Caribbean holidays offer year-round warm weather, delicious local cuisine, soft and dreamy sands and warm seas. Choose to sit back and enjoy the views, embrace the culture and watch a carnival, or tuck into authentic street food. Made up of a variety of picture perfect destinations, holidays to the Caribbean are dreamy for all.

The Caribbean islands may seem like a bucket-list destination, but rest assured, you can great incredible value for your money with our cheap Caribbean holidays. Visiting the Caribbean on a budget couldn’t be easier and you can induldge just the same.

Holidays to the Caribbean offer something for everyone, with each of the islands having their own unique personality and qualities – but all just as dreamy as each other.

Opt for the lush beauty and serene nature of St Lucia, or swim in the crystal clear waters of the tranquil and smaller islands of Antigua and Aruba.

The Dominican Republic has a bit more hustle and bustle with a variety of All Inclusive resorts and vibrant nightlife, yet still picture perfect beaches ideal for relaxing days. Similarly, Jamaica and it’s vibrant culture and music filled streets is incredibly popular for a those seeking a Caribbean holiday with a lively atmosphere, or again for an All Inclusive, or family holiday.

Barbados can be a great blend of the two sides with breathtaking beaches, a vibrant local culture and a mix of luxury but tranquil resorts. They all offer their own slice of paradise and there’s so many activities across the islands – you’ll soon find out!

Just to top it all off, the Caribbean islands have a gorgeous average summer temperature of 30°C, yet, in the cooler months it still hovers around 27°C! A holiday to the Caribbean is a great idea all year round, even the perfect winter sun spot!

The rainy seasons do vary between the islands so be sure to check when the best time to go to the Caribbean is – but this can actually be beneifical in grabbing a cheap holiday to the Caribbean!

Dreamy sands

Holidays to the Caribbean are a beach lover’s emporium with hundreds of postcard-worthy stretches of sands scattered across the islands. The beaches in the Caribbean offer a wide range of spots, whether it’s for sand castle building with the kids, a place to enjoy a signature rum, or a secluded spot for just the two of you.

• The beaches in Barbados, as well as the beaches in Aruba and Antigua offer pristine white sands, usually soft and powdery sloping down to the shallow, crystal clear waters. Meanwhile, the beaches in the Dominican Republic and Cuba are more golden and the volcanic island of St Lucia boasts breathtaking black sand beaches.
• Cuba’s Varadero beach was once crowned as one of the best beaches in the world and its no surprise with its calm waters and pictureseque views that are perfect for relaxation. On the other hand, Jamaica’s beaches tend to have stronger waves making it the perfect island for keen watersport enthusiasts, particularly kite and wind surfers.
• Lots of the beaches in Antigua are protected, on nature reserves or in secluded coves which can be the ultimate place for relaxing just the two of you, or for keen nature lovers. Jamaica and the Dominican Republic tend to have more tourist driven beaches with plenty of bars, restaurants and facilites.

Carnivals and festivals

Many of the Caribbean islands have carnivals and festivals throughout the year with extravagant floats, live music and delicious street food. Plan ahead to join in the fun and maximise your cheap holiday to the Caribbean by getting stuck in – it’s the perfect way to have fun and immserse yourself into the charming Caribbean culture.

• Crop Over in Barbados is a summer long carnival that rounds off on the first Monday in August with the biggest party and celebration you’ll ever see. It has been around since the 16th Century and is always an energetic and colourful spectacle you won’t want to miss.
• In St Lucia, the first carnival occurred just after WW2 ended and started off as a small group of people parading the streets and banging on glass bottles. Today it is now an incredible celebration of freedom and religion and occurs every July. It kicks off with an extravagant opening party and everyone is encouraged to join in with their own flamboyant head-wear while dancing and listening to the traditional Caribbean sounds of drums, calypso, reggae and banjos. There’s even a carnival queen selected every year!
• Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest is another huge carnival in the Caribbean. Typically happening at the end of July, there’s several nights filled with live performances from top reggae and dancehall artists. It’s a huge party to showcase Jamaica’s culture and it attracts crowds from all over.

Places to go

The Caribbean is packed with stunning places to explore. If you’re seeking a Caribbean holiday filled with lazy beach days, it’s perfect, if you’re looking for adventure and thrill, it’s perfect, or if you’re looking to learn about the islands’ history and culture, it’s perfect.

• Head to the famous Seven Mile Beach in Negril for breathtaking views, crystal clear waters and vibrant beach bars. It’s perfect for a day trip (or all holiday long). Here is where you’ll find the famous Rick’s Cafe and you can enjoy cliff diving, or you can head to Negril lighthouse to enjoy its panoramic views.
• Sulphur Springs in St Lucia, is the only drive in volcano which last erupted in the 1700s and is now considered dormant. Dive into the mud baths and feel their healing powers as they detox the body and if you’re suffering for a bit of sunburn, it’s believed they can help heal it, along with other things like eczema or arthritis.
• Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, is another must-go spot. Home to Bavaro beach, it’s a haven for couples and families alike with powdery white sands and tons of water activities. Alternatively, head out by boat to Saona Island to enjoy your own secluded spot of paradise.
• Havana, in Cuba, is certainly a worthwhile visit too. It’s a city frozen in time, with a rich history, vibrant and colourful architecture and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Havana. Cuban culture is ever so unique and charming, it really is one of the top places to go while on holiday in the Caribbean.

Things to see

As well as being known for their truly spectacular beaches, holidays in the Caribbean showcase some incredible and iconic sights across the islands. Whether it’s the powdery sands, dramatic landscapes or historic monuments, there’s plenty to see in the Caribbean.

• The Pitons are twin volcanic peaks in St Lucia, and are in fact an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s an iconic natural landscape that creates a mesmerising backdrop across the island as they appear to rise from the sea. You can enjoy the views from afar, or choose to hike and look out from the top.
• Head to the Blue Hole in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to explore another natural wonder. Made up of several waterfalls and swimming holes, and encircled with luscious rainforest it’s a truly captivating sight, and you can spend all day finding new spots toi dive in and splash around. What’s more, it’s name actually comes from the deep azure colouring of the water which is a result of several factors, incluidng the sunlight and the limestone formation.
• Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua is yet another Caribbean UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once an incredibly important Naval site that dates back to the 18th century. Here, you get a glimpse into the islands rich heritage with the restored Georgian buildings and beautiful harbour views.

Caribbean cuisine

Holidays to the Caribbean mean delicious, flavorful food. Caribbean cuisine is typically a blend of African, Euorpean and East Indian influences with each island and divere cultures then continuing to shape it. The results are incredible with some key features across the islands but a very diverse result.

• Rice is a staple ingredient across the Caribbean, being a key part in several dishes and often cooked with coconut milk (another staple) and beans or peas. Coconut milk is used for all kinds of dishes incluidng both savoury and sweet!
• A versatile ingredient used across the islands is plantain, which can be cooked in several ways and often served in stews or casseroles. What’s more, stews and casseroles are popular dishes in the Caribbean, often slow cooked for indulgent results.
• Bouyon stew, made with meat (often goat), vegetables and umplings is a must-try and common meal in St Lucia, while Mangu is a signure breakfast dish from the Dominican Republic made up of mashed platains, eggs, salami and cheese.
• Jamaica’s jerk chicken may be the most well known Caribbean dish. It is where chicken is marinated in a spicy seasoning made of scotch bonnet peppers, pimento, thyme and a few more herbs, then its grilled or smoked. This would often be served with rice and peas or even fried plantain.
• Being surrounded by water, seafood is a huge part of Caribbean cuisine, and one of the national dishes of Barbados is flying fish and cou cou. This is where flying fish is steamed or fried and then served with cou cou (a mix of cornmeal and okra).

Nightlife in the Caribbean

The nightlife in the Caribbean is hugely diverse with some islands known for their tranquil and calming atmosphere, while others are known to offer a wild night out. Of course, rum certainly is one of the first things you think of when it comes to the Caribbean, afterall, it’s got a very long and famous rum-making history, and rest assured, you’ll be sipping on the best mojitos around.

• Jamaica is known for its reggae and dance music so Jamaica’s nightlife is certainly one of the livelier picks. Head to Montego Bay or Negril for the busiest spots, in particular Rick’s Cafe which is famous by day for its incredible cliff diving, then famous by night for being a lively spot to dance all night.
• The nightlife in Dominican Republic is another lively scene. Punta Cana is the place to be for beach parties until sunrise, and indeed, the famous Coco Bongo, while Santo Domingo offers a more cosmopolitan vibe but still with booming clubs and international DJs.
• Barbados’ nightlife is much more laid back with beach bars, laid back pubs and low key cocktail bars. This is similar to the nightlife in St Lucia, where Rodney Bay is the main hub and you can find live music and small bars.