Stay Caribbean Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Caribbean

Welcome to the Caribbean Sea and hundreds of tropical Caribbean Islands some entitle paradise. As befits heaven-on-earth, there is much to enjoy, see and do. Beaches, boats, banks and bikinis are Caribbean vacation essentials. But the No 1 playground for the Americas also comprises movie-set beauty, coconut-tree-clad mountains, verdant valleys of sugar cane and bananas, and seashore galore. In a more organized approach to Caribbean islands in the sun, we offer first the largest tropical island in the western hemisphere, Cuba; former 'veddy British' and now independent Jamaica; and further, The Bahamas, Bermuda and Mexico neighbors to the Caribbean islands.

The culture of Caribbean migrants in Britain has been, by its very nature, complex and continually changing. Caribbean civilization as we see it in Britain today emerged in response to two powerful forces. First, there was the need for migrants to adapt to their changed circumstances. They had arrived in Britain to be faced with a totally different way of life. Secondly was the need to preserve their already established identity. The culture that has emerged over the last few generations has been shaped, therefore, by the influences the migrants brought with them and developed the experience of living in Britain, and by their interaction with the landscape, the people and the events in their new environment. But cultural influences flow both ways, and the inventiveness and accessibility of Caribbean tradition has had an influence on wider British culture, especially in the region of music and the arts.

The Caribbean climate is hot, moderated to a certain amount by the prevailing northeast trade winds. Individual climatic conditions are strongly dependent on elevation. At sea level there is little variation in temperature, regardless of the time of the day or the season of the year. Temperatures range between 24 degree C and 32 degree C. In Kingston, Jamaica, the mean temperature is 26 degree C, whereas Mandeville, at a little over 600 meters high in the Carpenters Mountains of Manchester Parish, has recorded temperatures as low as 10 degree C. Daylight hours tend to be shorter during summer and slightly longer during winter than in the higher latitudes. The conventional division, rather than the four seasons, is between the long rainy season from May through October and the dry season, corresponding to winter in the northern hemisphere.

Even during the rainy period, however, the precipitation range fluctuates greatly. Windward sides of islands with mountains receive much rain, whereas leeward sides can have very dry conditions. Flat islands receive slightly less rainfall, but its pattern is more consistent. For example, the Blue Mountains of eastern Jamaica record around 558 centimeters of rainfall per year, whereas Kingston, on the southeastern coast, receives only 399 centimeters. Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, has an average annual rainfall of 127 centimeters, while Bathsheba on the central east coast receives 254 centimeters despite the fact that Bathsheba is only about 27 kilometers away by road. Recording stations in the Northern Range in Trinidad measure some 302 centimeters of rainfall per year, while at Piarco Airport on the Caroni Plains the measurement is only 140 centimeters. Most of the rainfall occurs during short heavy outbursts during daylight hours. In Jamaica, about 80 percent of the rainfall occurs during the day.

Grand Cayman: The island of Grand Cayman, in the Cayman Islands, is one of the more popular destinations for tourists in the Caribbean. Tourists flock here either as their main destination or as part of a stop on their cruise. Grand Cayman happens to be the only island in the entire Caribbean that has an operational turtle farm, and it is open to the public too.

Aruba: The island of Aruba is just off the coast of South America and shares a number of traits with that continent and not the rest of the islands in the Caribbean. For the bulk of its existence following the time of European explorers, the island has been either ruled by or protected by the Dutch government.

Jamaica: One of the most popular of all of the Caribbean destinations worth visiting is the island of Jamaica. It is here that most people heading for a Caribbean vacation spend some time, whether it is the focus of their trip or just a stop by the cruise ship they are traveling on.

Puerto Rico: The island of Puerto Rico is a popular vacation destination and is located in the northeastern Caribbean. The island is a territory of the United States, and has been since 1898. The majority of visitors coming to and leaving Puerto Rico do so through the terminals of the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport which is located just a few miles southeast of the city of San Juan. The Luis Munoz Marin International Airport is the busiest airport in the entire Caribbean region.

The Virgin Islands: Another of the more popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean is the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands are a group of islands that are actually part of two different political entities, the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic is not as popular as a vacation destination as other locations in the Caribbean, but it still have a great deal to offer anyone who travels in the area. The nation is situated on the eastern side of the island of Hispaniola, sharing the island with its neighbor Haiti.

The Bahamas: The Bahamas is located very near to the United States and for that reason alone is a very popular vacation destination. The original main city of the Bahamas was Charles Town which ended up getting burned to the ground in the late 1600s by the Spanish.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Some of the most beautiful scenic areas in the Caribbean can be found on Turks and Caicos Islands. It is here that many vacationers looking for a remote and secluded getaway venture to.

Belize: Though on the mainland of Central America, the location and culture of the nation of Belize often leave it associated more with the Caribbean than the mainland. Belize is a popular destination, especially for those with an appreciation or interest in snorkeling.

Barbados: The island of Barbados is an extremely popular destination for vacationers from around the world. Barbados is uniquely located on the western end of the Caribbean making it not only easy to get to from America, Canada, and all of South America, but also convenient to get to from Europe and Africa too.

With soft breezes, sunny beaches and a warm welcome for families, snorkeling and diving enthusiasts as well as spring break revelers...the Caribbean is a major port o' call for fun in the sun. The islands of the Caribbean and the Bahamas present a combination of warm days followed by a cool night life, attracting vacationers looking to party. Cruises, resorts and hotels are available to fit any budget. You will also find that the island atmosphere is great for singles going on a weekend getaway or a long vacation. It's a perfect destination to hook up with someone or to spend time traveling solo, and being warmly accepted in restaurants at a table for one. Don't forget the sunscreen, the swimsuit - and the camera! For an island vacation you'll always remember. Up ahead, check out major guides dedicated to bringing you the best of the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Aruba, Puerto Rico and more, offering travelers and vacationers a virtual taste of paradise.

All main island roads are paved, so the best mode of transportation is a car, jeep, truck or in other words a modern motored vehicle. No one rides horses or donkeys although some people still ask.

Cars, jeeps, trunks are by far the most common way to get around. You will find quite a number of them on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John . On Water Island you will find a few cars and golf carts. There are some motorcycles on St. Thomas and St. Croix, fewer on St. John. Scooters are just getting started on St. Thomas as a method for visitors to get around for the day while visiting on cruise ships. A few residents use them for transportation, but not very many. The roads here are fairly steep and windy making scooters a poor choice for everyday transportation. They are not yet common on St. John as the roads are better suited for cars, jeeps and trucks. Scooters are not common on St. Croix.

Bicycles are more for sport then transportation; the roads in the Virgin Islands are steep so you don’t find much bicycle riding in general. There is a public bus system functioning on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. It definitely has room for improvement, however can be used to get around if you learn the route well and allow time for it taking a long time and/or the bus being late. Taxis can be easily found in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with the exception of Water Island where there are no taxis. On St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix taxis are common and easy to use and costly if you use them often. Taxis charge per person and per destination – they are not metered.