Cheapest places to travel in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is a region synonymous with gently waving palm trees, idyllic powder sand beaches, and from azure blue to crystal clear waters gently lapping the shores. It is no surprise that it is among the top beach destinations on Planet Earth. Many people assume that it will break the bank to take enjoy the sun at one of the most idyllic Caribbean beaches, but this does not have to be the case. Although vacationing in the region never will be as cheap as for example in a South Asian country, but help your trip planning let us give you some tips what the cheapest places to travel in the Caribbean are!

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic, that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, its impoverished western neighbor is often mentioned as one of the cheapest places to travel in the Caribbean. Beloved for its golfing, impressive beaches, and beautiful resorts, the DR also contains stunning landscapes ranging from tropical rainforests to highlands like the Pico Duarte, the highest Caribbean mountain. The lovely historic capital city, Santo Domingo is also worth a visit! It is full of Spanish colonial architecture standouts such as the Gothic styled Catedral Primada de America, a 500 years old building in the Zona Colonial old town district.

Thanks to a wealth of hotels and apartments, the Dominican Republic proves to be a surprisingly affordable destination for sun lovers. With something for everyone in world-class cuisine, architecture, history, golf courses, and standout beaches, it also boasts eight individual international airports to make it easy and cheap to come and go. The fun-loving and welcoming locals besides a fantastic climate year-round make the Dominican Republic probably the best value Caribbean island.

SeaSpiration Tip: Read more tips on what to arrange before you travel! Check our beach vacation planning guide!

Curaçao

Curaçao is a Dutch overseas territory found in the southern Caribbean around 40 miles to the north of Venezuela. For lovers of water sports, this island impresses visitors with its well-preserved coral reefs and ideal weather for scuba diving and snorkeling, and also beckons to nature lovers with its incredible plant and animal life.

Although the island is internationally known for its incomparable beaches such as Blue Bay, but don’t miss out looking around in Willemstad, the beautiful capital. It features colonial buildings which are pastel-colored along with the Queen Emma Bridge and the island’s 1600s era Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. The best time to come to Curaçao on a budget is between the months of May to November when airfares and hotel prices tend to be lower than during the winter months. Thanks to the enormous airport, there are many flights from the U.S. with cheaper options available.

The Bahamas

The simplest Caribbean nation to reach from the United States is undoubtedly the Bahamas. With daily flights to and from at reasonable prices and a daily ferry boat service from Miami to the northwest islands, it is certainly among the cheapest places to travel in the Caribbean.

Millions of tourists come to these white shores to enjoy their beach vacation. The Bahamas cater equally to singles, groups, families, and couples thanks to their great variety of resorts ranging from high-end all-inclusive to more budget-styled hotel choices. There is so much more to do here than the all-immersing activities of the mega-resort complexes (like Atlantis). Offshore reefs for snorkeling and diving compete with almost unlimited golf course options.

Shopaholics will love searching through the local markets for the greatest offerings at duty-free shops. The country uses the U.S. dollar which makes it easy to enjoy the year-round fantastic weather, inexpensive and delightful cuisine, fabulous water sports options and spectacular natural attractions.

Barbados

The island of Barbados is famous for its pink sand beaches and incredible coral reefs, but it offers so much more than these stereotypical Caribbean charms. Once a poverty-stricken economy based on wealthy sugar plantations, today’s Barbados has among the highest literacy rates in the region.

With emerald-hued golf courses, beautiful all-inclusive resorts, stunning tropical paradise gardens, and the Harrison’s Cave system juxtaposed against 1600s era sugar plantation ruins such as St. Nicholas Abbey, there is something for everyone here. Lovers of British favorite pastimes like cricket, polo, and afternoon tea will feel right at home. For still more local culture, try the Mount Gay Rum, dance to the lilting calypso music, or go to a horse race.

SeaSpiration Tip: Read more budget destination tips > Budget destinations for couples!

The island always offers something more to see and do, with its passionate party-filled atmosphere, incredible architecture, and devoted sports culture. And yes, the island has incomparable beaches in tourist favorites Carlisle Bay and Dover Beach. Although the island’s most advertised hotels are the Gold Coast’s upscale resorts, thanks to the wide selection of value hotels and affordable self-catering apartments on South Coast, Barbados to be mentioned as one of the cheapest places to travel in the Caribbean.

Grenada

Grenada is a small island nation that is famous for its lovely coastal towns and wonderful sandy beaches. It is called the Spice Isle with good reason. This mountain-covered island hosts numerous nutmeg plantations. The smells of the island’s spices are intoxicating with their mixture of vanilla and nutmeg wafting along from the island’s many spice plantations. There is also world-class alcohol produced here that you can savor in the form of the River Antoine Distillery branded 150 proof rum

But Grenada is as much about it is sights and activities as tastes and smells. A must-visit attraction is St. George, the capital that graces the island with its lively colored houses, 1700s era Fort George, and Georgian English buildings sitting atop the Carenage Harbour.
St. George’s harbor has been called the most beautiful in all of the Caribbean with good reason. The shades of yellows, reds, and greens reflect stunningly off of the crystalline Caribbean waters. On the island’s south lies the Grand Anse Beach that is populated with bars and resorts.

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands deserved reputation as a popular wedding and honeymoon destination within the Caribbean, but this destination also has enough variety to give visitors the choices of not only luxurious beachfront resorts but also affordable villas and hotels, therefore it deserves to be among the cheapest places to travel in the Caribbean.

White sandy beaches are almost free of tourists, colorful coral reefs beckon snorkelers and divers, and the cuisine is divine. A light-hearted ambience permeates these islands lying to the east of the Bahamas. Beloved tourist attractions include Middle Caicos cave exploring, visiting the Grand Turk Lighthouse, whale watching, and going to the planet’s sole Conch Farm.

Turks and Caicos features not only impressive beaches but heaven for water sports lovers too. The Grace Bay Beach lying along Providenciales’ northeast coast has been called one of the top beaches in the world. The 14-mile-long barrier reef called Provo Island is rivaled only by a 2,134 yards long underwater wall lying off of Grand Turk island. Chalk Sound National Park provides fabulous azure waters for diving.

Dominica

The lush landscapes dotting all of Dominica were saved from overblown development on this paradise island. The downside to this is that tourist accommodations are more limited and can be more costly than on Caribbean destinations with a wider range of accommodation choices, but for those appreciate that all natural attractions are free, the costs of the vacation package become more reasonable. Between verdant tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, and winding rivers, tourists are spoiled for choices beyond the expectedly beautiful and mostly natural beaches.

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