Five Flight Destinations In the Caribbean that Won’t Break the Bank
If you don’t travel a lot but want to, figuring out where you can go might be a hassle. If you’re coming from the US, you don’t want to simply hop an internal flight. That sort of travel is boring. Sure, you can discover a new city, but why settle for just another American city? Since COVID, most people have realized how precious their ability to travel is. In this post-COVID world, getting cheap flights to Caribbean destinations and landing affordable accommodation there isn’t that difficult. Here, I’ll look at five Caribbean destinations that are relatively inexpensive to travel to.
Cancun, Mexico
While Cancun is usually seen as a travel destination for spring breakers, it has some affordable places to stay in its low season (April — July). The city itself is rich in culture, and you can easily immerse yourself. There’s no shortage of tours and “experiences” you can avail yourself of, and most of them are pretty cheap to participate in. Planning a trip means setting your itinerary, so checking out the things to do in Cancun will help you limit where you spend your time. There’s something for everyone, so you don’t have to worry about going on a vacation there and not being able to enjoy yourself.
Panama City, Panama
Mostly known as a stopover hub, Panama City has changed its approach to tourism ever since the pandemic. Their tourism board has made it easy for travelers who have to stop over in Tocumen (their international airport) to extend their stay for a few days and enjoy the beauty and splendor that is Panama City. The shopping is, of course, excellent, with things costing far less than what you would pay for them in the US. If you have some free time, you can visit the Panama Canal on a day trip and witness one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century. It’s not an impossible task to save on travel to Panama City if you know where to look.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo in the DR is one of the most beautiful and underrated places to visit. If you’re on a budget, it’s some of the best bang for your buck that you’ll encounter. There are many great places to visit, and the island is rich in history. If you’re more of a beachgoer and enjoy being out on the waves, you can even book a full-day tour of Saona Island. You have many options, and many are either free or very inexpensive. A word of warning, however — some of the accommodations you may run into may be expensive. One alternative is to get a cheap vacation package deal to ease the impact on your wallet while still affording you the chance to experience the island at its best.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is one of the most well-known travel destinations in the Caribbean, and for good reason. Jamaica spends a lot of money to advertise itself as a getaway. Kingston has many things to do and see, including an inexpensive Kingston Harbor cruise, visiting the Bob Marley Museum, or exploring the old city of Port Town. If you’re more into beaches, invest your time in Lime Cay or Fort Clarence and soak up the sun with a drink in your hand. Tickets to Kingston from the US are relatively inexpensive. You may even get cheap Airbnbs to stay in, but be careful. Kingston has a reputation for crime. Read reviews on Airbnb to ensure you don’t end up in a bad location.
Bridgetown, Barbados
Personally, Bridgetown is my favorite place to visit in the Caribbean post-COVID. The atmosphere is laid back, the locals are friendly, and things are affordable. Even if you spend the evening drinking on the boardwalk, you won’t run into problems with your wallet. Almost everywhere on the island takes card payments, which is not the norm for many Caribbean destinations. Accommodation might be expensive, depending on where you stay, but getting guest rentals for less than $US100 a night is not uncommon. Flying to Bridgetown, especially from another Caribbean destination, is relatively inexpensive. It might be a good option for an island hop if you want to spend a week elsewhere.
Cheap Travel Isn’t Impossible
As a regular travel bug, I make a few yearly trips to exciting destinations. There are even some places where I could leverage a luxury hotel room for less than $US100 a night. However, when I travel, I like to experience the place I go to. I usually save one or two days for just walking around in towns or cities to get a feel for the place and to talk with the locals or hang out. The Caribbean is a pleasant place, and even if you don’t know the local language, you can usually find people there who can communicate with you and give you a few tips and hints.
Hi, I’m Jason, and I’m a travel writer (of sorts). I also write about technology, personal finance, and tabletop board gaming. Yes, I know it’s a wide range of topics, but these are the things I’m passionate about. What about you? Are you passionate about travel? Do you want to visit some of the world’s most beautiful places on a budget? In a future article, I’ll talk about my recent visit to Barbados, my most favorite Caribbean island to visit in 2022. If you do, consider subscribing to my Medium to get updates when I write about new places I’ve visited or things I’ve seen.
I’m looking forward to connecting with you!
