Visit Caribbean Travel

Warm, white beaches; warm, clear waters in a dozen shades of turquoise; and a balmy breeze all characterize the paradise that is the Turks and Caicos Islands. With direct flights from many U.S. cities, this Caribbean gem promises the vacation of a lifetime.

If you’re planning Turks and Caicos travel in the coming months, be sure to take advantage of these insider’s tips, traveling guidelines, and other essential information as you plan to visit Heaven-on-Earth.

Airports and Airlines

The Turks and Caicos Islands offer three airports with international service on Grand Turk, Providenciales, and South Caicos. Providenciales International Airport is the most popular, receiving the majority of international flights and visitors.

You have a number of airline options, including American Airlines, Bahamas Air, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Spirit Air, and US Airways. All operate flights into and out of the islands. To travel to other Caribbean destinations from Turks and Caicos, however, you must first lay over in Florida-most often, Miami.

Customs and Immigration

The islands require all U.S. visitors to bring a valid passport. If you’re from Canada, an original or notarized copy of your birth certificate and a photo I.D are sufficient to gain entry. You visit may extend your visit to 30 days with a one-time-only renewal. All visitors to the island must present evidence of a round-trip ticket.

Most visitors, including those from the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, don’t need a visa, but some other international visitors are required to obtain visas. Be sure to double-check your country’s requirements and to give yourself plenty of time to obtain any mandatory documentation.

For more specific questions on immigration and visiting guidelines, you may contact the Turks and Caicos Immigration Department directly by phone at (649) 946-4233 or by fax at (649) 941-5696.

Customs in Turks and Caicos permits typical tourist items, such as cameras, sports equipment like fishing rods, golf clubs, and tennis rackets, and even certain types of food. Pornography and controlled drugs are illegal, and visitors may only bring firearms with the written consent of the Commissioner of Police.

Accommodations

All the resorts and hotels on the islands will welcome you with arms wide open, and some will charge you an arm and a leg for their world-class amenities and services. The islands offer a wide spectrum of accommodations for every taste and budget.

One excellent resource for researching different hotels and resorts is TripAdvisor. Guests leave feedback about their experiences and give the properties a star rating. TripAdvisor also offers ratings for Bed-and-Breakfasts.

Climate

The average year-round temperature in Turks and Caicos is 77 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The islands’ average annual rainfall amounts to only 21″.

With a mostly sunny climate, be sure to bring extra sunscreen, a hat, and a long-sleeved shirt or two for additional sunblock.

Pack mostly leisure clothing. The islands’ dress code is decidedly casual, though a few of the nicer restaurants do require close-toed shoes and a collared shirt. Foodies should bring a decent set of clothes, just in case. Bathing suits worn away from the beach or pool are generally frowned upon.

Money

The official currency of the islands is the U.S. Dollar, and the islands impose no restrictions on the amount of money brought to the island.

Traveler’s checks are accepted on the island, though some businesses may charge a 5% transaction fee for traveler’s checks.

Credit Cards are generally accepted

In tourist hot spots such as Providenciales and Grand Turk, you’ll have no problem using your credit card. Remember to alert your credit card company about international transaction to avoid having your card “frozen,” and if you plan on visiting some of the less travelled islands, keep a stash of cash.

At restaurants, a 15% tip is customary, the same as in the U.S. Don’t be surprised, however, if some restaurants include a 10% service charge in the bill. Tipping personal services and taxis is also a generally accepted practice.

Pets

All pets brought to island require a certification of rabies vaccination. Be prepared for a public health inspector to examine your pet upon arrival. Double-check with your hotel to ensure that it-and its staff-welcomes pets.

Although planning an international trip always presents a few challenges, the 12 miles of Grace Bay Beach offer ample reward for Turks and Caicos travel. The hardest part will be leaving.

Are you in a hunt for a paradise-like place to spend your holiday? If you are, then you must seriously consider a travel to Caribbean. This is one place where the description of a paradise fits perfectly.

With more than 35 exceptional destinations, the Caribbean provides a wide variety of tropical isles for all kinds of vacationers. Beach lovers will surely be pleased with the white sand beaches around the Caribbean islands. And for people who love a little bit more of adventure in the water like riding the waves through surfing, the beaches at the east part of the Caribbean is the best spot as it is close to the Atlantic.

Snorkelers, on the other hand, should stick to the spot where the waters are calm and these are in the beaches in front of the Caribbean Sea. Apart from these, other ways to have fun in the waters of these magnificent islands are windsurfing, scuba diving, surfing, swimming alongside the tamed dolphins, and sailing.

When it comes to land activities, the big towns in the Caribbean offer excellent shopping experience while you can see enjoy nature by visiting the rain forest that is full of blossoming flora, plants, and various types of birds.

Additionally, horse stables and golf courses are also in abundance. Their availability expands the number of activities to do while on the island, even more.

There are also a few secluded islands that are perfect for romantic getaways, honeymoons, weddings, proposals, anniversaries, and other intimate occasions or even private family gatherings. Over-all, when in the Caribbean, there are over 50 islands to choose from, ranging from tiny ones to the big lands.

At any rate, while most islands are popular for their shorelines and resorts, there are also islands that do not have beaches to go to at all. Then again, even with the lack of coastlines, these types of islands still worth to be considered because they also have something to offer to their visitors Besides, there are a whole lot more of things to do and sights to see in the vicinity, it is just a matter of exploring and knowing the right places to go to.

Likewise, by learning something about the islands, you will get an idea of what to expect when you get there. So, now you see that every island in the Caribbean is different, each one has their own special traits and things to offer to their visitors.

Here are other differences that you must know about this amazing region:

• Weather

The weather from one island to the other can differ. This is due to the fact that the winds, mountains, and the geographical position of the land all contribute to the kind of climate that develops on a certain island. As a result, temperatures of the islands are not similar.

• Culture

This is another evident difference of the Caribbean islands. Some islands exude the aura of certain cultures such as the French. If you want a taste of the Parisian life but with a twist of tropical sunshine, the best place to go is the Martinique.

For a Dutch colonial ambiance, go to the British West Indies. A handful of the islands had been home to other nations in the past, and this cultural mix can be very interesting indeed.

To conclude, while it may be not hard to imagine what some a typical Caribbean island is, it may take more effort to choose which island is the best for your vacation. But with a little discernment and knowing their differences, you can have your dream Caribbean escapade.

There are a lot of things one can do to get the most inexpensive tickets and packages when going to Caribbean destinations. One should look for Jamaican vacation packages or Barbados travel specials. Here are some guidelines that may help one get through the stressful process of trying to find the best deals.

Plan your trip to coincide outside of the peak season

The peak season for the Caribbean would be from the middle of December up to the month of May. If you want to save a lot of money both on your accommodations and your plane tickets, then you should go to the Caribbean outside these months. Some discounts can go up to forty percent when one is traveling off peak to any Caribbean country. June and August are the months when prices are lowest. May to December is the middle season months.

Choose an all inclusive resort

The Caribbean countries are a prime vacation area. As such, all inclusive resorts are very common. Staying in such resorts can also help one save money. This is best when you are planning on doing many activities such as tours or water sports. A lot of all inclusive resorts already include these activities in with their accommodation deals.

Go to places that are served by several airlines

There are some Caribbean destinations where single airliners hold a monopoly on air travel. This is because the Caribbean is made up of islands. In some smaller islands, it does not make sense to have more than one airline. However, in areas such as Jamaica, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Nassau in the Bahamas are served by multiple airlines that compete with each other by lowering prices. As a result, Jamaica, Puerto Rican, and Barbados travel specials for example are not hard to find.

The beauty of the Caribbean is legendary. It is no wonder so many people want to travel to places like Jamaica or Barbados. However, a trip to any of these island paradise destinations is very expensive. This is why getting Barbados travel specials and knowing the best tips for a more savings is the most important first step to a Caribbean vacation. Slashing down the expense will not only be financially beneficial, it will also help you enjoy your vacation more instead of worrying about the money you have lost while going to the beach. Getting special vacation packages for example may be one of the best ways to save money since this way, the airfare and hotel expense will have a discount. Of course, this means that those who would rather travel and book their own accommodations and airline tickets are at a disadvantage especially when one is talking about a trip to the Caribbean. Going online would be the first step for anyone looking for Jamaican deals or Barbados packages. However, one will find a ton of package travel offerings online. It is very confusing and overwhelming just to look at all the websites that may or may not be offering good deals but who all claim that they do.