Cut-price Caribbean

By Jo Tweedy, TravelMail

Last updated at 16:38 04 July 2003


Christmas in the Caribbean sounds fabulous - a real snub to the be-cloaked folks back home in freezing Europe.

But the West Indies in August? When our closest countries have shrugged off the cold and are at their most sublime? Surely not.

The rumour of rain is usually enough to put most UK travellers off. But although the heavens that hover above the Caribbean do open more regularly during our summer months, you're still unlikely to experience the blanket monsoon most people expect. Such popular misconceptions continue to save the wily traveller hundreds of pounds every year and you could argue that August is in fact the best time to visit this divine string of islands.

The acres of golden sand are less populated and the five-star hotels have snipped their prices down to compensate. The temperature drifts between 20° and 31° whatever time you go.

Children are also welcomed with open arms in the normally hesitant five-star resorts, the snooty air of exclusivity gets blown away on the breeze and your Dollar goes the extra mile against the Euro.

The Caribbean's rainy season generally lasts from May until November and downpours are usually brief but intense. Hurricanes are unlikely but do happen: Hurricane Luis was the last big wind to tear into the north west islands back in 1995.

Meteorologists agree that more than 80% of all tropical storms occur during mid-September leaving August generally basking in sunshine.

'During hurricane season the weather can be a bit hit and miss' says Jason King at the Bahamas tourist office in London, 'but the most you're likely to get is a storm, which is usually a day of rain.

'August tends to be a good month for weather. I'm from the Bahamas and I would choose August to visit - the crowds have gone, the weather is fantastic and there are better packages because occupancy levels are low.'

Sun-seekers erring on the side of caution should head for the islands that definitely have more rain in winter than in summer - namely Bonaire, Turks and Caicos, Aruba, Curaçao and the Dutch Antilles. The flatter islands are also a safer bet: Barbados, Antigua, Anguilla and Turks and Caicos.

It pays to look around too. As an example, Hayes and Jarvis have seven-night breaks to Barbados departing on the 16, 25 and 30 August for £665 offering a saving of £54 per person.

Accommodation is room-only in the three-star Coconut Court beach resort and prices include flights and transfers. An almost identical deal with Travelbag will set you back £999.

Below we round up the best of the current Caribbean deals, comparing them with their winter equivalents:

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