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Ahh… the Caribbean. The very thought of this group of tropical islands conjures up images of crystal clear waters, sugar white sands and more water sports than you can shake a rum cocktail at! You’re also probably thinking that all this beauty comes with a pretty hefty price tag to boot, but not necessarily.

No, a week in the Caribbean is never going to come in at cheaper than a week on the Costa del Sol (sorry!), but there are ways that you can make it tug less on the old purse strings.

We’ve teamed up with budget travel experts, Holiday Gems, to get some invaluable tips on how to holiday in the Caribbean, without a fiscal hangover.

Go for a better known island

Choosing a better known island means that more airlines fly there directly. More competition usually leads to lower air fares, so you’ll pay less for a flight to Barbados than you would to somewhere more a little bit more obscure, like St Kitts.

Most of the better known islands are served by their own airports, so you won’t have to get on a ferry once you’ve landed. Most islands of the Caribbean are an eight – ten hour flight away, so there’s a good chance you won’t want to do much more travelling once you’ve landed. Besides, the more time you spend journeying to your location, the less time you have to relax in the sunshine!

Go all inclusive

Selecting an all inclusive option may seem like an expensive feat, but it will actually work out much cheaper in the long run. Most of the hotels in the Caribbean are specifically tailored towards all-inclusive guests, so you’ll find some fantastic deals that could make the holiday of a lifetime much less expensive.

The other great benefit of an all inclusive holiday is that you don’t have to worry as much about budgeting whilst you’re out there, as most things like food and drink will be included in the price of the holiday.

Go at the right time

Like other destinations across the globe, the price of Caribbean holidays varies depending on when you choose to go. Peak time in the Caribbean is from December to April, as this is when the weather is at its worst in the UK, and at its driest in the West Indies. For a cheaper alternative, travel to the Caribbean between May and September, as this is the low season.

The weather during the low season can get quite humid, and there’s more chance of being caught in a tropical monsoon. However, these showers usually last minutes, and afterwards the hot Caribbean sun dries everything so quickly, you can’t even tell it rained.

Check the cost of living

It’s all very well and good booking the cheapest holiday you can find, but it’s equally as important to check out the country’s cost of living before committing, especially if you’re not going all-inclusive.

The Dominican Republic tends to be less expensive once you’re out there, but somewhere like Barbados is smaller, so will cost less to see more of the island. It really is about weighing up the costs, depending on what you want to do and see during your holiday. Are you willing to buy 2023 Calendars, order 2023 Calendars here.