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Have you ever wondered whether you could afford to visit the Caribbean? Below is our financial spend for our journey around St Vincent and the Grenadines recently. Check out what we did during the fourteen days we explored St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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)Â - 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.
Accommodation
With regard to accommodation costs, St Vincent and the Grenadines has been our most expensive destination to date. It was even slightly more costly than the USA.
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.
Experiences
Our experiences and activities included downloading and watching Pirates of the Caribbean – a must-see given the number of scenes that were filmed here. We also did a day trip to Mayreau, the Tobago Cays and Palm Island in the Southern Grenadines (a must for anyone in the area) and hired a car for a day to explore St Vincent.
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:
Communications
We didn’t incur any additional communication costs during our time in St Vincent and the Grenadines beyond our ongoing mail-scanning and forwarding service.
When we visited, we relied almost entirely on Wi-Fi provided by our accommodation to check messages, plan our days, and stay in touch. Connectivity varied depending on the island and property, and while it was generally sufficient for basic tasks, it wasn’t always fast or consistent.
Once we were out exploring—or moving between islands—we were typically offline. For this type of trip, that felt natural, as much of the experience was centred around being present rather than constantly connected.
If we were planning the same trip today, we’d likely organise mobile data before arriving so we’re connected from the moment we land and not dependent on patchy Wi-Fi across different islands.
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.
New to Airalo? Use code NEWTOAIRALO15 for 15% off
Already a customer? Use AIRALOESIM10 for 10% off
Travel Costs Summary Table
| Categories | USD per person per day | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 0.07 | 0% |
| Groceries | 5.84 | 9% |
| Dining | 6.43 | 10% |
| Leisure | 10.92 | 17% |
| Accommodation | 35.54 | 54% |
| Miscellaneous | 0.49 | 1% |
| Finance | 0.11 | 0% |
| Travel | 6.01 | 9% |
| Total USD per person per day | 65.40 |
Travel Money Tips
Securing your currency needs overseas can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. We've saved a significant amount of money over the years simply by knowing what (not) to do. Here are our key tips:
- How not to get caught out by bad FX rates and exorbitant commissions;
- How to exchange cash on your overseas trip;
- Which debit/credit card is best for your overseas trip; and
- How do you avoid unnecessary fees when withdrawing cash?
If you need to transfer money to pay for your travels upfront, we recommend Wise and XE Money Transfer (we use them interchangeably, depending on which one offers the better FX rate and lower commission).
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