Another Great Excuse for a Cocktail

St. George's Caye Resort has concocted a new promotion that just might send you on a three-night getaway for two – all on the house. To celebrate the opening of the resort's new on-site watering hole, the 12-cabana exclusive resort is giving you a chance to christen the venue in its Name Our Bar contest. If your idea is selected, you and a guest will be on your way to the private island in Belize where your all-inclusive stay will give you plenty of opportunities to sample the whole cocktail menu.

To enter, surf over to belizeislandparadise.com and select "Name Our Bar" in the Reservations menu. Entries must be received by midnight on March 31, 2010, and you must be a U.S. or Canadian resident and at least 18 years old to submit an idea.

For more on Belize, don't miss our upcoming features and web exclusives from deputy editor Matt Phenix and staff photographer Zach Stovall's trip last week! 

Another Great Excuse for a Cocktail

Tweet if You Like Free Stuff!

Valentine's Day is over but you've still got a chance to redeem yourself for those pink carnations you gave her — American Express is sponsoring a free trip to tres exclusive Jumby Bay in Antigua. The "tweetheart" (get it?) promotion includes round trip airfare and four nights of all inclusive accommodation for two at the private island resort – and considering the going rate for room and board is around $1,400 a night, if you win, you're probably all set for Valentine's Day for the rest of your life. Enter the contest by following @americanexpress on Twitter and tweet this message once before 11:59pm EST on Monday, February 22.

"Hey @americanexpress, I want to take my tweetheart (insert your love's name here) on the ultimate romantic getaway. Pick me! http://bit.ly/bFgMGU #amexTravel"

Good luck and let us know if you win!

Tweet if You Like Free Stuff!

Barbuda By Day

From our Excursion feature in the December issue to our glowing trip reports here on the blog this month, you've been reading a lot about lovely Barbuda lately – and naturally you're ready to go check it out for yourself now. But in case you're a little short on the $1,000-per-night starting rate at the island's luxe Lighthouse Bay Resort, we thought we should mention that you can also enjoy the island's pristine, 17-mile beach and a taste of the resort's delish dining without ever checking in. Chart a course on your own vessel and drop anchor near the resort's beachside Lagoon Café for a bite and a signature cocktail...all of the island's beaches are public. Sans sailboat? You can also hop a ride from Antigua on one of the island's many day-trip charters for a modest fee. Since you're out of excuses now, be sure to share your trip report and photos on our Facebook page after you go!

Barbuda By Day

Affordable Luxury in the DR

The Deal: Book five nights in a deluxe junior suite at the Four Diamond Sivory Punta Cana and get one night free through April 4 – or travel between April 5 and December 25 and get two nights free. Either way, if you make your reservation at least 30 days prior to your arrival you'll also enjoy a $100 spa voucher for your stay.

Why We Love It: As the Dominican Republic's only property to receive AAA Four Diamond status for both the hotel and its on-site Gourmand restaurant, the boutique Sivory is a no brainer for luxury – and the free nights and added value included in this promotion will help make this vacation a lot easier on your wallet. The resort offers stocked mini-bars, complimentary Wi-Fi and unlimited use of non-motorized water sports all included in the European Plan – or for an additional $150 per person per night, you can upgrade to the all-inclusive plan and enjoy all gourmet meals and 24-room service, too.

How to Book It: Log on to sivorypuntacana.com or call 809-333-0500 to reserve your room. All taxes are included in the rate.

Affordable Luxury in the DR

Show Your Love, Win a Trip

Calling all lovebirds: If you have a great romantic story involving the Caribbean – from proposals on the sea to weddings on the shore – Bermuda's luxury Reefs Hotel & Club just might reward you for sharing it. Just submit your story to the Show Your Love contest now through Valentine's Day, February 14, and you and your sweetie may win one of two six-day/five-night stays at the resort. Judges will select a group of finalists and then post those stories online for a public vote between February 18 to 28, 2010.

To enter, visit thereefs.com/showyourlove – then sign up for our free e-newsletter to have more contest announcements delivered right to your inbox.

Show Your Love, Win a Trip

Last-Minute Romantic Getaway

If you've been craving a romantic escape but can't get away for Valentine's Day weekend, today's featured vacation package is definitely for you...

The Deal: Book a pre-Valentine's Day package at St. Lucia's all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa through February 12 and save up to 55 percent on your stay.

Why We Love It: With this last-minute deal, you'll enjoy nightly rates starting at just $128 per person – including all meals, snacks and drinks – and you can travel anytime through next Friday to take advantage of the savings. You and your sweetheart will also get a resort credit of $50 per night (up to $350) redeemable at the spa, resort store or toward island excursions.


How to Book It: Call 877-352-8898 or surf over to Ccbayresort.com to reserve your stay.

Last-Minute Romantic Getaway

Barbuda's Private Island Retreat

It's hard to deny the appeal of a private island vacation, but the pricy lodging and off-the-beaten-path transportation demands can be prohibitive for many island hoppers. This weekend, though, I hopped over to Antigua's sister island Barbuda for a 4-day escape at the serene Lighthouse Bay Resort, and I think I just may have stumbled upon a property that strikes a careful balance between private island exclusivity and affordable luxury. To be sure, the 9-room resort is not cheap (junior suites start at $1,000 per night double occupancy in low season) - but for what's included, it could be a justifiable splurge for many vacationers: The petite luxury resort occupies an uninterrupted 17-mile stretch of just about the most spectacular Caribbean beach I've ever seen, and the property is only accessible by boat or helicopter (round trip heli-transfers are complimentary for guests staying three nights or more). It doesn't get much more private than that. Also included in the rate are all meals, drinks and snacks and a smattering of beach and water sports options at your feet. Tomorrow, I'm off to check out the nearby Frigate Bird Sanctuary and then saddle up for some romantic horseback riding on the beach so I'll be sure to update more about my trip then. But for now, to read more about Lighthouse Bay and the island of Barbuda, just turn to Matt Phenix's Excursion piece from the latest issue.

Barbuda's Private Island Retreat

Free Dining at Bermuda's Cambridge Beaches Resort

Bermuda's AAA Four-Diamond Cambridge Beaches Resort has just announced a new added-value promotion to help you stretch your vacation budget this winter. Just book a three-night minimum stay by January 31 for travel through March 31, 2010 and you'll get complimentary breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner with the Dine on Us package. Rates start at $385 per night double occupancy – and you'll enjoy all of your meals free in either the gourmet Tamarisk Room or the more casual Shutters restaurant. Call 800-468-7300 or surf over to cambridgebeaches.com to book using code CBDINE.

Free Dining at Bermuda's Cambridge Beaches Resort

Hiking Nevis

Recently, I blogged about Nisbet Plantation's unique video amenities that allow guests to record their vacations for free; But now the boutique resort has added another cool amenity that I think is pretty great for the active set. Guests of the 36-room luxury resort can take advantage of complimentary Garmin eTrex GPS units for hiking around nearby Nevis Peak, making it easy to track your distance, coordinates and altitude during your trek...you know, just in case you're curious just how far you've made it on the 3,232-foot peak. And if hiking isn't your thing, you can always just hop on one of the resort's free Vespa scooters instead. Not a bad alternative.

To book a room, just surf over to nisbetplantation.com – and stay tuned here on the blog for upcoming Nevis deals. 

Hiking Nevis

Hilton January Sale

The Deal: Book a weekend stay at any participating Hilton Caribbean, Mexico and South America property by January 31 and get up to 33 percent off your stay all year.

Why We Love It: Even though you have to reserve your stay this month, you'll have all year to actually take the trip, so this promotion is a great way to save in advance on your next vacation. There's a wide range of Hilton properties and destinations from which to choose – such as the Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and more – and if you're a Hilton Honors rewards club member, you'll also earn points on your stay that are redeemable toward free nights.

How to Book It: Call 800-HILTONS or log on to hilton.com/sale to pre-purchase your trip by January 31, 2010. To save, you must book at least three days in advance of traveling, and plan your trip around a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Hilton January Sale

New Spa Experiences at Sandy Lane

Here's one for all the spa lovers out there: The Spa at Sandy Lane – one of the Caribbean's largest (at 47,000 square feet) and most comprehensive spas – just introduced nine personalized Spa Experiences to their menu. Each one integrates various massage techniques and body wraps with fresh, local ingredients such as Bajan sugar cane, coconut oil and banana leaves, and guests can enjoy the services in one of the spa's 11 newly renovated treatment rooms.

Even better, many of the luxury resort's vacation packages for 2010 – such as the wellness-centered Rejuvenating Adventure package or the ooh-la-la Romance in Paradise package – include $100 spa vouchers and additional spa treatments, so it's easy to sample some of the spa's new menu on your next stay. Log on to sandylane.com to book your stay and learn more about the spa services.

New Spa Experiences at Sandy Lane

Fourth Night Free in the Riviera Maya

The Deal: Book a three-night stay at select AQUA (pictured), Fiesta Americana and Fiesta Americana Grand resorts in Mexico this winter and get your fourth night free – or book six nights and get two free – plus, you'll save an additional 10 to 25 percent on dining and spa services during your stay.

Why We Love It: With upscale properties in Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos, you'll have your choice of Mexican beach destinations – and saving 25 percent on room rates can be a substantial savings in high season.

How to Book It: You can book your stay through February 2, and travel between January 3 and April 10, 2010. Just log on to fiestaamericana.com/warmerwinter or call 800-FIESTA-1 to reserve your room.

Fourth Night Free in the Riviera Maya

Doing The Laid-Off Take-Off

Like all the other CT+L editors, I get a daily deluge of press releases in my e-box touting industry news, vacation deals, travel gadgets and resort openings. One that caught my eye earlier this month was from the ad agency J Walter Thompson, which has just released the results of their Travel Trends For 2010 report.

One standout was a trend that’s being called “funemployment.” Apparently growing numbers of people who’ve been laid off are using the unexpected time off to travel, often to far-flung places that they’ve always dreamed of seeing but which they'd never had enough free time to visit. Which made me wonder where in the Caribbean I'd go if, God forbid, my CT+L days came to a screeching halt.

Hmmm ... I’d love to spend some extended down time in Provo in the Turks and Caicos  Islands but I fear that lofty prices in the boutique destination would decimate my savings in no time. Maybe in the Dom Rep  or Jamaica ? I could hole up at an all-inclusive resort and practice deep denial over frosty Dirty Bananas at the pool bar. Or perhaps I'd head for the Grenadines  (check out our Beach Lover's Guide in the March 2010 ish) or the BVI , where I'd downshift to island time and spend a few weeks hopping from one barefoot casual outpost to another. But there are also plenty of voluntourism opportunities around the region, such as helping to preserve the forest at Trinidad 's Asa Wright Nature Centre, so maybe my time would be best spent doing something for the environment or for those less fortunate.

What about you? If you suddenly found yourself jobless, where in the Caribbean would you go to put the "fun" in funemployment and why?

Doing The Laid-Off Take-Off

Someone's Gotta Do It

I just returned from an extremely restful four days at the Iberostar Punta Cana in Punta Cana , DR. (Here's the view from my hotel room). And I gotta say, there's something great about an all-inclusive resort. Let me break down my days for you: Awaken slowly, stretch out on comfy bed. Don swimsuit and coverup, place towel on beach chair to guard it while I hit the breakfast buffet. Enjoy delicious food in abundance, complete with Bloody Mary. (Free!) Return to room, retrieve Sudoku book, pen and book. Waddle to beach chair, with quick stop at beach bar. Sit completely still, turning over to baste both sides evenly for hours, liberally sprinkled with bathroom and beach bar visits. As the sun made its way across the sky, I'd make my way back to the room to freshen up for dinner at any of five delicious restaurants. Five delicious restaurants, might I add, that were all included in my stay. After (over)eating, I'd make my way to the floor show (also free!) Retire to room, full and happy, repeat the next day. If this sounds good to you too, might I suggest the Iberostar?

Someone's Gotta Do It

Table for One

Oh, it was so romantic. The beach, the sun, the sand, the six — count them, six — various towel sculptures placed delicately in my room at the lovely Iberostar Punta Cana on Bavaro Beach in the Dominican Republic; the pictured kissing swans were surely the pièce de résistance. How nice for them that they were getting some action. I, sadly, was there solo. The job hazards I face, truly. Each morning, I gently woke myself with sweet murmurings about how I’d be with myself forever; this was true love after all. Each day, I took myself for long, intimate walks along the beautiful, creamy beach. At night, I wined myself; I dined myself. I told myself how beautiful I looked in the moonlight. It was, in a word, magical. The swans in my room stared me down for days; I hadn’t the heart to dismantle them. I did remove the flowers each day as they wilted, but every evening, upon returning to my room, I found that Cupid had come in my absence and replaced them with fresh ones. I felt the love. Really, I did.   

Table for One

Belize Deals for Spring

If you've been considering a Belize vacation, now may be the perfect time to book a trip. American Airlines just announced limited-time low fares for travel between Belize and a handful of U.S. gateway cities – like Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Dallas – when traveling by March 27, 2010. One-way fares start at just $149 when booked by December 22, 2009.

And to sweeten the deal, some of Belize's top eco-resorts have created Spring packages starting as low as $240 per night double occupancy. That rate will buy you a one-bedroom beachfront cabana at Tranquility Bay Resort; or for $300 per night, you can stay in a an oceanfront cabana at the Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort right next to the country's Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first jaguar preserve. If you're ready to splurge, you can even stay at the luxe St. George's Caye – a private island resort off the Belize Barrier Reef – for just $246 per person each night, all-inclusive.

Surf over to AA.com to book your airfare, then hit up the resort web site of your choice to book a room – and for you adrenaline junkies, don't forget to check out our Water Sports Lover's Guide to Ambergris Caye before you go.

Belize Deals for Spring

Today Only: Save up to 65% at Holiday Inn Caribbean Resorts

The Deal: With the Holiday Inn Caribbean's limited-time Cyber Monday deal, you can save 55 percent on rooms at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Montego Bay or 65 percent on rooms at the Holiday Inn Aruba for qualifying 2010 vacations. In Jamaica, you'll also get a free room upgrade to the superior category and a free bottle of wine at check-in.

Why We Love It: With nightly all-inclusive rates starting at $98 per person (kids 12 and under stay and eat free) it's an affordable way to take family vacay in 2010 at two of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. You can travel between January 4 and March 25 at the Sunspree Resort Montego Bay, and between January 4 and December 23 at the Aruba property.

How to Book It: For Aruba, call 011-297-586-3600 or surf over to caribbeanhi.com/aruba and use promotion code 165 (a minimum stay of three nights is required). For Montego Bay, call 888-288-6006 or go to caribbeanhi.com/jamaica and use promotion code 155 (no minimum stay). To take advantage of either deal, you have to book today.

Today Only: Save up to 65% at Holiday Inn Caribbean Resorts

All-Inclusive Savings in Antigua

The Deal: Stay at Antigua's Galley Bay Resort & Spa by December 20 and you'll enjoy nightly all-inclusive rates starting at $499 double occupancy including all meals, beverages, taxes and service charges.

Why We Love It: The 94-room boutique resort was recently selected as one of the Top 25 Caribbean Resorts by Condé Nast Traveler, and with standard high season rates starting at $965 double occupancy, this deal represents savings of nearly 50 percent. What's not to love about affordable luxury?

How to Book It: Log on to galleybayresort.com  and book a stay by December 20, 2009.

All-Inclusive Savings in Antigua

New Year, New Ways to Save in the Grenadines

The Deal: For every night you stay at the private Young Island Resort between January 1 and March 31, you'll get an additional free night. The buy-one-get-one offer is valid on any room category as long as you reserve the breakfast plus dinner plan.

Why We Love It: What's not to love about indulging in a private island escape for half the price? With nightly winter rates starting at $532 per person for a superior cottage, the deal offers savings of up to $1,064 for every two nights you stay. Included in the rate, you'll also get airport and ferry transfers and use of the resort's non-motorized water sports amenities – plus all of your taxes and gratuities are covered.

How to Book It: Call 800-223-1108 or log on to youngisland.com to reserve your stay for anytime between January 1 and March 31, 2010.

New Year, New Ways to Save in the Grenadines

Beaches Turks and Caicos

I just returned from a quick trip to Turks and Caicos, where I had the chance to check out the new Italian Village wing at the all-inclusive Beaches Resort. Going into it, I knew the Grace Bay location would be tough to beat – but I had no idea how much I would end up liking the resort itself. Here, four surprising reasons to check out the property...

1. Diving – The resort's full-service PADI dive center has a staff of 23 instructors, a fleet of five Newton dive boats and a wide range of diving and certification options for beginners to experienced divers. Best of all? It's completely free for guests who are already certified ($150 per two-tank dive for non-guests). Haven't tried diving before? You can sign-up for the Discover Scuba resort course, including a hands-on pool class and one-tank dive, for $70 per person – then decide if you want to upgrade to the full scuba certification for $250, or open water certification for $400 (either way, they'll refund your original $70). You'll have famed TCI dive sites like Aquarium, Cathedral and Pinnacles at your disposal, plus a range of great sites along the Northwest Point and the Caicos Banks.

2. Butler Service – I'll admit it, I didn't expect much when I was told I'd have a personal butler during my stay. I thought this would only come in handy for the occasional poolside cocktail order, but oh! – was I wrong. These were not mere butlers but mind readers. By day two, mine already knew exactly how I take my coffee, how I like my eggs, what time I might feel like a snack (any time?), and that I have a hard time deciding on dessert (he just brought me one of each – thoughtful!). At check in, my butler even gave me a special bat phone to reach him at any hour, and with the touch of a button I really could – whether it was just for another daiquiri, or to make a reservation at the Red Lane Spa or one of the specialty restaurants on the property. Butler service is included with top suite categories so just ask your reservation agent about the option when you book.

3. Dining – Speaking of restaurants, surprise number three: The food was really good. I'm not knocking all-inclusive resort chains, but they aren't usually top-of-mind when I think about great Caribbean dining. But I've got to say, from breakfast on the terrace to the lunch buffet at Mario's to any one of the other 15 options (including Japanese, Italian, French and seafood specialty venues) – every single meal I had was great. Same for the cocktails, though who am I kidding? It's tough to go wrong with a rum punch anywhere in the Caribbean.

4. Kid Stuff – I don't have kids myself, but man...next time I'll borrow a couple for the trip. Besides the fact that I personally hung out at the pool with the characters from Sesame Street twice during my stay, I also had access to the huge Pirate's Island water park, a giant Games Garage filled with every Xbox game known to man, five pools and a gaggle of other kid-distractions everywhere I looked. But with tons of supervised Kids Club programs for all age groups, there's also an escape for mom and dad, too.

Our editor in chief and his two tots put the resort's kiddie attractions to the test this summer, so stay tuned to the April issue for even more on that.

Beaches Turks and Caicos