Did you know that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are a great time to score a deal on a Caribbean or Hawaiian getaway? We did, so we checked availability and found fantastic rates at 20 beach resorts on 10 islands.
Plan your island getaway during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas to save big. | Shutterstock
ByDonna HeiderstadtNov. 7, 2018
We'll all be piling turkey onto our plates early this year (on November 22), so that adds another week to the post-Thanksgiving/pre-Christmas travel window that's one of the best times of the year to score bargain hotel rates and airfares — especially from New York and Miami. And if you're looking to vacation on a tropical island in the Caribbean or Hawaii, late November and early December typically deliver great weather, too. Also worth noting: Since deals are offered annually during this period, if you can't pack your sunscreen for a last-minute pre-holiday getaway this year, make a New Year's resolution to book one in 2019. Here are 10 islands in the Caribbean and Hawaii with great hotel rates (most under $250 a night and a few around $150 a night) between November 25 and December 20, 2018.
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Always-popular Aruba has great beaches, lively bars and casinos and an array of watersports. Book a five-night or longer stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, which combines a convenient location in downtown Oranjestad with an adults-only private-island beach, and you can score nightly rates ranging from $189 to $208 (depending on your dates). If your budget's a bit tighter, $150 a night will get you a room during the early December period at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba — Beach Resort & Casino, which is located on popular Palm Beach and offers easy access to nearby restaurants. | ShutterstockAll-inclusive ease is affordable in the Dominican Republic, where the beaches in Punta Cana and Bavaro offer soft sand, warm surf and fun for families and couples alike. At Barcelo Bavaro Palace, located on a 1¼-mile beach, room rates dip as low as $199 per night for two people, all-inclusive. And a stay at Grand Bahia Principe Punta Cana, which offers access to the beach, two pools, multiple bars and 10 restaurants at two adjacent Bahia Principe resorts, is just $157 a night for two, all-inclusive, and $235 for a family of four sharing a room. | ShutterstockResort options in Jamaica range from sprawling estates to intimate hideaways and two popular properties have great post-Thanksgiving rates. At newly renovated Half Moon, which is set on 400 acres in Montego Bay (with a golf course and an equestrian center), prices start at just $237 a night. On Jamaica's less-developed South Coast, bohemian-chic Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach offers an island vibe, casual camaraderie and authentic local cuisine, with room rates starting at $165 a night. | ShutterstockWhile Grand Cayman, with its calm waters and sugar-white sands, isn't always the most affordable Caribbean island, room rates from late November to mid-December are a great value. One-year-old Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman, located on a private cove at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach and home to three new restaurants, has special rates starting at $154 a night. The nearby Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, which is directly on Seven Mile Beach and just debuted a new Botanika Union spa, has rooms starting at $279 a night. | ShutterstockAs properties impacted by 2017's Hurricane Maria reopen for the coming high season, Puerto Rico offers an easy, escape for U.S. citizens. You can score cheap airfare to San Juan from Miami and New York, plus affordable rates at many properties, including two hotels offering totally different experiences. On the beach in Isla Verde, book a room starting at $169 per night at the youthful and contemporary San Juan Water and Beach Club. If a colonial vibe and access to local dining is more your style, you can stay in the heart of Old San Juan at the historic Hotel El Convento starting at $185 a night. | ShutterstockIt's a short flight from Fort Lauderdale or Miami (and under three hours from New York) to this sunny and popular Bahamian island, where even prices on a luxury property are less than $250 a night on certain dates. Check availability at the new SLS at Baha Mar to score a room for just $236 (with the Stay Longer & Save promo). Or if you'll be bringing along the kids, rooms at Atlantis, Royal Towers, an Autograph Collection offering access to 18 waterslides and 11 pools, start at $169 a night. | ShutterstockYes, it's a long flight (five hours from Los Angeles and 10-plus hours from New York) to Honolulu, but post-Thanksgiving airfares and resort rates are at some of their lowest levels of the year. In the heart of Waikiki, the Fifth Night Free promo at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa lowers nightly rates to $166. And at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, located at the western edge of Waikiki, rates start at $183 a night. | ShutterstockFor sun and fun, it's hard to top Maui with its world-famous beaches and snorkeling, championship golf courses and landmark Haleakala volcano for adventure-seekers. The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is newly renovated, has one of the best locations on Kaanapali Beach, and is offering nightly rates starting at $247. Honua Kai Resort & Spa offers family-friendly condo-style accommodations starting at $260 a night (note: there is nearby construction going on). | Shutterstock
The Garden Isle, as Kauai is known, is famous for its lush, Old Hawaii ambience and natural wonders that include the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon. Enjoy it all from the centrally located Aqua Kauai Beach Resort, which offers tropical-landscaped pools, and has nighty rates starting at $185. At the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, families will appreciate the spacious accommodations (even the lowest-priced Studios are 512 square feet) and money-saving kitchen, plus rates start at $261 per night. | ShutterstockWhile the Big Island of Hawaii may be known for its volcanoes, lava fields and black-sand beaches, it also has terrific golden-sand beaches ideal for relaxation. Two terrific and affordable options for a post-Thanksgiving escape are the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (which recently completed a renovation) where rates start at $189 per night, and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, also newly renovated and located on one of the Big Island's prettiest beaches, offering rates starting at $248 a night. | Shutterstock
