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Have you ever wondered whether you could afford to visit the Caribbean? Below is our financial spend on our journey around Curaçao recently. Check out what we did during the ten days we explored Curaçao.
Travel Cost Assumptions
When reading this article, please note that our travel costs are based on a couple travelling together. We are independent, budget-conscious travellers who plan our trips carefully and track our spending as we go. Our travel style is reasonably consistent wherever we go, which makes it easier to compare travel costs between destinations and over time:
- Accommodation: We usually stay in self-catered accommodation (homestays, locally owned guesthouses, hostels and short-term rentals) - ideally with a private bathroom, though kitchens and other areas may be shared.
- Dining and Groceries: We typically eat two meals a day at home and eat out once a day or every few days (favouring locally owned restaurants away from tourist hotspots).
- Experiences: Many of our activities are free or low-cost. When we do pay for attractions or activities, we choose carefully - our budget is limited, just like everyone else's.
- Transportation: We walk frequently and use public transport wherever possible. We only occasionally hire a vehicle. Entry and exit costs between countries are not included (though we may reference them separately).
- Other: Our daily costs also include essentials like communication, insurance and basic admin required to stay location-independent.
Because we follow a consistent approach and keep a close eye on our spending, these numbers reflect what we actually paid - not estimates.
Map of Accommodation, Points of Interest, Eateries and Transport
Below is a map of the recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals or stops mentioned in this article.
Transport
The travel category included a transfer from the airport and a five-day car hire.
How to save money on transportation
Transport is one of the easiest costs to control if you stay flexible. Over years of long-term travel, we've found that small decisions - when you travel, how you book, and which tools you use - matter more than the destination itself. If possible, avoid peak seasons and fixed dates. We regularly use Google Flights and Skyscanner to scan entire months and identify cheaper days to fly.
For ground transport, we start with Busbud to compare routes and prices - it's often the quickest way to understand what's actually available. In Asia and beyond, 12Go is useful for combining bus, train, and ferry travel with transfers in one place. For European train travel, Rail Europe can help, although coverage varies by country. If ferries are involved, both Direct Ferries and Ferryhopper are worth checking, as routes and prices can differ.
If we don't know how to get from A to B, we use Rome2Rio to map out options across different modes of transport, then cross-check prices directly. For rental cars, we compare options using Booking.com, which consistently surfaces a wide range of suppliers in one place.
Our approach is simple: compare first, then book the option that fits the route, timing, and overall trip cost - not just the cheapest ticket. This is how we keep our average travel costs low over time while staying flexible.
Air Travel
Ideally, research in your browser's incognito mode, as cookies can signal to booking sites how interested you are in a particular trip, which may affect the price quoted. That applies to all online travel agents (OTAS), not just airlines. If you find a good deal, book it there and then, as prices change constantly:
- The best fares usually go first, so planning is essential for air transportation.
- The same applies to air points or miles, as only a limited number of seats are available on each flight.
If you plan to travel across multiple continents, you may want to compare passes that bundle multiple destinations, such as round-the-world (RTW) fares offered by OneWorld or Star Alliance members. If you travel during peak season, these multi-destination packages may be a better deal than booking each leg individually. You can do overland sections on RTW tickets, too, which means you could supplement your RTW ticket with bus and train rides or cheap flights between destinations.
Vehicle Rental (including Relocations)
Unless your trip takes you across oceans, another way to save on transportation is to look for vehicle or motorhome relocations. Websites in many countries offer massively discounted one-way rates (often including fuel and/or insurance) to those driving a vehicle or motorhome from A to B within a specific period. These deals are relatively last-minute, and A and B are usually more significant transport hubs. However, if that's an option, consider searching for vehicle or motorhome relocation services at your destination.
Speaking of vehicles, if you plan to hire a car at your destination, it's also a good idea to shop around. We often use aggregator websites that let us search across multiple car rental companies at once.
Hitchhiking
A final option to save on transport costs is… to hitch a ride. While Paul and I did it safely in Dominica on a public holiday (when there was no other option) and have taken plenty of people along in our campervan in New Zealand, there are many countries where we wouldn't feel safe hitchhiking. Judge for yourself where and when you can and can't do it.
You don't need to resort to hitchhiking to save money on transportation | Photo by Dmitry Shulga on Unsplash
How to save money on experiences
Look for free and low-cost experiences
Many activities (and some of our most treasured experiences) have been free or cost little. On our journeys, we have
- Visited many museums free of charge (including the Colosseum and Forum in Rome, which are free on the first Sunday of the month);
- Attended free guided walking tours around the world (you tip at the end based on your budget and how much you liked the tour);
- Did countless self-guided walks and used public transport to get to know a city;
- Hiked in the Andes in Ecuador and climbed volcanoes in the Caribbean;
- Swam and snorkelled at countless beaches, using tree shade rather than paying for parasols and
- Attended free street performances and danced with locals in Argentina, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Search for free activities at your destination; chances are someone has already made a nice list.
Be selective about paid experiences
Paying for activities and attractions can add up quickly. Therefore, look out for special offers and discount coupons. If you travel in a group, you can also book a private tour and share the cost. And finally, shop around - here are some of the OTAs we use and can recommend:
Around the world in 80+ travel movies
Looking for travel inspiration? Why not turn to the big screen? Movies can transport us to different places, spark our wanderlust and make us dream of new adventures. And with 80+ films to choose from, covering classics and hidden gems worldwide, you will be planning your next adventure in no time.
How to save money on dining and groceries
One of the reasons we travel is to experience the local cuisine, but dining out all the time can quickly get expensive. We therefore always try to book accommodation with access to a kitchen - either a private kitchenette or our host's kitchen. That way, we can store food in the fridge and make meals. Paul and I eat out only once a day (sometimes only once a week), usually at lunchtime. This allows us to sample local dishes while taking advantage of great lunch deals. It also means we don't have to roam around unknown parts of town every night in search of a restaurant.
Portion sizes in many parts of the world are usually substantial, so we frequently share a three-course meal. The same applies if you go out for dinner: Order a starter or salad and a main, and that's usually enough for two people. An added benefit is that there is less food waste.
Every country has both more expensive and less expensive supermarkets for groceries. Ask your host about the more affordable options (for example, Aldi or Lidl in many European countries) and try to avoid convenience stores as much as possible.
How to save money on accommodation
As with any other travel expense, it's worth shopping around to find the best deal. We look across several booking platforms to find the best value-for-money option. Nightly rates are generally cheaper outside of peak season. If you can only travel during peak season, consider accommodation options that are a little further away from the main tourist attractions but offer good public transport connections.
Wherever you book, read the fine print to compare apples with apples. For example, your stay may incur extra charges (like local tourist taxes or cleaning fees). Some booking platforms include them, while in other cases, you may have to pay your host for them upon arrival.
Communications
During our time in Curaçao, we didn’t incur any additional communication costs beyond our ongoing mail scanning and forwarding service.
We relied primarily on the Wi-Fi provided by our accommodation to check messages, plan our days, and update content before heading out. Once we were out exploring, we were generally offline and didn’t find this a limitation in the way we travelled at the time.
If we were planning the same trip today, we’d likely set up mobile data before arriving so we’re connected as soon as we land and not reliant on finding Wi-Fi.
Stay connected the moment you land
We use Airalo eSIMs on (almost) every trip to avoid roaming charges and the hassle of buying a local SIM. You can install your eSIM before you travel and get online as soon as you arrive. Airalo works in 200+ countries (we've used it across the Americas, Europe and Asia), but not everywhere - so check coverage before you buy.
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Already a customer? Use AIRALOESIM10 for 10% off
Travel Costs Summary
| Category | USD per person per day | |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 8.44 | 14% |
| Dining | 8.97 | 14% |
| Experiences | 4.58 | 7% |
| Accommodation | 24.56 | 40% |
| Miscellaneous | 1.29 | 2% |
| Transport | 14.08 | 23% |
| Total USD per person per day | 61.92 |
How much did it cost you to explore Curaçao?
I wrote this Curaçao travel costs article based on my own experience. If you have explored Curaçao and have tracked your spending there and are willing to share, please feel free to contact me. If you liked my article and tips and found them helpful, I would appreciate it if you could share them with your friends and family via the Share buttons below. Even better, link to the page from your personal blog or social media platforms.
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