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The crisis in the Middle East has led to a surge of interest in holidays to the safe and sunny Caribbean.
‘Enquiries are up 20 per cent,’ reports James Bell, managing director of regional specialist Turquoise Holidays, whose advice is to ‘book soon as prices are rising rapidly due to fuel surcharging and demand’.
While some travellers assume these balmy islands are purely a winter escape, as a frequent visitor over several decades I’ve found summer an excellent time to visit. Package prices are generally a third less than in the peak season from mid-December to April and, while the weather will be hotter, attractions are less crowded and you can get a table at the best restaurants. Then there’s the bonus that many favourite destinations including Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia hold their carnivals in July and August.
Here’s our pick of the deals for 15 Caribbean destinations between June and September for as little as £977pp for seven nights including return flights.
In Rodney Bay, the Landings Resort And Spa has family-friendly beachside villa suites that include a living room, kitchen and washing machine
Family fun in St Lucia
In Rodney Bay, the Landings Resort And Spa has family-friendly beachside villa suites that include a living room, kitchen and washing machine. There’s a kids club for ages four to 12 and you’re within walking distance of the Pigeon Island nature reserve and the vibrant Friday night Fish Fry at Gros Islet.
Deal: Save £2,080 per family.
Book it: Seven nights from £8,295 for two adults and two children under 12 including British Airways flights from Gatwick on July 28 with transfers and breakfast. Book by April 28 (turquoiseholidays.co.uk).
Summer carnival celebrations are centred on Antigua’s capital, St John’s. You can book an official tourist board-backed package tailored to UK visitors
Get dancing in Antigua
Ringed with beaches and well stocked with all-inclusive resorts, Antigua is a deservedly popular island that comes alive during its summer carnival (July 25 to August 4). Celebrations are centred on the capital, St John’s, and a smart way to join in the fun is to book an official tourist board-backed package tailored to UK visitors (visitantiguabarbuda.com).
Deal: Accommodation at the Royalton Antigua beach resort in Deep Bay is included along with a free shuttle and access to select carnival events.
Book it: 12 nights from £2,420pp all-inclusive including British Airways flights from Gatwick on July 25 and transfers (sntravel.co.uk).
Sunset-catching Negril is an ideal place to tune in to the rhythms of Jamaica, at the western end of the super-scenic island
Jamaican beach joy
Set at the western end of this super-scenic island, sunset-catching Negril is an ideal place to tune in to the rhythms of Jamaica. Almost all its hotels have re-opened since Hurricane Melissa struck last October and you can bag an affordable break at the three-star Samsara Cliff Resort which has 51 rooms, two pools and a spa.
Deal: Save £494pp.
Book it: Seven nights from £977pp all-inclusive including Tui Airways flights from Gatwick to Montego Bay on May 11. Checked luggage and transfers extra (firstchoice.co.uk).
The three-star Butterfly Beach Hotel in Christ Church has a lively atmosphere, which boasts two pools and a big screen to watch the World Cup on
Party in Barbados
If you’re looking for nightlife and a lively atmosphere, check into the three-star Butterfly Beach Hotel in Christ Church, which comes with two pools and a big screen for sports – handy if you want to catch some of this summer’s FIFA World Cup. From here you can walk to the karaoke bars and restaurants of St Lawrence Gap and have some Bajan-style fun at the music-filled Friday night Fish Fry in Oistins.
Deal: 15 per cent off.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,099pp room-only including British Airways flights from Heathrow on September 17. Transfers extra. Book by April 11 (britishairways.com/barbados).
Golfers can tackle the recently reopened Teeth Of The Dog Golf Course at the Casa De Campo resort in the Dominican Republic
Chill in a Dom Rep villa
There’s plenty to do at the enormous Casa De Campo resort on the east coast of exuberant nation of the Dominican Republic, including an equestrian centre, 13 tennis courts, a swanky spa and even a shooting range.
Golfers can tackle the recently reopened Teeth Of The Dog Golf Course, which is among the best in the Caribbean, while activities include a soccer school, merengue dance classes and visits to the on-site archaeological museum. Gather up some family and friends and rent a villa with a pool and a golf buggy for getting around.
Deal: 40 per cent off.
Book it: Seven nights in a three-bedroom villa from £3,630pp based on four sharing, including Tui Airways flights from Gatwick to Punta Cana on September 5, transfers and breakfast (casadecampopackages.co.uk).
Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel in Grenada has three restaurants with culinary tours available to explore the country’s bountiful markets, rum distilleries and chocolate makers
Gourmet Grenada
Family-run with six new suites opening in May, beachside Calabash is a good pick if you want to savour the cuisine of this friendly Spice Isle.
The boutique hotel is a member of Relais & Chateaux (one of only ten in the Caribbean) and has three restaurants with culinary tours available to explore Grenada’s bountiful markets, rum distilleries and chocolate makers.
Deal: Complimentary upgrade to half-board.
Book it: Seven nights from £3,040pp half-board including British Airways flights from Gatwick on July 4 and transfers (tropicbreeze.co.uk).
St Kitts is home to the colossal, World Heritage-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress, which dates from the 17th century. Pictured: A military post on the hill
Discover St Kitts
History lovers will enjoy exploring this green and hilly island which is home to the colossal, World Heritage-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress, which dates from the 17th century and also has a delightful scenic railway that trundles through sugar cane fields for 30 miles.
The centrally located Timothy Beach Resort is a convenient base and close to a strip of beach bars and the Royal St Kitts Golf Club. Expect the island to be lively during the St Kitts Music Festival (June 25 to 27) which is followed by the St Kitts-Nevis Restaurant Month (July 1 to 31) with culinary showcases.
Deal: Seven nights for the price of six.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,275pp room only including British Airways flights from Gatwick on July 7 and transfers (juststkittsnevis.co.uk).
The four-star, Swedish-owned Bequia Beach Hotel on Friendship Bay has a secluded beach, pools, complimentary yoga and a new catamaran offering day cruises
Bequia bliss
This tiny island in St Vincent and the Grenadines has long been a favourite getaway for the Caribbean cognoscenti thanks to its laidback and authentic, uncommercialised atmosphere. Stay at the four-star, Swedish-owned Bequia Beach Hotel on Friendship Bay which has a secluded beach, complimentary yoga and a new catamaran offering day cruises to nearby Mustique and the turtle-rich Tobago Cays.
Deal: 35 per cent off.
Book it: Seven nights from £2,495pp including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow to Barbados on July 2, inter-island flights, transfers and breakfast (justbequia.co.uk).
Tortola is the largest and liveliest of the British Virgin Islands and the best base if you want to explore this laidback and moneyed British Overseas Territory
Kick back in the BVIs
Topsy-turvy Tortola is the largest and liveliest of the British Virgin Islands and the best base if you want to explore this laidback and moneyed British Overseas Territory. Nearly all the islands are just a 25-minute boat ride away. In Little Apple Bay, Sebastian’s on the Beach is a sociable, 35-room boutique hotel serving fresh fish and punchy cocktails. Hire a jeep then go hiking, snorkelling and partying in the capital, Road Town.
Deal: Seven nights for the price of six.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,946pp including British Airways flights from Gatwick to Antigua on June 16, inter-island flights, transfers and breakfast (bviholidays.com).
The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park has vivid flora and acts as a sanctuary for Grand Cayman’s native blue iguanas
Cayman Island escape
Grand Cayman is best known for its superlative Seven Mile Beach lined with high-end resorts popular with big-spending Americans – but if you prefer a quieter and more Caribbean vibe head to the east end of the island. Here The Reef Beach Resort has 152 rooms, some with kitchen facilities, plus three pools and a spa. Find time to visit the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, which is a 15-minute drive away with vivid flora and a sanctuary for the island’s native blue iguanas.
Deal: Save up to £600pp.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,699pp room only including British Airways flights from Heathrow on September 19. Transfers extra. Book by May 31 (tropicalsky.co.uk).
Nevis is crowned by a spectacular, 3,232ft-high volcano cloaked in lush rainforest. The island is a short water taxi ride from St Kitts
Nirvana on Nevis
Cares seem to fall away the minute you take the short water taxi ride across from St Kitts to Nevis. The island is crowned by a spectacular, 3,232ft-high volcano cloaked in lush rainforest and the mood is gentle and unhurried.
If you like mango, summer is a perfect time to visit as there is a festival devoted to this delicious fruit (July 2 to 5). Up in the hills, but with a companion beach club, Montpelier Nevis is an elegant boutique hotel that opened 60 years ago and has just 20 rooms set in glorious tropical gardens.
Deal: Save up to £245pp per week with the hotel’s Live Like A Local summer rate.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,995pp including British Airways flights from Gatwick to St Kitts on July 14, transfers and breakfast (juststkittsnevis.co.uk).
Willemstad embankment on Curacao, a 38 mile-long Dutch island which lies outside the hurricane belt and has plentiful beaches
Curious about Curacao?
There’s plenty to discover on this 38 mile-long Dutch island which lies outside the hurricane belt and has plentiful beaches, excellent snorkelling and a picturesque World Heritage-listed capital, Willemstad. On the west coast the Coral Estate Luxury Resort includes a dive school and spa and you’ll want to hire a car, or book an excursion, to see the rugged, desert scenery of Christoffel National Park which has walking trails and self-drive routes.
Deal: Save £162pp.
Book it: Seven nights from £1,862pp room only including KLM flights from Heathrow via Amsterdam on August 31 with transfers (tui.co.uk).
Enjoy the sumptuous Caribbean Dutch food in Aruba. Guests at the Divi Aruba resort can also use the facilities of the sister Tamarijn resort – creating a combined choice of 12 places to eat
Take the kids to Aruba
With modern rooms, a kids club and plenty to do from watersports to a rock-climbing wall, the beachfront Divi Aruba resort is well-placed for a family break to this welcoming Dutch island. Guests can also use the facilities of the sister Tamarijn resort – creating a combined choice of 12 places to eat. It’s worth doing a round-island tour to see the wild landscape of the Arikok National Park then swim at the child-friendly Baby Beach.
Deal: 15 per cent off.
Book it: Seven nights from £11,899 all-inclusive for two adults and two children under 12, including KLM flights from Heathrow via Amsterdam on August 11 with transfers. Book by April 30 (kuoni.co.uk).
Sandals Royal Bahamian resort in Nassau boasts its own private offshore island
Adults-only Bahamas
For a one-stop sunshine holiday with everything on tap – from Blue Mountain coffee to Californian wines – look no further than the all-inclusive, adults-only Sandals Royal Bahamian resort in Nassau. The property boasts its own private offshore island and there are ten restaurants offering cuisines from Caribbean and Italian to Japanese. There’s also seven pools, watersports, tennis and diving.
Deal: Up to 55 per cent off.
Book it: Seven nights from £2,479pp all-inclusive including British Airways flights from Heathrow on September 16. Transfers extra. Book by June 30 (tropicalsky.co.uk).
The tooth-like twin peaks of the Pitons on St Lucia are one of the iconic sights of the Caribbean
Scenic St Lucia
The tooth-like twin peaks of the Pitons are one of the iconic sights of the Caribbean and you can get a ringside view from the Anse Chastanet resort in Soufriere. Active travellers will appreciate its marine reserve with superb diving and the 12 miles of biking trails. There are also complimentary art classes, a spa and restaurants.
Deal: Save up to £365pp.
Book it: Seven nights from £2,798pp all-inclusive including British Airways flights from Gatwick on August 3 with transfers (kenwoodtravel.co.uk).
What’s new on the islands for 2026 Tobago is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the World Heritage-listed Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the island’s green spine which has trails and a rich birdlife (visittobago.gov.tt).Enjoy a meal in Barbados cooked at a local home on a new ‘Dine with a Bajan’ experience, from £73pp (dinewithabajan.com). Stretch your legs during Dominica Hike Fest (May 2 to 30) which has guided walks to the island’s lakes and waterfalls (discoverdominica.com). BVI Wreck Week (June 21 to 27) is a celebration of the many dive sites in the British Virgin Islands (bviwreckweek.com). St Lucia’s Carnival (July 1 to 22) is a major celebration featuring street parades, beauty pageants and the sounds of calypso and soca (stlucia.org).In the Bahamas, the islands-wide Goombay Summer Festival hits the streets every Thursday in July and showcases local culture with traditional dancing, arts events and Bahamian cuisine (bahamas.com). Virgin Atlantic is increasing its services to Jamaica this summer with flights from Heathrow to Montego Bay set to run daily from June 1 to October 24 (virginatlantic.com). Spice Island Grenada is hosting the 13th edition of its annual chocolate festival from May 22 to 27. Expect bonbon making, foodie tours and tastings (puregrenada.com). Your essential Caribbean reads
WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys
Set between Jamaica and Dominica, Jean Rhys imagines life for Jane Eyre’s ‘mad woman in the attic’ in the years before Charlotte Bronte’s novel begins. Expect tortured romance, voodoo magic and lush landscapes.
THE MERMAID OF BLACK CONCH by Monique Roffey
Roffey’s novel sees mermaid Aycayia and fisherman David fall in love to the backdrop of 1970s Caribbean village life. Magical realism is undercut with the brutality of modern society in this twisted fairy tale.
THE TRAVELLER’S TREE by Patrick Leigh Fermor
In his personal odyssey, the British adventurer recounts his voyage through the West Indies by steamer, plane and sailing ship, soundtracked by the calypsos he learnt on the way.
BEYOND A BOUNDARY by C L R James
This captivating meditation on the relationship between cricket and society by the Trinidadian writer has been widely recognised as one of the most influential books ever written on the sport.
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