How to see the Caribbean on a budget – including luxury rooms for £100 a night

Though you could empty your bank account splurging on a chef-staffed villa in St Barts, or chartering a yacht through the British Virgin Islands, a trip to the Caribbean doesn’t have to be extravagently expensive. Great beaches and cuisine are scattered throughout the region, and it’s possible to have a sun-kissed holiday on a budget.

As someone who’s been travelling to the Caribbean for decades, the area is my go-to for holidays to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, hosting girls’ trips or just spending a week decompressing on a stretch of white-sand beach – without breaking the bank. Here are my insider tips on how to enjoy the islands for less this year.

When is the best time to travel to the Caribbean?

One of the best ways to save money is to be strategic about when you travel. The high season is November through March, when resorts charge a premium for guests on holiday for American Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and American universities’ spring breaks.

The low season starts in June and lasts until October, but remember that hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30 – though a few islands are outside the hurricane belt and often dodge severe weather, such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. If you travel during the less expensive summer months, expect some rain (or liquid sunshine, as islanders say), which never lasts long.

To learn more, see our guide to visiting the Caribbean during hurricane season.

Which islands offer the most for your money?

Two of the most affordable islands are Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, which offer lots of large, all-inclusive resorts. Both islands also have local currencies with favourable exchange rates for visitors.

Other budget-friendly islands such as Barbados, Sint Maarten/St Martin, Puerto Rico, St Lucia and Grenada have affordable accommodations ranging from beach-front resorts to charming boutique hotels. Some quieter islands – such as Dominica, St Kitts, Bonaire and Antigua – can be affordable if you’re flexible with your travel dates and accommodations.

Are all-inclusive resorts the most affordable option?

All-inclusive resorts are a great option for travelling with a big group or with family. If you have young children, having access to the resort’s water sports, nightly entertainment and all-day dining can make holidays much easier. If you’re with friends and likely to indulge in poolside cocktails, an all-inclusive resort with an unlimited drink package can save you serious money.

However, if you’re travelling solo or with a group of well-seasoned travellers, you may want to skip the all-inclusive resort and book a boutique hotel or Airbnb. Making meals in your kitchen or splitting a bottle of wine with friends at a local restaurant can be cost-effective and more culturally immersive.

How can I save money on my hotel or resort?

Check reputable third-party sites such as Booking.com, Expedia, or Hotels.com and book your hotel and flight together. If you’re travelling with friends, consider splitting the cost of a resort hotel room or a multi-bedroom Airbnb. If you have children, check for hotels or resorts that let kids under 12 eat and stay for free.

How can I save money on my on-island activities and excursions?

Tours booked through the hotel or resort can often come with a hefty price tag, but finding tours through a reputable site such as Viator is usually less expensive. If you’re comfortable doing so, consider renting a car or bicycle to see local attractions. Travellers can also be tempted to try to see everything on one trip, filling their days with back-to-back excursions. But picking just a few and spreading it out over your vacation results in money saved and a more enjoyable experience.

What to book on a budget

Explore Negril, Jamaica

Most travellers head to Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, Jamaica’s tourism hubs, but Negril, on the island’s west end, is a sleepy town with great beaches and stunning sunsets. Consider a stay at Rockhouse Hotel & Spa, a rustic property with cliffside thatched villas overlooking a secluded cove.

The hotel also offers access to its sister resort, Skylark Negril Beach Resort, a chic boutique hotel located directly on Jamaica’s famous seven-mile beach, giving travellers the best of both worlds. Rockhouse Hotel is also just a few minutes from the famous Rick’s Cafe, where you can see daring divers jump off the rugged cliffs, or enjoy a panoramic sunset.

Rockhouse Hotel & Spa (1876 957 4373) low-season rates start at £150 a night.

For more inspiration, see our expert travel guide to Jamaica.

Rent a car in Bonaire

Driving in the Caribbean is not for the faint of heart, and the narrow, twisting roads are best left to the professionals. But there are a few islands where the roads are easy to navigate, and streets have little traffic. Bonaire, a tiny island in the Dutch Caribbean, falls into the latter category. The island is roughly 24 miles long and five miles wide, with no traffic lights, lots of roundabouts, and free parking across the island. Taxis can be pricey, and renting a car allows you to see more of the island. Some of your stops should be the street art in the capital of Kralendijk, the Cadushy Distillery, and the donkey sanctuary.

Avis Bonaire Car Rental (599 717 1111) offers car rentals from £22 a day.

Take a cruise around the eastern Caribbean

The eastern Caribbean islands are generally more expensive than the western ones. If you want to see several eastern islands on one trip, consider taking a cruise. Several leave south Florida’s two main cruise ports, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, each day.

Geared towards families, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer a good mix of quality food and entertainment. A less expensive, family-friendly cruise option is Carnival Cruise, and if you want an adults-only experience, consider checking out Virgin Voyages itineraries.

Royal Caribbean (1 800 265 6649) offers the 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from £685pp.

For more on cruising in the Caribbean, see our expert guide.

Experience natural hot springs in Dominica

You could shell out a few hundred dollars for a spa massage, or you can head to Dominica’s Ti Kwen Glo Cho, a garden filled with natural hot springs. About 20 minutes from the capital, Roseau, the hot springs are an inexpensive way to experience the island’s therapeutic thermal waters. The natural spring park has natural pools, a mud bath and several waterfalls.

Entry to Ti Kwen Glo Cho is £8.

Island hop from St Martin to Anguilla or St Barts

Yes, it’s possible to visit a few of the Caribbean’s most expensive islands on a budget – if you go for just the day. Sint Maarten/St Martin, the Dutch and French dual-island nation, is a gateway to some of the most exclusive islands in the Caribbean. Book a stay on the less expensive Dutch side and take a day ferry to Anguilla or St Barts, two posh islands regularly frequented by celebrities.

If you choose the former, head to the picturesque Meads Bay and grab a table at Straw Hat or the locally loved Blanchard’s Beach Shack. If St Barts is more your speed, head to Nikki Beach, one of the many gorgeous beach clubs that dot the island.

St Bart’s Ferry offers round-trip ferry rides from St Martin to St Barts from £33.

Stay at an Airbnb in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s Old San Juan is one of the most walkable neighbourhoods in the Caribbean, and the cobblestone streets are lined with bars, restaurants and museums. To experience the buzzy neighbourhood best, rent an Airbnb or vacation home.

Staying in the Old City means you’re within walking distance of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the Spanish fortress, La Factoria, the famous bar, and Santella, one of the best restaurants in San Juan. If you want to explore outside of San Juan, Ocean Park Beach is only 15 minutes away, and El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s national forest, is a 40-minute drive.

This privately hosted Airbnb offers a one-bedroom loft in Old San Juan from £103.

Book a room at the Comfort Suites Paradise Nassau

Atlantis is a popular 400-acre property with nearly 40 restaurants, an aquarium, a water park and a dolphin cove. If a stay here is beyond your budget, one of the best ways to experience the resort’s amenities is to book a room at the nearby Comfort Suites Paradise Nassau. A stay at the budget hotel grants visitors full access to the amenities at Atlantis – and an overnight stay is just a fraction of the cost. The 223-room all-suite hotel also includes complimentary breakfast, a pool with a swim-up bar and a kids club.

Comfort Suites Paradise Nassau (001 242 363 3680) offers rooms from £103.

Experience one of the Caribbean’s best snorkelling sites in St John

The US Virgin Islands, made up of St John, St Croix and St Thomas, are among the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean. St Thomas is the most populous of the three islands and St Croix is a close second, but some of the best snorkelling and beaches are on the less developed, tucked-away St John.

St John doesn’t have an international airport, and the best way to get there is to book a stay in St Thomas and take a 20-minute ferry to the island. Two-thirds of the island is a national park, home to Trunk Bay, which is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best beaches. The tiny island also has an underwater snorkel trail and a floating taco bar.

St John Ferry Ticketing Company (001 340 779 4165) offers one-way ferry rides from St Thomas to St John for £5.

Take in the mountain views in Antigua

Antigua is known for its 365 public beaches, but some of the best views on the island are above sea level. On the south-west corner of the island you can hike Mount Obama, the highest point on the island, and on a clear day, you can see neighbouring St Kitts and Montserrat. There’s no entry fee, but the steep two to three-hour round-trip journey is best for seasoned hikers.

For something less taxing, you can walk or take a taxi to Shirley Heights, a former military lookout, which gives you sweeping views of English and Falmouth Harbour. Be sure to stop at the bar and restaurant Shirley Heights Lookout, which hosts themed events throughout the week.

Shirley Heights Lookout (286 729 0636) offers a menu of jerk chicken, lobster and shrimp starting at £10.

For more inspiration see our expert travel guide to Antigua.

Go on a desert safari in Aruba

If you’re visiting Aruba, leave the beaches behind for a day and explore the island’s desert side. The Dutch ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao – have a unique desert geography that’s best explored from the back of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Travellers can rent a single ATV or split a utility-terrain vehicle (UTV) ride (which seats up to four), led by an experienced tour guide.

Promising some of the most unique terrain in the Caribbean, you’ll drive through the island’s national park, Arikok National Park, where you’ll see towering cacti, hidden beaches and the Ayo and Casibari Rock Formations that date back thousands of years.

ABC Tours Aruba (305 432 3307) offers half-day tours from £95 per person.