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Saturday, March 13th 2010

6:20 PM

Aruba's Bucuti Beach Resort Adults Only Policy 2011

Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba will implement a new, adults-only policy in 2011 in line with the resort’s goal of providing a tranquil getaway for couples.


Starting December 23, all guests at Bucuti must be at least 18 years old. Currently, the resort policy allows for a handful of rooms to accommodate one child in the Bucuti Wing; Tara Suites have always been restricted to adults.

Once the new policy goes into effect, children staying at other resorts on the island will still be allowed to dine at Bucuti’s Pirates’ Nest Restaurant and attend wedding ceremonies.
Couples can relax on Eagle Beach under their own private palapa or simply lounge around the infinity pool in a comfy chair for two.

Visit www.bucuti.com.


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Thursday, March 11th 2010

12:59 AM

St Kitts New Luxury Villa Resort Opens

Ocean’s Edge Resort in St. Kitts just completed constructions for its first luxury villa.


Perched 180 feet above sea level, this 4,500 square-foot luxury villa includes three bedrooms plus a guest house pavilion and a 25-foot long infinity edge pool.

The villa, with its three terraces, offers views to the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course and island landscape of mountains and rain forest.

Ocean’s Edge, a resort development with plans for 190 condominiums and 32 villa lots for bespoke villas, launched sales of Phase 3A in the autumn of last year.

Currently 15 villa plots have been released for sale, nine have been sold with the construction of villas currently underway.

Visit www.oceansedgestkitts.com

Source: Travel Agent Central
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Wednesday, March 10th 2010

12:44 PM

Bahamas Seen From Space


The Bahamas extend over 500 miles, with a grand total of 700 islands - most of them are uninhabited. 


Astronaut Soichi Noguchi's Twitpic from International Space Station

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Tuesday, March 9th 2010

5:56 PM

Curacao Now Program is Back!

  • Sites to Visit
The Curacao Now™ program is back and in place for 2010!


The Curacao Now™ program literally puts money in your pocket – and the beautiful island of Curacao’s interesting history, culture, cuisine, beaches, attractions, and friendly people ensure that you’ll have a relaxing and fun experience.

The Curacao Now™ Coupon entitles you to $400 instant credit PER ROOM, based on double occupancy, on your Curacao vacation!

PLUS you’ll receive:
$200 in Food & Beverage Credit per room (provided by select participating hotels)
One Night FREE (provided by select participating hotels on a 5 night minimum)
One Dive day FREE when diving at participating Dive Operators
One Car Rental day FREE when renting at participating Car rentals (thru an on-island Voucher)
Discounts at participating Attractions, Museums, Transfers and Tours (thru an on-island Voucher)

This happens ONLY once per year, ONLY 240 of these Coupons will be given away, and the Coupons go very quickly!



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Tuesday, March 9th 2010

2:29 PM

New WRECK WEEK Dive Package for British Virgin Islands

  • Sites to Visit
Dive BVI’s 2nd annual Wreck Week June 12-19, 2010.
Features some of the best wrecks in the Caribbean such as the world famous RMS Rhone which went down in 1867, the Japanese fishing freighter Chikuzen, and Wreck Alley.

This event package includes 7 nights stay at the beautiful Guavaberry Spring Bay Vacation Homes situated between the famous Baths and Spring Bay.

5 Days of fantastic boat dives that showcase the BVI’s underwater diversity and phenomenal wrecks. The 14 dives scheduled are 10 dives over 5 mornings, 2 afternoon dives, and 2 night dives.

Transportation to and from dive center provided, plus refreshments, and continental style breakfast buffet provided for each dive morning. 

The crew will also serve a picnic lunch onboard for 2 diving days while anchored in a secluded tropical cove lined with white sand beaches.

Reservations are LIMITED. Download a registration form from the Wreck Week website – http://www.divebviwreckweek.com

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Tuesday, March 9th 2010

2:06 PM

All Inclusive in Aruba

  • Caribbean Travel Specials
Occidental Grand Aruba  Star Rating Information - Occidental Grand Aruba
Save 30% - 4 nights from $849 - + taxes and fees
Travel:  4/5-8/31/10  - Book by August 27, 2010


Luxury, European-style All-Inclusive high-rise on the beach
The simply elegant luxury of this contemporary-style All-Inclusive resort is a superb setting for a romantic getaway or family vacation. The recently renovated resort is located along the palm-fringed white sands of Aruba’s exclusive and aptly named Palm Beach.

Dining & Entertainment:
Dine buffet-style at The Palm, or a la carte at 4 specialty restaurants.  Italian cuisine at L’Olio, Mexican at El Olvido, Pan-Asian at Zen, and Caribbean Fusion at Desire.

INCLUDES 
  • 4 nights, Occidental Grand Aruba, all-inclusive & hotel transfers.
  • BONUS Save up to 30%
  • Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel
  • Accommodations for number of nights selected
  • All meals, snacks, beverages
  • Activities & non-motorized watersports
  • Hotel tax & service charges

Travel 2 the Caribbean


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Monday, March 8th 2010

11:10 AM

Air Jamaica Becomes Caribbean Airlines

  • Requested Travel Info
Several travelers have asked if Caribbean Airlines plans to keep the scheduled flights Air Jamaica has served to the Caribbean.

Air Jamaica is on target to become Caribbean Airlines starting April 12, 2010 - however there is a lot of confusion on the proposed agreement between the governments of Trinidad/Tobago and Jamaica.

1. Air Jamaica will suspend all service on April 12, 2010

2. This is NOT a merger or BUYOUT. Trinidad based Caribbean Airlines has firmly stated it will not be responsible for any of Air Jamaica's debt. Air Jamaica has been struggling with debt for years - including a huge tax billed owned to the IRS 

3. Will Caribbean Airlines become the "National Carrier" for Jamaica?
Caribbean Airlines would have exclusive carrier rights, and not have to pay the Jamaican government any landing fees. They would also keep established slots. A "slot" is an interval of time during which an aircraft can takeoff or land at and airport.  

Caribbean Airlines is owned by the government of Trinidad/Tobago, and it's main hub is at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad. From my understanding, Caribbean Airlines serves all of the Caribbean, and it will NOT become the national carrier for Jamaica.

The agreement to take over the profitable routes from Air Jamaica creates another hub in Kingston Jamaica's Norman Manley International Airport, and will make Caribbean Airlines the largest carrier in the Caribbean.

4. What about those "unprofitable routes" Caribbean Airlines will not be serving?
Well that's the big question for travelers who are already pre-booked on Air Jamaica. Some tourists are already complaining about flight schedule changes, and in some cases the inability to cancel flights without penalty fees.  

Major U.S. airlines - along with U.S. low cost carriers will most likely pick up some of these routes. AirTran and JetBlue already launched service last month from Orlando after Air Jamaica's announcement they would cease servicing Orlando-Jamaica flights.

5. What other cities are affected by suspended service
Effective March 9, Air Jamaica will suspend service from New York’s JFK Airport to Grenada, and effective April 12, service from Jamaica to Chicago, Curacao, Havana and Nassau will be halted.

By April 12, Air Jamaica is scheduled to launch 161 weekly flights between Jamaica and five cities with daily service to Baltimore, Philadelphia and Toronto, three daily flights from New York (JFK) and four daily from Fort Lauderdale.

6. How long will this transition take?
Air Jamaica's transition to Caribbean Airlines will be phased over a period of up to one year. Some reports state Air Jamaica pilots, flight attendants and ground crew will continue in service during this period - however it is not clear exactly what will happen to the majority of employees during and after the transition period.   

It has  been, and will continue to be difficult for small Caribbean based airlines to compete with the inroads of US major airlines, low budget carriers, and European carriers to the Caribbean.

One market that is open to the smaller carriers is regional travel within the Caribbean region that serves both Caribbean nationals and tourists moving from island to island.  
Linda Thompkins - Travel Consultant - http://www.travel2thecaribbean.com

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Sunday, March 7th 2010

6:47 PM

Passport Cost Increase On the Way

  • Requested Travel Info
Get your passport now if you plan to travel abroad! New charges apply for passport renewals also.  

Passport application fees and renewals are going to take a big hike in price.
Under a new proposal charges for an adult to apply for a first time passport will be $135 vs. the current charge of $100.

Passport renewals are proposed to cost $100 vs. the current charge of $75.  Minors (under age 16) would pay $105, up from $85, for a passport. Passport Card fees will increase to $10.

And if you need extra visa pages added to your passport book, the fee will now be $82 - this is a 100% increase since the charge has been provided free of charge.

The State Department says the new proposed charges are based on a survey by a private contractor to review costs of processing applications, providing border security and assisting U.S citizens overseas.

I would love to know how much they paid the "private contractor" for the survey.

Linda
Travel 2 the Caribbean


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Thursday, March 4th 2010

12:19 PM

Dominican Republic Last Minute Luxury

Paradisus Palma Real Resort  Star Rating Information - Paradisus Palma Real Resort

4 nights from $475 - + taxes and fees - Book by March 7, 2010

INCLUDES 4 nights, Paradisus Palma Real, all-inclusive & hotel transfers.
BONUS save 70%


All-inclusive, all-suite villas in lush setting facing powdery white-sand beach – This all-suite, luxury all-inclusive resort is surrounded by lush tropical gardens, mangroves, sparkling waters, and faces Bavaro Beach – one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in the Caribbean.

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, it offers the perfect backdrop for a fun family vacation, romantic getaway, or intimate island wedding.

Accommodations: Distributed among 3-story villas, the guest suites are some of the most posh lodgings in Punta Cana. Each features a private balcony or terrace, a spa-jet shower, an in-room Jacuzzi for two, and a living area with a sofa.

Amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, phones, internet access (for a surcharge), and irons/ironing boards. Royal Service guests enjoy upgraded amenities including personal butlers, an in-room aromatherapy menu, and access to an exclusive lounge, beach, and pool. Family Concierge packages offer personalized service for families, including private check-in and exclusive family vacation activities.

Travel 2 the Caribbean

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Wednesday, March 3rd 2010

5:32 PM

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

We're just got our new Facebook page up and running. Our fans will be notified first of many exclusive travel specials.

Become a Fan!



Also you can Follow us on Twitter - we tweet on the latest Caribbean travel specials, news and other issues we find interesting 

Let's get social
Linda
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Monday, March 1st 2010

7:33 PM

Bahamas Atlantis Resort Special

Atlantis Royal Towers  Star Rating Information - Atlantis Royal Towers

3 Nights from $975 -INCLUDES round-trip airfare, 3 nights, Atlantis Royal Towers & hotel transfers. BONUS free companion airfare, kids 11 & under stay & play free. Plus stay 4 nights & get the 4th night free.


Accommodations: Rooms are appointed with an elegant, contemporary theme, and feature balconies, sitting areas, and king or queen beds. Amenities include satellite TV, phone, in-room safe, hairdryer, and iron/ironing board.

Dining & Entertainment: There are more than 20 restaurants in Atlantis. For gourmet dining, there is a Bobby Flay Mesa Grill, Japanese cuisine at Nobu, and the elegant Cafe Martinique, located in the Marina Village. For a more casual setting, there is Carmines, a New York-style Italian restaurant, and Johnny Rockets, a diner with a 1950s America theme. There's also a Starbucks and a Häagen-Dazs creamery.

Recreation: Part resort, part theme park, Atlantis boasts the world's largest artificial marine habitat, home to more than 50,000 sea animals. State-of-the-art water slides and man-made rivers comprise Aquaventure, a 63-acre water park. The Discovery Kids Club, as well as activities for teens, give young travelers their own vacation fun (and parents the chance to enjoy some private time). And, of course, there's the fabulous 3-mile stretch of palm trees, white sand, and crystal blue waters.


Travel 2 the Caribbean


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Monday, March 1st 2010

7:19 PM

Uncommon Caribbean New Site

A celebration of the undiscovered charms of the Antilles!

The Antilles are so much more than just beaches. The local people, food, drinks, music, natural wonders like volcanoes, hot springs, and more all add up to a unique experience that is best enjoyed by directly immersing yourself in the culture.

Uncommon Caribbean offers an engaging journey beyond the regions well-trod sun, sand and sea attractions to reveal a unique side of the Caribbean seldom featured in traditional travel guides.

Head on over to the new site - join them on Facebook and follow on Twitter
Linda

http://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/
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Friday, February 26th 2010

2:52 PM

New Luxury Dominican Republic Resort

Last month Secrets Resorts & Spas opened Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic - its first resort outside Mexico.


Located on the eastern coast, the 176-suite, five-star luxury resort has the largest selection of unique suite categories in all of Cap Cana.

It is just a few minutes’ drive from Punta Cana International Airport and sits on a long stretch of natural pure white sand beach.

Rooms range from Ocean View Junior Suites and the 600-square-foot Castle Suite to the grand 5,550-square-foot Island Suite, which has been built on its own impressive private island.

Secrets Resorts & Spas, which has three resorts in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region, is slated to open more properties in Mexico and the Caribbean by the end of 2012.

Openings will include Secrets St. James and Secrets Wild Orchid in Jamaica this month; Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa, in the fall; and another Secrets Resort & Spa in Cap Cana. It also has plans to enter the Aruba market in 2012.

Travel 2 the Caribbean



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Thursday, February 25th 2010

5:10 PM

St Lucia - On the Wings of Love”

Last week, America tuned into “The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love” to watch Jake Pavelka and his final three bachelorettes be whisked away to the beautiful island of St Lucia for their destination dates.

Next week, the romance continues as Pavelka and his two remaining bachelorettes explore more of the island on the season finale of Season 14, a two-hour episode airing Monday,  March 1 at 8 pm.


One of the featured properties on the show is Jade Mountain - a luxury resort built on the side of a mountain rising  above the 600-acre beachfront resort of Anse Chastanet.

With the fourth wall entirely absent, Jade Mountain's sanctuaries are stage-like settings from which to embrace the full glory of Saint Lucia's Pitons World Heritage Site, and of course, the Caribbean Sea.

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Thursday, February 25th 2010

5:04 PM

Grand Pineapple Beach Antigua

The newly renovated and renamed Tropical Waterfront rooms of Grand Pineapple Beach Antigua, is one of the most recent additions to the Sandals Resorts International portfolio.


Surrounded by 1,600 feet of waterfront, the resort’s rooms have balconies and patios overlooking the sea.

Refurbishments to the Tropical Waterfront rooms include: Fully upgraded and expanded bathrooms; new, eco-friendly air-conditioning systems; and completely retiled floors. In addition, the rooms have soft furnishing upgrades—new upholstery and local artwork, and chic espresso-brown rattan.

To make their stay even sweeter, the resort will reward guests with up to 60 percent off on regular adult and child rack rates for select dates throughout 2010.

http://www.grandpineapple.com/


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