Reader Response

Want to see your island-hopping travel story appear in Caribbean Travel + Life? Here's your chance! Just answer our latest reader question in the comments section below, and your response just may appear in an upcoming issue as well as right here on the web site:

Tell us all about your best Caribbean family vacation...

If you want to share your photos too, don't forget to head to our Facebook fan page where you can post snapshots and travel stories right to the wall!

Retail Refund

Good news for travelers who plan to drop some dinero in Cancun: under the destination's new Tax Back program, shoppers will be refunded the 10-percent value-added tax paid on cash purchases between 1,200 and 3,000 pesos (roughly $90 and $225) and on credit card purchases of any amount over 1,200 pesos.

Just ask for a receipt in participating stores (look for the orange sticker in the window), and on your way out present it at the Tax Back desk in Terminal 2 or 3. Depending on the amount, tax will be refunded in a combo of cash and a credit to your plastic or reimbursed entirely to your credit card. Big spenders should note that items that cost more than 5,000 pesos (about $370) must be presented for inspection.

New Delta Direct Flights to Grand Cayman

Traveling to the Cayman Islands just got easier for you northerners with the addition of Delta's new weekly direct service. Starting June 12, the airline will begin operating a round trip flight every Saturday between New York's JFK and Grand Cayman, so you can kick off your island vacation without any of the usual layovers. Just log on to delta.com to book your trip, then surf over to our destination pages and our Cayman blogs to start planning your summer vacation!

Free Nights at Ritz-Carlton Caribbean and Mexico Resorts

The Deal: Book the exclusive Club Level for your next 4- or 5-night Ritz-Carlton Caribbean or Mexico vacation and you'll enjoy a complimentary night on your stay – a savings of at least $379.

Why We Love It: Already known for top notch service and amenities, the Ritz Carlton brand has gone a step further with the addition of its new Club Level – an intimate "hotel within a hotel" experience that includes a personal concierge and perks such as light breakfast, drinks and sweets delivered throughout your stay. This free-night promotion makes it more affordable to indulge at luxe properties including the Ritz-Carlton St .Thomas, the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall Jamaica, and the Ritz-Carlton San Juan (pictured) – and, if your travels happen to take you to the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, your minimum 5-night stay (you pay for four) also includes the Cayman Stingray Splash, a promotional day trip to nearby Stingray City.

How to Book It: Book online at ritzcarlton.com. Rates start at $379 per night double occupancy at the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall in Jamaica, up to $599 per night double occupancy at the Ritz-Carlton Cancun.

Have a Drink On Us

It's definitely tempting to rip out the Happy Hours features in each issue so you'll always have those yummy Caribbean cocktail recipes on hand. I know, I've done it. But before you dismantle your next issue, surf over to our Scribd page where you can download (or share) interactive PDF versions of great content like this in every issue – all without harming your innocent CT+L collection.

 

Cheers!

Tweet if You Like Free Stuff!

Valentine's Day is over but you've still got a chance to redeem yourself for those pink carnations you gave her — American Express is sponsoring a free trip to tres exclusive Jumby Bay in Antigua. The "tweetheart" (get it?) promotion includes round trip airfare and four nights of all inclusive accommodation for two at the private island resort – and considering the going rate for room and board is around $1,400 a night, if you win, you're probably all set for Valentine's Day for the rest of your life. Enter the contest by following @americanexpress on Twitter and tweet this message once before 11:59pm EST on Monday, February 22.

"Hey @americanexpress, I want to take my tweetheart (insert your love's name here) on the ultimate romantic getaway. Pick me! http://bit.ly/bFgMGU #amexTravel"

Good luck and let us know if you win!

Small Packages

When you travel as much as the CT+L editors do, you quickly pick up tips and tricks to get you out the door and on the plane with as little hassle as possible. One I've learned: always keeping a bag of toiletries and travel essentials packed and ready to go. But because I'm a carry-on-only kinda gal, they've got to be in those teeny-tiny, TSA-approved containers – which means that I've invested more time than I care to admit painstakingly decanting my various lotions and potions into three-ounce plastic bottles. But now I don't have to.

On minimus.biz travelers can find an array of pint-sized personal care and household products, everything from nail polish remover to Febreze, sunscreen to contact lens solution to ... ahem ... individually wrapped condoms. You'll find all the brand names you recognize from the pharmacy aisle at prices that start from less than 20 cents to around five bucks.

For a less pedestrian - but pricier – collection of portables, check out 3floz.com. If you're a prestige skincare and makeup fan, bookmark this site for travel-friendly favorites from companies such as Dr Hauschka, DDF and Weleda. The site also offers an impressive selection of organic products, and there's a men's section with all the aftershave, shaving balms, creams and facial washes the well-groomed gentleman traveler could desire.

Of course, once you've loaded up on diminutive deodorant and other petite essentials, you're going to need a chic, transparent bag to stow them in, right? (Please don't tell me you were considering a boring zip-lock Glad bag. Perish the thought!) But that's a post for another day ...