Retreat Alert: Yoga Teacher Training at Laluna, Grenada

It's tough to imagine a nicer place to be a student again than within the blissful confines of Grenada's Laluna boutique resort. Well, here's your chance: The resort is hosting a 14-day Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Course, starting Saturday, April 10 and running though Saturday, April 24.

Led by St. Louis-based yoga instructor Michelle Maue, the course includes all the contact hours and workshops you'll need to earn your Vinyasa certification, with a yoga anatomy book, 50 pages of research findings, and a 40-page teacher training manual thrown in for good measure. You'll learn how to meditate (and how to teach the skill to others), as well as the primary series of Ashtanga poses and the "flow" of Vinyasa — a word that means "breath-synchronized movement" and refers to the act of moving from pose to pose on the inhale or exhale.

Classwork takes place in Laluna's glorious beachfront yoga pavilion, but don't let the idyllic setting fool you; this program is no walk in the park. Classes get underway at from 7 am and run until 7 pm every day, with a few short breaks and time for journaling. And there's a pre-class homework assignment, too, just to get your head in the game.

The 200-hour course is $2,600; with two weeks' accommodations at Laluna, it's $4,900. The resort features 16 one and two bedroom guest cottages, every one of which boasts a sea view, an open-air bathroom and a private plunge pool. There's also a pretty sensational Italian restaurant (Chef Daniele Gaetano's creamy risottos, handmade ravioli and fresh octopus salad will knock your socks off).

Participants should plan to arrive in Grenada on April 9. Naturally, space is limited and bookings will only be accepted with full payment in advance. Get in touch with Wendy at Laluna for more information (wp@laluna.com; 473-439-0001).

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.

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. 

Divers Do It ... In Concrete

Longtime CT+L readers will remember my November 2007 feature on British dive instructor and artist Jason de Caires Taylor, whose compelling concrete figures were submerged in the water off Grenada's west coast to form an underwater sculpture "garden" for divers and snorkelers.

Late last year, Taylor completed the first four pieces for his newest submarine installation, this time located off the coast of Cancun. Over time, the ph-neutral concrete pieces should attract algae and marine life – and snorkelers and divers in their wake – easing environmental pressure on the ecosystem and coral reef, which has been compromised by hurricanes and heavy human traffic.



The figures are the first attractions in what Taylor plans to be the largest underwater art museum in the world, with more than 400 life-sized figures for visitors' gawking pleasure. For more information about Taylor's projects or to buy limited-edition prints of his haunting work, just click here.

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.

Increased Service to the USVI

Start packing those bags for a winter escape: Delta just announced that it's increasing its twice-weekly service between New York (JFK) and St. Thomas to seven days per week starting this Saturday, January 9 – so it's easier than ever to plan a trip this high season. If laid back St. Croix is more your speed, you can also fly daily between Atlanta (ATL) and the island beginning this weekend, too. Just log on to delta.com to check out the latest specials and to book your USVI getaway.