Saving Money while Traveling in the Caribbean

You may think your dream vacation in the Caribbean is out of reach financially, but that may not be true. There are many ways you can save money on your trip and make it within your budget.

1. Don't be set on an island. There are more Caribbean islands out there than you can count on your fingers. Each has unique attributes, but let's face it - most of them great places for a vacation. You can narrow down your choices to a few islands (check out AOL's Guide to Mexico and the Caribbean), but if the more places you are willing to travel to, the better chance you will get a great deal. The more popular islands may actually give you the best option to save money. Competition fuels bargains and places like Nassau in the Bahamas or Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic have a lot of airlines and hotels offering lower prices to compete for your business.

2. Be flexible about dates. There is a huge difference in price when traveling to the Caribbean based on when you go. Packages in low season can be discounted 50% or more. If you don't have children in school, the best way of saving money on Caribbean travel is to go when children are in school. Stay away from the summer months when families are planning their vacations. Spring break is another expensive time. The actually dates vary between different schools and is an even wider range of dates for colleges. Traveling to the Caribbean will be at peak prices during these times in March and April. And spending your vacation with "college students gone wild" is probably not your idea of fun anyway.

3. Consider an all-inclusive.-inclusive hotels like Club Med and Beaches include rooms, meals, drinks, activities and even sightseeing tours in some cases. You can save a lot of money on your trip without these extras. Plus, you will not have to keep reaching into your pocket, holding your breath when you go to look at the final bill, or spend your days on the beach constantly telling the kids "no." If you can't find an all-inclusive hotel you like at your Caribbean destination, ask if the hotel of your choice has an option to include some or all of your meals/drinks. Many hotels aren't considered all-inclusive resorts, but they may have it available for an extra charge. Try to estimate how much you will be spending on the extras to decide if it's worth paying for.

4. Get on the mailing list. Sign up for newsletters and alerts at travel websites. Most of the travel sites on the internet have newsletters, twitter accounts and special mailings. You need to get on their list (or follow them with Twitter) to be notified when there are deals. Some good ones to check out are AOL Travel,Smart Travel, Travel Zoo, Hotwire, Orbitz and Expedia. You can even specify your home airport at some so the deals you receive are specific to you. And, don't forget the airlines. In addition to airfare, airlines offer full vacation packages at their sister sites, and always have a page with the latest sales. Visit American Airlines Vacations, USAirways Vacations and Delta Vacations, among others.

5. Earn miles and points. Use an airline or hotel affiliated credit card to earn points or miles on all your purchases. Check out CreditCards.com for a list of cards offering points with travel benefits or go straight to the website of your favorite hotel chain or airline and search "credit card." Be sure to check, though, if there is an annual fee. If there is a high fee each year to use the card, it may not be worth the points you get. You can also get free points to save money on your Caribbean trip by taking surveys at websites like E-Rewards or E-Miles.

6. Use the miles and points. Keep in mind that you can use points and miles for more than just the hotel or airline you have them with. American Airlines will let you use your miles to book hotels (even all-inclusives) and cars, as well as airfare at AAVacations. Hilton will let you convert your Hilton Honors points into room nights, airline miles, or even credits for the hotel. You can turn Marriott points into a free massage in the resort's spa. Check the website of the loyalty program you belong to. Also sign up for Points.com, where you can exchange points and miles between programs.

7. Check out something new. Whenever a new resort opens, there are kinks that need to be ironed out. Even if everything is running smoothly, it takes time before word gets out about the hotel and people are booking it. Sandals, for example, opened their new Emerald Bay hotel with 60% off plus free airfare for one guest. The company knows this and they are always offering deals to the first travelers there. By getting on the mailing list of any hotel chain you might be interested in, you will be the first to know about any bargains coming up.

8. Consider a home exchange. There are a few companies that can arrange for you to "swap" houses with another couple or family. You could end up with a beautiful beachfront home to yourself for free in exchange for letting someone check out Middle America. See what's available and what the rules are on websites like Caribbean Home Exchange, Home for Exchange or Home Exchange. There's even one especially for singles. Just be sure that there is a legal agreement between you and the people who will be in your home that spells out who is responsible for damage and maintenance of each place.

9. Hit the market. If you're e not at an all-inclusive, there are ways to save money on your food and drinks while in the Caribbean. Get a place with a kitchen (or at least a microwave and refrigerator). You may not want to cook on your vacation, but you can at least save money on breakfast and drinks by quickly storing some milk, cereal and bottled water or pop. Alcoholic beverages can be very expensive when purchased at the hotel's bar. Pour yourself a glass of wine in the room from the bottle you bought in town. Chance are you will be able to get a whole bottle for less money than one glass in the lounge.

10. Check through Gadling's Budget Travel section for more tips and deals that will save you money while traveling in the Caribbean.