Here are ten budget travel tips for planning your perfect vacation to the Caribbean. The Caribbean is a majestic seascape filled with romance, lazy beaches and wonderful historic attractions. Each Island offers something distinctive, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are all special and doable, even on a budget!Choose your hotel wisely
Believe it or not, finding inexpensive beachfront hotel rooms that are within your budget can be accomplished! Consider staying just slightly off the coast for an even better deal. It’s hardly going to diminish the quality of your vacation. You’re still right on the water with spectacular views.
All-inclusive Vacations
All-inclusive resorts have gained tremendous popularity in the past 10-years, offering budget conscious travelers dream vacations. The reason all-inclusive vacation packages are a wonderful option is because everything is paid for, airfare, hotel, meals, drinks, and admission to certain attractions. Also, many of the top resorts like, Sandals, Beaches, Couples and SuperClubs have snorkeling gear, surfboards, gyms, spas and other equipment for guests use without additional fees.
Cruise the islands
Cruises offer all the perks of an all-inclusive vacation but with the added benefit of being able to visit many different Caribbean destinations in one trip. If you want to visit a few islands definitely consider a cruise.
Travel off-season
The Caribbean off-season runs from mid-April to mid-December. There is also a ‘window season’ in January just after New Years Day, when hotel rates drop after the Holiday rush. If you travel off-season, not only can you save money on airfare and hotels, but also you’ll deal with fewer crowds. It’s something to consider if you want some additional rest and relaxation.
Rent a Condo
If you are looking for a cheap holiday with a big group, you can save money by renting a condo or guesthouse, and then buying food at the local markets and cooking your own feasts!
Book flights wisely
A good strategy for finding a cheap air flight deal is to either book way in advance or book last minute during the off-season. CheapoAir.com offers year round airfare deals to the Caribbean. Be sure to check back often and sign up for the Fare Alerts Newsletter.
Choose your destination airport
Flying into a less convenient airport, renting a cheap car and driving into the main city could save you hundreds of dollars. Remember, the more you save on travel, the more you can spend on vacation!
Take the bus
Many of the Caribbean islands have excellent public transportation that is easy to use. This will save you money on a car rental. You can also take Taxi’s for less because some of the islands have fixed-fee taxi service so there are no meters. Or, rent scooters. Lots of resorts and hotels offer guests scooters for as little as $15 per day.
Buy duty-free
When you arrive at the airport, browse the duty-free shop. Make a mental note of anything you might want to purchase while in the city and if it’s at the duty-free shop, buy it there on your way home instead.
Fly round-trip
Even if you are planning on doing some island hopping, try to fly in and out of the same airport. Cheap plane tickets are easier to find with round trip tickets rather than one-way flights from different cities.