| I have decided that I am going to have an island | | | | have found that even in the middle of Winter, the |
| vacation! | | | | weather is still mild. The only problem with Winter is |
| I'm not worried about what I could do there as I know I | | | | that its the low season, most of the attractions are |
| can people-watch, lounge, swim, dive, kayak, sail, eat, | | | | shut. |
| drink, shop, fish, gamble or do nothing at all! | | | | If the Caribbean was my pick, going in the most |
| How do I pick between the Caribbean, the | | | | popular time of December to April might put me off. Its |
| Mediterranean, or the Pacific? | | | | the coldest part of Winter in the US and Europe so |
| I have heard that the Mediterranean is not just a place | | | | everyone would be taking advantage of it being the |
| but a state of mind. Its hot dry summers make it | | | | driest time in the Caribbean. The prices are lower in |
| perfect for lying on beaches or lying in the deep blue | | | | the off-season, between May and November, but I |
| waters. The warm weather matches the hospitality of | | | | would have to be aware of hurricanes. |
| the locals. | | | | If the Pacific topped my list, I would have to remember |
| Why a Caribbean vacation? For the beaches and sea, | | | | the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| the history of the islands, the unique mixture of | | | | Summer is between December and April - which is |
| Caribbean, British, Dutch, Spanish and African cultures. | | | | the hottest and most humid time to be near the |
| Diving, surfing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing and snorkeling. | | | | Equator but the best time to visit places like New |
| Even sitting on the beach is better in the Caribbean! | | | | Zealand and southern Australia. May to September is |
| Why would I want to go to the Pacific? Aren't they | | | | Winter, but it is the best time to visit the islands nearer |
| the most amazing islands in the world? There are few | | | | the Equator and northern Australia. The weather is |
| tourists and even fewer monster hotels. The Pacific | | | | cooler and less humid so there is less rainstorms, this is |
| Islanders have a fascinating culture. Some islands are | | | | why it is also the peak season. |
| so small they are only a beach and a coral reef. Other | | | | What about a resort island? A complete package with |
| islands are so large that they have hundreds of | | | | activities, pools, restaurants, shopping or even gambling. |
| different languages. | | | | What about an island unspoilt by development? I could |
| If I were to go to the Mediterranean, I would avoid the | | | | handle an empty island. There are over 700 islands in |
| middle of Summer. Its the peak session, its very hot | | | | the Bahamas, they can't all be full? |
| and full of tourists. If I was going to go in August, I | | | | I could go on about how it depends on the time of the |
| would make sure to book far in advance. I prefer Fall | | | | year, how much time I want to spend traveling to get |
| or late Spring, it is still warm, everything is open but | | | | there, peak or off-peak seasons and what I would do |
| everywhere is less crowded. Early Spring is a good | | | | there. But really, I am going to book an island vacation |
| time to visit the more southern parts of the | | | | package now! |
| Mediterranean as well as larger islands like Crete. I | | | | |