Caribbean on a budget??
 

Hello, my husband and are in desperate need of a vacation. We are both 32, no kids, and would ideally like to go somewhere with a great beach, good food and adults only. We've been on a cruise a few years ago and loved our stop in Antigua and would love to go back, but not sure if we can do an island on our budget? We're working with about $2000-$2500 tops (canadian) and this needs to include a flight from Ottawa Ontario Canada. A cruise is the only vacation south we've ever taken so we're not very experienced with where to go. I love the idea of all inclusives, but we're not huge partiers or drinkers and are really looking for a more relaxing and quiet vacation. Do-able on this budget?? Thanks in advance for your advice.

If you like Antigua, look at the Catamaran Hotel...not on the best of beaches but nice location near English Harbor. Their rates are reasonable and include small kitchenette. Very nice people to work with.

Look at Isla Mujeres, Mexico or someplace like the Shangri-La in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (where you can get a quote on the website for the room, breakfast and dinner plus taxes for a great rate).
We stayed in a very inexpensive place on Isla called the Posada del Mar and it was just across the street from the beach (with nothing in between) so we had a great view for a great price. It was clean and comfortable and the people were very nice. You can walk just a few blocks to the main walking street that has many sidewalk cafes- the food is very reasonable to inexpensive and the drinks are almost always two for one. There is a lot of information on the Isla travel sites (google it). Fly into Cancun and take a cab to the ferry docks for about a 30 minute ferry ride to the island of Isla Mujeres.You do not need a car there-you can walk to most places in town- but rent a golf cart for one day and go explore the whole island (can be done in a day) and see the turtle farm.
In Playa del Carmen we stayed about 6 miles north of town in a great little resort called the La Posada del Capitan LaFitte- we had this great little cottage on the beach very close to the water. The only problem there is that if yuo want to go into town (we did but not too much) then you needed a cab but it was only a few dollars.
We found both of these places to be some of the least expensive and most relaxing trips we ever took.

have you checked on airfare from where you live to any of the islands? that would be the main deciding factor.

Have you thought of St. John? There are excellent restaurants in St. John. Windy Level Restaurant has excellent food and reasonably priced.

www.hillcreststjohn.com/windylevel.html

One of the best sites I have found for Caribbean info
www.caribbeantravelforums.com
My favorites St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Well if you're Canadian, there are some amazing deals to Cuba that would easily fall within your budget.

Suggestion if you can get it is Breezes Jibacoa which is between Varadero and Havana. If not that, then one of the Cayos. Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria or Cayo Guillermo.

Check out Sunwing or Air Transat or even Air Canada Vacations.

I was just going to recommend Cuba as well. Since you're Canadian, you need to get yourself to a travel agency and find out what kinds of cheap packages are available. Your budget is extremely low but might still be possible for a low-end property in either Cuba, the Dominican Republic, or Antigua. I must warn you, though, that I seriously doubt you'll be able to afford an adults-only property because those are usually more upscale and expensive. But there are many AI resorts that don't cater particularly well to families, so if you tell the travel agent very clearly what you want, you'll find out what is possible.

The only reason your budget opens up any possibilities at all is because of charter flights that the tour companies arrange (and now because of the premium the Canadian dollar carries against the US dollar). You will not be able to visit the Caribbean on your budget if you book airfare and hotels separately. You MUST get a package. So start shopping.

Thanks everyone for your help. I actually just found a great deal to an all inclusive, adults only in Dominican that we're pretty interested in (Blue Bay Getaway Villas Doradas in Puerto Plata). I was hoping for Antigua or St. Lucia, but airfare to these islands was too pricey.