It’s that time of the month again and by that we mean choosing which island reigns supreme. For the crew at Caribbean Holidays however the month of February was not much of a challenge to decide who the winner was.

This is the month of the Trinidad & Tobago Carnival celebrations. A month when a normally mad island goes even more nuts and in ultimate party mode. Visitors from throughout the world flock to Trinidad especially for the dance and merriment at a level that has separated the island from the rest of the islands that have similar celebrations.

Carnival dates back to the days of slavery in the Caribbean when the French planter class used to host celebrations in their circles to mark the beginning of the Easter observance. The slaves not wanting to be left out looked on and then formed their own version of those celebrations. Much of it was imitating and making fun of the planter class, their dress and somewhat sober dances full of order and high society class structures. Soon the rhythm of the African culture seeped into the celebrations and the dances took on a new form, the drums came into play and the rich African culture infused with the French version in a Caribbean setting. Carnival Caribbean style was born and never looked back.

Today there is still some tradition and memories of those days but a lot of it has given way to the natural evolution and tastes of the market. Fun, sun, party and friendships. There are people that wait all year long for Carnival and save for this season. Bands sell out in minutes and with online sales gaining even more popularity within seconds some sections of the more popular band sell out.

The Carnival season is made of of several different elements such as Calypso (local songs) competitions and tents showcasing the talents, Chutney music (Indian culture mixed with the traditional Carnival music), Soca Monarch (a more modern spin to Calypso), Parade of the bands (where huge beautiful costumes are displayed, usually the kings and queens of bands), Panorama (where the nations pride and joy the steel pan/steel drum) is showcased to the world. However it all culminates on Carnival Monday and Tuesday where Port-of-Spain especially goes crazy. People by the tens of thousands converge onto the capital and party from dawn to dusk. It begins with j’ouvert and then transcends into the most beautiful parade of bands in the region and some argue the world. Monday and Tuesday are dominated by these parades and on midnight of Tuesday it is all supposed to come to an end for another year.

Wednesday has traditionally been a day of relaxation, recuperation and preparation for work again. Many locals take this as a day off after partying way too hard but some real party warriors show up for work steel-faced in the morning saying they are fine. The smart ones head to the nation’s many beaches or over to the sister isle of Tobago where they might stay in a hotel or find a lovely villa to rest their tired bodies.

So without a doubt as Trinidad does its annual pilgrimage of “mas, pan and fetes” and the locals “lime up a storm”, we have little doubt in giving them the coveted title of our island of the month. Happy Carnival everyone!

Easily one of the most sought after and recognizable islands of the Caribbean. St. Lucia has niched itself as a leader in the tourism industry and attracts thousands of guests to its shores annually.

From the iconic Piton Mountains to the world-classed all-inclusive packages to the tourist oriented locals and the fine Caribbean cuisine, it is tough to filter out one thing that makes St. Lucia so wonderful for your Caribbean Holidays.

So we at www.caribbeaninsidersguide.com in selecting St. Lucia as the island of the month went with this island by another additional virtue that the country so adequately promotes, the culture of the people through its vibrant Carnival.

Historically carnival in the islands was held as a lead up to the Christian season of lent, but various decisions made at the administrative levels have resulted in St. Lucia’s carnival being held in July. The festivities really begin in May but the core of the parties, competitions and the ever vibrant street parades all take place in July.

We love the St. Lucia spirit as these people know the essence of good fun in the sun. The carnival season includes a something for everyone factor that is not found in any other part of the Caribbean. From the comfort of your seat you can enjoy a traditional Calypso competition or perhaps you prefer to stand and dance in the crowd to Groovy-Soca finals.

Still to tame for you? Perhaps a parade in the streets in the most vibrant costumes ever is the perfect stress-reliever. This island truly knows how to please everyone in this season of revelry, fun and true Caribbean enjoyment.

Another added feature of the St. Lucia carnival is one that does not originate with them but rather a true federation of the Caribbean islands. Many regional islanders make the annual trek to St. Lucia to celebrate carnival alongside their neighbors resulting in a true Caribbean party.

From Trinidad (which is known as the best carnival island in the world) to the US Virgin Islands, people flock in and indeed we always advise our readers to book early because rooms are taken very quickly.

So in all we wish to add yet another page to the several accolades of this beautiful island which is St. Lucia. Known as world-classed in the tourism arena, they also show their might in the area of culture, preserving their heritage and of course providing a good old time for all. So pack those bags and head to St. Lucia, you will not be disappointed.

Antigua & Barbuda has been chosen by our team as the island of the month June 2011. Though they also received similar kudos in May 2011, they are selected this time mainly for their contributions in the sport fishing segment. There is always something exciting on the calendar of events for Antigua & Barbuda and June is no different with the hosting of the 45^th annual Antigua and Barbuda sport fishing tournament.

The Antigua & Barbuda Sport Fishing Club holds two major events each year, one in May or June and another in November. This year the sport fishing events are carded from Friday 10^th June 2011 to Monday June 13^th 2011.

The two main days for fishing are Saturday 11^th June and Sunday 12^th June. Additionally, there is a newly introduced Marlin classic carded for Monday June 13^th.

What we at Caribbean Insider’s Guide are particularly interested in the entry aspects of the tournament. Visitors on their Caribbean Holidays can enter the tournament and the administrators have also provided some charter companies that one may wish to contact. This gives guests to Antigua & Barbuda the opportunity to experience the Caribbean at its very best, on the gorgeous waters.

Antigua & Barbuda are renowned for their lovely beaches and warm surrounding waters. Avid sport fishing individuals will know that this is one of the best spots in the entire region to catch “that big one”.

For those of us that are not deeply involved or enthusiastic about the sport of fishing, there is no worry; the islands of Antigua & Barbuda still have you covered. There will be Caribbean parties planned around all the days and many beach bars will hold their own special versions of celebrating this fine event. There is not much room for missing out on at least one aspect of this event’s excitement.

For those of us who want nothing to do with the partying or the event, we still say no worries; Antigua offers those seeking peace and serenity some of the best spots on earth. Check out their many all-inclusive options, quiet getaway villas or fun family Caribbean Holidays packages.

We at Caribbean Insider’s Guide love the Caribbean and islands like Antigua & Barbuda reinforce why we feel this way. So plan that trip and see you soon under the sun, we will be the ones with the huge coconut in our hands drinking its cool refreshing water from a straw enjoying our Caribbean Holidays to the fullest.

You can check out the Antigua Barbuda Sport Fishing Club website for further details:

http://www.antiguabarbudasportfishing.com

The piece of Caribbean beauty known as the spice isle of the Caribbean. Our criteria for chosing the gorgeous island of Grenada this month centered mainly around this country’s rebound from the devastation of Hurricane Ivor and the recovery of their tourist industry.

Grenada is by far one of the more easy going islands and visitors will be hit by the friendliness of the locals just as the warm Caribbean sun. The beaches, ambiance and culture of the island will grab you and send you into pure bliss and enjoyment for your stay.

We recommend a morning stroll on the famous Grand Anse beach and a stop at a local bar for a cool Caribbean fruit drink – try the passion fruit or the mango and you will not be dissappointed.

We have also found that many visitors are being drawn into land ownership and rental properties in Grenada. With the stable and progressive Government and their proactive policies investing in Grenada has never been better. Though unfortunate the reality is that since the devastation of the hurricane many homes along the beautiful coastline have gone up for sale. Many are being rebuilt and this time according to strict hurricane codes, certainly worth a look in our books.

However, do not spend all your time on business whilst on your Caribbean Holidays, Grenada has much much more to offer.

Take a day trip to Carricou or Petit Martinique, just two of the absolutely spellbounding islands around the main island of Grenada; Visit one or more of the astounding waterfalls; take advantage of your superior exchange rate and cheap prices and buy some local art or artisian craft or; try their National Dish of goat water and test your taste buds to the fullest.

To get around the island there are bikes, mopeds, cars, jeeps, ferries and taxis for your convenience. This makes exploring this little island even easier. Roadways, maps and directions from locals are always readily available so don’t worry about heading out for your day with water and sunscreen in hand of course.

With all this, we at Caribbean Insider’s Guide have one recommendation – Go Grenada, you will not regret it.