Peak season in the Caribbean corresponds roughly to the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere-mid-December through mid-April. During the off-season, airline rates and hotel tariffs drop, sometimes drastically, in a mad scramble to attract tourists. Off-season hotel rates may drop as much as 20 to 50 percent from the peak-season rate. This is particularly true of the larger hotels. Small inns and guesthouses sometimes maintain the same rate year-round. In all cases, off-season is not only a cheaper time to visit, but also the best time to enjoy uncrowded beaches, relaxed restaurants, and shopping bargains.

Don't miss Grenada's Carnival in early August, a four-day-to-night blowout of calypso songs and steel bands and the traditional "jump-up" parades. Carriacou comes alive in early August for its annual regatta. Also check out the annual International Triathlon, usually held in January along Grand Anse Beach; competitors come from as far away as Australia and Norway.

Dry and rainy seasons dominate Grenada's climate. April through December is the dry season; May to January is rainy, though showers are brief. Temperatures hover around 27° C (80° F), and there is blissfully little humidity because of the constant trade winds.