Visiting the Caribbean this winter? Here’s what you need to know

The Caribbean islands are a signature vacation spot for travellers looking to escape the cold, winter months around the holidays.

Yet in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, many have been left wondering whether it would be safe to travel to the region this year.

In early September, Irma formed in the Atlantic Ocean before moving northwest across parts of the Caribbean, Florida, and further west through parts of Georgia.

Maria moved in a similar direction, but did not reach as far north as Irma did. As a result of the hurricanes, Puerto Rico, St Barts, the Virgin Islands, St Croix, and Barbuda, among other Caribbean destinations, received significant damage and have been recovering since.

But, according to the travel organisation AAA, many of the Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Barbados, will be open for tourism this winter.

AAA recommends tourists stay informed of global events that could affect travel and use an agent to make their vacation experience as seamless as possible.

It has a full list of Caribbean destinations it recommends visiting this winter. On the list are places that suffered minimal to no damage from the hurricanes – Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, The Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and St Vincent and The Grenadines.

Where to stay

Jaclyn Sienna India, who owns the luxury travel agency Sienna Charles, takes the hassle out of holiday planning for her high-end clients, making sure their trips are successful logistically and emotionally.

Her recommendations change each year in response to the threat of natural disaster, disease, or violence, as well as the quality of accommodation for tourists.