In our recent poll, we asked about your ideal summer vacation and the responses were overwhelmingly in favor of relaxing somewhere tropical. So, let’s talk about planning that vacation! Where can you go affordably? Should you stay at a resort or live locally? And if it’s too late, how can you still get your tropical getaway in before the fall?
Where to go
There are a lot of criterion that may influence your decision on where you want to go. You might be looking for a spot with nice beaches, or a well-established city with things to do; maybe you want to travel domestically or maybe internationally; you might prefer a touristy destination or a hidden gem; etc. This alone could be an entire blog post, so I won’t get into that now. But, what you should do is check out U.S. News’ travel section. Their site ranks vacation destinations by almost any criteria you can imagine! For now, here are a few of their top-ranked affordable Caribbean destinations:
CuracaoA small island country set in the Caribbean, Curacao is known for its brightly colored buildings decorating its capital, Willemstad. The island offers plenty of water sports, oceanfront restaurants, soft sand, historic sites, and plenty of sun. U.S. News recommends visiting during its off-peak season from the months of May-November in order to get the most affordable hotel rates and airfare.
Puerto RicoA U.S. territory, the island of Puerto Rico is just under four hours flying from Philadelphia International Airport and accepts U.S. dollars; so, no worrying about the exchange rate! Puerto Rico may just have it all for your tropical getaway: long beautiful beaches, clear water, modern and historic architecture, and El Yunque National Rainforest, to name just a few of its major attractions. U.S. News recommends visiting sometime between mid-April to June, right before the rainy season. The draw to going during late-summer/early-fall are the incredibly low prices, though you should plan on rain-proof activities!
Jamaica
Known for its sugar cane, coffee, and diverse landscape, Jamaica offers much more than reggae music and luxurious resorts. If you’re looking for ultimate beach relaxation, Negril, located on the western end of the island, is for you. If you’re more of the adventurous type, though, Ocho Rios in the north will suit you well. Offering everything from golfing, hiking the Blue Mountains, and river rafting to surfing at Boston Beach, walking the Seven Mile Beach, and appreciating the natural beauty that is the Blue Lagoon. U.S. News recommends visiting sometime between November to mid-December, just after hurricane season when airfare is low and the weather is warm.
Barbados
If you’re looking for a spot to swim in calm waters, get some great surfing in, or see incredible shipwrecks and wildlife while scuba diving, Barbados is for you. With tons of diverse, beautiful beaches, along with various rum distilleries, gardens, and caves, Barbados has a lot to offer for the adventurous type. U.S. News recommends visiting between July and November; but to check the forecast before booking, because that is the hurricane season (though hurricanes rarely hit the island).
Punta CanaIf you want the kind of luxurious vacation where you don’t have to lift a finger or do almost any planning, then you’ve got to go to Punta Cana. Set in the easternmost point of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana has tons of affordable all-inclusive resorts filled with soft, golden sand, golf courses, and plenty of water sports, amongst the many resort-planned activities. This is the ideal vacation for the part of you that wants to sit on the beach with a coconut drink and soak in the sun. U.S. News recommends visiting at the end of their peak season, from March to May, when you can get the most affordable airfare and hotel rates.
Where to stay
I once stayed at an Airbnb in Nassau. Drawn to the affordable price, my friends and I booked the one-bedroom apartment almost immediately. When we arrived, though, it was much different from what we were expecting. The apartment was about 25 minutes walking from the nearest beach, 15 minutes from the center of town, and had a bathtub that didn’t like to drain. Our immediate reaction was: what did we get ourselves into? But what initially seemed to be a less-than-ideal situation turned out to be a pretty amazing experience. Being located where we were, we had the opportunity to really get to know that part of the island. We became familiar with the center of town; found our favorite beach spots; ate at local restaurants (instead of the big chains located at the cruise docks); and developed an appreciation for the landscape. We explored so much on foot, but still got to have our moments of relaxation on the beach.
The point is, it doesn’t really matter where you stay; what matters is that you make the most of your experience. If you really don’t want to have to move or think about where you’re going to eat, then an all-inclusive resort is definitely for you. Websites like Expedia and Trivago will find you the best rates for hotels and resorts, and Groupon will sometimes offer really great package deals.
If you’re okay with doing some planning and the occasional dysfunctional shower, I highly recommend looking into Airbnb. Airbnb is a site where homeowners will offer parts of or entire houses and apartments for travelers to stay in. The rates are very affordable and, since you’re staying in an home, it allows you the option of cooking your own meals if you want to save some money.
What’s important when looking for a place to stay is to consider what you want, like:
Walkable distance to city center/beach
Ease of access to public transportation
Kitchen access
Pool
Free breakfast
Free WiFi
Free TV
All-inclusive experience
Planning your “stay”-cation
Alright so, it’s August, and peak vacation time is coming to an end. How do you get to have your tropical getaway without having to fly anywhere or book hotels? Luckily, Pinterest is full of ideas, like:
Make yourself a fruity drink using recipes from Martha Stewart
Buy an affordable inflatable pool and lounge in the sun all day
Put on a coconut face mask
Crank up the Caribbean tunes and dance!
Treat yourself to a day at the spa (and remember to check Groupon for deals!)
Sit yourself in a comfy chair outside and read a good book
Look up the best spot to watch the sunset in your neighborhood (New Jersey / Pennsylvania), pack some watermelon, and enjoy
If you’re looking for less of a DIY-staycation and more of a DI-someone-else-cation, check out TripAdvisor’s 10 Best Hotels in New Jerseyor 10 Best Hotels in Pennsylvania.
So, what are you waiting for? You’ve got all the tools you need for a relaxing, luxurious, tropical vacation right here. If you have any tips, comment below!
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