The 10 Best Budget Islands in the Caribbean

Dominican Republic

Year-round temperatures hover between the high 70s and high 80s, making the Dominican Republic a perfect place to stretch out on the beach or play a round of golf on courses designed by golf legends. If you're looking for a little more excitement, the nightlife and casinos will keep you entertained. While travelers to Punta Cana can expect all-inclusive resorts and miles of beaches, those looking for a more authentic Dominican experience can visit Puerto Plata in the north.

Why It's a Good Value

With several international airports, getting to the Dominican Republic is a cinch. Look to JetBlue (expanding service to Punta Cana in addition to service to Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and Santiago) and Delta (recently added service to Puerto Plata and Punta Cana) for good deals. Several Canadian carriers are offering new flights, including Air Canada (increased service from Montreal to Punta Cana and new flights from Halifax to Samana/El Catey) and WestJet (new service from Ottawa, Hamilton, and Thunder Bay to Punta Cana).

Stiff competition keeps prices down at hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the Dominican Republic, and the island offers tons of all-inclusive, easy-on-the-budget hotel options. Despite the Dominican peso being the official currency, the U.S. dollar is often preferred. American visitors can expect good exchange rates, as the dollar is strong in the country.

Best Beaches

With 30 miles of sand, visitors to Punta Cana won't feel crowded, despite the plethora of all-inclusive resorts lining the shore. Ranked number 12 on Our Readers' 15 Favorite Beaches, many agree about Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana. Reader BobbinTalk can "attest to the beauty and serenity of the beach! Warm waters even in the middle of January and great views."

washboardmary suggests Playa Rincon: "It is secluded and private. There is a lovely grove of palms that open onto a wide expanse of white sand in a crescent shape. The water is clear blue and there is great surf action. This is not so much a beach for swimming as standing in the waves."

Playa Punta Rucia, west of Puerto Plata, offers the longest coral reef just offshore, making it popular with snorkelers.

(Photo: iStockphoto/Hubert Inabinet)

Jamaica

One of our Top Five Spring Bargain Destinations, Jamaica is a sure bet for value-focused travelers. Whether you visit the capital Kingston for some history, Montego Bay for golf, Negril with your family, or Ocho Rios as an eco-tourist, you're sure to find sun and sand nearby.

Why It's a Good Value

Finding flights to Jamaica from low-cost carriers is simple. AirTran recently began service to Montego Bay, and JetBlue expanded service to Montego Bay alongside its flights to Kingston. Delta also has new service to Kingston. Canadian residents can find flights with WestJet (Ottawa to Montego Bay) and Air Transat (Toronto to Kingston).

Options for accommodations include informal guesthouses that fit small budgets and hotels that range from all-inclusive to properties that let you experience the local life. If you don't like the idea of an all-inclusive, you can still save money by eating locally.

Best Beaches

traveler0777 says Seven Mile Beach in Negril is "one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The water is calm and beautiful...relax and converse with a totally international crowd."

Reader tunkus agrees: "The beach is fantastic, the sea is turquoise colored and the sands are white. It's quite shallow so even non-swimmers can enjoy it ... you could stay in the water for hours."

Try Doctor's Cave Beach Club in Montego Bay for great snorkeling around coral reefs, Dunns River Falls and Park Beach in Ocho Rios for views of a 600-foot waterfall, or take a 15-minute boat ride from Port Royal in Kingston to the uninhibited Lime Cay.

(Photo: iStockphoto/Raido Valjamaa)

Puerto Rico

History, sand, and rainforest combine to make Puerto Rico the perfect vacation mix of relaxation and cultural discovery. Between exploring the forts in San Juan (both San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobal are UNESCO World Heritage Sites), El Yunque rainforest, and taking a tour of the Casa Bacardi Rum Distillery, make sure you leave enough time for the beaches.

Why It's A Good Value

With its proximity to the mainland, not to mention the plethora of low-cost carriers offering service to the island, Puerto Rico is an ideal location for an inexpensive vacation. You also don't have to worry about currency exchange, or remembering your passport. With nonstop flights from more than 20 U.S. cities, finding low fares is easy. American uses the island as a hub for the other Caribbean destinations it serves, and starting May 3, JetBlue is adding a twelfth weekly flight to San Juan from Boston. Also look to AirTran, Spirit, and Sun Country (seasonal service) when searching for flights.

For accommodations, Puerto Rico offers everything from resorts with their own golf courses, casinos, restaurants, beaches, and nightlife, to well-known hotel names (Best Western, Marriott, Radisson), small hotels, guesthouses, and paradors (small, moderately priced, privately owned hotels often located on historic plantations or other scenic settings). Hotels located within a five-minute walk of the beach (as opposed to right on it) often have cheaper rates even on the weekends.

Best Beaches

Ranked number five among Our Readers' 15 Favorite Beaches, Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, is only a short ferry ride away from Fajardo. Reader lancomex says, "Flamenco Beach was one of my memorable moments in life; the serenity is priceless."

Reader Mercy prefers Luquillo: "Its waters are warm and clean and the sand clean and cushy; there are no rocks ... The entire beach is rimmed by mature trees and coconut palms, where you can hang a hammock."

(Photo: iStockphoto/Kurt Holter)

Aruba

Just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the island of Aruba sees sunshine nearly every day. When the sun sets and it's time to get off the beach, nightlife is waiting with plenty of casinos. The island is also home to more low-key activities. You can stroll through art galleries, museums (Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory or Museum of Antiquities, for example), and flea markets, which offer bargains in a local atmosphere. If you're looking to get in touch with nature, Arikok National Park, Bubali Bird Sanctuary, caves, and a butterfly farm will help you do just that.

Why It's a Good Value

Flights to Aruba have become competitive among low-cost carriers, with JetBlue, AirTran, and Spirit all vying for your travel dollars. Other airlines offering service to the island include Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental, United, and US Airways.

Aruba is another island offering a wide variety of accommodations choices, including all-inclusives, guest houses, villas, and brand-name hotels such as Marriott and Hyatt. Getting around the island is easy thanks to reliable, affordable bus lines serving popular tourist areas.

Look to Aruba's official tourism website for hotel deals, as well as activity and restaurant offers.

Best Beaches

Ranked number six on Our Readers' 15 Favorite Beaches, Baby Beach is a well-loved favorite. KenK says it's "perfect to lie on the beach, snorkel, and see numerous types of fish ... and shallow enough for the entire family."

Reader dr reagan prefers Eagle Beach because of its "fine white sand, perfect temperature, constant cooling breeze, crystal clear turquoise water, no bugs, no garbage, great beach bars ... and amazingly friendly locals!"

To escape the crowds, Suz2Suz goes to Manchebo Beach because it's "very wide and quiet as opposed to the high-rise area where the big hotels are."

(Photo: iStockphoto/Robert Linton)

The Bahamas

Only about 50 miles from Florida, the Bahamas is close-to-home with year-round temperatures averaging around 80 degrees. Diving, fishing, boating, snorkeling, and kayaking are all ways to explore the cays and lagoons filled with sea life, while golfing, shopping, and gaming are plentiful for those sticking to the land. Historical trails and national parks, along with stellar birding opportunities, can add a cultural element to your trip.

Why It's a Good Value

U.S. dollars are accepted alongside the Bahamian dollar, so you don't need to think about currency exchange rates. Finding a reasonable fare to the Bahamas is easier now that low-cost carrier AirTran has added service to Nassau, creating competition for JetBlue. Delta has expanded service to Freeport, while Spirit also has limited service to San Salvador in addition to its Nassau and Freeport routes. WestJet began service last year between Toronto and Freeport.

Most flights arrive in either Nassau (New Providence/Paradise Island) or Freeport (Grand Bahama Island), and both areas offer affordable accommodation choices nearby, from hotels and villas to inns and resorts. You can also make connecting flights to the Out Islands from these airports, or find nearby ferry service.

The Islands of the Bahamas official tourism site has deals and packages.

Best Beaches

As an archipelago of 700 islands, there are almost too many beaches to choose from. Enjoy watersports or just a walk along the shore at Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island or explore the world's longest underground surveyed cave system across from Gold Rock Beach, part of Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island.

dee4cats enjoys Treasure Cay Beach, part of The Abacos in the Bahamas, saying, "The sand is pure sugar-white ... It is very clean ... The water is so clear you can easily see sand dollars on the bottom ... This is the place to go to kick back and relax."

maui2az's favorite beach is on Eleuthera, "a lovely ferry ride from Nassau. The island is a true vacation spot for those who want to get away from it all. The soft, long, wide, pink sand beach against the turquoise waters is a feast for the eyes ... Often the beach is vacant; heaven!"

(Photo: iStockphoto/javier fontanella)

Grand Cayman Island

Shop in George Town, rent a bike and cruise around the island, hike, explore caves, visit the National Museum, or dive to a sunken wreck—Grand Cayman offers something for every type of traveler. U.S. dollars are accepted throughout the island, so visit a local grocery store, pack a picnic lunch, and hit the beach.

Why It's a Good Value

Delta begins its seasonal nonstop service between New York's JFK and Grand Cayman Island on Saturdays from June 12 through September 10. American, Continental, Northwest, and US Airways also offer service to Grand Cayman, as does Air Canada from Toronto. Also look to Cayman Airways, offering service from a handful of U.S. cities.

The Cayman Islands have several value-added offers bookable through March 31, for travel through May 15. Cayman Airways is offering special rates when you book a "Get Warm" package, while US Airways also has special rates. Several hotels and condos are offering a fifth night free when you book a four-night stay. Other properties are offering a free Stingray City trip for two when you stay a minimum of five nights. Comfort Suites Cayman Islands, Courtyard by Marriott Grand Cayman, and Sunshine Suites Resort are all affordable options, with rates that stay under $200 per night year-round. The Cayman Islands Tourism Board also offers several other discounts.

Best Beaches

Seven Mile Beach is an obvious favorite, ranked number nine in Our Readers' Top 15 Favorite Beaches, as it has good snorkeling and you can walk the entire length of the beach. But Rum Point is the favorite for reader jlhamlin, who calls it "an awesome place to spend the day. There are hammocks hanging from the trees. The snorkeling right there is just like having your own aquarium. The water is crystal clear. There is a sand volleyball court. Just about anything you need to have a complete day at the beach! Love it!"

Scherazade007 is an overall fan of Grand Cayman Island, saying it "has a broad beach front of white sand that has little to no insects for those who like to sunbathe. One can walk into the Caribbean Sea for quite a distance before the shelf drops off, in warm yet refreshing clear, clean water. Privacy is not an issue, and easy to obtain. Divers can enjoy the preciously guarded coral reefs, which include a rare black coral, as well as the abundant 'couture' sea life."

(Photo: iStockphoto/Ronald Manera)

St. Lucia

Take your fishing skills to this island and try some deep-sea fishing, or snorkel at the popular Anse Chastanet. You can also hit the waves to windsurf or water-ski, and divers will find plenty of sites. With tours focusing on cultural heritage (traditional practices, architectural history), plantations (sugar mills, cocoa houses), and botanical gardens, there's plenty to learn about St. Lucia, too.

Why It's a Good Value

Low-cost carrier JetBlue offers nonstop service from New York, with connecting flights from around the U.S. You can also find flights from American, Delta, and US Airways, while Canadian residents can look to Air Canada and West Jet for service from Toronto. Getting around the island is easy with minibus service, though there is no scheduled timetable. U.S. dollars are widely accepted.

There are a wide range of accommodations choices, with everything from five-star hotels and all-inclusive resorts to small inns and villas. Check the St. Lucia Tourist Board for current specials at all properties.

Best Beaches

All the beaches on St. Lucia, including those at resorts, are open to the public. Beaches on the western side of the island are best for swimming and water sports. The five-mile long Reduit Beach is a favorite for walks, while Jalousie Beach is set between the volcanic peaks of Gros and Petit Piton. Pigeon Island National Park on the north end of the island is the place to go to beat the crowds; a short climb also offers views of the Fort Rodney ruins and Martinique.

(Photo: iStockphoto/Benjamin Howell)

Curacao

The colorful buildings in Curacao, not to mention the year-round 80-degree weather, minimal rainfall, and 65 individual snorkeling and diving sites, are sure to brighten up your stay. See 1,500-year-old Caquetios Indian drawings at the Hato Caves, visit the oldest synagogue still in use in the Western hemisphere, or take a dive to the Mushroom Forest, Airplane Wreck, or Tug Boat.

Why It's a Good Value

Competition from several airlines, including American, Continental, and Delta, helps keep prices low. Air Jamaica also offers connections via Montego Bay. Like Aruba, Curacao provides reliable, affordable bus service that serves the resort areas.

The Curacao NOW program is offering $200 in instant credit, $200 food and beverage credit, one free night, and more when you book a vacation package by March 15. The offer is valid for travel May 1 through July 4 and August 15 through December 18. For more specials, check out Curacao's official tourism website. The site also has a handy Vacation Matcher, which generates a list of suggested activities based on who you're traveling with and your interests.

Best Beaches

Lizabet suggests Cas Abao, since "the water was crystal clear and perfect for snorkeling ... This was a cove, but even so it was not crowded." She also notes the "gorgeous view" and the "huge rock formations framing the cove."

Other beaches to try include Kenepa, whose two coves offer some of the most popular beaches; Klein Curacao, an uninhabited island formed by volcanic rock eight miles from the coast that has the longest beach; and Plata Lagun, complete with fishing boats, and calm, shallow waters close to shore that are great for snorkeling and family activities.

(Photo: iStockphoto/Torsten Stahlberg)

Barbados

Often considered an expensive destination, Barbados can easily accommodate those on a more modest budget. Visit art galleries and craft shows, eat fish and pawpaws, tour sugar mills and rum distilleries, or take a free guided Sunday hike. With 3,000 annual hours of sunlight and temperatures that never stray far from the 80s, you're sure to have plenty of time to kick back on the beach.

Why It's a Good Value

JetBlue, American, Delta, and US Airways offer service to Barbados; flights from Canada to Barbados are available from Air Canada and West Jet. Getting around the island is easy with reliable taxi and bus service.

For inexpensive accommodations try Peach and Quiet, Sweetfield Manor, and Sea-U Guest House. Note that U.S. dollars are accepted island-wide at a set exchange rate of $1 to $1.98 Barbados dollars; shoppers benefit from tax-free purchases. If you're looking for an immediate getaway, American Airlines Vacations is offering a free companion airfare with the purchase of a four-night package through March 31. Book using promotional code "BGI50" and travel through May 31.

Best Beaches

You'll want to go swimming here, where water temperatures hover between 70 and 80 degrees, but with all 60 beaches open to the public, it might be hard to decide where to kick back and relax. The west coast has calm waters, while the east coast offers wind and waves perfect for surfing. The south features great snorkeling, and those looking for pink sands can find them in the southeast.

Reader zingara suggests two beaches: Enterprise and Miami. "First thing in the morning, around 5:00 a.m. many people gather for their first 'sea bath.' There's nothing like watching the sun rise while swimming, floating, and communing with other like souls ... Enterprise [is] the calmer of the two. Both beaches are located within walking distance of Oistins and are on the bus route."

(Photo: iStockphoto/Karen Low Phillips)

Montserrat

With only about 4,700 residents, Montserrat may be the most intimate of all the islands on this list; you won't find crowds here, especially since large cruises don't visit the island. You'll catch hints of the island's Irish heritage from a bit of Irish brogue in the local English and the shamrock passport stamp. The island is constantly changing due to the presence of an active volcano, but don't worry—the volcano is viewable from one of the most modern observatories well within the designated safe area of the island.

Why It's a Good Value

Getting to Montserrat seems trickier than it is. Several airlines, including Air Canada, American, Continental, Delta, and US Airways, offer service to Antigua, the gateway island to Montserrat. From Antigua, short flights (about 15 minutes) are available from WinAir and Fly Montserrat for about $185 round-trip. Ferry service takes a bit longer (about 1 hour and 15 minutes) and costs around $100. Either way, you'll get plenty of photo-ops from the mountains and volcano on the island. Tours from Antigua also offer day trips to the island.

Hikers will love trails offering panoramic views, birding opportunities, and biological diversity, while visitors looking to stick to the water can kayak, swim, dive, fish, or take a boat ride to view the uninhabited parts of the island, including the buried town of Plymouth. Get around the island with a $25 per day bike rental, or car rentals from around $40 per day, plus a $19 license charge.

U.S. dollars are widely accepted alongside the East Caribbean dollar. With only one hotel on the island, villas are the most popular accommodations, offering fully furnished homes (often with a swimming pool) for around $700 per week. There are also guesthouses and bed and breakfast options that begin at around $35 per person per night.

For special vacation packages (including a five-night stay in a villa with boat tours, dinner at the Beatles' producer's house, car rental, hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling trips from $885 per person), visit the Montserrat Tourist Board website.

Best Beaches

Rendezvous Bay is the only white-sand beach on Montserrat, and it rewards those willing to take the hike to get there with great swimming, snorkeling, and diving. You can also reach it by boat.

Woodlands Beach is more easily accessible and rarely crowded, but watch out for waves. It also has a covered picnic area overlooking the black-sand beach. You can find bars near Little Bay to quench your thirst, and seclusion at Lime Kiln Bay and Bunkum Bay.

(Photo: David MacGillivray)

More Caribbean Deals

If you already have an island in mind, Expedia is offering all-inclusive packages to several Caribbean destinations on sale for travel through May 20, but you must book by March 18. And of course, keep checking SmarterTravel's airfare deal coverage, as several carriers such as American, JetBlue, Spirit, and others often have Caribbean flights on sale.

If you're still undecided about which island to visit, check out the Caribbean Tourism Site, where you'll find guides to the region's islands, including how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and more.

(Editor's Note: SmarterTravel is a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network, an operating company of Expedia, Inc. Expedia, Inc. also owns Expedia.com.)

What are your favorite islands to visit in the Caribbean and beyond that offer a lot of value? Share your thoughts, experiences, and advice by submitting a comment below!

(Photo: iStockphoto/Pablo Demetrio Scapinachis)