Introduction - Romantic Escapes in the Caribbean: Lovetripper Guide - page 13

and early fall months, for two reasons. First, these are the
warmest months in the Northeast US, the area of the country
that often flees to the sunny Caribbean during the chilly winter
months, so demand is down. Second, this is hurricane season.
Climate
Mention the Caribbean and weather in the same sentence, and
one concern quickly arises: hurricanes. These deadly storms
are a threat officially from June through November, although
the greatest danger is during the later months, basically Au-
gust through October. (September is the worst.)
Keep in mind, however, that the Caribbean is a large region.
We've been in the Western Caribbean when storms were pick-
ing up force in the eastern reaches and never felt a gust of wind
or saw a wave over ankle high.
To minimize the chances of a hurricane ruining or postponing
your trip, plan a vacation outside the hurricane season or out-
side the hurricane zone. In the far southern reaches, the islands
of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (also known as the ABC is-
lands) and Trinidad and Tobago are below the hurricane zone
and are safer bets during the summer and fall months.
Except for the hurricane season, weather in the Caribbean is a
wonderfully monotonous topic. (In Papiamento, the language of
the Dutch islands, there is no word for weather. It's almost al-
ways perfect, so why waste a word?)
In the summer, days peak in the low 90s, with lows in the 70s.
In the winter, temperatures run about 5 to 10 degrees cooler.
The sea remains warm enough for comfortable swimming year-
round. (Note: The Bahamas are technically not part of the Ca-
ribbean, and you'll find the temperatures here are slightly
cooler.)
If budget is not your prime consideration, then when's the best
time to go to the Caribbean? Any time!
Festivals
Whatever time you visit the Caribbean, chances are good that
an island festival of some sort will be in progress, offering you