Are you interested in vacationing in the Caribbean? There are so many islands to choose from; Cuba, St. Thomas, Grenada, and Roatan, to name a few. If you are looking for that winter sun destination, you may be on a budget, especially if you want to vacation with your whole family. Family vacations can be friendly, but they can also be quite expensive. That is why many individuals like you wonder if they can find cheap holidays at popular vacation destinations such as the Caribbean. Here are some great tips for finding those cheap Caribbean vacations.
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If you are interested in finding cheap Caribbean vacations, you should know that it is not only possible but relatively easy. You have seen the constant ads in your email, or social media feeds. With that in mind, you must proceed with caution. Although finding a cheap Caribbean vacation is achievable, you may run into more “junk” than real quality vacations. Knowing what to look for and where to find it is an excellent way to save money when planning your Caribbean vacation.
Keep reading to discover great tips for finding cheap Caribbean vacations.
What is a cheap vacation?
Definitions of cheap –
“Low in price; worth more than its cost” and “of low quality” (Merriam-Webster dictionary)
When searching for cheap Caribbean vacations, it is essential to remember that cheap has several different definitions. It is possible to find cheap Caribbean vacations that are low in price but be wary as they could also be lacking in quality. On the other hand, inexpensive vacations may be outstanding value for their money. (It is also possible to find expensive vacations that are low quality as well.) Finding a good quality Caribbean vacation for the best price is the key to a great vacation. Doing a bit of research ahead of time can make all the difference. You might even find a destination you should have considered.
Types of Caribbean Vacations
There are three basic types of vacation packages; the standard vacation package, including flights and hotels; the independently booked vacation components and the Caribbean cruise. For the best chance of success in finding a cheap vacation, you will want to examine the advertised vacation packages closely. These vacation packages typically allow you to make several of your travel arrangements or vacation reservations at the same time. Most of the time, you will find that standard vacation packages are the most affordable.
Standard Vacation Packages
These typically include:
- The cost of airline reservations.
- A room at a vacation resort or hotel.
- Possibly even a car rental.
Many vacation resorts and travel companies reward their customers for making their vacation reservations all at once; thus, the discount. Furthermore, some large travel companies will book a block of seats on the plane or rooms at the resort, thus guaranteeing the resort a sale. Consequently, the guaranteed sale discount is passed down to you, the customer.
The Caribbean is well-known for its offerings of all-inclusive vacations and super-inclusive vacations. All-inclusive and super-inclusive Caribbean vacations are ideal, as they often include more than just your travel arrangements. They can include the cost of your food, drinks, and many entertainment activities, especially those on the resort’s site. This means you can go to dinner or do some activities without carrying your wallet. Doesn’t that sound like a nice feeling? In addition, these resorts can also include all tips and gratuities. Standard vacation packages and all-inclusive resorts are typically some of the cheapest Caribbean vacations.
Independently Booked Vacation Packages
These will have separate bookings for:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Cars
- Activities and Entertainment
Independently booked vacation packages mean just that. Each component, airfare, transfers, hotels, cars, entertainment, and activities are all purchased separately. Now you may wonder why you would want to book everything separately if packages that include them are available. The answer is quite simple; the pre-packaged cheap vacations may not have precisely what you are looking for.
Several websites offer excellent search capabilities for cheap Caribbean flights for those who want to book flights separately. These include Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights. With each of these, you can input the dates you want to go away, and the search engine will magically search the database and come up with some fantastic ideas for cheap flights to Caribbean destinations. If you have a particular destination, ask Cheap-O-Air.com or Trip.com for some prices and routing options. Often, many more flight combinations are available when booked separately than with a pre-packaged vacation.
For hotels, Booking.com, Agoda, and Hostelworld offer great options. Again, plug in your desired dates, and they will come up with a pricing option. When doing this type of research for a discount vacation, keep in mind that you need to compare the same types of rooms for the most accurate pricing. Be sure to compare double rooms versus double rooms and suites versus suites etc. Also, check if there are any meals included. Often with hotels, there may be breakfast included.
Furthermore, hotels that offer breakfasts may offer different qualities or quantities of food. A continental breakfast may include cereal, juice, muffins, and coffee. In contrast, a buffet will typically include eggs, sausage, bacon, croissants, and fruits, and some may have French toast or Eggs Benedict available.
Activities are another aspect of your Caribbean vacation that you want to consider. If the goal is to lie on the beach, then almost any resort will have you covered. But, if you are looking for water-based activities like snorkeling, windsurfing, or scuba diving, do you want to have it all included in the resort or want to pay separately? This is entirely a personal choice and will often depend on how often you use said activity.
Some resorts may offer excursions off-site with an additional fee, while others will let you decide what you want to do. Activities websites like Viatour and Get Your Guide offer excellent examples of trips and activities in almost every Caribbean location. So, if you are looking for the cheapest vacation activities, compare both sites to get the best deal.
Mainly, cheap all-inclusive Caribbean vacations usually include something other than a car. Other packages may consist of flights, a hotel, and a car. If a vehicle is included, examine all the details, including insurance, license, and mileage details. If a vehicle is desirable and your package does not have one, Rentalcars.com offers excellent rates.
Cruise Vacation Packages
Cruise vacation packages usually include:
- Accommodation (cabin)
- All meals (except specialty)
Optional inclusions can include:
- Gratuities
- Drinks
- Internet
So now you are wondering how it is possible to find a cheap Caribbean vacation on a cruise. Most cruise advertising offers a price that is generally not considered on the lower end of the budget scale. This is quite correct, and some cruises are nowhere near budget-friendly vacation options.
However, there are some simple solutions to finding cheap Caribbean cruises.
Go in the off Season. As crazy as it sounds, traveling during hurricane season can be quite the deal. The cruise lines know that people are generally hesitant to travel at this time of the year because of the potential disruptions that a hurricane can cause. Storms can carry torrential downpours, heavy winds, and high seas. Think about it for a minute. Why would you want to go in those conditions? As a result of this hesitancy, many cruise lines offer deep discounts to entice passengers willing to chance the weather. Many cruises have no issues at all!
Booking a cruise at the last minute is also a great way to get a cheap Caribbean vacation. As the cruise date gets closer, the cruise lines will start discounting the unsold cabins to recoup as much money as possible. After all, the costs associated with running a large cruise ship with thousands of passengers and crew are close to the same whether the cabins are full. Deep discounts on these cabins are a great way to entice vacationers into the world of cruising. Vacationstogo.com offers a 90-tracker for upcoming unsold cabins.
If you are considering your first cruise after seeing a deal, here are some great first-time cruise tips that may help your decision.
How to Find Cheap Vacation Packages
The Internet
The internet is an excellent source of cheap Caribbean vacations; however, caution should be exercised when searching for such trips as there are several variations of inclusions. You will want to be cautious of any individuals or companies who offer you vacation packages, especially super-inclusive or all-inclusive ones, for dirt-low prices, as it is likely too good to be true. To ensure that you are genuinely getting good value for your money, you must do your due diligence and research all components of your vacation. Doing business with a reputable and well-known company will guarantee a better vacation experience.
Related: You might be interested in learning how to maximize your vacation days
Often large hotel and resort chains such as Barcelo, Melia, Palace, and Riu, to name a few, can offer some great deals if you know where to look. Some of these fantastic hotels are partnered with specific airlines, and that partnership allows you to get cheap, cost-effective Caribbean vacations.
Travel Agents
Travel Agents are also great at finding deals. After all, that is part of their job. Most people skip this step nowadays, but travel agents are well worth their money. They often will have inside information about a destination and can offer the most accurate account of the facilities and inclusions. Many will have been to some of the Caribbean destinations as well.
Here is a summary for finding cheap Caribbean vacations:
- Check websites that specialize in travel deals
- Compare prices between different travel sites
- Find discounts or special offers through regular airlines
- Use points or miles to pay for your vacation
- Stay At hotels Off Season
- Travel last-minute
- Book Through third-party discounters like Groupon
- For long-stay holidays, check out Airbnb or VBRO
- Travel agents
Is finding cheap Caribbean vacations possible?
The answer to this question is yes!
Finding cheap vacations to the Caribbean is possible, but it requires research and effort. You will need to look around and see what deals are available.
We hope that you found this article helpful in helping you find cheap Caribbean vacation deals so you can book your vacation confidently.
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Good tips here Laura. I like your idea of cheap. Low cost and fabulous value works for me, too. I need to get the Caribbean eventually.