First question on your list of questions to ask during the planning stage of your Caribbean trip is: How much will my trip cost? The answer depends, of course, on where you’re planning to go, where to stay once you get there, how to get around, what you eat or drink and what you buy. The Caribbean is wholly diverse and is comprised of thousands of tiny islands so there’s plenty of that to go around. Now, add in some other factors that would make your Caribbean stay even more enjoyable – such as what activities you’re going to engage in, what sports, places to see, and all that – and you have one nice, potentially costly trip ahead of you.

If you’re traveling to the Caribbean on a budget, then all the more reason for you to ask this question as this will give you some idea on how much you’re going to have to spend while enjoying your vacation. Try not to make your budget too shoestring or back breaking. You can probably add a little bit of extra and that would make a whole lot of difference to your vacation of dreams. For instance, you can try to cut down on food and drinks and instead use the extra money for tours and activities. You can do it the other way around as well.

Often, the key to handling costs in your Caribbean travel is balance. In fact, the question is a lot like asking how long a piece of string is. You can’t possibly know, so you make assumptions based on typical travel experiences you’ve had in a wide range of destinations. And if anything, costs are over-estimated, which isn’t bad really when you think about it.

Currency is really not a problem in the Caribbean. As a rule, USD is the de facto in most countries, but EU is accepted, especially in the French and Dutch part of the Caribbean. Other currencies are accepted as well and if not, there are plenty of money-changing centers and banks in large towns. Be wary of money changing tricks – the easiest way to getting burned while abroad.