Known for its jewel blue seas and spectacular sandy beaches, the Caribbean is a group of paradisiacal islands in the Caribbean Sea. With different sovereignties and independent nations, the area features an eclectic blend of cultures, languages, religions, traditions, and more.

While the Caribbean may be known for incredible beaches, that’s not all there is to this beautiful part of the world. In fact, you’ll find the marks of a rich history across all the islands, such as castles, holdfasts, and other defenses which indicate the fighting of European sovereign nations who fought to win the islands hundreds of years ago. You’ll also be able to see the marks of native people living on the islands long before the Europeans invaded.

When you visit the Caribbean, make sure to leave your resort and immerse yourself in the rich culture and beauty of the islands. You can get far more out of your visit than you may have thought if you only explore.

5 Things You Need to Know About the Caribbean

Whether you are planning on visiting the Bahamas or Trinidad and Tobago (or anywhere in between for that matter), there are a few things you should know before you arrive:

Time Difference: GMT -4 to GMT -5 hours
Currency: This depends on the island. Some use the East Caribbean dollar ($) while others use the United States dollar ($). The Euro (€) is used by the islands under French sovereignty, and many islands have their own currency.
Native Language: As there are different nations within the Caribbean, there are a number of languages spoken. Spanish is common among a number of the islands, as well as different types of Creole and English as well as many others.
Weather: This tropical climate offers plenty of variety with rainforest, monsoon and savanna climates. However, one thing you can be fairly certain of is the heat, with temperatures sitting around the high 20s and low 30s throughout the year.
Sales Tax: Again, this differs from island to island, but you can expect to pay anywhere between 5.5% and 17.5% for sales tax or VAT.

Flying to the Carribean from the UK

Make sure you’re prepared for your trip and get to know everything you need to know about your journey, including flight times, entry requirements and the different airlines that serve the islands.

Flight Times

Your flight time will depend on where you are flying from and which island you are flying to. However, if you fly from London, you can expect anywhere between 11 and 13 hours in the air.

Entry Requirements

Requirements and regulations vary from island to island so make sure to double-check the specifics of what you’ll need before you fly. However, EU citizens don’t need visas for visits of up to 90 days. Of course, there may be new rules once the UK has left the European Union, so it is best to check if you need a visa before you travel. Use the government website to check for the relevant country.

Airlines that Fly to the Caribbean

There are plenty of airlines which fly from the UK to the Caribbean. These include:

- Air Canada
- American Airlines
- Australian Airlines
- British Airways
- Delta Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic

Popular Routes

Most flights to the Caribbean include at least one stop, many of which are made on the east coast of the USA, for example, JFK airport in New York.

10 Must-Do Things in the Caribbean

There is no end of things to do across the islands, but there is more to the Caribbean than just beaches. Here are just 10 of our favourite things to do when visiting the islands:

- Dunns River Falls - Jamaica
- Waitukubuli National Trail - Dominica
- Pig Beach - Bahamas
- Gros Piton - St Lucia
- Whale watching - Dominican Republic
- The Baths - Virgin Gorda
- Stingray City - Cayman Islands
- Old San Juan - Puerto Rico
- Carlisle Bay - Barbados
- Pigeon Point - Tobago

Book Cheap Flights to the the Caribbean

No matter where you’re planning on visiting in the Caribbean, you can find cheap flights when you book with Globehunters. Simply enter where you want to fly from and to as well as your dates in our search tool and we’ll find the best deals for you. If you need any assistance to find the best prices on your flights, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our travel experts who will be happy to help.