If Valentine’s Day has put romantic getaways on your mind, check out this deal: up to 45% off a trip for two.
Plus, get a $50 Restaurant.com gift card when you book a hotel or package in Jamaica, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Paris, San Francisco or Washington DC by Valentine’s Day.
From the adults-only Aventura Spa Palace All Inclusive resort to Le Claridge Champs Elysees in Paris, you’ll find a hotel that sets the mood for romance.
By Lena Katz
Romantic dining at Bucuti Beach Resort
Fact: Women love romantic gestures, and that most definitely includes being spoiled like a beloved goddess queen on Valentine’s Day. I always get in trouble when I make generalizations like this, but I’m doing it anyway, on behalf of all the women (and men!) who would so dearly love to be swept away on a Caribbean vacation this February. It’s not even as crazily out-of-reach as it seems — between flight specials and amazing all-inclusive resort deals, dollars can go a long way. So think about it: This V-Day, you could spend a couple hundred dollars on a prix-fixe dinner, long-stemmed roses and champagne in whatever rainy, grumpy city you happen to live in … or for a little more money, have a few days of daiquiris and lobster dinners, plus zip lining, snorkeling, sailing and steel drums on the Caribbean vacation of your choice.
Just for grownups …
Leave the noise, the quarrels, the messes and kiddie menus behind at an adults-only resort where grownup pleasures are the only priority. There are all sorts of age-restricted places for your Caribbean vacation, ranging from Jamaica’s legendarily risqué Hedonism brand to the upscale all-suite “super-inclusive” Excellence Punta Cana. A smaller hotel that always scores well with honeymooners is the all-inclusive Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba. (more…)
Barbados
By Lena Katz
Celebrities flock to the Caribbean for its beautiful beaches, sunshine, seclusion and A-list treatment … in fact, to hear US Weekly or InStyle tell it, the Hollywood elite stay and play at beautiful Caribbean beach resorts ‘round the clock, ‘round the year. (Must be nice.) While no regular person can make a Caribbean vacation a full-time job, some destinations excel at making everyone feel A-list, even if only for a week. From their gorgeous settings and stellar service, to the chance of brushing sun-screened shoulders with someone you’ve seen on TV, I think the hot spots I’ve listed below may be your best shot at getting the celeb-class Caribbean vacation you deserve.
Barbados
What celebrity hasn’t been to Barbados? This island is famous for its British brand of posh, the great quantity of unique-to-the-island luxury lodgings, and the stunning beaches. (more…)
Donald Duck and the captain of the Disney Dream lay the keel for the new ship.
By Kate Schwartz
What makes the new Disney Dream cruise ship unique? Magic, of course! Like all Disney Cruise Line ships, the Dream combines state-of-the-art technology with a hint of enchantment.
If you’ve never taken a Disney cruise, throw stereotypes to the wind. This isn’t a kid-filled, in-your-face Disney experience; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. The “Disney” is in the subtleties — perhaps you’ll notice a glass slipper chandelier while enjoying a fine dinner at one of the many on-board restaurants, or maybe you’ll spot an oil painting that comes to life when you walk by. Hints of magic are in the details — only the beginnings of which are captured here. (more…)
Barbados
By Lena Katz
Stockings, snow and holly are all very jolly, but who am I kidding, after a year like this, a perfect 80-degree morning on a white-sand beach is a better gift than anything Santa could pull out his gift bag. A Caribbean vacation delivers an endless number of holiday celebrations, ranging from Christmas with an island twist to Latin spice with a Bacardi float. Here are three of my favorite places to celebrate:
Barbados
After dropping a few notches on the luxury hotlist under tough competition from St. Barths and Anguilla, Barbados has lately enjoyed a return to the top. Perhaps this is because of the many new and revamped Barbados hotels to debut recently.
The beach at Castaway Cay
By John George
A stop at a private or secluded island has become almost mandatory for cruises in the eastern Caribbean. Most of the cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Lines, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Holland America, have private islands for their guests. The basic program is similar: You will enjoy a beach, both paid and free activities and a barbecue lunch. Don’t forget the fruity drinks at the tiki bar, either!
A word to the wise: If your idea of the perfect family vacation day is just lounging on the beach, get there early enough to claim your lounge chairs. While there are hundreds of them, our experience was that they quickly get taken. (more…)
Flamenco Beach (Photo: Lena Katz)
By Lena Katz
You don’t exactly swim in the limpid blue-green sea off the shore of Puerto Rico’s famous Flamenco Beach; you bob like a cork. The warm, calm water and soft sand make this one of the most swimmable beaches in the Western Hemisphere — and hardly trafficked compared with others of its stature. This is only one of many surprises that make Puerto Rico one of America’s favorite Caribbean vacation destinations.
By Mark Verone
“Back to school” is music to the ears of many parents dreaming of getting back into a normal schedule. For us, “back to school” means family vacations with fewer crowds, shorter lines, less people and great travel deals. As parents of a non-school-age toddler, we find that travel is more enjoyable during off-peak periods.
Over the past two years, we have planned several family vacations during off-peak periods, and we’ve had the luxury of having pools, beaches and resorts all to ourselves. We know that in a few years we will be fighting the crowds during school break periods with so many other families, which is why we are taking advantage of our situation now and traveling as much as we can before our son starts going to school.
Traveling off peak has many advantages.
By Lena Katz
“That chicken club sandwich cost $25 dollars? But it didn’t even have cheese on it!!” *Cue sputtering outrage.
Paradisus Palma Real
As anyone who’s ever had this reaction to a poolside lunch tab knows, a boatload of extra charges for beverage, food and activities can nearly sink the vacation vibe, particularly if you’re traveling with kids during a cash-strapped spell. That’s why so many people have turned to all-inclusive vacations these days…you pay upfront, and you know there won’t be a second reckoning at the end. Lately you may get even more than you expected, as so many of these beachside paradises are introducing new and innovative extras to improve the vacation experience.
The greatest example of this that I’ve seen is the Paradisus chain, an all-inclusive brand within the Melia family. For all the different room categories, one round of golf and one SCUBA dive per day are included in the package price. Paradisus properties tend to be on the large side, so for a slight price hop, Family Concierge and Royal Service programs give family or adult groups the extra personalized attention and perks they desire. For families, it’s kiddie amenities and snacks; for Royal adults, dry-cleaning and laundry service, private butlers and a business lounge with wireless access and other business amenities.
Curacao
By Lena Katz
With 10 contenders flying to Curacao in August to compete for a half-million dollar prize, this Netherlands Antilles island is a treasure-hunting hot spot in 2009. However, cash prizes aside, Curacao’s always been one of my favorite Caribbean vacation destinations, thanks its adorable beach hotels, reasonable prices and colorful culture. Although just a few lucky folk are going to get greenbacks out of their summer vacation experience, everyone who’s ever visited can tell you that Curacao has all kinds of treasure to offer.
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