Caribbean Travel Planning & Travel Tips

Note: The Caribbean is comprised of a number of islands. Therefore, the following travel information has been arranged from resources pertaining to its primary islands.

Bahamas Embassy Contact Information:

Americans living in or visiting The Bahamas are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nassau and obtain updated information on travel and security within The Bahamas. The U.S. Embassy is located next to McDonald's restaurant on Queen Street in downtown Nassau; telephone (242)322-1181, after hours: (242)328-2206. The Consular Section hours are 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, except local and U.S. holidays. The U.S. Embassy is also responsible for consular services in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), a United Kingdom (British) overseas territory. U.S. citizens may obtain updated information on travel and security in TCI from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau.

Climate:

Because of the Gulf Stream, winters in the Bahamas are fairly mild, about 10 degrees F/5 C warmer than in nearby Florida. The summers can be humid, rainy and warm (day temperatures reaching into the low 90s F/33 C), but are moderated by trade winds. High season is from November to mid April, when the weather is generally good. Hurricane season is from July to October, and most rain falls at that time. There really is no bad time to go, but take along at least a sweater during the winter. Average day temperatures in fall and spring are in the 70s-80s F/23-32 C, with nights in the 60s F/15-22 C. Winter temperatures can be about 10 degrees F/5 C cooler.

Calling Internationally:

Communications have improved recently, although some of the Out Islands are still difficult to reach. In recent years, virtually every hotel in The Bahamas seems to have installed a fax machine. Direct long-distance dialing between North America and Nassau, Grand Bahama, the Abacos, Andros, the Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, the Exumas, and Stella Maris on Long Island is available.

To call The Bahamas from the U.S. or Canada, dial 1-242 plus the seven-digit local number. From the U.K., dial 001-242 plus the local seven-digit number.

To make a direct international call from The Bahamas to the U.S. or Canada, dial 1 plus the area code and local number. To call other countries, dial 011 plus the country code (the U.K. is 44, for example), the area code (usually without its initial zero), and the local number.

For local calls within The Bahamas, simply dial the seven-digit number. To call from one island to another within The Bahamas, dial 1-242 and then the seven-digit local number.

Electricity:

Electricity in the Bahamas is normally 120 volts, 60 cycles, AC. American appliances are fully compatible; British or European appliances will need both converters and adapters.

Cayman Islands Embassy Contact Information:

None

Canadian Travel Advisory Line-Phone:

613-944-6788. Toll-free: 800-267-6788. Website.

U.S. Department of State, Overseas Citizens Services-Phone:

202-647-5225. Toll-free: 888-407-4747. Website.

Climate:

Tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Calling Internationally:

To call from inside the United States: 1+ the number. To call from Cayman Islands: 1+ area code+ the number.

Electricity:

The electric current used in the Cayman Islands is 110Volts.

Barbados Embassy Contact Information:

Americans living in or visiting Barbados are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Barbados and obtain updated information on travel and security within Barbados. The U.S. Embassy is located in Bridgetown in the First Caribbean International Bank building on Broad Street, telephone 1-246-436-4950, website Bridgetown.usembassy.gov. The Consular Section is located in the Wildey Business Park in Wildey, St. Michael, telephone (246) 227-4399 or fax 1-246-431-0179, website. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbados and U.S. holidays. There are separate Consular Information Sheets for Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat (the British West Indies), and the French West Indies (including Guadeloupe, Martinique and French St. Martin). U.S. citizens may call the Consular Section of the Embassy in Bridgetown to obtain updated information on travel and security in these areas.

Climate:

The climate in Barbados is ideal for much of the year. The only time not perfect is July-October, during the hurricane season, when it gets a bit more rain. But even then, it isn't bad as long as a hurricane doesn't arrive. Daytime temperatures are almost always in the 80s F/28-32 C, with nights in the 70s F/23-27 C. Temperatures can get into the 60s F/15-22 C at night in the winter. Take a sweater for evenings year-round.

Calling Internationally:

To call from inside the United States: 1+ the number. To call from Barbados: 1+ area code+ the number.

Electricity:

The electric current used in Barbados is 110Volts.

Anguilla Embassy Contact Information:

Americans living in or visiting Anguilla may wish to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Anguilla. The U.S. Embassy is located at the First Caribbean International Bank Building on Broad Street in Bridgetown, telephone 1-246-436-4950, web site bridgetown.usembassy.gov. The Consular Section is located in the Wildey Business Park in Wildey, St. Michael, telephone (246) 227-4399 or fax 1-246-431-0179, website. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbados and U.S. holidays. Assistance may also be provided by the U.S. Consular Agency in Antigua, located at Bluff House, Pigeon Point, English Harbor, telephone 1-268-463-6531.

Climate:

Temperatures are fairly steady year-round, with daytime highs generally in the 80s F/27-32 C and nights in the 60s-70s F/15-22 C. Humidity is low. The hottest months are August and September (although only by a few degrees) and the hurricane season runs June-November. Generally there's little rain, though more falls in the autumn months than at any other time of year. When it does rain, the showers are usually sudden and intense, lasting for only a few minutes.

Calling Internationally:

To call from inside the United States: 1+ the number. To call from Anguilla: 1+ area code+ the number.

Electricity:

The electric current used in Anguilla is 220 Volts.

Aruba Embassy Contact Information:

There is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Aruba. Issues relating to U.S. citizens in Aruba are handled by the U.S. Consulate General in Curacao. U.S. citizens living in or visiting Aruba may register with the U.S. Consulate General located at J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curaçao, telephone (599-9) 461-3066; fax (599-9) 461-6489; e-mail address: info@amcongencuracao.an. The Consular section walk-in hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Climate:

Aruba offers constantly warm weather. The temperature difference between June and December or midnight and noon is rarely more than four degrees either side of 82F. A dependable cooling trade wind blows from the east, and fewer than 22 inches of rain fall anywhere on the island during a year. Because the equator runs about 12 to south, the sun is strong, especially between 11 am and 3 pm, and visitors enjoy morning sunrises and evening sunsets at roughly the same times each day, regardless of the seasons.

From January to March, the trade winds provide ideal windsurfing conditions off the windward coast. Since the terrain is almost flat, these same winds sweep clouds quickly over the island without allowing moisture to build into rain showers. Therefore, the sea off the leeward coasts is rarely stirred up by a storm, and visitors may count on ideal conditions for scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming.

Calling Internationally:

To call from the United States: 011+297+the number. To call from inside Aruba: 00+1+state info+ number.

Electricity:

The electric current used in Aruba is 100 Volts.

Travel Insurance for Caribbean Trips:

You should consider the benefits of travel insurance as part of your Caribbean travel planning. Most travelers look for travel tips that discuss the importance of travel insurance and travel insurance through Travel Guard can provide important coverage for your trip.

Whether you're taking a family vacation or business trip, Travel Guard has a plan for your Caribbean trip. These plans may include valuable medical expense coverage, trip interruption, medical emergency assistance and treatment services and more. And with Travel Guard's 24-hour assistance line, your coverage can act as a travel guide should your plans change.*

For more than 20 years, Travel Guard's plans have covered millions of travelers throughout the world. We're America's leading provider of travel insurance plans and assistance programs and we're here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Coverage provided through Travel Guard is easy to buy and with our 24-hour emergency travel services it's even easier to use.

 

*Non-insurance services provided by Travel Guard.

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Coverage available to U.S. residents of the U.S. states and District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home, and automobile insurance policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer or insurance agent or broker. Coverage is offered by Travel Guard Group, Inc. (Travel Guard). California lic. no.0B93606, 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482, travelguard.com. CA DOI toll free number: 800-927-HELP. This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 37th FL, New York, NY 10020-1304. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Your travel retailer may not be licensed to sell insurance, and cannot answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. The purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any other product or service from the Travel Retailer.