Best Cheap Caribbean Vacations for 2025 ; Curacao. When I announced on social media that I was headed to St Lucia and Grenada for two months, one of my friends asked for tips on how to see the Caribbean on a budget. This started my juices flowing to pull on all of my experience so far and do some research as I went. I’ve collected British Airways points for years.
But the key for the Caribbean is that most of the flights that come from the UK don’t stop on just one island. For example, flights to Antigua continue to Saint Kitt’s. On the flight I got to St Lucia and then went on to Trinidad. The one I eventually booked to Grenada came from St Lucia and cost me just £11 return (for offsetting the carbon).
The rest of it was on my points. Keep your eye out for these extra little flights as they could make it easier to explore more islands for less. Before I visited for the first time, I expected there to be regular ferry links between the islands. But it is not like Europe and these are limited.
However, depending on where you choose to travel, it is not impossible. For example, check out Bahamas Ferries, QE IV and Road Town Fast Ferry for the US Virgin Islands. For the most comprehensive ferry service, check out L’Express des Iles which runs passenger boats between the islands of Dominica, St Lucia, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes. Another way to travel the Caribbean on a budget is to avoid staying in the more popular beach resorts.
For example, if you like the Dominican Republic, head away from Punta Cana and you could save significant costs. In Barbados, try the south coast instead of the west, or for a completely different experience, the far less visited east coast. Thank you Chirasree & really pleased you found the post useful. I have no doubt you would love Cuba & glad to have helped you plan better.
Grenada is a beautiful country positioned in the southeastern Caribbean Sea just south of Saint Vincent and north of Trinidad and Tobago. Grenada is famous for the stunning Grand Anse Beach, Annandale Falls, and Grand Etang National Park. Grenada’s most popular tourist season is Carnival, which takes place every August. Formally known as “Spicemas, visitors can expect to find lots of music, dancing, and parades.
Among the many beautiful and affordable resorts in Grenada is the True Blue Bay all-inclusive resort. George’s boutique hotel boasts four outdoor pools, a kids’ pool with a slide, water sports, an escape room game, and unlimited drinks and cocktails from the poolside bars. Puerto Rico is a richly diverse northeastern Caribbean island located east of the Dominican Republic and west of the U, S. Puerto Rico is famous for the El Yunque National Forest, Playa Flamenco in Culebra, and Mosquito Bay in Vieques.
Among the several marvelous resorts in Puerto Rico is the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino in San Juan. The hotel features a rooftop infinity pool, morning yoga classes, wellness aqua aerobics, Latin dance classes, and live music every weekend. Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean Sea, nestled 90 miles south of Cuba. This gorgeous country is famous for the Blue Mountains, Dunn’s River Falls, the Seven Mile Beach in Negril, and Port Royal.
February is a popular time of year for tourists to travel to Jamaica. During this month, the nation puts on its annual celebration, the Bob Marley Birthday Bash. Among the many beautiful resorts in Jamaica is JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar, located in Montego Bay. This resort is stacked with amenities that include three outdoor adult-only pools, beach access, tennis, ping pong, beach volleyball, and basketball courts.
Another option in Montego Bay is Zoetry Montego Bay Jamaica Resort, which provides guests with three outdoor pools, hot tubs, a fitness center, water sports, cooking lessons, patois lessons, board games, bracelet-making classes, yoga classes, and meditation. Peak tourist season in the Dominican Republic is from December to April. It is during this time that the weather is ideal for beach activities. Among the popular resorts in the Dominican Republic is the Club Med Punta Cana Resort.
Here, you’ll find three outdoor pools, beach access, kayaking, paddle-boarding, tennis, archery, volleyball, basketball, sailing, kite surfing, and a kids club with a circus school and trapeze center. Aruba is a vibrant nation positioned north of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean Sea. The country is famous for Arikok National Park, the Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations, Eagle Beach, and the Alto Vista Chapel. Aruba’s most popular tourist season ranges from mid-December to mid-April with an influx during the celebration of Carnival in January and February.
Trinidad and Tobago is a single nation made up of two islands in the southern Caribbean. Trinidad is famous for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Maracas Bay, and the Asa Wright Nature Centre. Tobago is famous for Pigeon Point beach, Fort King George, and the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve. The busiest time of year in Trinidad and Tobago is Carnival.
Tourists come from all over the globe to wear elaborate costumes and participate in the festivities. Among the many beautiful resorts in Trinidad and Tobago is Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort in Black Rock, Tobago. At this luxury resort, guests will find an outdoor freshwater pool with a swim-up bar, a hot tub, a game center, fitness center, tennis courts, and a full-service spa. With over 30 inhabited islands, the Bahamas offers several budget-friendly options for travelers.
While Nassau is a popular starting point for exploring the islands, it’s not always the most affordable choice. For the best travel deals, consider visiting lesser-known islands like Andros, Abaco, and Cat Island, especially between August and November. Many islands cater to luxury travel but if you are a budget-conscious traveler, you too can enjoy everything the Caribbean has to offer. For example, the price of a boat tour in the Caribbean Sea can be considerably discounted if you are buying a large number of tickets all at once.
Several airlines service routes between the Caribbean, the United States, Canada and Europe but the most important consideration when it comes to your budget is knowing when to book. Though the island is budget-friendly throughout the year, planning your visit between May and November is recommended to keep costs down as demand (and prices) increase significantly during winter and spring. Saint Lucia is a culturally rich island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea, situated north of the Grenadines and south of Martinique. Lucia is during the wintertime when the weather on the island is warmer and the humidity levels are lower.
The food can be amazing in some of the more locally owned shacks around the islands and a much more authentic experience. The summer period – low season in the Caribbean – has a string of back-to-back Carnivals in St Vincent, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Lucia. Avoid traveling to the Caribbean during the high season (November to April), as flight prices and accommodation are more expensive. In my experience, most of the islands do have drinkable tap water and this will always be the cheapest option but may not be safe everywhere.
For example, in Grenada, Grand Anse is one of the most beautiful beaches in the region and a great base to explore the island. By visiting the US Virgin Islands outside the peak winter season, travelers can take advantage of budget-friendly deals during the shoulder seasons (more on this below).
