Guides for Eastern Caribbean

[brianontheroad]

We're thinking about quitting work and heading south in January/February for the Caribbean for a few months. We're a young couple 27 and 24, a few thousand miles behind us, but this will be our first big trip just the two of us. I see there's a new rough guide coming out at the end of September for the Caribbean and I've been impressed with Rough Guides in the past for traveling. I've had a look at a few of the cruising guides on Amazon and none of them look very catered to the adventurous cruiser, more the bareboat charterer -- anyone cruised recently have any recommendations, we're thinking Bahamas, Virgin Islands, maybe a little further south afterwords depending on time, money, wind, etc.

Any other recommendations on places to cruise for young people on a tight budget in a "good old boat" are always welcome

[camaraderie]

"For a few months??" Not nearly enough time allowed. It took us 90 days to GET to the BVI's!
If you want to get into some of the more out of the way spots, I suggest the Pavlidis guides: Island Hopping Shameless Plug Book Page
He is a full time, small budget cruiser who actually charts out the places he visits and runs the depth sounder etc. and includes chartlets not found anywhere else and he really gets into to local culture. You can read examples on the above website.
Nevertheless...for the Caribe..I would also not be without the Dolye guides to the leewards and windwards as you WILL need to be aware of services available and contacts etc.
Chartwise...the CYC/Maptech charts are the best for the Caribe and the Explorer Charts are the best for the Bahamas. The Pavlidis guide to Turks and Caicos has good charlets for Luperon,DR which is almost impossible to find a good chart for otherwise! Bluewater Charts in Florida is a good source for all of this at bluewaterweb.com
Oh yeah...for the Abacos/Bahamas...the Dodge Guide is the one you want for crossing advice as well as local detail.

[brianontheroad]

Any more general guides for putting together a plan?

[camaraderie]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean Brian...but the only comprehensive work I know of that discusses the whole Thorny Path down to the Caribe is Bruce VanSants...A Gentleman's Guide to Passages South.
I don't agree with some of his opinions and he is VERY opinionated...but the book is an excellent overview of the way south and what you may expect to encounter.