Experience Curaçao Now at Kura Hulanda

The Deal: Book a five-night stay at the chic Hotel Kura Hulanda or the quiet Lodge Kura Hulanda by March 15 and you'll enjoy a free night – plus get up to $400 in air credits, $200 in food and beverage credits and other island-wide perks with Curaçao Now.

Why We Love It: Back by popular demand, the Curaçao Now promotion gives you the chance to experience two of the island's ritziest resorts for a lot less, with savings of up to $519 on your hotel stay alone (your fifth night is free). You'll also save $200 per person on your airfare, $200 per room on dining, a one-day complimentary dive excursion, a one-day complimentary rental car, and various other discounts and incentives around the island.

How to Book It: Surf over to khspecials.com or call 877-264-3106 to book your stay. Reservations must be made by March 15, 2010, but you may travel between May 1, 2010 and July 4, 2010, or between August 15, 2010 and December 18, 2010.

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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.

Love is in the Air

It's that romantic time of year when the happily coupled make dinner reservations at très chic bistros and the rest of us curl up on the couch in pajamas, with a plate of brownies, to watch The Bachelor. Actually, I've never seen the show, but I hear the star is oh so dreamy. If you've been watching, you already know, and if you haven't, it might be time to start, because the Batch and the three lady loves that remain are off to gorgeous St. Lucia on Monday for an island escape. They'll be staying at elegant boutique hotel Cap Maison and no doubt frolicking coyly for the cameras in the shade of the beautiful Pitons. If you're looking for a way to whisk your own sweetie away to pop the question, Cap Maison is making it easy with their new Proposal Package. You'll get four nights in an oceanview villa suite with a private pool, a helicopter transfer on arrival, daily breakfast and dinner, an hour couples massage, a sunset cruise, a $75 beverage credit each night you stay and a private dinner at Rock Maison (better ask her here on the first night). The package rates start at $5,750 through March and $3,400 from April to December. If she says no after all this indulgence, I'm quite happy to put down the brownies and turn off the TV.

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.

50% Off at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba

The Deal: Book a vacation at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba by March 29 and travel through March 31 to take advantage of 50 percent off nightly rates, with rooms starting at just $163 double occupancy.

Why We Love It: There are no blackout dates within the promotional window, so whether you're planning a romantic escape for Valentine's Day or just a long weekend for President's Day, you can cash in on huge winter savings. Plus, as always kids 17 and under stay free when sharing your room.

How to Book It: Surf over to caribbeanhi.com/aruba or call 800-HOLIDAY and book your trip before March 29, 2010. Be sure to use promotion code 150.

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.

Free Companion Fares to Barbados

Here's a little airline news to kick off the weekend: American Airlines already offers non-stop service to Barbados from its hubs in New York, Miami and San Juan – but between now and February 12, 2010, just book your minimum four-night stay through the carrier's travel planning site AAVacations.com and your companion will fly free. Even better, you'll have till May 31, 2010 to take the trip. Check out the AA Vacations site to get more info on the promotion – then hit up our destination pages to read recent Barbados articles and start planning your trip!

Luxury Carnival Vacation Packages

A few months ago, I posted a round-up of affordable vacation packages for Trinidad's Carnival – but for those who want to really indulge at this year's event, check out these new luxury packages from Caribbean concierge and tour operator Antilia...

– Bronze Package: Six-nights of four-star accommodations at the Hyatt Regency or Carlton Savannah; daily breakfast; VIP fete tickets to Trini Posse and Brian Lara all-inclusive; 24-hour concierge; air transfers and ground transportation for $2,000.

– Silver Package: All of the above plus a hand-made showpiece costume and two-day Carnival experience for $2,500.

– Gold Package: All of the Silver amenities plus a two-day all-inclusive Tobago retreat to Le Grand Courlan Resort for $3,000.

– VIP Package: All of the Gold amenities plus a private chauffeur, professional make-up application for Carnival Monday and Tuesday, and an Ash Wednesday spa rejuvenation package for $5,000.

All four packages are available from Friday, February 12 to Thursday, February 28, and include round trip airfare from Miami. Log on to antilia.com to book your Carnival trip, then surf over to our Facebook page to share your trip report and photos with the rest of our readers!

San Juan Winter Getaway

While I was in San Juan for the CHTA marketplace earlier this week, I had a chance to grab a bite at the new Verdanza Hotel in Isla Verde. The hotel occupies the old Holiday Inn property near popular Alambique Beach and, following extensive renovations, just reopened its doors in December under the swanky Preferred Hotel Group brand. Knowing the property's history, I went into the evening with visions of kitschy Holiday Inns swirling in my mind – but what I actually found was a surprising throwback to the more romantic era of retro motor inns. From the restored art deco structure to the bold interior furnishings, the Verdanza actually struck me as more of a laid-back ultra-lounge than a mid-tier hotel. So for anyone looking for an affordable – and unique – San Juan escape, might I suggest the property's new Winter Getaway...

The Deal: Book a two-night minimum stay through April 30 and along with your room, you'll get daily buffet breakfast for two; a $25 food and beverage credit for use at one of the hotel's three on-site restaurants; two signature rum drinks; a 20-percent discount on massages at the Body Healers spa; and if you stay at least three nights, they'll throw in a free-night certificate redeemable toward a future stay – all starting at $90 per person per night.

How to Book It: Just log on to verdanzahotel.com, then check out our Puerto Rico destination page to learn more about the island before you go.

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.

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.

Save 40% in Turks and Caicos

The Deal: Book a three-night minimum stay at the all-suite Seven Stars Resort on Grace Bay and save up to 40 percent on rates through March 31, 2010.

Why We Love It: With luxury suites ranging from 600 to 4,000 square feet – and each unit including full gourmet kitchens – you can bring the whole family on your next winter vacation, or stretch out just the two of you; Either way, rates for winter with this promotion start at just $390 per night.

How to Book It: Log on to sevenstarsresort.com or call 866-570-7777 to book your stay; Travel now through the end of March 2010.

Last-Minute Grand Cayman Deal for Snowbirds

Ahhh, winter. The weekend forecast here is calling for freezing rain and snow – and our offices are in Florida. And judging from the posts on our Facebook wall, most of our readers around the country are having trouble staying any warmer lately. In blustery times like these, I think we could all use an affordable tropical vacation package, no?

The Deal: Book a stay at the Ritz- Carlton Grand Cayman this weekend – between January 8 to 12 – and you can enjoy the resort's lowest rates of $399, plus you can fly round trip between Miami and Grand Cayman on American Airlines for just $281 including tax.

Why We Love It: On the coldest weekend of the year so far, who wouldn't love an affordable last-minute getaway to sunny Seven Mile Beach? The rate for the five-star Ritz is the lowest available all high season, and the eSaver fares on AA are some of the lowest all year for that route.

How to Book It: This one is for you last-minute snowbirds, since you do need to book and travel by January 12, 2010. Just log on to aa.com to book the flight, then reserve your luxury room at ritzcarlton.com. And hey, feel free to rub it in to the rest of us who'll be freezing our buns off back home by sharing your trip report and photos on our Facebook page once you get back.

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.

Winter Care Package in the Turks and Caicos

The Deal: Book a five-night minimum stay at the all-suite Point Grace resort through January 31 and you'll get a complimentary Winter Care Package that includes a three-course dinner for two at Grace's Cottage, a bottle of sparkling champagne, and two 30-minute massages.

Why We Love It: Since you can easily combine it with other promotions, the Care Package is great added value for your winter stay of five nights or more. Add it to the Pay 5 Get 7 package and you'll also get two nights free.

How to Book It: Call 866-924-7223 or log on to pointgrace.com to book your stay by January 31, 2010. Blackout dates between December 18, 2009 and January 5, 2010 apply.

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.   

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.

Anguilla Golf

Great news for golfers: Anguilla's first and only course – the $50 million Greg Norman-designed Temenos Golf Course – is set to reopen later this month following a face lift and a change in ownership. Previously showcased as one of our Featured Golf properties, the 7,063-yard championship track will be managed by the five-star Cap Juluca Resort starting on December 19 – and to celebrate the reopening, guests can take advantage of special limited-time promotions like the Unlimited Package and the Shark Package.

With the Unlimited Package, an extra $100 per night will buy as many rounds as you can possibly squeeze in for one guest per room, including cart fees and ground transfers from the resort. The Shark Package gets you one complimentary round per three-night stay (two rounds for a five-night stay) and it also includes daily breakfast. To book either package, surf over to capjuluca.com – then check out our Featured Golf article to learn more about the course.

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.