People have been taking Caribbean travel vacations since the colonial period. Today, millions of U.S. and Canadian citizens visit the islands every year to experience the tropical experience that a Caribbean vacation normally has in store for all its visitors.
Below are some Caribbean travel suggestions to help you get the most out of your tropical expedition:
Plan ahead
If there’s anything you definitely must do when you go on a Caribbean vacation, it is to plan ahead. There are a lot of other things you have to take care of. Trip planning can be a real challenge. Often, a passport may be needed before you can enter the country you are planning to visit. One Caribbean travel advise you ought to consider is to prepare all your travel documents as soon as possible.
Choose an Island

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Culture shock is bound to happen if you don’t perform your research beforehand. One fact you should keep in mind about the Caribbean is that it has a culture that is as widely diverse as its people. So heed this Caribbean travel tip: Read up on the people and culture for the places you will visit.
Another thing, as you travel, keep abreast of local news coverage. If you are in an area experiencing a natural disaster or civil unrest, or if you are going to a place where communications is substandard, register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for your own safety. Registration at the State Department’s TravelRegistration.state.gov website takes only several moments, and is certainly helpful in case of emergency. In addition, you can also get current Caribbean travel tips and information on any country in the world by obtaining the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet.
Customs
Every island in the Caribbean has its own set of regulations for entry. That is why your initial Caribbean travel tip is to organize all your documents before you leave home. If you can show proof that you are a U.S. citizen and a return or onward ticket, most countries would allow you to visit for up to two or three months.
Take this as both a Caribbean travel tip and warning: There are countries in the Caribbean with locations affected by yellow fever. If you come from any of these areas, you may be required to have a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
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Additionally, some airports may charge departure tax of up to $25.
Coming Home
There are some Caribbean countries that require only your birth certificate as an entry requirement. Nevertheless, this should not be a reason for you to slack off on your travel documents. Keep in mind that United States immigration requires that you document both your U.S. citizenship and identification. Don’t forget this Caribbean travel tip and make sure you can return to the United States with both these documents.
But what is the best document that can ascertain your American citizenship? The best evidence, of course, is a valid U.S. passport. However, other travelers list these Caribbean travel tips as documents you can use besides a current passport to confirm U.S. citizenship:
* Certified copy of birth certificate
* Certificate of Citizenship Certificate of Naturalization
* Expired U.S. passport
* Certificate of Naturalization
* Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen
Tagged with: caribbean tour • caribbean travel
Filed under: Travel -- Caribbean