| Tip #1: Bargaining for the Best Deal | | | | It's very common for travel agencies to recommend |
| Quite often, vendors in the Caribbean will be willing to | | | | places to go while you're staying in a particular city. |
| negotiate with you when they are selling their products. | | | | What's also common, is that these agencies |
| If you're looking for something like a souvenir | | | | sometimes make money on the back-end if you visit |
| hammock, you're likely to find tons of merchants all | | | | these places. This is rather common with cruise ships. |
| within walking distance in any major tourist destination. | | | | They will tell you that "taking the local taxi services can |
| All of them are competing against each other, so they | | | | be dangerous", when it fact, they really just want to |
| will usually be willing to drop their price to levels that | | | | sell you on using the buses or taxis that they provide |
| may seem ridiculous. | | | | (sometimes covertly). |
| If your negotiation skills aren't quite up to par, the | | | | Don't be afraid to ask local residents for their |
| easiest thing for you to remember is to simply walk | | | | recommendations on where to visit and what the best |
| away. If they think they're losing the sale, many | | | | and safest mode of transportation is. As always, be |
| vendors will quickly chase you down, dropping their | | | | sure to use good judgment before taking anyone up |
| prices every single step. | | | | on their offers. Safety should still be your top concern |
| However, one of the most important things to | | | | in the Caribbean. |
| remember is that these people depend on this income | | | | Tip #4: Branch Out and Try New Foods |
| to survive! At times, they will certainly be willing to lose | | | | It's normal in your everyday life to get stuck in a rut of |
| money on a particular product just to have enough | | | | eating similar meals over and over again. On your |
| money to take a bus home that evening. Don't be | | | | Caribbean vacation, you have to try out as many |
| completely cruel, but know that you almost always | | | | different types of food as you possibly can. My |
| have a little wiggle room on the "final pricing". | | | | personal favorite in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is |
| Tip #2: Keep a Copy of your Credit Cards and | | | | the "Yucatan Style Chicken". Even to this day, I still |
| Passports | | | | can't tell you what spices they used, but it's by far the |
| The quickest way to ruin any vacation is to lose your | | | | best chicken I've ever eaten. |
| wallet or purse. If your personal identification cards or | | | | And a Bonus Tip: Have Fun! |
| credit cards are stolen, you will need to cancel them | | | | Neglecting to have fun on your trip will be disastrous! |
| immediately and contact your nearest embassy. | | | | When you get back home, and someone asks, "What |
| Before you leave, however, make copies of all your | | | | did you do on your vacation?", you want to make sure |
| cards, and write down contact numbers for each of | | | | you have an answer that leads into an hour-long story. |
| them so that you know who to call. Keep copies in | | | | Don't be afraid to venture off the beaten path, and |
| your hotel room (preferably in a safe). As long as you | | | | explore some of the hidden areas of the islands. |
| contact your bank(s) within a reasonable timeframe, | | | | There's so much beauty and excitement to be found |
| they usually will reverse any charges that may have | | | | in the Caribbean, it's crazy to not try and experience |
| been fraudulently incurred. | | | | everything! |
| Tip #3: Talk to the Locals | | | | |