The islanders of the Caribbean know how to party – as demonstrated during last year’s ICC Cricket Word Cup.
From calypso and carnivals to food festivals, fishing competitions and wacky spectator sports such as goat and crab racing, there’s always something going on.
This list will help you find out what’s hot and where it’s at in 2008.
Jan ¦ Feb ¦ Mar ¦ Apr ¦ May ¦ Jun ¦ Jul ¦ Aug ¦ Sep ¦ Oct ¦ Nov ¦ Dec
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JANUARY
What’s on: Barbados Jazz Festival
Where: Various venues in St Philip and St Peter
When: January 14-20
Sell it to: Cool musos who enjoy listening to everything from experimental jazz to chill-out music and classic sounds. The island’s flagship musical event celebrates its15th anniversary in 2008 and the line-up includes smooth jazz pianist Bob James and virtuoso guitarist Lee Ritenour.
How much: Thomson Tailor-made offers seven nights all-inclusive at Bougainvillea Beach Resort from £1,189 per person, including flights and transfers.
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FEBRUARY
What’s on: Dominic Republic Carnival
Where: Island-wide, with main events in Santiago and Santo Domingo
When: Throughout February with the climax on, or near, February 27, Dominican Independence Day
Sell it to: Young party animals. Every weekend there are parades, special events, competitions and music with revellers dancing in the streets.
How much: First Choice has 14 nights all-inclusive at Sunscape Casa del Mar, Bayahibe, from £995 per person with flights and transfers.
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MARCH
What’s on: Buccoo Goat, Donkey and Crab Races
Where:When: March 24 and 25
Sell it to: Fun-loving couples and families looking for something decidedly different. This Easter tradition has been running, quite literally, for 75 years. Whilst victory is key, the winning and losing crabs all share the same fate – the cooking pot!
How much: Owners’ Syndicate offers seven nights self-catering at Yellowbird Villa, Stonehaven Bay, from £955 per person. The price includes flights, transfers and a welcome hamper.
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APRIL
What’s on: Stanford Antigua Sailing Week
Where: Falmouth Harbour and the event village at Nelson’s Dockyard, with races around the island
When: April 27-May 3
Sell it to: Yachties and landlubbers seeking the spectacle and apres-sailing carnival atmosphere of one of the world’s premier yachting events. Two hundred boats take part and a week of music and parties provide plenty of shore-side merriment.
How much: Abercrombie and Kent offer seven nights bed and breakfast at Carlisle Bay resort, 20 minutes from Nelson’s Dockyard, from £2,468 per person with flights and private transfers.
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MAY
What’s on: BVI Musicfest 08
Where: Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
When: May 23-26
Sell it to: Billed as a festival ‘where the sound of music meets the sound of nature’, it will appeal to laid-back clients who want to soak up the sound of music against a backdrop of beach games and lots of food and drink. The event attracts over 10,000 fans and previous years have featured big names such as Percy Sledge, Roberta Flack and Jimmy Cliff.
How much: Kuoni offers seven nights at Long Bay Beach Resort and Villas on a room only basis from £1,060 per person with flights and transfers.
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JUNE
What’s on: Ocho Rios Jazz Festival
Where: Ocho Rios, Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril and Runaway Bay, Jamaica
When: June 8-15
Sell it to: Anyone who wants to discover there’s more to Jamaica than reggae. Started in 1991 as an experimental one-day event, in three years the festival grew to an eight-day spectacular featuring the greatest names in Jamaican jazz and international performers.
How much: Cosmos Holidays has launched a new programme to Jamaica for 2008. A seven-night all-inclusive stay at Hotel Shaw Park on the outskirts of Ocho Rios costs from £899 per person, including flights and transfers.
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JULY
What’s on: St Lucia Carnival
Where: All over the island with the final weekend concentrated in Castries
When: Throughout July with the main events on July 20-21
Sell it to: First-time and repeat visitors looking for a lively time and a really authentic experience. The island comes alive with calypso music and dancing in the streets, culminating with a costumed parade and the presentation of the coveted Band of the Year award and the titles of king and queen of the bands.
How much: ITC Classics offers seven-nights bed and breakfast at Discovery at Marigot Bay from £1,285 per person, including flights and transfers.
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AUGUST
What’s on: USVI Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament
Where: Red Hook, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
When: August 13-17
Sell it to: Keen fishermen, divers and watersports enthusiasts. Luring top international anglers, the last leg of the Bermuda Triangle series is a catch-and-release tournament that’s become a leader in marine conservation.
How much: Explorers offers seven nights at the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on a room only basis from £1,485 per person, including use of sailboats and other watersports facilities, flights and one night on Newark before transfer to St Thomas. A six-day add-on dive package for qualified divers costs £260.
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SEPTEMBER
What’s on: Dive Into Summer
Where: Bonaire
When: September 1-30
Sell it to: Families and all age-groups who want to take the plunge and have a go at something new or brush up on existing skills. The island-wide event offers everyone the chance to try scuba diving, windsurfing, kitesailing and join a host of land-based guided walks, photography workshops and other activities. There are special discounts at restaurants and shops around the island during the event.
How much: Harlequin Holidays has seven nights at the Harbour Village Beach Club from £1,352 per person on a room only basis, including flights and private transfers.
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OCTOBER
What’s on: Divali
Where: Trinidad
When: October 28
Sell it to: Mature travellers and clients interested in culture. The Hindu festival of Divali, or Festival of Light, is one of the multicultural island’s most popular religious events. In the lead up to Divali villages glitter at night with lights from hundreds of oil candles in clay pots, stories of good conquering evil are acted out across the island and vegetarian feasts are served to mark the festival.
How much: Harlequin Worldwide Travel offers seven nights at the Trinidad Hilton flights on a room only basis from £1,575 per person with flights. Transfers not included.
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NOVEMBER
What’s on: Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta
Where: Off Palm Beach, Aruba
When: November 13-21
Sell it to: Recreational sailors and non-sailing partners that want to follow an international sporting event from sea or the comfort of their sun loungers. There are spectator boats for visitors to get a close up view of the action and everyone is welcome to join the regatta happy hours, beach dinners and dances held under the palm trees.
How much: Thomson Tailor-made offers eight nights bed and breakfast at the Westin Aruba Resort Spa and Casino, Palm Beach, from £1,159 per person, including flights and transfers.
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DECEMBER
What’s on: Junkanoo
Where: Bay Street, Nassau, The Bahamas
When: Boxing Day and New Year’s Day
Sell it to: Anyone seeking the ultimate escape from turkey, tinsel and singing Auld Lang Syne. The national festival is the Caribbean equivalent of Rio Carnival, with dancers and entertainers parading the streets and parties stretching long into the night. Visitors can capture the flavour at other times of the year with a trip to Nassau’s Junkanoo museum.
How much: Bahamas Flavour offers seven nights all-inclusive at the Sheraton Cable Beach Resort from £1,500 per person with flights and transfers.
