Send Us a Postcard

From our wallpaper gallery to our social media travel albums, CT+L is stocked with gorgeous Caribbean photos – but we're sure we aren't alone. Want to share your travel snapshots with the world? Post them to our Facebook page to get feedback from fellow island-hoppers, or email us your favorite island shot featuring our magazine and you may be chosen as our monthly postcard, like Hans and Lauren were in October, or baby Sara was this month.

Send Us a Postcard

New Year, New Ways to Save in the Grenadines

The Deal: For every night you stay at the private Young Island Resort between January 1 and March 31, you'll get an additional free night. The buy-one-get-one offer is valid on any room category as long as you reserve the breakfast plus dinner plan.

Why We Love It: What's not to love about indulging in a private island escape for half the price? With nightly winter rates starting at $532 per person for a superior cottage, the deal offers savings of up to $1,064 for every two nights you stay. Included in the rate, you'll also get airport and ferry transfers and use of the resort's non-motorized water sports amenities – plus all of your taxes and gratuities are covered.

How to Book It: Call 800-223-1108 or log on to youngisland.com to reserve your stay for anytime between January 1 and March 31, 2010.

New Year, New Ways to Save in the Grenadines

Fifth Night Free in Antigua

The Deal: Book a four-night all-inclusive stay at Antigua's Curtain Bluff this Fall and get your fifth night free, including three gourmet meals per day, afternoon tea all drinks and snacks, and activities like deep sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and more.


Why We Love It: Featured as one of our All Time Top 10 Classic Resorts last year, Curtain Bluff gives guests a dose of authentic, unadulterated Caribbean charm without sacrificing luxury amenities. The Fifth Night Free package is back by popular demand for a limited time and it offers a savings of at least $745.


How to Book It: Log on to curtainbluff.com and book a four-night-minimum stay between November 29 to December 19, 2009. Some blackout dates may apply – check the web site for details.

Fifth Night Free in Antigua

Barbados for the Sports Fan

Football fans will be feelin' irie next week when three Barbados-born performers take the stage for the 2009 United Way Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show. Just tune in to the Packers vs. Lions game on Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 PM ET on FOX (I know our cheesehead managing editor Becky will be watching) and you can score a special performance by Bajan singers Shontelle, Hal Linton and Vita Chambers. After the game, surf over to nfl.com/thanksgiving to download a copy of the performance – and you can feel pretty good about it since all proceeds benefit United Way.

Barbados for the Sports Fan

Update: Delta Discount to St. Kitts

Last week, I posted a quick blog about Delta's limited time discounts between St. Kitts and Atlanta – and it turns out the deal's been so popular, the airline has just extended the booking window through November 23. You'll still have till February 28 to travel with one-way fares starting at $309...just book on delta.com, then share your stories and photos with other island-hoppers on our Facebook page.

Update: Delta Discount to St. Kitts

Retreat Alert! Writing and Yoga: A Jamaican Adventure

Celia Jeffries and Jacqueline Sheehan, working writers and faculty members at the literary workshop Writers in Progress in Northampton, Massachusetts, are taking reservations for their annual writers retreat, Writing and Yoga: A Jamaican Adventure.

The location, close to Ocho Rios on Jamaica's north coast, is Bromley, a hilltop estate built atop the stone foundations of a 16th-century Spanish fort. A typical day starts with a yoga session intended to energize creativity — to get participants "in the flow," says Jeffries. There are lively communal meals, as well, and morning and evening writing sessions that are "designed to quiet the inner critic and release new writing or expand ongoing projects."

Afternoons are free, but Jeffries and Sheehan, along with retreat coordinator Patricia Perkins, plan to celebrate the setting by offering Jamaican excursions, including time on the sand at secluded Reggae Beach, a tour of lush Coyoba Gardens and Mahoe Falls, or a storytelling session with students at a nearby preschool.

The eight-day retreat, set to commence on March 20, is limited to only 10 participants (all levels of writing and yoga experience are welcome), with shared accommodations starting at $1,395 per person. Airfare isn't included, but room and board, excursions and airport transfers are. For more information and registration instructions, visit the retreat's page at Tropical Escapes, or call 212-731-2478.

Retreat Alert! Writing and Yoga: A Jamaican Adventure

Beaches Turks and Caicos

I just returned from a quick trip to Turks and Caicos, where I had the chance to check out the new Italian Village wing at the all-inclusive Beaches Resort. Going into it, I knew the Grace Bay location would be tough to beat – but I had no idea how much I would end up liking the resort itself. Here, four surprising reasons to check out the property...

1. Diving – The resort's full-service PADI dive center has a staff of 23 instructors, a fleet of five Newton dive boats and a wide range of diving and certification options for beginners to experienced divers. Best of all? It's completely free for guests who are already certified ($150 per two-tank dive for non-guests). Haven't tried diving before? You can sign-up for the Discover Scuba resort course, including a hands-on pool class and one-tank dive, for $70 per person – then decide if you want to upgrade to the full scuba certification for $250, or open water certification for $400 (either way, they'll refund your original $70). You'll have famed TCI dive sites like Aquarium, Cathedral and Pinnacles at your disposal, plus a range of great sites along the Northwest Point and the Caicos Banks.

2. Butler Service – I'll admit it, I didn't expect much when I was told I'd have a personal butler during my stay. I thought this would only come in handy for the occasional poolside cocktail order, but oh! – was I wrong. These were not mere butlers but mind readers. By day two, mine already knew exactly how I take my coffee, how I like my eggs, what time I might feel like a snack (any time?), and that I have a hard time deciding on dessert (he just brought me one of each – thoughtful!). At check in, my butler even gave me a special bat phone to reach him at any hour, and with the touch of a button I really could – whether it was just for another daiquiri, or to make a reservation at the Red Lane Spa or one of the specialty restaurants on the property. Butler service is included with top suite categories so just ask your reservation agent about the option when you book.

3. Dining – Speaking of restaurants, surprise number three: The food was really good. I'm not knocking all-inclusive resort chains, but they aren't usually top-of-mind when I think about great Caribbean dining. But I've got to say, from breakfast on the terrace to the lunch buffet at Mario's to any one of the other 15 options (including Japanese, Italian, French and seafood specialty venues) – every single meal I had was great. Same for the cocktails, though who am I kidding? It's tough to go wrong with a rum punch anywhere in the Caribbean.

4. Kid Stuff – I don't have kids myself, but man...next time I'll borrow a couple for the trip. Besides the fact that I personally hung out at the pool with the characters from Sesame Street twice during my stay, I also had access to the huge Pirate's Island water park, a giant Games Garage filled with every Xbox game known to man, five pools and a gaggle of other kid-distractions everywhere I looked. But with tons of supervised Kids Club programs for all age groups, there's also an escape for mom and dad, too.

Our editor in chief and his two tots put the resort's kiddie attractions to the test this summer, so stay tuned to the April issue for even more on that.

Beaches Turks and Caicos

Take 5 in Bermuda This Winter

The Deal: Book a five-night stay at The Reefs between December 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010 and in addition to daily breakfast, afternoon tea, gourmet dinner and a three-day bus/ferry pass to explore Bermuda, you'll also get your fifth night free. Packages start at $1,869 double occupancy.

Why We Love It: The recently renovated property is considered among the best on the island (most recently voted #1 in the Atlantic by Condé Nast Traveler) – and the free night and added-value options make it easy for families to have a taste of affordable luxury this winter. If you're traveling with active or retired members of the Armed Forces, you can cash in on a 15 percent veteran discount through March 15, 2010 as well.

How to Book It: Call 888-466-0288 or log on to thereefs.com to book your stay between December 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010 (excluding travel between December 20, 2009 and January 3, 2010).

Take 5 in Bermuda This Winter

A Holiday Gift from Google

It's tough to know what to give the traveler who has everything, but Google has a pretty solid idea: Thanks to the web giant, holiday travelers can enjoy free Wi-Fi at 47 airports around the country through January 15, 2010 – no strings attached. Even better, when you sign on you'll have the chance to pay it forward by donating to a handful of charities like Engineers Without Borders or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, and Google will match nationwide donations up to $250,000. Airports with free Internet access include Boston, Burbank, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and more...To see the full list and to learn more, just surf over to www.freeholidaywifi.com.

A Holiday Gift from Google

Delta Discount to St. Kitts

Delta just announced a second weekly non-stop between its Atlanta hub and St. Kitts – and if you book by November 16, you'll also enjoy discounted rates of $309 each way. You'll have till February 28, 2010 to take the trip...just book online at delta.com or call 800-221-1212 to reserve your next vacation (expect to pay a $20 surcharge for booking with a reservation agent over the phone, though – the fee is waived online).

Delta Discount to St. Kitts