Holiday Savings in Curacao

The Deal: Book a holiday stay at Curacao's five-star boutique Hotel Kura Hulanda between December 24 and January 2 and you'll get 30 percent off your stay.


Why We Love It: With the Holiday Savings promotion, room rates at the 18th century Dutch Colonial property start at just $232 per night double occupancy – a great value for holiday travel and a substantial discount from normal high season rack rates. If you want to break out of Willemstad for a bit, you can also stay at the Lodge Kura Hulanda on the quiet west end for just $335 per night during the same period. Before you go, learn more about the island and sister properties in our feature Wowed by Curacao.


How to Book It: Call 877-264-3106 or surf over to kurahulanda.com to book your stay between December 24, 2009 and January 2, 2010.

Holiday Savings in the BVI

The Deal: Book a five-night stay at Peter Island Resort & Spa between December 20 and December 27 and you'll only pay for four – a savings of at least $952 – plus you'll get a ton of sweet stocking stuffers for your stay.

Why We Love It: The holiday package lets you save 20 percent on oceanview rooms and beachfront junior suites during the holidays – and let's face it, we could all use a break this year. Included in your rate, you'll enjoy the full American meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner for two each day. Plus, you'll get a little holiday cheer with perks like complimentary turndown surprises, hand-painted signature ornaments, a Peter Island tote bag and a special stocking filled with chocolates and other goodies. Bonus: if you plan your trip to arrive on either December 20 or 21, you'll also enjoy a $150 resort credit.

How to Book It: Book your five-night minimum stay between December 20 and December 27, 2009 by calling 800-346-4451 or by surfing over to peterisland.com.

Holiday Savings in the Turks and Caicos

If you're planning a winter escape to the Caribbean, you've probably already seen our home page feature on this year's Top 25 Holiday Deals – but last-minute offers just keep coming in, like this vacation package from the Tuscany on Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos...

The Deal: Book seven nights from December 18 to December 25 in a three-bedroom suite (sleeps six) and your family will enjoy three nights free – a savings of over $4,000.

Why We Love It: Hey, it's the holidays...what's not to love about keeping a little extra cash in your pocket? Nightly rates for this suite category start at $1,425, but divided by six that's not bad for high season – especially given the resort's amenities and sublime Grace Bay location. Bonus: the well-appointed suites are around 2,000 square feet in size, and all three bedrooms feature en suite bathrooms, so it's easy to share the space with the whole family...yes, even the in laws.

How to Book It: Call 866-359-6466 or log on to thetuscanyresort.com. There are no booking dates but the travel window is December 18 to 25, 2009.

A Holiday Gift from Google

It's tough to know what to give the traveler who has everything, but Google has a pretty solid idea: Thanks to the web giant, holiday travelers can enjoy free Wi-Fi at 47 airports around the country through January 15, 2010 – no strings attached. Even better, when you sign on you'll have the chance to pay it forward by donating to a handful of charities like Engineers Without Borders or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, and Google will match nationwide donations up to $250,000. Airports with free Internet access include Boston, Burbank, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and more...To see the full list and to learn more, just surf over to www.freeholidaywifi.com.

Spooky Halloween Cocktails from Mexico

Despite the fact that it's consistently 90 degrees here at Caribbean Travel + Life's home base in Orlando, I'm told that it's actually late October and that Halloween is, in fact, approaching fast. Hard for some of us to believe – but whatever the weather you're facing this month, I think we could all use a yummy island cocktail recipe to get in the spirit! And who better to concoct a spooky spritzer than the folks over in the Riviera Maya, home to the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration? I say we all mix up a couple of these tasty cocktails, courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Maya, and let's get this Halloween party started!


Bloody Champagne

• 4 ounces Champagne Brut
• 1 ounce Néctar de Fresa
• 1 ounce Néctar de Frambuesa
• 1 ounce Sprite

Mix together and serve in a champagne glass. 

Cemetery

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce Kahlua
• 4 ounces Coca Cola
• 1 ounce Fresa

Mix together and serve in a martini glass.

Father's Day Getaway

This Father's Day, skip the new tie and give dad what he really wants...a little pampering and a lot of golf. Barbados' five-star Sandy Lane resort has created a special Golf and Spa package for the summer that includes one full-body massage per person at the on-site Spa at Sandy Lane, plus four complimentary rounds of golf per person during any seven-night stay. Can't get away for the full week? Just stay for five nights and you'll still enjoy the massage plus two rounds of golf.

Sandy Lane is home to 45 holes on three renowned courses, including the famed Green Monkey course, and it was even selected as one of our own Featured Golf properties recently. Rates for the vacation package start at $4,000 double occupancy for a five-night stay in Orchid Room accommodations - a price that includes the fifth night free - and the deal is valid all summer through October 31.

Can't get enough Caribbean golf? Don't forget to check out our new feature on Country Clubs Away from Home.

Marriott for the Moms

Macaroni necklaces are nice, but Marriott's latest promotion gives kids some real purchasing power for Mother's Day, offering moms a complimentary 50-minute massage, breakfast in bed, or a manicure and pedicure on your next vacation with no strings attached. When checking in for any three-night minimum stay at one of the company's nine resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico, just have junior say "Pamper my mommy" and that's it...the preferred treatment will be booked free of charge.

Check out the site for more information, then surf over to our Editor's Picks page - several of our recent deals include Marriott and Renaissance resorts.