Puerto Rico is the most affordable tropical trip for U.S. travelers in March and April; And its big bucks to stay at St. Bart's. Average price of a one-week Caribbean getaway for four is more than $7,000.
NEWTON, MASS. – As much of the country continues to suffer a cold winter, TripAdvisor announced the results of its TripIndex Caribbean, a cost comparison of a one-week trip for a family or group of four to 20 popular Caribbean destinations during the travel period of March 1, 2014 – April 30, 2014. The TripIndex Caribbean evaluated travel expenses including the average round-trip airfare from the continental U.S., a seven night hotel stay, dinner for six nights and a half-day snorkeling excursion for four.
The average cost for a one-week trip for a family or group of four traveling to the Caribbean during the spring travel period is $7,152, and they can expect to pay around $3,253 for round-trip flights and $2,772 for one week in a hotel.
Go to Greater Antilles for Savings
- U.S. travelers seeking Caribbean value may consider several destinations in the Greater Antilles, including Puerto Rico, the least expensive destination on the TripIndex with a total cost of $4,609; Jamaica which ranks as the second best value ($4,631), and the Dominican Republic at #4 ($5,315).
- The most expensive Caribbean spots are located in the Leeward Islands: St. Barthelemy (St. Bart’s) is the priciest Caribbean destination on the Index at $12,486 – 17 percent more expensive than the second priciest on the list, Anguilla ($10,709). The British Virgin Islands round out the top three costliest Caribbean spots at $9,712 for the week.
“After a particularly harsh winter, many Americans are desperate to escape the Polar Vortex and thaw out in the warm waters of the Caribbean,” said Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications for TripAdvisor. “The TripAdvisor TripIndex reveals that U.S. travelers heading to Dominican Republic, Jamaica, or Puerto Rico within the Greater Antilles can get more value for their money and save 36 percent compared to other Caribbean destinations.”
Caribbean Hotel Values
- The average nightly rate for a Caribbean hotel during March-April is $396.
- The costliest stays are in St. Bart’s, where the average nightly rate of $844 is more than two times the average for the region.
- Savvy spenders can find the least expensive rooms in the Dominican Republic, where a one night stay is around $177. Travelers could stay nearly five nights in a Dominican Republic hotel for the cost of a single night in St. Bart’s.
Airfares to the Islands
- For flights to the Caribbean departing and returning on a Saturday, the average fare per person during the spring travel period is $813.
- At an average of $509 per round-trip ticket, Puerto Rico offers the most affordable airfare for travelers flying from the continental U.S. That’s less than a one-night hotel stay in the six priciest spots for lodging on the TripIndex.
- Airfares to and from Anguilla are the most expensive at an average fare of $1,316. Round-trip tickets for a family of four ($5,263) cost more than an entire one-week vacation to the three least expensive destinations on the TripIndex.
Travelers Save at U.S. Territories
Trips to territories controlled by the U.S. are 20 percent less expensive than the average Caribbean vacation cost. Here is the average cost of visiting the Caribbean ranked by jurisdiction:
- U.S. Territories – $5,696
- Independent States – $6,459
- France and/or The Netherlands Territories – $7,536
- U.K. Territories – $8,676
Most Affordable Caribbean Destinations
|
Destination |
Hotel |
Flights |
Meals |
Snorkel Trips |
Total |
|
|
1. |
Puerto Rico |
$1,582.28 |
$2,037.96 |
$697.20 |
$292.00 |
$4,609.44 |
|
2. |
Jamaica |
$1,512.63 |
$2,313.56 |
$505.92 |
$298.68 |
$4,630.79 |
|
3. |
Trinidad and Tobago |
$1,359.12 |
$2,531.32 |
$692.28 |
$188.28 |
$4,771.00 |
|
4. |
Dominican Republic |
$1,237.39 |
$3,203.96 |
$489.84 |
$384.00 |
$5,315.19 |
|
5. |
St Maarten-St Martin |
$1,911.91 |
$2,624.64 |
$737.16 |
$292.00 |
$5,565.71 |
|
6. |
Bahamas |
$2,294.25 |
$2,346.00 |
$961.92 |
$213.32 |
$5,815.49 |
|
7. |
Curacao |
$1,581.23 |
$3,250.76 |
$793.20 |
$207.32 |
$5,832.51 |
|
8. |
Bermuda |
$2,577.82 |
$2,067.64 |
$1,158.84 |
$260.00 |
$6,064.30 |
|
9. |
Aruba |
$2,521.19 |
$2,764.28 |
$739.92 |
$234.68 |
$6,260.07 |
|
10. |
Grenada |
$1,981.14 |
$3,754.36 |
$634.08 |
$252.80 |
$6,622.38 |
Most Expensive Caribbean Destinations
|
Destination |
Hotel |
Flights |
Meals |
Snorkel Trips |
Total |
|
|
1. |
St. Barthelemy |
$5,905.48 |
$4,795.52 |
$1,382.40 |
$402.36 |
$12,485.76 |
|
2. |
Anguilla |
$4,064.97 |
$5,262.64 |
$1,061.88 |
$320.00 |
$10,709.49 |
|
3. |
British Virgin Islands |
$4,182.57 |
$4,261.08 |
$941.88 |
$326.68 |
$9,712.21 |
|
4. |
Turks and Caicos |
$4,490.92 |
$2,939.24 |
$1,039.08 |
$342.68 |
$8,811.92 |
|
5. |
St. Kitts and Nevis |
$2,484.37 |
$5,045.00 |
$872.04 |
$266.64 |
$8,668.05 |
|
6. |
Cayman Islands |
$4,286.73 |
$2,614.68 |
$1,020.12 |
$160.00 |
$8,081.53 |
|
7. |
Antigua and Barbuda |
$3,684.38 |
$3,128.08 |
$867.84 |
$292.00 |
$7,972.30 |
|
8. |
St. Lucia |
$2,786.14 |
$3,647.72 |
$953.28 |
$240.00 |
$7,627.14 |
|
9. |
U.S. Virgin Islands |
$2,385.04 |
$3,229.32 |
$862.08 |
$305.32 |
$6,781.76 |
|
10 |
Barbados |
$2,614.22 |
$3,235.00 |
$640.08 |
$221.00 |
$6,710.30 |
Cost Breakdown by Destination
Traveling solo or with a different number of people? Here are the individual costs of common expenses to help travelers budget for their trips:
|
Destination |
Per Night Hotel Rate |
Round-Trip Flight |
Meal for One |
Half-Day Snorkel Trip |
|
Anguilla |
$580.71 |
$1,315.66 |
$44.25 |
$80.00 |
|
Antigua and Barbuda |
$526.34 |
$782.02 |
$36.16 |
$73.00 |
|
Aruba |
$360.17 |
$691.07 |
$30.83 |
$58.67 |
|
Bahamas |
$327.75 |
$586.50 |
$40.08 |
$53.33 |
|
Barbados |
$373.46 |
$808.75 |
$26.67 |
$55.25 |
|
Bermuda |
$368.26 |
$516.91 |
$48.29 |
$65.00 |
|
British Virgin Islands |
$597.51 |
$1,065.27 |
$39.25 |
$81.67 |
|
Cayman Islands |
$612.39 |
$653.67 |
$42.51 |
$40.00 |
|
Curacao |
$225.89 |
$812.69 |
$33.05 |
$51.83 |
|
Dominican Republic |
$176.77 |
$800.99 |
$20.41 |
$96.00 |
|
Grenada |
$283.02 |
$938.59 |
$26.42 |
$63.20 |
|
Jamaica |
$216.09 |
$578.39 |
$21.08 |
$74.67 |
|
Puerto Rico |
$226.04 |
$509.49 |
$29.05 |
$73.00 |
|
St. Kitts and Nevis |
$354.91 |
$1,261.25 |
$36.34 |
$66.66 |
|
St. Lucia |
$398.02 |
$911.93 |
$39.72 |
$60.00 |
|
St Maarten-St Martin |
$273.13 |
$656.16 |
$30.72 |
$73.00 |
|
St. Barthelemy |
$843.64 |
$1,198.88 |
$57.60 |
$100.59 |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
$194.16 |
$632.83 |
$28.85 |
$47.07 |
|
Turks and Caicos |
$641.56 |
$734.81 |
$43.30 |
$85.67 |
|
U.S. Virgin Islands |
$340.72 |
$807.33 |
$35.92 |
$76.33 |
Photo caption: San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
