- Puerto Rico and Barbados are the region's major tourism gateways where most cheap flights to the Caribbean land.
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines consists of St. Vincent (344sq km) and 31 Grenadines, which account for the nation's other 45sq km. You can fly to some of the islands, such as Mustique (a favourite of British royals, and Bryan Adams, Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger jet in to hang out), Bequia, Union and Canouan. Other islands, such as Palm Island and Petit St. Vincent, are only accessible by sea. On Mustique, the killer beaches are Macaroni Beach, Endeavour, Pasture Bay and Simplicity.
- The Tobago Cays, made up of five deserted islets - Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Barabel, Jamesby and Petit Tabac - are one of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the Caribbean. To get there, catch a catamaran from Union.
- Bonaire is another paradise for divers and snorkellers.
- Grand Cayman is home to the Blue Iguanas. Grand Cayman's largest native land animal are really blue, matching the sea and sky, more than 1.5 metres long and more than 11kg in weight. The Blue Iguana Recovery Program is helping to protect the critically endangered lizard. More than 300 have been reared and released since 2001. The program is centred in the Cayman Island's only national park - the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
- Dominica offers a unique rainforest experience. An aerial tram, or hanging gondolas that hold up to eight people, sail through protected tropical montane rainforest near the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Dominica is noted for hiking.
- St. Kitts also offers a fantastic way of seeing the island. Its scenic railway winds its way around it. The journey takes about three hours.
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The biggest airports, at which cheap flights to the Caribbean land, are as follows:
Antigua and Barbuda
V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU)
Bahamas
(Bahamas) Freeport International Airport (FPO)
(Nassau) Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) (website: www.nas.bs)
Barbados
Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) (website: www.gaiainc.bb)
Cuba
(Havana) Jose Martí International Airport (HAV) (website: www.airportcuba.com)
Dominican Republic
Gregorio Luperón International Airport (Puerto Plata) (POP) (website: www.aerodom.com)
Grenada
Point Salines International Airport (GND) (website: psiagrenada.com)
Jamaica
(Montego Bay) Sangster International Airport (MBJ) (website: www.mbjairport.com)
Norman Manley (Kingston) International Airport (KIN) (website: www.nmia.aero)
Puerto Rico
Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) (website: www.prpa.gobierno.pr)
St Lucia
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) (website: www.slaspa.com)
Trinidad and Tobago
Crown Point International Airport (TAB) (website: www.tntairports.com)
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