Yes You Can Have Your Caribbean Dream Vacation – and Eat it, Too

When you think about vacationing in the Caribbean, what pops into your head first? Is it the sublime tropical climate? How about sugary white sand beaches along the shoreline of a jewel-like turquoise sea? Perhaps the delectable, and exotic, Caribbean cuisine is on your mind. Or just maybe, it’s the thought that it costs a lot of money to vacation in the Caribbean, and you’ll never be able to afford to go.

Here’s a secret – vacation accommodations in the Caribbean can be very affordable. It’s called renting a timeshare. Never heard of that? Well, when owners can’t use their weeks they list them for rent – usually at a budget-busting price that is up to 50% less than the cost of a typical hotel room.

Here are some examples:

1. Aruba has the well-deserved reputation of being one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, with the added bonus that it lies outside the hurricane belt. A timeshare rental at this top Caribbean vacation spot can start as low as $128/night.

On Aruba you can enjoy white, powdery-soft sand beaches, the Arikok National Park which is a fascinating natural preserve that covers 25% of the island, and a favorite diving spot – the sunken wreck of the Californian (the first ship to send rescue efforts to the Titanic).
2. Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands, is 76 square miles of Caribbean fun. A timeshare rental here starts at a low $71/night. Most of the resorts are spread along Seven Mile Beach. World renowned for its stunning beauty, this beach has been honored by Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine as “The Caribbean’s Best Beach.” This beach is public, allowing you to walk its entire length unimpeded.

3. Barbados is unique in the Caribbean. The island is located on the far eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea – so it has one foot in and one foot out. The western shores are along the Caribbean Sea and the eastern shores are along the Atlantic. This allows for lazy beach time on the calmer Caribbean side, or a chance to surf big waves on the wilder Atlantic side, a water sport lacking at most other Caribbean islands. Timeshare rentals here start at just $107/night.

4. The Bahamas are, without a doubt, the most popular islands in the Caribbean, known the world-over. It might surprise you to learn that you can stay here at a beautiful resort by renting a timeshare for a little as $70/night. Hob-nob with celebrities, have fun at casinos, frolic along pink beaches, parasail, scuba dive, dance to the beat of a hot nightlife – it’s all here for you in the Bahamas, and for a budget price.
Still thinking about that Caribbean cuisine? Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of African, Amer-Indian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch, East Indian, and Chinese. How can you go wrong with this combination?

Most timeshare rentals come with a full-sized, fully-equipped kitchen so here’s your chance to prepare delicious local dishes yourself, from Jamaican Jerk, to Callaloo, to Black Cake. Head to the local fresh fish and farmer’s markets on the islands – and indulge in exotic foods for much less than what it would cost to try the offerings from a pricey menu at a restaurant.
Alice Perkins is a timeshare travel blogger for RedWeek.com, the largest online market place for timeshare rentals, where vacationers can find luxury accommodations for less than the cost of a typical hotel room.