Caribbean holidays from the UK: when to go and entry rules by island

Caribbean holidays from the UK cross the Atlantic hurricane season, which NOAA dates from 1 June to 30 November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Virgin Atlantic gives 9 to 11 hours of flying to the four islands it lists, and British passport holders need no visa for the seven islands below.

This guide reads the National Hurricane Center, the Barbados Meteorological Services, Virgin Atlantic's island pages and the FCDO entry requirements for Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Grenada, the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. It names no price and sells nothing: this site is a guide. For warm weather in other months, see our guides to hot places in December and January, or the holiday ideas hub.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, and the Atlantic basin includes the Caribbean Sea. The NOAA National Hurricane Center puts the peak at 10 September, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. In an average season it counts 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, using the 1991 to 2020 period.

The first named storm typically forms in mid to late June, the first hurricane in early to mid-August and the first major hurricane in late August or early September. Storms still occur sometimes before and after the official dates. The FCDO repeats the season on each island page.

Each island has its own climate, and we found an official monthly table for one only: Barbados. It is a useful guide to the pattern, but it is not a forecast for Jamaica or the Bahamas. By the Barbados Meteorological Services, the driest months of 1991 to 2020 were March (38.9 mm) and February (41.7 mm), and the wettest were October (179.6 mm) and November (172.6 mm).

Temperature barely moves. The same tables give a mean daily high of 29.1°C in January and 31.0°C in September, so the choice between months is about rain and storms more than heat.

Virgin Atlantic's island pages give a flight time for four of the islands in this guide. Two of them include a short touchdown in Barbados, so those two are not non-stop flights.

Time differences matter on arrival. The same pages give local time as GMT minus 4 hours in Barbados, Antigua and Grenada, and GMT minus 5 hours in Jamaica.

All seven islands let a British citizen in without a visa for a holiday, but the length of stay and the passport rule differ. Our Barbados entry requirements guide goes into more detail for that island.

Several islands now ask you to complete a form online before you arrive. The FCDO describes each one on its entry requirements page, and the wording differs, so read the island you are going to.

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  Barbados: The FCDO says all travellers must fill in an immigration and customs form online before they arrive.
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  Jamaica: The FCDO says to complete the Immigration and Custom Form C5 online where possible before you arrive.
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  Antigua and Barbuda: The authorities advise using ArriveAntigua.com, which is not mandatory, and it is open only within 72 hours of travel.
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  St Lucia: Fill in an online immigration form no more than 3 days before you arrive.
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  Dominican Republic: An entry and exit form is required before arriving and leaving, and it can be filled in up to 7 days before you arrive. You get a QR code.
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  The Bahamas: The FCDO reports health screening, possible quarantine or isolation measures for travellers who have visited Ebola-affected regions within 30 days of arrival, as at its update of 28 May 2026.

On vaccines, the FCDO pages for Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Grenada and the Bahamas each say you must have a yellow fever certificate if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk. For the Dominican Republic it says to check TravelHealthPro at least 8 weeks before your trip. Check the island page for the exact wording.

The FCDO says Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a major hurricane in Jamaica in October 2025. All western parishes suffered significant damage and some communities are still without electricity and piped water. Read the Jamaica travel advice before choosing the west of the island; the page was updated on 6 May 2026.

For Grenada, the FCDO says Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou and Petite Martinique in July 2024, and that reduced tourist infrastructure continues there while rebuilding goes on. Its safety page says to check with your accommodation provider about any disruption before travelling to either island.

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  The month: Between June and November, follow the National Hurricane Center and the FCDO page of your island.
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  The passport: Compare the expiry date with the rule for your island, then check blank pages for Jamaica.
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  The length of stay: St Lucia allows 6 weeks, and the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic usually 30 days. Longer stays need an extension.
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  The form: Complete the online form your island asks for, within its time window.
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  The flight: Check the routing: Antigua and Grenada flights on Virgin Atlantic include a touchdown in Barbados.
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  The latest warning: Open the FCDO page again close to departure, because it is updated when conditions change.

• When is the Caribbean hurricane season?

  The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. NOAA puts the peak at 10 September, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October.

• Which month is driest in the Caribbean?

  It depends on the island. For Barbados, the Barbados Meteorological Services give March as the driest month of 1991 to 2020, with a mean of 38.9 mm, followed by February with 41.7 mm.

• How long is the flight to Barbados from the UK?

  Virgin Atlantic gives 9 hours for its direct flights from London Heathrow to Barbados, daily. Other airlines and airports may differ.

• Do British citizens need a visa for the Caribbean?

  Not for the seven islands in this guide. The FCDO says you do not need a visa for a holiday in Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Grenada, the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic, within the stay limits it gives.

• Which Caribbean islands ask for six months on your passport?

  Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and the Bahamas, according to the FCDO. Barbados, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic ask that it is valid for your stay.

• How long can you stay in St Lucia without a visa?

  The FCDO says you are allowed a maximum of 6 weeks on entry. Grenada allows 3 months, Antigua and Barbuda 90 days and the Bahamas usually 30 days.

• Is the Dominican Republic entry rule changing?

  The FCDO says that up to 31 December 2026 British passport holders can enter for tourism as long as the passport is valid for the visit, and that rules may change after this date.

• Is Jamaica still affected by Hurricane Melissa?

  The FCDO says the western parishes suffered significant damage in October 2025 and some communities are still without electricity and piped water. Check its Jamaica page before travelling.

• Is there a form to fill in before arriving in Barbados?

  Yes. The FCDO says all travellers must fill in an immigration and customs form online before they arrive.