Travel to the Caribbean: beaches, reggae and rum

Kingston, Bob Marley's birthplace, and Negril, famous for its sunsets over Seven Mile Beach, form the island's two faces. The country remains one of the region's most affordable outside all-inclusive resorts, with a daily budget of 40 to 60 euros for independent travel. Reggae and dancehall music fill every street corner, from local sound systems to the clubs of Montego Bay. Dry season from December to April remains the busiest and most expensive time of year.

Punta Cana holds most of the all-inclusive resort offering, while Santo Domingo, the oldest colonial city in the New World, offers a historical dimension often overlooked by travelers coming purely for the beach. The Samaná peninsula draws visitors for humpback whale watching between January and March, a rare experience along this coastline. The country generally remains budget-friendly, especially outside the most touristy areas of the east coast.

Havana, with its 1950s American cars and decrepit but photogenic colonial architecture, offers a unique atmosphere on the American continent. The US embargo complicates certain card payments, requiring travel with enough cash in euros or Canadian dollars to exchange locally on arrival. Trinidad and Viñales, further south and west, round out a classic 10 to 14-day circuit across the whole island.

Guadeloupe and Martinique, French overseas departments, offer simplified access for travelers coming from France, with no visa formality or currency exchange required. Saint Lucia and Barbados, English-speaking, round out a region where each island keeps its own cultural identity despite immediate geographic proximity to one another. Dry season from December to May remains the most favorable across the whole Antillean arc.

Hurricane season officially runs from June to November, with peak risk between August and October according to the region's long-term meteorological records. Many travel insurance policies exclude cancellations linked to predictable hurricanes, requiring a check of coverage terms before booking a stay during this period. December to April remains the safest and most recommended window to visit the Caribbean overall, weather-wise.