Planning your first Caribbean vacation? Here's the essential checklist:
6-9 months before:
- Choose island(s) based on interests (beaches, diving, culture, food)
- Book flights — peak season Dec-Apr sells out 6-9 months ahead
- Reserve hotel/resort — popular spots (Anguilla luxury, Mustique villas) need 9-12 months
- Apply for/renew passport (must be valid 6 months past return date)
- Check visa requirements (most Caribbean nations visa-free for EU/US/UK 30-90 days)
3-6 months before:
- Travel insurance with hurricane coverage (essential June-November)
- Vaccinations (no mandatory, but Hep A/B + tetanus update recommended)
- Book major excursions in advance — sunset cruises, diving certifications, dinner reservations at top tables (Anguilla, St. Barths, Cayman)
- Domestic flights between islands (LIAT, Caribbean Airlines, InterCaribbean) — fewer routes than expected
1 month before:
- Print copies of passport, insurance, hotel confirmations
- Notify bank/credit card of Caribbean travel (avoid card blocks)
- Order USD cash or check ATM access on destination
- Set up roaming plan or research local SIM cards
- Download offline maps (Google Maps Caribbean often unreliable)
Packing essentials:
- Reef-safe sunscreen (Hawaii/Mexico ban toxic sunscreens — applies in spirit Caribbean too)
- Insect repellent (DEET 30%+)
- Antihistamines (sandflies/jellyfish stings)
- Plug adapter (mixed 110V US plugs and 220V UK plugs)
- Quick-dry beach towel + microfiber towel
- Snorkel gear (cheaper than renting)
- Reef shoes (rocky shores)
- Light long-sleeve for evenings/AC restaurants
- Modest cover-up (cathedrals + town centers)
- Refillable water bottle (tap water safe on most islands)
- First-aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic, antidiarrheal)
- Underwater phone case
- Caribbean Spanish/French phrasebook depending on destination
Money & payments:
- USD widely accepted — no need to exchange most islands
- Local currencies (XCD, JMD, DOP, CUP, AWG, ANG, KYD, BSD) — get small notes for taxis, markets
- Cuba: bring USD cash, no US-issued credit cards accepted
- ATMs widespread except smaller islands (Saba, Barbuda, Carriacou — bring cash)
- Tipping: 10-15% restaurants (check service charge), $1-2/bag porters, $5-10/day housekeeping, 15% tour guides
Safety:
- Avoid isolated beaches at night
- Use hotel safe for passport + extra cash
- Stick to licensed taxis
- Be aware of riptides (lifeguards rare)
- Respect "no swimming" beach signs (sharks/jellyfish)
- Hurricane season Jun-Nov — monitor NOAA
Health:
- Tap water safe on Cayman/Bahamas/USVI/PR/French islands — bottled elsewhere
- Mosquito repellent dengue/chikungunya/zika risk in some islands
- Sun protection — equatorial sun 2x stronger than Europe
- Hydrate 3L water/day
- Avoid raw shellfish from street vendors
Cultural sensitivity:
- Greet shopkeepers — "Good morning/afternoon" expected
- Modest dress in churches + town squares
- Don't photograph locals without permission
- Tipping is appreciated, not always expected
- Slow pace — Caribbean time is different
- Local Patois/Creole — learn a few words shows respect
- Bargaining OK at markets, not at fixed-price shops
What NOT to bring:
- Camo clothing (illegal Cuba, restricted others)
- Drone (most resorts forbid, some islands require permit)
- Coral or shells (illegal to take from beaches in marine parks)
- Sea snails/queen conch (regulated species)
Top first-timer recommendations:
1. Aruba — easy, English, hurricane-free, beach 2. Bahamas (Nassau + Paradise) — quick flight US, kid-friendly 3. Saint Lucia — Pitons, romance, all-inclusive options 4. Punta Cana DR — best value all-inclusive 5. USVI (St. Thomas) — no passport needed for Americans 6. Cayman Grand — luxe beach, calm water, English