savings.com"Choose a less expensive island. The least expensive Caribbean destination is the Dominican Republic hands down, yet the beaches are just as sparkling and the water and blue as other islands in the region. A close second is Jamaica, and after this, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Finally, great bargains can be found for travelers to Aruba and the Mexican Caribbean beaches of Cancun and Los Cabos. While the US Virgin Islands tend to be pricey, St. Croix is more affordable than St. John or St. Thomas. If saving is your goal, then avoid Dominica and Saint Barthelemy at all costs. (If you find the many destinations daunting like I do, use this map of the Caribbean islands to sort them out.)"
Forbes, I have been a long time vacation homeowner on Aruba, the tiny Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. Only 20 miles long and 6 miles across, the cactus-filled, dry island features my favorite beach in the entire world. Endless days spent on the famed Eagle Beach floating in crystal clear, aquamarine warm waters is why massive throngs of tourists return annually to this island paradise.