We’ve long said the Caribbean is as good or better during the summer: you have a bit more space, the water is warmer and the trade winds keep you cool at night. 

Indeed, the Caribbean is becoming a full-fledged year-round destinations (even destinations like Anguilla been cultivating significant growth in summer business). But the biggest story about summer in the Caribbean is the price: it’s cheaper. 

So where are the best spots for an affordable Caribbean vacation this summer? For starters, it’s The Bahamas, according to a new report from analytics firm Squaremouth, which analyzed travel insurance policy sales for trips purchased before April 1, covering summer travel between May 23 and the first of September. 

The average trip cost for The Bahamas was $4,404, followed by Aruba at $4,680 and Jamaica at $4,922. Three other Caribbean destinations made the list: the Dominican Republic, with an average vacation cost of $5,188, Puerto Rico at $5,281 and Turks and Caicos at $5,999. 

Rising travel costs are leading more travelers to actively seek out affordable vacations, Squaremouth said in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal. 

Based on the data, Caribbean vacations are still significantly lower than the average. Squaremouth said the average cost of a summer vacation was $10,346, a 38 percent jump over last summer — and more than twice the average affordable island getaway. 

That aligns with what we’ve been seeing on the flight side, with a number of destinations actually posting lower fares.