Caribbean During OUR Summer - Is It THAT Bad...?

[NicoG]

Hello All.

I have found myself needing to get away urgently. Went to the Caribbean in January a couple of years ago and really want to go back.

Obviously it's wetter from June onwards and then there's the hurricanes.
I've heard that, yes it rains more, but it isn't persistant (lasting all day) but when it not raining it's still nice and warm / sunny

My question is, can those that have actually been there in July or August comment on what it was like?

I am happy to accept a couple of showers in a day if the rest of the time it's sunny and 85 degrees !!

Many thanks in advance

Nick.

[Simon Brooks]

Have done several islands around the Caribbean mostly in the summer holidays, cant say we ever suffered because of the rain and when it did come it was reasonably quick heavy downpours. For us the rain actually provided a little bit respite as it will be bl**dy hot and humid, so the rain tends to freshen everything up a bit. Dont panic the bars will stay open. The only thing the hotels will do is clear the pools if the rain is coupled with thunder/lightening.

How about a cruise, they tend to reroute if a bad weather front rolls into a particular area.

Have fun

[NicoG]

Simon Brooks said:

Have done several islands around the Caribbean mostly in the summer holidays, cant say we ever suffered because of the rain and when it did come it was reasonably quick heavy downpours. For us the rain actually provided a little bit respite as it will be bl**dy hot and humid, so the rain tends to freshen everything up a bit. Dont panic the bars will stay open. The only thing the hotels will do is clear the pools if the rain is coupled with thunder/lightening.

How about a cruise, they tend to reroute if a bad weather front rolls into a particular area.

Have fun

Thanks for that - it was a cruise last time and whilst I really enjoyed it, the one thing which I found frustrating was the fact that I never got to spend an evening in any of those wonderful places! I went to an amazing beach in Costa Rica and was eating lobster and drinking Corona in the sunshine! wanted to stay there all evening but obviously couldnt unless I was happy to make my own way to Panama!

I understand about the rain freshening things up, I've also heard about the humidity....

The reason I'm asking is that the British Airways site has some very attractive/tempting offers on at present!

Cheers - Nick

[Fezant Pluckah]

If you head to the very Southern Caribbean you're far less likely to be affected - The Dutch Antilles, Trinidad, Tobago, places like that. Not saying you won't, just saying less likely!

[M400 NBL]

NicoG said:

The reason I'm asking is that the British Airways site has some very attractive/tempting offers on at present!

Cheers - Nick

Thanks, I'll have a butchers myself since EXEL no longer exist.

My family are from Nevis and the ones that are retired spend many months of the year there... and the storms are pretty rare.

I was last there in September of 2007 and it was TOO sunny every day.

If the prices are good and I can get the time off work, i'll be going and not worrying about the odd (welcomed) bit of rain.

Enjoy your holiday wherever you go.

[NicoG]

Fezant Pluckah said:

If you head to the very Southern Caribbean you're far less likely to be affected - The Dutch Antilles, Trinidad, Tobago, places like that. Not saying you won't, just saying less likely!

Thanks! I was thinking about St Lucia or Grenada, but also Curacao. Only problem is that I think you have to fly with Air Frsnce from Paris to get there 'direct'

[NicoG]

M400 NBL said:

NicoG said:

The reason I'm asking is that the British Airways site has some very attractive/tempting offers on at present!

Cheers - Nick

Thanks, I'll have a butchers myself since EXEL no longer exist.

My family are from Nevis and the ones that are retired spend many months of the year there... and the storms are pretty rare.

I was last there in September of 2007 and it was TOO sunny every day.

If the prices are good and I can get the time off work, i'll be going and not worrying about the odd (welcomed) bit of rain.

Enjoy your holiday wherever you go.

Cheers - St Kitts is one of the places on offer, so might be well worth you looking. Flights are all direct from LHR or LGW....

Overall it looks as though my perception of the weather was about right; short sharp down-poors in the morning and mainly ok other than that, unless you get the edge of a storm, the rain is not prolonged...

[Fezant Pluckah]

NicoG said:

Fezant Pluckah said:

If you head to the very Southern Caribbean you're far less likely to be affected - The Dutch Antilles, Trinidad, Tobago, places like that. Not saying you won't, just saying less likely!

Thanks! I was thinking about St Lucia or Grenada, but also Curacao. Only problem is that I think you have to fly with Air Frsnce from Paris to get there 'direct'

Grenada I suspect you can get to on BA to Barbados and then on with Liat or similar.

[NicoG]

Fezant Pluckah said:

NicoG said:

Fezant Pluckah said:

If you head to the very Southern Caribbean you're far less likely to be affected - The Dutch Antilles, Trinidad, Tobago, places like that. Not saying you won't, just saying less likely!

Thanks! I was thinking about St Lucia or Grenada, but also Curacao. Only problem is that I think you have to fly with Air Frsnce from Paris to get there 'direct'

Grenada I suspect you can get to on BA to Barbados and then on with Liat or similar.

BA fly direct to Grenada! and... ST Kitts, Barbados, St Lucia, Jamaica, Tobago, Antigua and some more I've forgotten!

[Fezant Pluckah]

NicoG said:

Fezant Pluckah said:

NicoG said:

Fezant Pluckah said:

If you head to the very Southern Caribbean you're far less likely to be affected - The Dutch Antilles, Trinidad, Tobago, places like that. Not saying you won't, just saying less likely!

Thanks! I was thinking about St Lucia or Grenada, but also Curacao. Only problem is that I think you have to fly with Air Frsnce from Paris to get there 'direct'

Grenada I suspect you can get to on BA to Barbados and then on with Liat or similar.

BA fly direct to Grenada! and... ST Kitts, Barbados, St Lucia, Jamaica, Tobago, Antigua and some more I've forgotten!

Well, if your'e looking for a little more peace and quiet I'd go for Grenada or Tobago. I'd also seriously consider St Vincent & the Grenadines too. Very nice indeedy...

[maturin23]

I've spent a couple of summers in the Virgin Islands.

Hot and sweaty with downpours is pretty much the order of every day.
The trade winds do help if you're up in the Windward Islands - nice cooling breeze. It's certainly better in the Caribbean than in Florida for that reason alone.

I would add a note of caution - this year's Atlantic Hurricane season is forecast to be a severe one. Sea temperatures are at an all time high and we've had a couple of close calls with some hefty tropical waves getting close to becoming named storms already this year, it's already shaping up.

[Bonefish Blues]

www.weather2travel.com helpful - there's a book of same name by Maria Harding which is also worth having.