Caribbean

It’s the Caribbean’s time to shine

A laid-back paradise

The modern paradise of the Caribbean is truly unique, its fascinating and distinctive cultural identity shaped by the traditions of those who have walked its stunning white shores for centuries. It may be small, but this country packs a punch, its fiercely independent and vibrant spirit lovingly preserved by its loyal residents and visitors. Incredible beaches, mountains and rainforests jostle for attention with incredibly friendly people and a laid-back lifestyle – and all under one of the best climates on the planet. It’s no surprise that the Caribbean’s time to shine has finally come - this really is one of the ultimate places to own property abroad.

A common perception of the Caribbean is one of millionaire pads and beach shacks and not much in between but the reality couldn’t be more different. A recognized mainstream second home market, especially for Americans and Europeans, the established Caribbean islands enjoy average house prices higher than those in the US itself! A robust tourist market, well fed by frequent, cheap flights to the country enjoyed a renaissance in the late1980s and never really stopped, leading to a solid tourism and economic infrastructure throughout most of the islands.

The Caribbean is quite possibly the world’s richest melting pot of peoples and customs. Central to the great sweep of exploration and migration over the centuries, native American Carib Indians and Mayans were amongst the first to leave their mark, followed by visitors and settlers from Europe, Africa and Asia. The Caribbean evolved from being a land of sugar and slavery into a modern competitor whose ever-expanding export base includes electronics, textiles, petroleum, and rum. It is no surprise that a land which has seen some of its islands captured and recaptured more than 20 times in their history should now boast virtually no internal conflict. Its peaceful, welcoming lifestyle is just one of the country’s major draws.

Getting to the Caribbean is increasingly easy, with airlines offering frequent non-stop trips to the islands from all over the world, last minute bargains being especially good value. Nearly two dozen cruise lines also offer packages to the Caribbean, especially in the winter months. Yachting and sailing to and around the islands is an increasingly popular choice, whether you are an experienced yachtsman or would rather relax in the hired comfort of a fully crewed vessel. If you choose to fly, be aware that most Caribbean airports are small, so arriving passengers typically walk to the terminal along the tarmac.

Getting around the islands is easy and a wide range of modes of transport are on offer, taxis and buses being your best option. Some taxi drivers provide narrated tours for a fee but to really explore the islands, scooters and bicycles are an excellent and popular choice. Ferries are widely available and a good choice for those wanting to visit multiple islands. Car hire is possible but varies from island to island and for the most part, public roads on the islands are in good shape, although they can be narrow and winding. If you do choose to hire a car, be aware that your attitudes to driving will have to undergo something of a turnaround! Non-existent lane demarcations, wandering livestock, infrequent signaling, slow Caribbean speeds – stay alert and take it in your stride. Each island has its own road rules, although you will drive on the left on most islands and will need a valid driver’s license or have to purchase an island-specific driving permit.

Passports and Visas

Travel documentation to the Caribbean is reassuringly simple. When traveling to the Caribbean, a valid passport is always the recommended and preferred form of identification. To enter one of the Caribbean islands, please note that you will need a valid passport and a return or onward ticket unless you are a British, Canadian, or United States citizen. However, if you are a British, Canadian or U.S. citizen, you must only show proof of citizenship, preferably an authentic birth certificate along with a government-issued photo ID, and a return or onward ticket. Certain islands may also require proof of funds adequate to cover the duration of your stay.

Visas generally are not essential if you are an Australian, British, Canadian, European Union, Japanese and U.S. citizen, unless you are traveling to the Caribbean for business. Visa fees and rules vary from island to island so it is imperative to contact the relevant embassy for full information. Each island in the Caribbean charges a departure tax, again varying from island to island, but payment for airport charges such as customs is usually only accepted in cash form. Be aware that you may have to pay the departure tax as not all travel agencies include the charge in the cost of the outbound ticket.

The dollar is king in the Caribbean, with the economy of the country as a whole closely connected to that of the US. Some of the island’s currencies are directly linked to the US$. Some of the former British colonies still use the pound, but most have their own form of currency, such as the Barbadian Dollar. Others are grouped into economic unions that share a currency, like the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (St Vincent and the Grenadines is included in this) and obviously, those that are still under the jurisdiction of other countries use that country’s currency. Nonetheless, the US$ is accepted pretty much everywhere. Currency can be exchanged at all banks and most airports and hotels and the majority of major credit cards are accepted throughout the islands. Cash is recommended for bargaining – ATMs are widely available.

Tipping

Tipping is fairly standard throughout the Caribbean, with restaurants usually adding a 10% gratuity to the final bill. Additional tipping is not expected. Taxis are available throughout the Caribbean and operate on either a meter system or to fixed government rates. Also, depending on the island, you may have to pay either per car or per person. It is customary to tip taxi drivers around US$1to US$2 for in-town fares. Expect to tip more on holidays, after midnight, and on Sundays.

Despite the large area over which the Caribbean islands are scattered, there is a strong similarity of weather and climate everywhere. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are warm at all times of the year and it is pretty much wet season everywhere from May to October, while the Caribbean winter period remains relatively dry. The Caribbean is fortunate in that winters are warm and sunny and summers are hot, but temperatures rarely reach uncomfortable extremes, generally staying between 100°F/38°C in the summer months and 60°F/15°C in the winter. The more mountainous of the islands experience local differences in weather and climate, with more rainfall on the mountain areas. The northeastern sides of most islands will see milder temperatures and are also nearly always the more lush and heavily precipitated.

Average daily sunshine is a lovely nine hours, with more in the summer months and temperature and humidity are rarely uncomfortable thanks to the frequent sea breezes. Prolonged rain is rare. Rather, rain builds up to a short, thundery shower in the afternoon. Hurricanes occur between June and November and are most frequent in the months of August and September, with two or three occurring per year over the area as a whole. Direct hits by major storms are extremely rare and islands tend to experience the heavy rain and rough weather that come on the outskirts of such a storm.

Most islands in the Caribbean provide modern telephone systems and the larger islands offer high-quality, convenient business facilities. The majority of visitors are satisfied with using a pre-paid telephone card, sold in most hotels and souvenir shops in various denominations. Calling abroad can be expensive and the Caribbean does have a system of payphones all over the islands. It is worth noting that some islands operate independent systems which don’t, for example, accept coins. Each island has its own area code.

Mobile phones are well served throughout the Caribbean through the primary provider Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular (CWCC). It is recommended that you register your phone through the CWCC network or else you will be subject to additional roaming charges. To avoid these charges, simply pre-register your phone prior to your trip. There is no cost for pre-registering, but the cost to operate through the CWCC network is $5(USD) for each day you use your cellular phone.

The Caribbean postal service is good although post office hours vary between islands. In general, most open between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and close between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Post rates also vary from island to island. Allow anything up to 4 weeks for standard delivery.

Electricity

Electricity is available on every major island of the Caribbean but the service and voltage varies. Some islands use 110-volt systems, as in the United States, others operate on a 220-volt current, as they do in most of Europe. Bring an adapter.

There’s no doubt about it, the Caribbean is one of the world’s most inspiring places to visit, offering the visitor such a wealth of choice of things to do and see that it can seem a little overwhelming - and you thought the Caribbean was all talcum powder beaches and lazy music! If the diversity in islands, cultures, cuisines, language and landscapes was not enough to contend with, the sheer amount of activities on offer will have your head in a spin. All the islands love sport and opportunities to be active are plentiful. Baseball is almost a religion in the Dominican Republic, while tennis, football, polo, rugby, cricket and top-notch golf are also hugely popular. This extends, of course, to watersports of all kinds. Scuba and snorkeling, deep sea and game fishing – the list goes on. Fancy a spot of sea kayaking with an overnight camp in a nature park? A horseback ride? Or maybe you’d prefer to explore the scenic islands and exotic flora and fauna by mountain bike or hike? It’s all possible here in the Caribbean. And it’s not all outdoor, energetic fun: shopping is an experience in itself in the Caribbean, large chain stores mixing comfortably with local, unique products such as wildflower perfumes and handmade bags, jewellery and sandals. Products vary from island to island. When the sun sets, the music of the islands starts: meringue, family fun, piano bars, steel drums, Vegas show. Whatever you want, the Caribbean has it all.

An awareness of the history of the Caribbean goes a long way towards understanding the culture of the country as a whole. The country’s rich cultural identity is unusual in that it is a summation of that of its individual islands, shaped by the European colonialists, the African heritage of slaves, and the enduring legacies of the native Indian tribes. Caribbean culture has traditionally been preserved primarily by its oral historians: the farmers, traders and artists and the concept of story telling is strong, as are rhyme and meaningful lyrics in the country’s musical styles. Undeniably tropical and exotic in flavour, the cultures of the islands form a heady cocktail made up of colonialism and strong ethnic influences. And of course, your Caribbean experience is shaped by where you stay: Barbados is a former British colony and has earned itself the nickname of ‘Little England’, so strong is the continuing British influence, whereas Jamaica retains little of its colonial heritage and is passionately self-sufficient.

English is not the official language of the Caribbean but is the most widely used, thanks to the country’s colonial past and broad tourist trade. Other official languages on the islands include Dutch, French and Spanish. Each island will have its own regional dialect, the most common being patois, a varied combination of African syntax and European words, which evolved out of the slaves’ need to communicate with the European plantation owners. Another language is Papiamento, a combination of African, Dutch, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Just as African culture has infused the local languages, old African customs influence much of the religious worship and artistic expression in the Caribbean, from the Rastafari, reggae and jerk cooking to the vital importance of music and dance, once a form of mental survival and succour, now the ubiquitous soundtrack to your Caribbean experience. A note on etiquette: while the Caribbean is indeed a laid-back paradise, many communities retain colonial conventions, in particular when it comes to attire and communication. Politeness and good manners go a long way in the Caribbean. It is considered inappropriate to wear beachwear anywhere other than on the beach and light suits are recommended for business dealings. Some of the more upscale restaurants often require female diners to wear a dress and the men a jacket and tie.

The food of the Caribbean is a perfect mirror for the personality of the region as whole, bringing together the distinctive tastes of native Indians, European settlers and African slaves. Well-known and adored throughout the world, there is so much more to Caribbean cuisine than the ubiquitous jerk chicken! Seafood is a natural speciality and regional favourites are given a local twist, a splash of rum here, a delicious tropical fruit extravaganza there. Some foods are spicy, often enhanced with local chillies and there is ample opportunity to try a wide range of local produce, including fine dining and wines, especially on the French islands. Dining is relaxed and international food is widely available, as is fast food and five star dining. To eat true Caribbean food, though, stick to the smaller, more intimate café style establishments and their traditional fare. Seafood is exceptional, from large game to smaller snapper, crabs or sea urchins. The flying fish is great, as are the lobsters and langoustines. Spices are a staple of Caribbean cuisine, pimento (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and pepper) and nutmeg being common. Fiery jerk seasoning (fiendishly hot Scotch Bonnet pepper along with ginger, pimento and nutmeg) is often used as a marinade for meats. Drinks are exciting in the Caribbean, often bright and sweet. Beer and rum are island staples, but try coconut water or the local ‘sea moss’, made by extracting gelatin from seaweed, adding sugar and mixing with milk. Rum punch is on offer literally everywhere and recipes are a closely guarded secret.

The cost of dining varies hugely from island to island, as does the ambiance, menu and dress code. The Dominican Republic has some of the cheapest foods, a meal out averaging US$10, while restaurants on other islands offer starters for US$50! If nothing else, in the Caribbean you can try it all and eat something deliciously different every night.

High health, medical, and safety standards are consistent throughout the Caribbean region and the islanders take pride in maintaining this level of care. Basic precautions, however, are necessary, as they are when traveling anywhere new. The water is safe to drink practically everywhere in the Caribbean, filtered as it is on most islands through coral or volcanic rock or excellent desalinization systems. Bottled water is also widely available. Wash fruits and vegetables and peel if possible. Be careful if catching and cooking your own fish. Cigatuera is a neurotoxin found in fish that normally feed on reefs and be especially wary of eating amberjack and barracuda. Symptoms of exposure to cigatuera include tingling in the fingers, mouth, and toes.

Treatment in the Caribbean can be pricey so it is vital to have proper medical insurance on arrival. Be aware that many medical facilities require payment at the time of treatment. Ensure you are up to date with your hepatitis A and B jabs. Cases of cholera, dengue fever, malaria and typhoid have occasionally been reported in the Caribbean: ask your doctor for more advice. Mosquitoes can be a problem in the Caribbean, so bring along repellent and netting and avoid standing water. No-see-ums are an annoyance and although there are no health implications to their bites, bring a strong repellent to get rid of them.

If you are planning on spending time on the beaches in the Caribbean. Get a local to point out a manchineel tree as soon as you arrive. Nicknamed the ‘tree of death’ by Columbus’ men, its poisonous fruit resembles a small green apple. Avoid the fruit and the tree at all times, especially if it has been raining: the dripping sap causes severe blister and rashes when it comes into contact with the skin.

It’s a fact: no visitor to the Caribbean goes home empty-handed, so it pays to know what you can and can’t take with you. You can bring in up to two litres of alcohol and two cartons of cigarettes, as well as a ‘reasonable’ amount of duty-free goods for personal use. All prescription drugs must be accompanied by an official prescription. Firearms and recreational drugs are not permitted. When going home, keep receipts for all items you buy in the Caribbean.

With the right people assisting you, purchasing an overseas property can be an enjoyable and rewarding affair ... one, we at Property Club International are familiar with. If you still have questions having read this section, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Some of the information in the information sections has been supplied by third parties, and Property Club International and its associated companies cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Professional advice should always be sought at the time of purchase.