Travel in the off-season or 'shoulder season'
"Traveling in the off-season saves big bucks on hotels and transportation, but there are other pluses too, such as fewer crowds and hence shorter lines at museums, churches, restaurants and so on," says freelance travel writer Susan Farlow. Judy Wells, freelance travel writer for TravelontheLevel.com, adds that "cab drivers, hoteliers, merchants and locals are more accommodating and welcoming; you’ll have a better experience at a lower cost."In the Caribbean, the off-season is the summer and the fall Hurricane season -- mid-April to mid-December -- and you also can get cheaper rates immediately after New Year's.
Get to know local bus/metro transportation
"Public transport allows you to get to know the flavors and nuances of the people in a foreign country, and you have the serendipity of encountering kind gestures and helpful questions,” says Roger Toll, a freelance travel writer. "Using public transportation is not only less expensive than car rentals or cabs, but can also be ‘green,’ helping a community keep open streets and clean air,” adds freelance travel writer Martin Hintz.Good public transportation isn't available in every Caribbean destination, but is a viable option in places like Puerto Rico, Aruba and Curacao, which have safe and reliable bus service between its tourist districts and urban areas. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, even has a subway system!
Picnic instead of eating every meal in restaurants
Visit markets, bakeries, local shops and delis, but avoid uncooked street food and wash fruit with bottled water. “Shopping at local markets is not only a less expensive way to eat, it can be healthier ... You get a local’s view of the area and you can try lots of interesting foods and then eat them in parks and gardens," says Christine Loomis, freelance travel writer/editor.Jerk chicken off the grill in Jamaica, roti stands in Trinidad, and 'lolo's' of St. Maarten/Martin are just a sampling of the 'street food' options you'll find in the Caribbean. There's no better place in the world to enjoy a picnic lunch than a beautiful picnic lunch, and many islands have beachfront picnic areas where you'll usually find more locals than tourists.
Eat your big meal at lunch when prices are cheaper and go light on dinner
Lunch prices at restaurants are amazingly low compared to dinner prices, and offer a major savings opportunity in the Caribbean, where high food costs can often be a major drain on your budget. Avoiding a heavy dinner also will keep you from petering out early at night, giving you more time and energy to enjoy dancing at local 'jump-ups' and romantic beachfront strolls. "You don’t have to make [lunch] reservations usually, and the food tastes the same, only with reduced prices, you can afford more courses,” points out travel writer Lorraine O’Donnel Williams.Make your first stop the local visitors center and collect coupons and brochures
Ask the staff about insider tips: free days at museums, matinees, free parking, dining specials, and happy hours. Be sure to visit the websites of destination convention bureaus and tourism offices before your visit. They often offer special rates, coupons and discount information.In the Caribbean, you'll often find visitor's centers near cruise ports or downtown in the capital city. Local city guides, nightlife magazines, and even newspapers also can be a valuable resource for bargain-hunting. And, of course, don't forget to ask your hotel concierge for tips and information!
Stay in accommodations that offer free breakfast and that have a refrigerator
Bed and breakfasts are relatively rare in the Caribbean, but you'll find plenty of all-inclusive resorts that include all of your meals as part of the price of your stay. Most full-service hotels in the Caribbean have an in-room refrigerator for storing your dinner leftovers for lunch the next day, but the real trick is to find an efficiency with a kitchen or at least a room equipped with a microwave for reheating. Efficiencies tend to be more common on smaller islands or out-of-the-way destinations and resorts. If you're traveling with family and plan to be away for more than a couple of days, an efficiency may be well worth any extra upfront expense in terms of the money you'll save on meals in the Caribbean.Go to less well-known destinations
"Across the world, less well-known destinations – i.e. getting off the beaten track – is cheaper as well as more fun,” says freelance writer Chris Tree. In big destinations like Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, you definitely can save money by searching out more modest accommodations in smaller towns and villages, even some on the beaches. Some less-traveled islands also can offer bargains on accommodations, with the caveat that higher airfare costs (due to less competition) can more than offset any savings you may gain on hotel rooms and food.Do a home swap or rent a vacation home rental rather than a hotel
“Renting a real home in a small town, or better, village, gives you a chance to feel that you live in the place –- you meet more people, find out more about they live and more about their culture,” says Catherine Watson, a freelance writer and photographer. The Caribbean is one of the best destinations in the world to rent a villa, for example, and home-swapping opportunities exist on islands like Puerto Rico and Barbados.In cities, stay at business hotels on the weekends
City business hotels often have better room rates and restaurant deals on weekends, and you can find deals in Caribbean cities like San Juan, Puerto Rico and Port of Spain, Trinidad, if you're willing to sacrifice location for savings.Shop for hotels near, not on, the biggest street -- or a block off the beach, not right on the ocean. "Wander a few blocks in any direction and you’ll have the same neighborhood without the premium price,” says Margie Goldsmith, freelance writer.
When booking your room, ask, "Is this the best rate available? Do you have any specials at the moment?" Also ask if they offer discounts for AAA, AARP or other membership programs. ·
