Latitude Adjustment

It's not every day that you get to straddle the Tropic of Cancer line. But a couple of weekends ago, on Island Routes' Bahamian Bus Tour on Great Exuma in the Bahamas, I did.

Free Companion Fares to the Bahamas

The Deal: Book a round trip coach ticket plus a four-night minimum stay at one of more than 40 participating hotels in the Bahamas through American Express Vacations, and your companion will fly for free.

Why We Love It: This free-airfare deal was so popular over the winter that AE Vacations just extended the offer through March 3, 2010, so there's still time to take advantage of the complimentary companion flight, plus enjoy low rates at a variety of properties on Nassau, Grand Bahama and throughout the Out Islands. You'll have until December 22, 2010 to take the trip.

How to Book It: You can only book this offer by calling the toll-free number –  866-789-5485 – but surf over to the official offer page to learn more before you call. Some blackout dates may apply.

Shaken, Not Stirred

The Caribbean may be better known for pina coladas and rum punch, but one Bahamas resort is breaking out the shakers and olives this year and putting an island spin on the classic martini. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the British Colonial Hilton's new Bullion bar will host Hiltini Nights every Thursday from 8 to 9 pm, featuring $12 top-shelf martinis and complimentary mixology classes, so you can learn new recipes from the pros and mix up a signature cocktail all your own.

For vacation packages at the resort, check out this recent blog or surf over to the hotel's site for details.

Limited-Time Low Rates at British Colonial Hilton Nassau

The Deal: Book a trip to the British Colonial Hilton Nassau in the Bahamas through June 30, 2010 – including either a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night stay – and enjoy rates starting at just $109 per night double occupancy with the Anniversary Package.

Why We Love It: To celebrate its 10th anniversary as a Hilton property, the resort – originally opened in 1900 and known as Nassau's oldest standing hotel – just completed extensive renovations, including upgrades to all 288 guest rooms and on-site dining venues. With this special anniversary offer, you can enjoy rates at nearly half the price of standard advance purchase rates.

How to Book It: Log on to hiltoncaribbean.com/nassau to book your vacation using code P2; Stay must include a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, and you must travel by June 30, 2010.

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.

Two Days Left for Huge Savings at Starwood

Our e-newsletter subscribers are privy to a ton of free information each week, like destination features, contest announcements and exclusive deals just for our readers – and today's email blast about Starwood's latest offer is not to be missed. Through tomorrow, December 2, vacationers can book spring vacations and cash in on low rates like $159 per night at the Sheraton Old San Juan; $199 per night at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort; and $275 per night at the Westin Aruba.

The savings are valid on stays between January 1 and April 30, 2010 – but you have to book by December 2 at midnight to take advantage. Surf over to the special Starwood promotion page to check out all the places you can save, then sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter to enjoy more great deals like this one!

Get $300 Back in the Bahamas

The Deal: Book a three-night-minimum stay at Paradise Island's posh One&Only Ocean Club resort this winter and get a $300 food and beverage credit, redeemable toward all on-site restaurants and room service.

Why We Love It: Who doesn't like free food? That $300 can go a long way toward covering your dining costs throughout your stay, so go ahead – leave your wallet back in the room.

How to Book It: Book your three-night-minimum stay by calling 888-528-7157 or logging on to www.oneandonlyresorts.com, then travel by December 26.

Free WiFi in the Bahamas

Thanks to the new social networking site CruiseTube, cruisers who stop at the at Bahamas Festival Place ship terminal in Nassau can stay connected for free with complimentary Internet access. Just sign up for a free CruiseTube profile in advance of your sail and you'll also be able to interact with other cruisers and industry insiders to swap photos, videos and stories from your travels at sea. The site also works with your existing Facebook page, so you can stay in touch with all the cruisers you meet long after the voyage ends. For more information, check out www.cruisetube.com.

New JetBlue Routes in the Caribbean

In airline news this week, JetBlue has announced new Caribbean routes taking effect throughout October, with special limited-time fares for vacationers who act quickly.

On Monday, the airline celebrated its inaugural flight from New York (JFK) to Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI) – the carrier's first voyage to that island. And through December 16, travelers can cash in on special $99 one-way fares on daily service between the cities.

Meanwhile, the airline is preparing to launch a new route between New York (JFK) and St. Lucia's Hewannora Airport (UVF) on October 26, with round-trip service continuing three times per week between the two stops. Fares through the end of October are running around $170 each way, and more deals are expected to follow.

And another route between New York (JFK) and Kingston, Jamaica is scheduled to begin on October 30, with fare specials still to be announced.

But the new routes aren't the only ones getting the low-fare treatment: JetBlue is boasting unbelievably low Fall airfares between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau, Bahamas starting at $29 each way, and fares between Orlando and Montego Bay, Jamaica starting at $69 each way.

Whatever island you choose, just log on to the JetBlue site to book your trip, then surf over to our Travel Specials page to find the perfect hotel deal.

Feeling Lucky in the Bahamas

I've always been a fan of getaways with the girls, so I was excited to hear about the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino's new Luck be a Lady vacation package. Instead of the usual manis and pedis, this girlfriend getaway brings together some of the coolest amenities this side of Vegas...


- Four nights accommodations
- A personal, one-hour blackjack lesson
- $100 casino credit per room
- $100 food and beverage credit

And when you're not hitting the tables, you'll also enjoy special in-pool dining, a free round of cocktails and plush chaise lounges reserved poolside each day. Even better? Rates for the four-night package start at $309 per person based on double occupancy. That's less than $80 per person per night – a savings of nearly 50 percent over rack rates.

Don't feel left out, guys...there's something for you, too. With the Guy's Getaway package, you'll enjoy the same four-night package rate of $309 per person, but with a few different amenities like nightly table service at 22 Above and private poker instruction.

Million Dollar Giveaway

Love contests? We know you do...so check out Clarion's Make Your Stay a Chance at a Million Dollars Giveaway this week. It's a mouthful to say, but it's easy to play...just log in to the official contest site, submit your email to register and then play away. You can enter every day through next week, September 10, so give it a shot...it's totally free. And in addition to the million dollar grand prize, there's a ton of other loot on the line, like Apple MacBook laptops, iPods, digital cameras and more.

While you're on the site, check out some of the travel specials that Clarion and Choice Hotels are offering around the Caribbean this Fall, like rooms in Santo Domingo for just $80 per night, or rooms on Paradise Island in the Bahamas for $150 per night.

And if you're still hungry for more contests, surf over to our own contest page and enter to win them all...

Sandals Announces New Bahamas Resort

Following a trip to the Exumas earlier this summer, I blogged about the news that the Four Seasons Resort at Emerald Bay would be shutting down in May, and about the potential economic effects that would have on this region of the Bahamas. But this week brings good news to for the island chain as Sandals just announced that it acquired the property and will begin refurbishing it for a January 22 grand opening. The new management even plans to rehire many of the employees who were displaced by the shuttering of the Four Seasons, so it's a welcome addition for the locals as well as prospective guests.

With the planned addition of new pools, restaurants and bars to the existing 500-acre property, the new resort will open in 2010 with 190 suites, a posh Red Lane spa and the existing Greg Norman-design golf course - Great Exuma's only 18-hole course. Sandals is poised to start taking reservations within the next two weeks, so stay tuned here on the blog for grand opening deals and packages.

AirTran Goes Caribbean

Even airlines dream of spending time in the Caribbean, and this week low-cost carrier AirTran announced that it's making a move toward adding new island service to its long list of destinations. The carrier just submitted applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation and, if approved, will begin service from three major U.S. hubs - Orlando, Atlanta and Baltimore/Washington - to Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Aruba later this year. The addition of new routes between these major destinations can only mean good things for the affordability of Caribbean air travel, so stay tuned for the fare sales that are sure to follow...we'll keep you updated here on the blog.

JetBlue "Bikini Sale" for the Caribbean

More big news from our favorite low-fare carrier JetBlue, which just announced a "Bikini Sale" this month. From what I can tell, they aren't selling those itsy bitsy teenie weenie bathing suits we love to hate, but the idea of the promotion is to keep you lounging on those gorgeous Caribbean beaches for a lot longer this year. Just book your trip by August 26 and you can take advantage of fares starting at just $29 each way when traveling from September 8 to November 18...

Between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau - $29
Between Orlando and Nassau - $49
Between Orlando and Cancun - $59

The promotion also includes U. S. hubs in New York and Boston, and Caribbean stops include Aruba, St. Maarten, Barbados and more. Actual bikinis are optional.

Affordable Bahamas

Missed the premiere of Affordable Bahamas this weekend? Watch the webisode on the island chain's best beaches here, then surf over to the Affordable Caribbean web site to check out even more great clips from the show.

All You Can Jet - Unlimited Caribbean Travel

In other JetBlue news, the airline just announced an unbelievable promotion for Fall...through August 21, travelers can purchase an All-You-Can-Jet Pass for $599 and enjoy unlimited travel between September 8 and October 8. You can use the pass as often as you like during that time, and it's valid anywhere JetBlue flies - a total of 57 hubs including Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and St. Maarten.





When traveling internationally the $599 price tag is exclusive of taxes and government fees, which vary by destination, but many Caribbean round-trip flights run close to that promotional price anyway, so the pass could offer huge savings to frequent Caribbean travelers and island hoppers.

Just log on to the JetBlue web site for more information and to purchase your pass.

True Confessions of a Travel Junkie

It’s been about a month since I was last in the Caribbean (swanning along Mexico’s Riviera Maya reporting a variety of stories for upcoming issues) and I gotta say, I’m already itching to go back. My carry-on sized toiletries have been replenished, I’ve had the wonky wheel on my rollaboard suitcase replaced, and while it’s been great sleeping in my own bed for the last few weeks, jetting off to somewhere exciting and new sounds pretty good right about now.

Now the only question is, where to go?

Truth is, the decision belongs to our ed-in-chief, Dave, who gives all the editors marching orders according to our (many) individual talents and the magazine’s editorial schedule. I’m not sure where he plans to deploy me next, but on the off chance that he’s reading, here are some of the destinations at the top of my Caribbean wish list:

The British Virgin Islands
I’ve not yet been to this English territory, but I’m dying to experience the pleasure of wending my way through its 60-something isles and islets. I want to swim at The Baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkel off Cooper Island, and drop anchor for a cocktail (or two) at Foxy’s and The Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke. (We’ll be featuring the BVI on an upcoming episode of our Affordable Caribbean TV show, so tune in and see for yourself what makes them so special.)

The Grenadines
One of the first articles I edited when I joined CT+L was a Day Trip (June/July 2007) about a day sail through the Grenadines. Baz Dreisinger’s account of her idyllic voyage from Union Island through the 600-islet chain that runs between St. Vincent and Grenada was instantly captivating, and her description of the Tobago Cays’ ocean floor being tiled with starfish is an image that has stayed with me ever since. Must. Go. Soon.

The Out Islands of the Bahamas
Unlike the rest of the CT+L team, I’m based in sunny South Florida, so you’d think I’d have been to this paradise that’s less than an hour’s flight away a million times, right? Wrong. For years I’ve had a vague idea that I wanted to one day tour the tiny outposts where deserted white- and pink-sand beaches seem to go on forever, but when our online editor Reagan returned and blogged about swimming with pigs off Big Majors Cay in the Exumas, I was sold.

I don’t know if I’ll make it to any of these places anytime soon, but I’m keeping hope alive. (Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, Dave.)

What about you? Which Caribbean destinations are you eyeing for your next trip?

Win a Private Island Concert with Dave Matthews Band

The Caribbean is always jammin' with live music, from reggae and jazz fests to calypso and soca performances. But music fans will love the latest promotion from the U.S.-based Dave Matthews Band, which gives you the chance to win a 4 day/3 night cruise for two to Port Paradise in the Bahamas this fall, culminating in a private beachfront concert by the group.

The Bud Light-sponsored Port Paradise cruise departs from Port Canaveral, FL on October 23, but hurry - you have to enter the contest by midnight on August 27 to be eligible.

Check out the official rules and the Dave Matthews Band Port Paradise page to enter, then surf over to our own contest page for more great ways to win a Caribbean trip!

New Low Fares to Nassau on JetBlue

Floridians already know it's easy to get to the Bahamas, but JetBlue just announced new fares between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Nassau (NAS) that will make visiting the islands a no-brainer this fall. Book your short hop between the two cities by August 5, and you'll pay just $29 each way when traveling between September 8 and December 16. The fare is exclusive of taxes and mandatory government fees, but still...it's a pretty sweet deal for a Caribbean escape. Just log on to the JetBlue web site to book your next vacation - then surf over to our Travel Specials and Editor's Pick pages to find your perfect hotel deal.

All-Inclusive for Commitment-Phobes

Say what you will about all-inclusive resorts, but it's hard to dispute that they're an affordable way to travel. With upfront pricing and all of your meals, drinks and gratuities included in your rate, it definitely takes the guesswork out of budgeting for a vacation. But what if you want to leave the resort and...oh, I don't know...explore the destination?

The Bahamas have an answer to that age-old question with their latest concept: the Island-Inclusive Vacation, which gives you a flexible way to enjoy the whole island of Grand Bahama with the convenience of all-inclusive pricing.

The new program - called Club Grand Bahama - just launched yesterday, and the idea is to give you your choice of five resorts around the island, from the oceanfront Our Lucaya Reef Village to the boutique Flamingo Bay Resort, as well as more than 21 dining options to sample throughout your stay...all at a predetermined rate. The "club" offers three pricing options to satisfy a range of budgets:

• SILVER - Starting at $88 per person per night
• GOLD - Starting at $149 per person per night
• PLATINUM - Starting at $198 per person per night

Just purchase your favorite package in advance and you'll receive a Club Grand Bahama card to be activated at check-in. From there, you can use the card around the island for dining, activities, and even shuttle bus service to around 50 attractions like golf and scuba diving spots.

Check out the Bahamas web site or call 888-270-1205 for more information and to book your very first island-inclusive stay.