Compromise. It can be a dirty word. Travel companies like to claim that they provide experiences unsullied by such banal and petty complications... offering sun that always shines, beaches that are always empty and all at a bargain price; truly travel without compromise (we don't claim to be guilt free in this respect, in fact we may have used that very phrase as a strap line many years ago). But in reality, away from the glib certainties of marketing departments, it is generally accepted that if you want guaranteed sun you'll have to pay a premium for the privilege, and if you want to pay less then you run the risk of unpredictable weather.

But is there another way? Enter the legendary 'Shoulder Season'... the part of the year immediately before and after high season, the magical point on the chart where supply and demand intersect and theoretically you can have the best of both worlds... the mythical combination of great weather, empty beaches and all at a low, low price. Fewer people visiting means cheaper flights, greater choice of hotels and, some people even claim, calmer and more accommodating locals.

So does it exist, and if so, when? One thing to note is that it is not just the weather that drives up prices. Public holidays, local events and school holidays can also increase demand and mean that you'll pay more, but if you are able to be flexible as to when you can travel then the best of both worlds can be yours.

In the Caribbean accepted wisdom is that the high season is mid-December to the end of the Easter holidays. With Easter occurring so late this year, canny travellers can take advantage of the fact that many hotels are dropping their rates in March. This is past the January and February bun-fight but before things get busy again over the Easter holidays and can be a brilliant time to visit the region as the climate is still fantastic, allowing much gloating and showing off your tan on your return to friends and colleagues benighted by six months of British winter.

If you'd like to take advantage of this temporal anomaly, we've got some amazing last minute offers for travel in March and early April, so give our team a call and they'd be happy to advise.