As you plan your summer vacation, don’t forget about the Caribbean! It’s beautiful part of the world year-round, including in summer. You’ll find all the familiar things you love about the Caribbean—the amazing beaches, cooling tropical breezes and delicious food—and fewer of the things you love a little less. The crowds are thinner in summer, and seasonal hotel rates are lower. Check out a few of the best Caribbean destinations for summer travel, as recommended by the Caribbean Journal: Barbados, Aruba, St. Maarten’s French side and St. Croix.

We love traveling in the Caribbean during summer. It’s the perfect time to take your kids, since they’re out of school. And with the reduced crowds, it can be that much easier to score a palapa on the beach for a day.

Is it time for your family to think Caribbean? What do you enjoy about the Caribbean in summer?