Have you ever dreamed of taking a romantic Caribbean vacation? Do you like the thought of walking along moonlit beaches or riding horseback across the surf? Or maybe you'd like to try your hand at scuba diving or snorkeling?

Whether you are looking for an all inclusive Caribbean vacation for a few weeks, or a quick weekend away from the rat race, the islands of the Caribbean offer enough options to mix and match for the perfect tropical vacation.

When you start to do your research, you might find yourself with a bit of "option paralysis. There are literally hundreds of islands in the Caribbean and it might be hard to choose just one. While they all offer sunshine in paradise, each one is unique. The best thing to do is to start by checking different Caribbean reviews to see what island might be the best fit.

Aruba might be better suited for families, while St. Lucia might be geared more towards couples. The Caribbean site is one good site to get an over all view of these islands. This site provides an overview of all the islands along with Caribbean vacation packages and specials. There are maps and suggestions for things to do during your visit, too.

If you're into water sports, the Caribbean is the place to go. Have you ever wanted to try scuba diving? Most of the hotels offer instruction and dives. It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, the guides will make sure that you have everything you need to know with a couple hours of training in the hotel pool or in a quiet lagoon before taking you out into the blue to view the ocean floor up close and personal. There is also water skiing, snorkeling, parasailing, jet skis, fishing and banana boats.

The beauty about a Caribbean vacation is that you don't have to do anything at all if you don't want to. If you'd rather sit on the beach with a drink in your hand and your toes in the sand, there are plenty of beaches available. Do some exploring; chances are you'll find your own private lagoon to laze the day away.

Some islands might have more nightlife than others. In the Caribbean, you can find some of the finest seafood restaurants as well as a few casinos if you like to spend time at the blackjack tables. Of course, there is always shopping too, so bring plenty of spending money.

The weather is great most of the year. Gentle trade winds keep the temperatures in the low to mid-70s and on islands like Aruba, rainfall is minimal. You might get a rain shower that lasts for no more than a few minutes before it moves on and you have the sun again. Late August into October are probably the worst times to plan a trip to the Caribbean because of the hurricane season. Check with your travel agent for what is considered "peak" season.

Places to stay can be widely varied, too. You can stay in a hotel or you can rent a condo for your stay. Condo rentals provide small kitchens and might save you some money.

Instead of eating out every night, you can sample the local cuisine by going to the markets and buying your own food to cook. Another option is taking a cruise if you can't decide on one island. Book a cruise and go island hopping!

If you have always dreamed of a vacation in paradise, look no further. With a little research, you can put together a cheap Caribbean vacation on a moment's notice and enjoy a trip to the tropics anytime you want.