Caribbean's Top 10 Most Expensive Destinations Unveiled

May 6, 2013

The results are in and Virgin Gorda is the Caribbean's most expensive destination in terms of lodging costs. The third largest of the British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda earned this distinction after CheapHotels.org tabulated the findings of its latest survey. Those findings were drawn from a price comparison during the Caribbean's high travel season, January to April 2013.

To stay overnight in Virgin Gorda during this timeframe, visitors had to spend an average of $321, and that was for the most affordable room. The survey considered only those resorts and hotels having a 3-star rating or higher. Rounding out the Top 3 were Anguilla and St. Barts. These popular destinations among the rich and famous came in at number two and three on the survey, with average rates of $315 and $295, respectively.

Virgin Gorda wasn't the only British Virgin Islands locale making a showing. Tortola, the largest of the island group, also ranked in the Top 10 as the number six most expensive Caribbean destination. There, travelers had to pay an average of $214 nightly for the least expensive room. Edging out Tortola to take the number five spot was St. John, in the neighboring U.S. Virgin Islands. A comparable room there cost visitors an average of $224 per night.

The following table shows the Caribbean's 20 most expensive destinations. The rankings are based on the average rate for the cheapest available double room (minimum: 3-star hotel or resort). The time period spanning January–April 2013 served as the basis of comparison.

1. Virgin Gorda $321
2. Anguilla $315
3. St. Barts $295
4. Nevis $254
5. St. John $224
6. Tortola $217
7. Eleuthere $214
8. Grand Cayman $197
9. Paradise Island $195
10. Runaway Bay $187

11. Exuma Islands $180
12. Sint Marteen $174
13. Dominica $165
14. St. Martin $164
15. St. Thomas $159
16. San Juan $157
17. Palm Beach (Aruba) $154
18. Guadeloupe $149
19. Trinidad $146
20. Martinique $144

About the Methodology

The survey was conducted from January into March 2013. For each destination in the Caribbean, the price for the cheapest available double room (minimum: 3-star hotel or resort) was established for the following time periods: January 16–20, February 20–24, March 13–17 and April 3–7. An average minimum nightly rate was then calculated, resulting in the above rankings.