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.

JetBlue Operations Announcement

You may have heard JetBlue's announcement late yesterday that it will be moving over to a new reservation system later this week – but here's what it all means for travelers: Starting at 12:00 p.m. EST on Friday, January 29 and continuing into Saturday afternoon, January 30, the airline's entire web and phone system will be down – meaning travelers will be unable to log onto jetblue.com or reach anyone at the toll-free number to book, change or cancel an itinerary during that time. Online check-in service will also be unavailable. Instead, if you're traveling this weekend you should plan to take care of any transactions directly at the airport ticket counter – and passengers should definitely plan on longer lines and wait times all weekend. If you'll be island-hopping yourself during this time, keep us updated on our Facebook and Twitter pages!

 

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!

More Help for Haiti

Heading for the Dom Rep? Travelers with reservations at a Zoetry, Secrets or Dreams resort can help contribute to the humanitarian efforts in neighboring Haiti by bringing medical supplies with them, which the hotels will distribute directly to the needy through Haitian relief centers.
The list of acceptable supplies includes small, easily portable items such as gauze, cotton, elastic bandages and feminine hygiene products.

And remember, even if you aren't traveling, you can still make a monetary donation through the American Red Cross.



photo: thetravelerszone.com

Haiti Aftershock

As the death toll continues to rise in Haiti — at last report up to 200,000 — the bad news seems to pile onto the nation, which shares Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. News sources report that a 6.1 magnitude aftershock hit the battered nation this morning around 6 a.m., but it was centered about 35 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince and 6.2 miles below the surface, further from the capital than last week's devastating quake. There's no news yet as to further casualties, but the nation still needs donations – the American Red Cross and Unicef are good places to start.