Top 3 Cost-free Ways to Enjoy The Caribbean

Although a tropical island deluxe accommodation is not exactly free or low cost, especially in a place like the magical Caribbean, it takes only some imagination, patience, and resourcefulness to enjoy the region without breaking the budget. Here are some of the exciting activities you can engage in they won’t cost you an extra penny!

Keep an Eye on those ‘Free Hotel Nights’

Many Caribbean hotels and resorts—yes, even the average tropical island deluxe accommodation—compete against one another for visitor bookings, and they often do so by dangling a free night or two. For example, a hotel may offer accommodation for four nights for the price of three, or five nights for the price of four—and if you stay longer, they may even throw in more free nights! Aside from free nights, many hotels will also entice customers in other ways including offering free meals or free breakfast, providing a free separate room for the kids on family packages, or even throwing in free spa services or use of other onsite amenities. The point is, these offers abound and it’s a sin against your budget to not take advantage of them!

Hike

Because of the Caribbean’s breath-taking natural beauty, one of the best ways to enjoy the sights and scents is by taking a hike – and it’s free! It’s a good bet that your tropical island deluxe accommodation will provide some assistance (or at least point you in the right direction) if you want to embark on a hike through the interior or coastline. Keep in mind that hiking is not only pleasurable, it’s also healthy—all you need is a good hat, a bottle of water, a pair of reliable and comfortable shoes, and maybe a bottle of insect repellent or bug spray. Many of the islands in the region have well-established hiking trails for safety and convenience. Bermuda, for example, boasts an 18-mile Railway Trail that runs from Somerset to St. George; in the Grand Cayman you can test your mettle on the Mastic Trail; while in Barbados, the island’s National Trust offers a free guided hike on Sundays.

Join the Party

While it can be expensive to join the Carnival parade in Trinidad (doing so can set you back thousands of dollars, although the experience could be priceless), but if you are only interested in being a spectator of the festivities—which is also a whole lot of fun—then it won’t cost a thing. You can also do the same at other major festivals in the Caribbean islands, such as the Vincy Mas in St. Vincent or the Cropover in Barbados. There are also street parties that double as culinary and cultural events, such as the Arawak Cay Fish Fry in the Bahamas and the Oistins Fish Fry in Barbados.

While it can be expensive to holiday on a tropical island—deluxe accommodation is not in the realms of "budget"—it only takes a small dose of imagination to enjoy so much more of the region for little or no cost.

Olivia Chetham works for the Essential Hotel Collection. If you’re looking for superb tropical island deluxe accommodation, we offer a handpicked portfolio of privately owned hotels. We have an intimate knowledge of every property and can provide the perfect accommodation to make your island dreams a reality.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.