{"id":97171189,"date":"2015-04-13T18:32:48","date_gmt":"2015-04-13T18:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97171189"},"modified":"2015-10-22T02:43:46","modified_gmt":"2015-10-22T02:43:46","slug":"good-bye-taxes-hello-beaches-your-guide-to-a-caribbean-tax-refund-getaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/good-bye-taxes-hello-beaches-your-guide-to-a-caribbean-tax-refund-getaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Good-Bye Taxes, Hello Beaches! Your Guide to a Caribbean, Tax Refund Getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Folks, Tax Day is upon us. REJOICE! It\u2019s almost time to put your itemized deduction lists down, drop the W-2 forms, and step away from the IRS website. We can basically taste the finish line.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re an accountant who hasn\u2019t slept since the New Year or you\u2019re just a plain old taxpayer, it\u2019s pretty safe to say you could use a vacation after all that hard work. And, with the average Tax Day refund coming in at $3,120, you just might be ready to indulge in a proper getaway.<\/p>\n

Not sure where your post-Tax Day celebration should go down? On the beach, obviously. More specifically, in the Caribbean! With its relaxed, slow-paced island culture, its clear blue waters, and its white, powdery beaches, we dare you to come up with a better place to unwind. The Caribbean is calling your name, my friend.<\/p>\n

But, with so many awesome islands to choose from in the region, how do you figure out which one is best for you?<\/p>\n

Never fear. We\u2019re making it easy. Behold, five of the best Caribbean islands to spend your Tax Day celebration. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n

1.) Jamaica<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"KKulikov\/Shutterstock\"<\/a>

KKulikov\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Aaaahh, Jamaica<\/a>. You really can\u2019t go wrong with this idyllic island nation. With pristine beaches, gorgeous coral reefs, mountain ranges, banana groves, and more, Jamaica has one of the most gorgeous landscapes of any island in the region. If it\u2019s beauty you\u2019re looking for, you\u2019ll definitely find it here.<\/p>\n

Beyond the beach, Jamaica has quite the rich cultural history, featuring incredible music and Afro-Caribbean creole cuisine. If you\u2019re a Bob Marley fan, you already know the island is home to his signature Caribbean sound. But the awesomeness doesn\u2019t stop with him\u2014Jamaica is also known for its lively calypso and dancehall music scene. If you want to party the night away, this is the place to be.<\/p>\n

Even better? There are a ton of cheap, quick flight options from the U.S., especially from the East Coast. Head to Jamaica, and you could be in island paradise faster than you can hang up on the IRS.<\/p>\n

2.) The Dominican Republic<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"photopixel\/Shutterstock\"<\/a>

photopixel\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

The DR<\/a> is one of the Caribbean\u2019s often overlooked gems. The island itself is geographically diverse in a way you won\u2019t find anywhere else in the region\u2014featuring bustling cities, sprawling rural countryside, idyllic coastal views, dramatic mountains, and gorgeous beaches.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re not lounging under a palm tree or splashing in a lagoon, you can check out the colonial cities\u2014the architecture in Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata can\u2019t be beat\u2014play dominoes with the locals, or dance the meringue on any street corner. Dominicans are famous for their parties, so rest assured that you can dance away your tax woes until the wee hours of the morning.<\/p>\n

3.) British Virgin Islands<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"idreamphoto\/Shutterstock\"<\/a>

idreamphoto\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking to completely unplug for a few days? The British Virgin Islands<\/a>\u2014BVI for short\u2014are where you should be. These are some of the least developed islands in the region, meaning fewer hotels, fewer tourists, and more untouched beach space. Perfection. What\u2019s even better, the accommodations that do<\/em> exist in BVI are super incredible. These islands are all about quality, not quantity.<\/p>\n

That said, the air of exclusivity that BVI likes to cultivate means it can be a pricey vacation option. If you scored a sweet tax refund this year, go for it. But if you\u2019re looking to save a few bucks, base your trip in a neighboring, more economical island\u2014like Puerto Rico or the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands\u2014and make BVI into a daytrip. You can island hop via local ferry systems, getting all of the fancy beach seclusion without any of the hefty hotel fees.<\/p>\n

Now that\u2019s what we call a tax haven.<\/p>\n

4.) Puerto Rico<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Sean<\/a>

Sean Pavone\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of Puerto Rico<\/a>, it\u2019s a pretty awesome spot to check out all on its own\u2014whether or not you plan to make a daytrip over to BVI.<\/p>\n

For starters, this island is the only one on the list that\u2019s also a U.S. territory. That means, no passports required. You won\u2019t have to worry about a lengthy customs process at the airport or about exchange rates and currency conversions\u2014you\u2019re technically still in the good ol\u2019 U.S. of A.<\/p>\n

Beyond the convenience of staying on American soil, Puerto Rico has something to offer travelers of all types. Looking to lay back and relax? Easy! Quiet beaches abound, and if you\u2019re looking for some real seclusion, you can hop a ferry over to the off-the-beaten path islands of Vieques and Culebra.<\/p>\n

Want to catch some waves? Puerto Rico\u2019s got you covered there too, featuring incredible surfing beaches for the wave rider in all of us. If you\u2019re looking for adventure, explore the island\u2019s El Yunque jungle or check out the caves at the Parque de las Cavernas del R\u00edo Camuy<\/a>. And if it\u2019s a party you\u2019re craving, the nightlife in capital city San Juan more than delivers. Adios!<\/p>\n

5.) The Bahamas<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"BlueOrange<\/a>

BlueOrange Studio\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Last but certainly not least, we\u2019ve got the island chain of the Bahamas<\/a>. This Caribbean nation has more than 700 unique islands and cays, meaning you really can\u2019t go wrong when it comes to Bahamian beaches!<\/p>\n

Hit Nassau on popular New Providence Island for a taste of luxury resorts, mega casinos, and pristine golf courses. If it\u2019s ecotourism you seek, head northwest to Grand Bahama, where you\u2019ll find breathtaking underwater limestone caves and botanical gardens. From either of these major islands, you can also take advantage of snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing excursions\u2014you can even swim with dolphins!<\/p>\n

If you want to get off the beaten path, hop over to the Outer Islands. You\u2019ll find fewer tourists, more untouched beach space, and a golden opportunity to drop off the grid entirely. Want to do something a little wacky? Go on a tour of the cays, each of which is uniquely weird\u2014one cay is inhabited by a family of friendly, wild pigs, who will swim out to meet your boat in the water.<\/p>\n

If doggy-paddling pigs don\u2019t ease your Tax Day tension, I seriously don\u2019t know what will.<\/p>\n

So, how are you celebrating the end of tax season? Will you be hitting one of these islands in celebration? Let us know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Folks, Tax Day is upon us. REJOICE! It\u2019s almost time to put your itemized deduction lists down, drop the W-2 forms, and step away from the IRS website. We can basically taste the finish line. Whether you\u2019re an accountant who hasn\u2019t slept since the New Year or you\u2019re just a plain old taxpayer, it\u2019s pretty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":97171196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,1019,66,1018,31],"tags":[250,49,360,355,354,241,356,357,359,358,156,353],"class_list":["post-97171189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beaches","category-caribbean","category-interests","category-international-destinations","category-trending-stories","tag-beach","tag-caribbean","tag-island-getaway","tag-kin","tag-mxc","tag-nas","tag-sdq","tag-tax-day","tag-tax-refund","tag-tax-season","tag-top-5","tag-tov"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97171189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97171189"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97171189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97172600,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97171189\/revisions\/97172600"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97171196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97171189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97171189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97171189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}