As winter tightens its frosty grip, a Caribbean getaway sounds better than ever. But from January to April, hotel rates can get out of control. Thanks to these deals, though, you can enjoy a high-value high-season escape. It's vacation time, folks.
Click the links below to find the best deal that's best for you:Romance | Family | Active | CT&L Exclusives | Dive
RomanceHoneymooners, you're in luck. These packages will have you basking in the Caribbean sun as well as the after-wedding glow. There's plenty of love to go around for long-marrieds, too -- or even couples who have yet to tie the knot.
Share the LoveYou and your sweetie can cuddle up at the adult-oriented Bucuti Beach Resort on Aruba's prime Eagle Beach. Your five- or seven-night stay includes accommodations in one of 104 contemporary-style rooms, suites or bungalows, all of which feature a private balcony or terrace where you can sip your complimentary bottle of bubbly. Celebrate your romance even more with these bonus amenities: a sunset or snorkel cruise and an intimate, candlelit dinner on the beach.Package: Swept AwayRate: From $2,068 per couple for five nights; $2,793 for sevenNights: Five or sevenAvailable: December 23 to March 23Contact: 011-297-583-1100; bucuti.com
| Simple PleasuresThe water-sports-oriented 20-room Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros has created four- and seven-night packages for newlyweds that include daily breakfast in bed in a beachfront cottage, a private picnic lunch on a secluded cay, and your choice of either two diving trips (one plunge for four-night stays) or four snorkeling excursions each. All meals and drinks are included, and such additional amenities as massages and night dives are available at reduced rates.Package: Simple Little HoneymoonRate: $1,912 per couple for four nights; $3,346 for sevenNights: Four or sevenAvailable: December 22 to January 2; February 16 to April 26Contact: 800-223-6961; smallhope.com |  |
Whirlwind RomanceThe pampering starts when a limo picks you up from the airport on Grand Bahama Island and whisks you to Pelican Bay at Lucaya, a charming 183-room resort next to Port Lucaya Marketplace and Marina. Your love-nest suite has been prepped with candles, flowers, chocolate and a bottle of champagne, and over the next four days, you'll enjoy complimentary his-and-hers 50-minute massages, pastries delivered to your suite each morning and dinner for two at Ferry House Restaurant. Package: Island EleganceRate: From $1,299 per coupleNights: ThreeAvailable: December 1 through April; must book by January 31Contact: 800-215-5968; pelicanbayhotel.com
Turks and Caicos BargainPicture this: The two of you get away to a chic island like Provo and stay at the recently remodeled Sands at Grace Bay, all for $387 a night. Twosomes who book this four- or seven-night special get a spacious one-bedroom suite, a bottle of champagne and a dinner (two dinners for the longer stay) at the resort's beachfront Hemingway's restaurant. Package: Winter Season RomanceRate: From $1,550 per couple for four nights; $2,750 for sevenNights: Four or sevenAvailable: January 3 to April 15Contact: 877-77-SANDS; thesandsresort.com
FamilySummer vacation is months away, and everybody's getting a little antsy for a winter break. These packages include a little something for everyone, so grab the whole gang and go.
Affordable AdventureFamilies who play together, so we're told, stay together. Your group of four can put the cliché to the test at Coco Palm in St. Lucia's north-coast Rodney Bay. The action-packed escape sends you on a half-day safari through the rainforest, hiking the historic Fort Rodney Trail and exploring the island with your one-day Jeep rental. A family beach pass includes all nonmotorized water sports and umbrella and chair rental. There's plenty of room to spread out in the two-bedroom, two-bath, pool-view family suites, and daily breakfast at Ti Bananne restaurant is thrown in, too.Package: Coco Family Island AdventureRate: From $2,570 for two adults and two kidsNights: FiveAvailable: Through MarchContact: 866-588-5980; coco-resorts.com
Fun Times FourStrictly speaking, it's Bermuda's low season, but we'll make an exception for the family package at the venerable Elbow Beach, where a foursome can stay in one of the luxury resort's 235 rooms or suites, enjoying daily buffet breakfast and one-day admission to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. An evening of free babysitting frees up parents for a night out. Package: FamilyRate: From $475 per night for two adults and two kids Nights: Minimum of fourAvailable: January 1 through AprilContact: 441-236-3535; mandarinoriental.com
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Fifth Night FreeWith amenities like a kids' club, a 40-acre private island and an on-propertycasino, family vacations at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino promise across-the-board satisfaction. And when your brood stays five nights in an ocean suite, the fifth night is free -- a savings of up to $560. The package includes complimentary tickets to the Monday-night Taste of the Tropics barbecue, which features grown-up drinks, a special kids' menu, marshmallow roasting and milk-and-cookies turndown service for your progeny -- a $125 value.Package: Family FuntasticRate: From $1,680 for two adults and two kids Nights: FiveAvailable: January 1 to April 25Contact: 011-297-583-6000; renaissancearuba.com |
ActiveFor on-the-go types who just can't slow down (even on vacation), there's an action-packed deal with your name on it.
Fun with the WindThe quaint Kralendijk-based Sonrisa Rooms & Apartments offers a seven-night package that gets windsurfers out on the water off Bonaire every day. Hop the hotel's daily shuttle to Bonaire Windsurf Place at Lac Bay, where you'll receive gear and instruction plus a sandwich to keep you energized as you perfect your loops, spocks and grubbies.Package: Windsurfing Rate: From $623 per person for the week, double occupancyNights: SevenAvailable: January through NovemberContact: 011-599-717-6633; sonrisabonaire.com
On the GoYou might need another vacation after staying at Castle Comfort Lodge in Dominica, where the invigorating package includes a boat trip for spotting sperm whales, a tour to Dominican landmarks like the Boiling Lake, two-tank morning boat dives and unlimited shore diving. Guests can rest up in one of the intimate hotel's 15 rooms and refuel with complimentary daily breakfast. Package: Seven-Night Dive Adventure PackageRate: From $1,150 per person Nights: SevenAvailable: Through April 1Contact: 767-448-2188; castlecomfortdivelodge.com
Hit the LinksGet your game on at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, the award-winning course adjacent to the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino on Frigate Bay. The golf package for two includes four nights in a standard room with a garden view and one challenging round per person at the scenic 18-hole, par-71 course. Back at the 513-room beachfront resort, you'll feast on complimentary daily breakfast at Calypso restaurant.Package: Escape Golf Rate: $363 a nightNights: Minimum of fourAvailable: January 5 through MarchContact: 869-466-1200; stkittsmarriott.com
Stay, Earn and PlayThe more nights you stay at the lavish Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay (pictured above), the more Sand Dollar credits you'll receive to put toward activities like golf at the Greg Norman-designed course or tennis matches at the resort's six courts. The $100 credits can also be applied toward dinner at elegant Il Cielo, treatments at the spa and purchases at the hotel gift shop. Spacious beachfront rooms boast private balconies, and the resort features two pools, two restaurants and a stylish beach-side bar overlooking Emerald Bay.Package: Beach Cay Rate: From $995 per nightNights: Minimum of twoAvailable: January through AprilContact: 242-336-6800; fourseasons.com/greatexuma
CT&L ExclusivesHave we got a deal for you! Some of our favorite hotels are offering money-saving packages exclusively to CT&L readers, so make sure you tell 'em we sent you.
| Elite EscapeIt's intimate, it's elegant and it's offering a sweet, four-night all-inclusive deal for two. Guests at the 96-acre private-island resort Kamalame Cay, on Andros in the Bahamas, will receive a complimentary snorkeling trip for two and their choice of one tropical, aromatherapy or deep-tissue massage at the resort's luxurious over-water spa. A complimentary room upgrade is also offered, subject to availability. Package: Escape to Kamalame Rate: From $2,799 for twoNights: FourAvailable: January 4 through AprilContact: 800-790-7971; kamalame.com |  |
Yours, Mine and OursOne of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Harbour Village Beach Club on Bonaire, has a combo package ideal for divers and nondivers traveling together. The diver gets one daily one-tank boat dive for six days and unlimited shore diving. The landlubber receives six spa treatments, including three massages, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure. The special includes seven nights in a beachfront one-bedroom premier suite and daily breakfast. Package: Luxury Dive & Spa Combo Rate: $4,975 for two Nights: SevenAvailable: January 8 to April 15Contact: 800-424-0004; harbourvillage.com
Plush LifeOn the Turks and Caicos hot spot Provo, put yourself in the lap of luxury by staying seven nights at the deluxe Alexandra Resort on famous Grace Bay. Relax with two hour-long massages, a half-day boat trip to a nearby cay, a romantic private dinner on the beachfront dining deck plus five breakfasts and three lunches (or dinners). Then use your $25 per-person credit at the alfresco Orchid Restaurant.Package: Relax and Recharge Rate: From $3,000 per coupleNights: SevenAvailable: Through March 29Contact: 800-284-0699; alexandraresort.com
Get BusyYou'll be on the move during a six-day, all-inclusive stay at the beachfront St. James's Club on Antigua, thanks to these inclusions: an eco-adventure island tour, an hour of tennis instruction, a day's car rental and one diving lesson or dive (if certified) per person. Downtime is well spent at the 100-acre resort's four pools, two private beaches and spa.Package: Action & Adventure Rate: $1,399 per personNights: FiveAvailable: January 3 through MarchContact: 800-672-9093; eliteislandresorts.com
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Winter WonderOn Barbados' famed Platinum Coast, renowned for high-end hotels, the upscale, Mediterranean-style Tamarind Cove Hotel is offering a discount. The reduced rate applies to a pool/garden-view room with patio. You might spend the savings on dinner at the resort's Sasso restaurant or a round at the nearby Royal Westmoreland Golf Course & Country Club.Package: Winter Sale Rate: From $485 a nightNights: Minimum of fiveAvailable: January 8-31 and March 1-10; must book by December 31; use code CTLWS when bookingContact: 800-467-4519; tamarindcovehotel.com |
DiveWhether you're a seasoned scuba diver, a novice pursuing certification, or you just want to skim the surface as a snorkeler, we've got options that will bring you mask-to-face with creatures from the deep.
Dive Into DiscountsWith popular Reduit Beach nearby, Bay Gardens Beach Resort in St. Lucia provides snorkelers and divers with a starting-off point for epic underwater exploration. When you book seven nights at the simple but elegant hotel and snorkel or dive with Eastern Caribbean Diving for three days, you can take advantage of a trio of discounts: one bonus day of diving or snorkeling, 25 percent off scuba certification and 10 percent off equipment purchases. Package: Diving or Snorkeling Rate: From $186 a nightNights: Minimum of sevenAvailable: January through AprilContact: 877-620-3200; baygardensbeachresort.com
Go DeepMore than 80 impressive dive sites make Bonaire a mecca for Caribbean divers. Let the 200-room Plaza Resort Bonaire host you for seven nights in a standard suite, and take advantage of unlimited day and night shore diving with free nitrox, courtesy of the on-site Toucan Diving. For an additional $119, divers can do six boat dives from the resort's new craft, Golden Eye, or pay an extra $202 for 11 dives.Package: 7th Heaven on 18 Palms Rate: From $926 per person for the weekNights: SevenAvailable: January 5 to April 4Contact: 800-766-6016; plazaresortbonaire.com
Tortola SamplerThe luxury, 52-acre Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas and its on-site dive shop, Dive Tortola, will take you to RMS Rhone, one of the Caribbean's best-known wreck dives, during two guided two-tank trips. Two dinners at any of the resort's four restaurants and a two-day car rental allow divers to sample Tortola's charms both above and below the water. Accommodation in an ocean-view room, daily breakfast and round-trip airport transfers are included.Package: Scuba DiveRate: $1,595 per personNights: ThreeAvailable: January 3 through MarchContact: 800-345-0356; eliteislandresorts.com
Covering the WaterfrontThe five-star PADI centers at each of the five Viva Wyndham Resorts in the Dominican Republic, Mexican Caribbean and Bahamas are offering three-, four-, five- or seven-night dive packages. The number of dive trips varies with your length of stay, but other inclusions are the same across the board: accommodations, all meals and drinks, nightly entertainment, nonmotorized water sports and other daily activities. Package: Dive Rate: Sample rates from $268 per person per night at Dominicus Beach in the D.R.; $290 at Dominicus Palace in the D.R. and Fortuna Beach on Grand Bahama; $308 at Maya in Playacar; $334 at Azteca in Playacar (call for latest rates)Nights: Three, four or sevenAvailable: January to AprilContact: 800-WYNDHAM; vivaresorts.com
