Affordable Caribbean: Drop in Winter Fares

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Cure that vitamin D deficiency with a winter trip to the Caribbean. Our data shows that dropping fares make it more affordable for you to dip your toes in warm island waters.

As we’ve done in the past with summer travel to Europe and holiday flights in the U.S., we’ve been tracking winter Caribbean routes from several dozen U.S. cities to some popular islands. Here are some of the routes we’ve been watching:

Get some help with the above airport codes here.

The Dip

Though not dramatically lower, we are seeing a price dip week over week. Taking a popular route as an example, the New York JFK/San Juan, Puerto Rico, route saw a drastic $70 drop in price. Not as spectacular at $42 in savings but still noteworthy are fares from New York’s LaGuardia to Puerto Rico’s Isle of Enchantment (not displayed in the charts above).

Search Nearby Airports

The fare examples above point to a great way to find affordable fares: Whenever possible, include nearby airports when researching cheap flights. The difference in prices is often due to one airport having more low-cost carriers such as JetBlue and Spirit, which offer competitive rates to many Caribbean locales, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Know which airlines fly where and spend that hard earned savings on piña coladas instead of leaving it for the airlines’ profit margins.

Resources

• Unsure of which island to soak in? Get inspired as you flip through our 10 Best Budget Islands in the Caribbean photo gallery.
• You know you want to go, but which destinations have the same fit as your wallet’s contents? Read our Top Five Bargain Destinations for Winter 2010/11.
• Check out SmarterTravel’s Caribbean travel guides for general tips such as when to take the voyage.
• Catch up on new Caribbean routes, plus find tips on making your vacation happen on the cheap.
• Skip the stopovers by perusing Budget Travel’s handy direct flight tool. Not only will your tan be the richer for it, but more flight segments often equal higher fares.