Caribbean getaways are a regular part of the good life for many. The beaches and sumptuous climate are the kind of delightful shock to the soul that everyone needs to recharge their batteries and be reminded that we are all children of the sun. But as familiar as many Caribbean Islands are in hospitality, grilled fish and music vibz, each Island-nation has its own distinct personality and layers of treasures to explore.

The following are five of the best Caribbean Island destinations to include in any serious vacation bucket list:

St. Lucia

St. Lucia

Lush, unspoiled St. Lucia has a growing fan base. Some of its vacationers are music lovers, letting loose at the springtime St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival (which has previously featured headlining acts like Akon, Ziggy Marley, Diana Ross and the late Amy Winehouse). Others are honeymooners, unwinding on one of the island’s chalky beaches or holing up in one of the isolated couples resorts. Still other patrons are adrenaline junkies, testing their limits climbing the Pitons or zip lining through the Chassin region’s rain forest. But what you aren’t any of these types? Don’t worry: St. Lucia refuses to be pigeonholed as any “type” of Caribbean vacation. Plus you also don’t have to spend a lot of money (its reputation as a luxurious hideout is only somewhat warranted). To discover some of the island’s indescribable charms, you’ll have to visit for yourself. Start your mornings basking in an orange-tinted Soufrière sunrise then round out your evenings at an evening “jump-up” (or dance party) along Gros Islet.

St. Lucia2

How To Save Money:
– Leave your kids at home
Airfare for three, four and five vacationers can quickly add up. But St. Lucia, more than any other Caribbean island, is the place to enjoy with just your sweetheart. Take your children on your next tropical vacay to a more family-focused place like the Bahamas.
– Shop on the weekend
Fridays and Saturdays are popular market days. Save your souvenir buying for those days and you might haggle a better deal on your trinkets.
– Mind the service charge
There’ll be a 10 percent tip added to your hotel bill and to restaurant checks. Factor that into any additional tipping you decide to do.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Determining Puerto Rico’s charm is a no-brainer. Less than a three-hour flight from Miami, this island is a U.S. territory (in case you didn’t recall from high school history class). So when you’re shopping in San Juan, you can pay for your souvenirs with American bills. But don’t be mistaken: This isn’t quite a home away from home. Puerto Rico has both 20-foot waves for surfers and calm, clear waters for families. It’s a stroll back through time (El Morro) and an up-close look at the contemporary (Calle del Cristo). It’s an exhilarating mix of landscapes, from the serpentine jungle of El Yunque to the corkscrew caves of Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy. And if you want to get away from civilization entirely, you can ferry over to the secluded — not to mention jaw-droppingly gorgeous — islands of Vieques and Culebra. Convinced?

If not, we can drive a few further points home. When other Caribbean isles put a premium on wintertime at the beach, Puerto Rico offers year-round affordable packages so travelers can relax along its blanched sands. And while other regional spots like to advertise exciting nightlife, the capital city of San Juan actually delivers. Follow a pulsating beat to the dance clubs in the Santurce neighborhood, catch some live music in a Ponce lounge or grab a casual drink at a San Sebastián bar.

Puerto Rico2

How To Save Money:
– Take an Eastern Caribbean cruise
Puerto Rico really should be explored over at least three or four days. But if all you want to see is the famous El Morro fort, you can get your fill during a port of call.
– Plan ahead
You can visit this “Island of Enchantment” in the peak winter for less money than other Caribbean spots, but to do so you should book two to three months in advance.
– Use a road map
The buses are essential to navigating much of San Juan, and the públicos provide a less stressful way of visiting neighboring towns. But it’s easy to get turned around, miss your stop and therefore, spend more money. Knowing your route will also help you when taking a taxi.

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands, or BVI for short, are some of the most exclusive and least developed islands of the Caribbean, but this only adds to their appeal. The resorts, villas, restaurants and other tourist attractions on this paradisiacal tax haven are known to emphasize spare luxury over sprawling expansion, and they attract travelers with deep pockets and a love for sailing and seclusion. Many travelers who visit come by ferry boat from another Caribbean isle, especially as some find opulent exile too hard to enjoy for longer than a day or two. And some say it’s more ideal to split your time between here, the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands and Anguilla to the east.

Others find more than enough to keep them exclusively anchored by these 60 islands and cays. On Tortola you’ll find mountainous cliffs and bone white beaches, characterized by changing tides and calm easterly winds. A brief sail away, sleepy Jost Van Dyke offers delicious Caribbean food and drink, one of the region’s best New Year’s Eve parties, as well as a few outdoor excursions like diving and fishing. On Virgin Gorda you’ll find The Baths, perhaps the most picturesque shore in the British Virgin Islands, and with good reason: It offers unique grottoes amidst gigantic granite boulders (just be mindful of the daytripping crowds). For supreme seclusion, try Anegada; its slow pace, flat terrain and sparkling sand lies almost overlooked in Caribbean Sea.

How To Save Money:
– Make it a daytrip
Staying among the U.S. Virgin Islands is probably cheaper; staying on Puerto Rico most definitely is. The cost to take a small plane or ferry roundtrip from one of those islands is significantly less than planning an entire itinerary in the British isles.
– Avoid the duty-free
Like much of the Caribbean, these islands boast duty-free deals on electronics, jewelry, liquor and perfume. But the selection is not as vast as shopping capitals like St. Thomas, USVI and St. Martin-St. Maarten.
– Carpool
Keep in mind that taxis will charge you per destination, not per person. Find some travel buddies at your hotel who are willing to take a few island tours and excursions with you and then split the cab bill.

Curacao

Willemstad auf Curacao

The “C” in the ABC islands, Curaçao features historic settlements, rugged landscapes and plenty of fun in the sun. Curaçao’s main port city, Willemstad, is what an Old World European city would look like if someone dropped it in the Caribbean. The brightly painted Dutch colonial buildings reflect pinks, yellows and blues into the cerulean St. Anna Bay. Once you leave the city, the landscape shifts to a desert scene, with spiny aloe and mesquite sprouting from atop weathered limestone cliffs.

But Curaçao’s real draw is the beach. Picture-perfect bays and coves flank the island, their turquoise waters lapping gently against powdery white sand. Curaçao’s reefs teem with marine life, providing excellent underwater playgrounds for scuba divers and snorkelers. Best of all, the semi-arid island is sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic’s hurricane season. Gentle trade winds keep temperatures in the mid-80s, so you can enjoy the outdoors year-round.

Curacao

How To Save Money:
– Visit in the offseason
A summertime trip can save you up to 50 percent on hotels and flights.
– Take the bus
Traveling in Curaçao’s “convoys” is the most affordable way to get around Willemstad and other major tourist destinations.
– BBQ on the beach
Preparing your own meals is not only a cash-saver, it’s also fun!

Punta Cana

Punta Cana2

The sugary sand of a Punta Cana beach is so soft, so perfectly golden that you might think it was synthetic. And in fact, in this easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, it’s possible. By definition, Punta Cana is a manufactured Caribbean getaway, completely catering to the needs of sun-seeking vacationers who like all-inclusive resorts but care little about venturing away from their hotel.

But this area is not only popular for its abundant lodging and comprehensive amenities – Punta Cana beckons to jet-setters because it provides so many options (more than 24,000 hotel rooms) for such affordable rates. Many travelers are able to book a weeklong trip that includes airfare, lodging, meals and some resort activities, for much less than $1,000 per person in the shoulder seasons. While this destination isn’t necessarily the most extreme, visitors can get their fill of thrills hiking to Hoyo Azul or taking on challenging golf courses like Punta Espada or La Cana. Overall, this reasonably priced, Caribbean hideout is made for travelers of all ages seeking a relaxing turn from the norm.

Punta Cana

How To Save Money:
– Consider the package deal
All-inclusive resorts abound in Punta Cana and most rates cover all meals and drinks (including alcohol) along with water sports activities. Plus, there are plenty of deals to be found.
– Consider the offseason
From March to November, room rates get even cheaper as the peak-season crowds disperse for home. If you want to avoid the hurricane season, plan on visiting no later than May.
– Consider bartering
Bargaining is a fine art in Punta Cana. Anyone from street vendors to taxi drivers can be reasoned with, so offer 35 to 50 percent off the original price and stand firm.

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