How to Save Money on a Caribbean Vacation
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting the Caribbean without blowing your travel budget. What we call the Caribbean Islands are made up of 13 different countries and over 700 individual islands. For travelers, Caribbean destinations run the gamut from budget travel to luxury travel. If you want to plan a Caribbean vacation on a budget, these budget travel tips are for you!
Look Beyond All-Inclusive Resorts
This will depend on your travel style; some all-inclusive resorts are a great deal while others can be a bit pricy. If you are not a big eater or drinker who can take full advantage of the “all-inclusive” offerings, then you are better off staying at a different resort and paying for your meals and drinks a la carte.
We prefer to eat locally, so we have also stayed at an all-inclusive resort with packages that do not include food and drink. It all boils down to doing your research before booking your Caribbean accommodation.
What NOT to Do At All-Inclusive Resorts
Eat Where the Locals Eat
You can save a ton of money by leaving your hotel for meals. Whether you go into town or find food trucks and stands along the road, the food will always be more affordable. If the locals eat there, it will also probably be much more authentic and flavorful.
Bring Your Beach Gear
Of course, you can buy anything you need when you arrive, but you will pay a premium for everything. Remember, these are islands so almost everything but the seafood and fruit has to be imported. The cost of checking a bag will pay for itself when you see how much a bottle of sunscreen costs at most resorts.
Check out our Caribbean packing list for an idea of what to bring with you.
Consider Flying Off-Peak Days
Some Caribbean destinations are popular weekend getaways, so Friday and Sunday airfares might be much higher than the same flight mid-week. You can save quite a bit of money if you are flexible on your dates. Most airlines will have a flexible search option that can show you different prices for a week.
Have US Dollars in Cash
The Caribbean is so heavily focused on tourism, and tipping is a big part of that. If you bring cash from home, it will save you ATM fees and exchange rates. I recommend having a lot of singles and fives as those are the best denominations for tipping or purchasing from small vendors. You can lose up to 25% in ATM conversions, so bringing cash from home can save you a lot!
Rental Cars vs. Tours
No matter which island you visit, there will be tours offered from snorkeling and diving cruises to Jeep tours and hiking tours. You can also rent a car and do many of these things on your own. It really depends on your group and activities. In Aruba, since there were four of us, we decided it was cheaper to rent a car and tour on our own rather than join a tour that cost $60 per person. For solo travelers, it might be cheaper to take the tour.
Public transportation and private drivers are also options for getting around on certain islands. Some resorts offer a local shuttle; some are free, and some are not, so that’s something else to take into consideration. Every island is different, so you have to weigh all the options that are available to you.
Use the Supermarket
Groceries are expensive because they are imported, but they are still cheaper than restaurant prices. Even if you just have a kitchenette, you can save a lot of money by eating breakfast and lunch at your hotel and only eating out for dinner. Besides, kids don’t want to take a break from the beach for a sit-down lunch, so having a loaf of bread and some cold cuts is a quick and cheap lunch.
Negotiate Prices Where You Can
A lot of Caribbean countries use bartering, so if it’s part of the culture where you are visiting, you can save money by negotiating. This isn’t done at the supermarket, but at street vendors and markets, you easily barter the price down. Some tour operators will also negotiate their price; we’ve been on tours where we talked to others who all paid a different price. If you’re not set on a specific tour, you can usually walk down the beach or the main street and get the best deal.
Look for Deals
There are a lot of hidden deals when it comes to travel. Sometimes you can get free breakfast if you sign up for the rewards program, or some properties will give you a free night if you book a certain number of nights. At one of our Caribbean hotels, breakfast was $22 per person, so we booked a deal that included breakfast and we saved $66 each day on breakfast alone.
Not All Islands are Equal
If you are traveling on a tighter budget and not just looking to save a few bucks, then you should carefully research the different islands before deciding on your destination. Places like Turks & Caicos or the Cayman Islands are much more expensive than islands like Jamaica or Puerto Rico. Budget isn’t the only consideration, as each destination will have a specialty. Some are great for divers, while others are known for rainforest adventures.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
We also have travel budgeting tips that apply to all destinations, not specific to the Caribbean. With a little bit of research and planning, you can save a lot of money on your Caribbean vacation. Whether it means you get to stay a little longer or plan more vacations, we’re all about saving money while traveling!
Looking for more Caribbean vacation tips? Check out these blog posts: