The Caribbean isn’t exactly known to be cheap, but you can stretch your dollar pretty far on certain islands – even when traveling during the winter high season. Popular hot spots like the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and others offer great value in terms of easy access and well-priced lodging and dining options. But some off-the-beaten-path islands, from Montserrat to Tobago, are also worth seeking out for the extraordinary bang for the buck that they provide. All-inclusive holidays dominate the scene on most of these islands – great if you want a worry-free, value-packed vacation, but limiting if you want to experience the destination beyond the resort gates; don’t overlook smaller, locally owned villas and inns for terrific, cost-effective alternatives. Other surefire money-savers include traveling during the off season (from May to November) and looking to budget carriers for cheap flights – these tips, coupled with our editors' picks for budget Caribbean islands, are guaranteed to leave you with enough cash left over to dole out on those frothy, beachfront piña coladas once you touch down! Get a preview of our favorite value getaways with our Budget Caribbean Islands slideshow.

See our Caribbean Travel Guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals.