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Go ahead, have that luxurious Caribbean honeymoon. We've found the best travel bargains under the tropical sun.

A honeymoon in the islands is right up there with a white wedding cake—it's a classic. Imagine sunning on the beach, hand in hand, and cooling off together with a splash in the ocean. If you're worried that you'll need to max out your credit cards to pay for those days under the palm trees, though, don't fret; you just need to be a little savvy. Here are some tips for snagging a great week of sun, surf and sand—for less than you'd expect.

Look for less-developed islands.

Traveling to a lesser-known destination may not be effortless, but it can save you money—and get you off the beaten path. For example, it'll take you at least two plane changes—probably three—and a ferry ride to reach tiny Bequia, but it's worth the trouble (and the extra flight costs). Just seven square miles in all, this small island has pretty beaches lined with palm trees and homey waterfront hotels that cost a fraction of what you'd pay for comparable digs on other islands—and there's not a high-rise hotel or cruise ship dock in sight.

Check out the tiny, nine-room Gingerbread Hotel, where you can get an ocean-view room with a four-poster bed and exposed wood beams. It's within walking distance of Admiralty Bay, the island's picturesque yacht-filled harbor, as well as two of Bequia's best beaches, Princess Margaret and Lower Bay. Best of all, you'll have the whole place to yourself, and you won't need a wristband to get a cocktail (784-458-3800; gingerbreadhotel.com).

Choose your destination wisely.

There are expensive places to vacation in the Caribbean, such as St. Bart and St. Vincent, but there are other, equally beachy and warm destinations that are a true bargain.

"In Mexico you get so much value for your money," says Mike Coldesina of Apple Vacations, who estimates that you'll pay a fourth, even a third, less than you would in other parts of the Caribbean. Cancun, for example, offers great beaches, plenty of beachfront hotels and sizzling nightlife. Check into the 372-room four-month-old, all-inclusive RIU Palace Las Americas and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the elegant setting, the pool's swim-up bar and the cheap suites. Who knew you could get a hotel fitted with so much mahogany and marble at such a low price? Plus, you won't be far from some of Mexico's most interesting historical sites, including Chichen Itza (888-666-8816; riu.com).

Another inexpensive choice: the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Hotels in Puerto Plata, along the mountainous northern coast, routinely cost $200 to $300 less per week than their counterparts in the more heavily traveled southern and eastern edges of the island, according to Heather Leisman of Vacation Outlet. And there's plenty to do here: The 18-hole Robert Trent Jones–designed Playa Dorada golf course and an impressive 16th-century Spanish fort will keep you busy when you're not on the beach. Consider booking a room at Iberostar's all-inclusive 498-room Costa Dorada resort, an airy colonial-style retreat in a thicket of tropical foliage between the mountains and the sea (888-923-2722; iberostar.com).

Don't stay in one place.

In the past few years, cruise lines have started adding Caribbean cruises from a variety of American ports. This service is called "homeporting," and it will save you the expense of airfare and transfers. In addition to the Florida hubs (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral), you can cruise from New York, Charleston, Mobile, New Orleans or Galveston.

Hop on Norwegian Cruise Line's three-year-old, 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn in the Big Apple for an 11-night sailing that includes visits to Tortola, St. Martin, Antigua and St. Thomas in the wintertime (800-327-7030; ncl.com).

Or, consider booking a trip on Carnival Cruises' 1,452-passenger Carnival Holiday. It doesn't have all the latest amenities, since it's 20 years old (compared to the three-year-old Norwegian Dawn), but it offers five-night party cruises to the western Caribbean from Mobile, Alabama, year-round. Ports include Playa Del Carmen and Costa Maya—and you'll have plenty of money left over for souvenirs for your family and friends, as well as onboard splurges for yourselves (carnival.com).

Book charter tickets.

It may not sound especially romantic to board a plane with a big group of other travelers, all with the same luggage tags, then follow the pack onto a bus for a shared transfer to a resort. But, if you can put up with the crowd, you'll reap the rewards when you arrive. Apple Vacations, a charter-travel company, packages airfare, transfers and hotel stays in bulk, and passes the savings on to travelers around the country. You'll pay hundreds less than if you booked your air and hotel à la carte. The catch: There's often less flexibility with departure dates and flight times (applevacations.com). Another company, Vacation Express, specializes in trips from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast to the Caribbean (800-309-4717; vacationexpress.com).

Choose your departure time carefully.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the most popular departure days, so you can save money on both airfare and hotels if you plan your trip to start on a weekday instead. For example, if your wedding is on a Saturday (as so many are), consider taking Sunday to recuperate before jetting off to your vacation locale on Monday. At the Atlantis Resort and Paradise Island Casino in The Bahamas, you can save $30 per night just by starting your vacation during the week (888-528-7155; atlantis.com). Airfare to the Caribbean is generally cheaper Monday through Thursday than on weekends, when demand is higher. "Flying on a weekday will generally save you $50 to $70 per person," says Mervyn Winston, president of the New York City-based travel agency Zena Travel Ltd.

Fly out of a major airport.

Airlines tend to charge the lowest prices from their hubs, the points from which they offer the most flights. At these spots, you are more likely to get a less expensive nonstop flight to the islands than you would at a non-hub airport. American Airlines uses New York's JFK Airport, Chicago's O'Hare and Dallas' Love Field as hubs, while Continental uses Newark and Houston, US Airways uses Philadelphia and Charlotte, and Delta uses Atlanta. So, consider driving a bit further to snag those savings.

Along those same lines, if you honeymoon on an island with lots of air service, you'll eliminate the cost of puddle-jumping to remote islands. "You'll generally find that the cheapest flights from the States are to the Dominican Republic, Cancún, Puerto Rico and Nassau," says Winston. "Jamaica and St. Thomas are close seconds."

Use a travel agent with clout.

Travel agencies specializing in high-end trips tend to offer more personalized service and better perks than other agencies, since clients are spending more and expect the best service. Take Largay Travel in Connecticut, for example, a member of Virtuoso, a network of agencies that specialize in upscale travel. Virtuoso negotiates discounted rates for members, and passes on extras like room upgrades, free tours and vouchers for the hotel spa and gift shop. Book a honeymoon through Largay at the brand-new 156-room Raffles Resort on gorgeous Canouan Island, in the Grenadines, where the villas have private terraces, and the agency will throw in continental breakfasts and a complimentary massage or greens fees. Plus, during low season, Largay can practically guarantee an upgrade to an ocean-view guest room (800-322-9481; largaytravel.com).

Price small hotels against large resorts.

If you don't need the facilities and amenities of a big, bustling resort, such as a spa and fitness center, you can save money by booking a room at a boutique hotel or an inn. The 52-room Sandals Inn in Montego Bay, for example, is the chain's smallest and most low-key hotel. Here, you'll find a tiny stretch of beach, two restaurants and two bars—and not much else. The payoff: The inn often goes for $100 less a night than Sandals' other Jamaica resorts. If you're looking for quiet, why pay more for activities you don't need? Plus, on the nights when you do want to party, you can hop a free shuttle to Sandals Montego Bay or Sandals Royal Caribbean, which are located just a few miles down the road. There, you'll have free access to the many nightlife choices, as well as water sports and spa treatments (888-726-3257; sandals.com).

Check out open-door policies.

Here's a honeymoon riddle for you: How can you enjoy Atlantis' great beaches, pools and water slides without paying the resort's steep room rates? The answer: Stay across the street at the 228-room Comfort Suites Paradise Island. For almost a third less money, you can enjoy access to all of Atlantis' amenities. You'll get to check out the shark lagoons and play on the water slides. Best of all, you won't care that your room doesn't have an ocean view—because you will (877-424-6423; choicehotels.com).