Imagine swapping long cold nights for lazy days on the beach, soaking up the rays and cooling off in the tempting turquoise seas. That's why the Caribbean is so enticing during the winter months and generally the most popular time to visit. It's also much drier too which means the humidity remains blissfully low during the winter months so the nights are perfectly comfortable for sleeping.

Given this is the perfect time to visit, it can be busy over the peak holiday periods on the more popular islands such as Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia. However, stepping a little off the radar and exploring St Barths, Anguilla or St Kitts & Nevis is a good alternative if you're looking for somewhere a little quieter.

The Caribbean in spring means less people yet spectacular weather, making it one of the best times to visit for a your slice of idyllic paradise. Warm sunny days, tempered by cooling breezes means that it's hard to imagine spending time anywhere other than the beach, embracing that feeling of total relaxation, with book and rum punch in hand.

Families tend to flock to the Caribbean during the Easter holidays as the draw of Antigua and St Lucia in particular prove too much to resist. For those not tied to school holidays and in search of a dose of Vitamin D after a long winter will find early March and May in particular, which brings the advent of the low season, blissfully quiet.

Summer months in the Caribbean are technically low season, yet it is still a great time to visit. Endless days of wall to wall hot sunshine means that the nights can be a little more humid. Cool off in the crystal clear waters of Antigua or escape the heat of the sun by heading into the lush, vibrant green rainforest in St Lucia. August tends to signal the start of more changeable weather and there is an increased that you might experience a rain shower or two - but fear not, these generally pass through as quickly as they arrive.

Although hurricane seasons technically starts in June these are the months when rain might temporarily halt play. Humidity is higher at this time of year and September in particular can feel rather hot. Although statisically rare, hurricanes can disrupt the wall to wall sunshine, so it is something to factor in when planning to visit at this time of year.